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    Karisma

    4.1 (65 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Mexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Karisma Photos

    KARISMA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Karisma

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    Reviews With Photos

    Luke H.

    I had an okay lunch here. Service was pretty good since the place was mostly empty around noon. I ordered ceviche karisma and the camarones al gusto. They were both bland and nothing special. Likewise for the house chips and salsa. Plenty of outdoor seating and lots of TVs and most of them had ESPN on.

    Free chips and salsa
    Steve S.

    Lovely local spot in the heart of Polanco. Offers the charm of a local neighborhood haunt while easily accessible to the many visitors in this vibrant city. Awesome sidewalk / patio seating as well as indoor pub style dining. Complimentary chips and salsa. Focused but authentic menu. Loved the Tacos Plaza and the beef empanada. Super friendly and attentive staff.

    Menu
    Arielle W.

    Chips and salsas are free, but the salsas didn't have a lot of flavor. I got the Oaxaca Fillet and it was very salty, including the gravy. The salad had a nice dressing and the fries were crispy. Service was fast and friendly and they could habla en inglés y español. We sat outside and it was very nice but there was someone smoking that mad it awful.

    The José Filet
    Beau H.

    This amazing place is everything you need when visiting : a great place to go when you land & have checked into your hotel then head to for TèKila, Victorias & Fantastic cuisine. The Oxacan Filet is my go to and is complemented with the smoothest creamiest mushroom sauce. It comes with french fries and salad but I prefer to sub the fries for an extra salad to balance out the decadence of the sauce. The José Filet is my other Rec as this goes more into a tomato Italian blend but both with a nice Mexican twist. The bartenders are kind and generous with their pours. The 1976 year is plastered on everything and I love that because that was the year I was born.

    Stephanie A.

    This was my first stop of seven places from my food walking tour. I got to try their chilaquiles and a tamarind drink. Both were tasty and didn't disappoint. It was definitely a great start of my food tour in town!

    Julie D.

    This was stop 1 of 7 on my Polanco walking tour. At 11am, I had the combination of chilaquiles and a super strong margarita. That marg hit my system so hard. The chilaquiles was delicious. Service was good. I can tell it's a local spot. I could also tell this is where people come to watch the games and get drunk.

    One of the inner rooms with screens for the whole table.
    Wes M.

    I have to give full Kudos to another reviewer on this restaurant. I that review 2 key topics sold me: a solo travelers comfort, and the mushroom soup. I don't know why but I guess that hit a savory craving. Immediately I was greeted as a table of one and sat in a room Surrounded by game 4 of the World Series. I didn't read this place to be a sports bar; I had read this place to be a quaint Mexican cuisine on a little street... I walked around and this place has a few faces to it. It definitely has its own charm and Karisma (smh). The waiters spoke decent English and I tried my decent Spanish... just to end back in my comfortable English. Everyone was kind and jovial, hell I got a complimentary beer from the staff at the end. Very cool people. The food was exactly what I needed: good Taco Machos, homemade chips salsa and pico, and a warm and savory sopa de championes. This is a fantastic lunch spot for sure and a perfect little meeting spot for friends. The prices just sell this point too.

    Frozen margarita
    Ashley S.

    We only had drinks + chips and salsa here. All were good. There was a man playing live music on the street which was good entertainment. Server was polite and attentive.

    Mexican Flag
    Drew F.

    I was in Mexico City for business, and a friend recommended this place. I must say, I was a little hesitant as the place was empty. I then realized it was because I was visiting after lunch and before dinner. The staff was friendly, and although I didn't speak Spanish, they did their best to accommodate me. I went with a margarita and ribeye tacos. I love a ribeye, so why not? It was truly unique. My only regret was eating that grilled serrano pepper.... good lawd, my stomach was on fire. Overall the service and the food were pretty good. I felt a little awkward because I could not really understand what was happening around me. It's undoubtedly worth visiting again, so if I'm there, I will stop by. You should too, and when you do... tell'em Drew sent yar! Yall be EASY! Drew

    Salsa was Okay . The steak tacos , were a NO . The empanada was alright
    Jeanette M.

    Don't Even Bother coming Here . I came after a long flight , and starvation kicked in ! The reviews Say it's amazing. It's not ! The black beans tasted like Sewer water . The Steak tacos Not Good . Super plain. The Al pastor , was edible . BUT nothing like real Mexican tacos . Tasted almost too healthy and borderline Dry . The empanada was Good . It's fried and has a gang of cheese . So that's easy .

    Poblano Pepper
    Lauren M.

    lugar local muy agradable. Comidas y bebidas baratas. Los tacos de pastor estaban muy sabrosos. el chile poblano estaba tan rico y dulce. Las salsas del acompañamiento eran todas muy picantes, así que con cuidado. Me encantó el ambiente local y el ambiente informal. excelente servicio, la comida salió rápido

    Camarones al Ajilo
    John G.

    This place is super close to Intercontinental, JW Marriott and W hotels. Walking distance. Food is really good and service is good. Prices are low to mid range. Lots of TVs to watch sports. Gets a little busy during brunch and dinner especially on weekends. Ambiance is good .

    Erika U.

    Stayed in the polanco area and this was walking distance from our hotel. Came to drink (and eat) here on our last night out. Had many shots of tequila and Paloma drinks which were good. The empanadas were amazing, light crispy with potato and beef I think. I didn't get a picture of the mole but omg the sauce flavor was sooooo on point. Rice was a little mushy so not a favorite of mine. Chips were crispy and salsas were flavorful. We also got the steak with shrimp and mushrooms- nothing special about it but was good. The ambiance is loud inside and mellow outside but I think this all depends on the time of day honestly. Had tvs with boxing match or soccer. Customer service was much better than other places we had gone to. Would def recommend and come back again.

    Drinks!

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    5 months ago

    This is our second night at this place everyone is welcome and friendly food and drinks are amazing recommend

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    Nice food and drinks! Nice place to enjoy Mexican food in a relaxed atmosphere! Good music!

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    World class service across the board. Everyone is on point with everything and they close late.

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    2 years ago

    The enchiladas mole were excellent. Great service too. Good value for the price and recommend for an evening meal

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    Page 1 of 2

    Karisma Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Karisma

    We visited several fun bars/restaurants in Polanco but by far this was our favorite.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Guzina Oaxaca - Stuffed zucchini flowers

    Guzina Oaxaca

    4.4(74 reviews)
    1.1 kmPolanco
    $$$

    Guzina Oaxaca, located in Polanco, Mexico City, is a restaurant that was bright in from a famous…read morechef from Oaxaca. I wanted to make it a point to seek out some authentic oaxacan mole, so I chose this spot that was recommended by eater.com and the Michelin guide. Had the black mole with duck breast, which was served with rice and a plantain. It was so good as the flavors were so complex and they paired really well with the perfectly cooked duck, the rice, and my fruity cocktail. On that note, I ordered one of their speciality cocktails with passionfruit and it was so good. I actually enjoyed my cocktail, made with fresh fruit, here more than the world renowned bar down the street. Also got salsa made tableside and an appetizer of pork taquitos (which, in this context, were tiny tacos). Both were flavor bombs. Overall, we are glad that we stopped by to get a sampling of very flavorful food from this restaurant and I'd definitely come back!

    My sister and mom stopped by here for lunch on our trip and we are so glad we stumbled across this…read moreplace. We were pleased to find it is Michelin recognized and excited to try. They had table side salsa which was nice to watch and then try. We tried a few of the appetizers and non alcoholic drinks. I would say some of the dishes were a bit too salty and as yummy as the drinks were mine was too sweet. The main dishes on the other hand were really delicious and unique. I will say the service was impeccable, they checked on us often and even found a charger so we could charge our phones! Very great hospitality and service.

    Photos
    Guzina Oaxaca - Delicious Oaxaca  style salsa

    Delicious Oaxaca style salsa

    Guzina Oaxaca - Fish dish

    Fish dish

    Guzina Oaxaca - Tlayuda filled with pork, black beans and cabbage, chorizo on the side

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    Tlayuda filled with pork, black beans and cabbage, chorizo on the side

    El Bajío - Chicken caldo

    El Bajío

    4.1(158 reviews)
    0.3 kmPolanco
    $$

    Listen to this: I need more Latin cuisine practice. Estoy practicando hablar en español... but…read morethat's as far as I get. I love to try new foods and attempt the local language wherever I go... but still it's impossible to mask dumb: I ordered a delicious bowl of Eggs in Xalapa style tomato broth. It arrived but they brought tortillas.... Ok... maybe I should take the (what appeared to be) scrambled eggs out of the broth and into the tortillas? Maybe add some beans and salsa too? No, of course you cannot make tacos out of soup-- idiota!!!! I had to laugh at myself and only one passing server gave me the Rock's stanky eyebrow as broth squirted everywhere! This place is absolutely stunning. The views by the window, the food presentation, the artwork and decor inside and out: I loved it all. It was especially nice that this whole Palanco area is basically one big green park. Again, my Spanish isn't great and I need much more practice but the waitress and the management were so kind and supportive. I would definitely recommend this place for a solo adventurer but it's quaint and yummy enough for a nice group dinner.

    The only good meal I had in Mexico City…read more Living in San Diego and visiting Tijuana for food quite often, I guess I'm used to above average restaurant experiences. I would've thought Mexico City had great food in general, but that wasn't the case. Was there for four days, ate many meals out and this was the only one I really enjoyed. Too bad the place was so hot and stuffy. It was cooler outside than it was inside. All they needed to do was open some windows. Service was great though.

    Photos
    El Bajío - Dining room

    Dining room

    El Bajío - The best green enchiladas I've ever had!

    The best green enchiladas I've ever had!

    El Bajío - Dining room

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    Dining room

    La Hacienda de los Morales - Pan de plátano

    La Hacienda de los Morales

    4.1(72 reviews)
    1.7 kmPolanco
    $$$

    Overall, this was a good experience. I am giving a four-star review simply because it was…read moreoverpriced. The service was great, food was good, and the historical building was very nice. Do know that you pay for everything they offer you, including bread, fruit plate, etc. We had all of the things and no complaints. I specifically had their amoladas, which were delicious. I also enjoyed their cafe de olla. If you are in the area and looking for somewhere to eat, give it a try.

    Good Ambience Food is just ok…read more We visited this restaurant for breakfast, and while the ambiance is undeniably beautiful, the overall dining experience was mixed. The space itself is lovely -- a well-designed hall with elegantly set tables, fresh flowers, and a charming courtyard with greenery that adds to the atmosphere. It feels upscale and calm, and when we visited, it was not crowded, which made it even more peaceful. However, the service and food did not quite match the setting. The staff were not particularly welcoming, and communication was a bit challenging as most did not speak much English. While manageable, it did affect the overall experience. They began with a bread basket (bread and croissants), which unfortunately did not feel fresh or warm -- something you would expect at a place with this level of presentation. We ordered a couple of dishes along with a fruit bowl: * The fruit lacked the freshness and ripeness you typically find in Mexico, even at casual local spots. * The main dishes were average in flavor -- nothing stood out, and they felt somewhat generic rather than reflective of local cuisine.

    Photos
    La Hacienda de los Morales - Dinning table

    Dinning table

    La Hacienda de los Morales - Steak

    Steak

    La Hacienda de los Morales - Beautiful setting

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    Beautiful setting

    Barro Negro

    Barro Negro

    4.6(15 reviews)
    0.9 kmPolanco
    $$$

    Barro Negro is great place to sample a variety of Oaxacan moles. We went about 8:30pm on a Monday…read morenight. The restaurant was pretty much empty so we were seated immediately. The interior is pretty plain, with some Oaxacan art on the walls, apparently available for purchase. We were served tortilla chips with samples of 3 moles (Negro, Coloradito and I think the 3rd was Mancha Manteles) and 2 salsas. As my wife and I primarily went to Barro Negro to sample moles, it was great that we could taste them before committing to a full entree. They were all very good and very different. If you think all moles are 'a Mexican chocolate sauce,' then you'll be surprised at the different varieties. The salsas were all very good and on the spicy side. For entree, I ordered the Mole Coloradito and my wife got the Mole Negro. Both were served with a chicken leg/thigh quarter covered in a very generous pool of mole, along with a small amount of rice and beans. For me, it was the right amount of mole (a lot!) and rice and beans (a small portion of each). The Coloradito is a sweeter mole, very smooth and rich. It was excellent. The Negro is smoky, almost burnt tasting. I happened to know that the cooking process includes burning chile seeds and adding them to the mixture. To me, it was kind of ashy and not to my taste. My wife said that she really liked it and the flavor mellows as you eat more. At any rate, if you're familiar with Mole Poblano, which is also very dark, the Oaxacan black mole is a totally different dish. As it was late, we chose not to get any dessert. The service was attentive and quick, not surprising given that the restaurant we empty. We enjoyed our food very much and highly recommend Barro Negro for sampling Oaxacan moles.

    Nice, small, and intimate location. The mole at this location was amazing. I ordered horchata and…read morethey brought me a glass along with a small pitcher. Great service and guacamole made fresh in front of you. Both waiters kept checking to see if we needed anything. 3 variations of Mole was served with chicken and beef. Black mole was my favorite as it had a smoked undertone of complexity to it.

    Photos
    Barro Negro
    Barro Negro
    Barro Negro

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    El Turix - Tacos de cochinita pibil

    El Turix

    4.4(107 reviews)
    0.9 kmPolanco
    $

    Turix is a very small taqueria in Mexico City that specializes in juicy cochinita pibil. It's…read morejuicy, mildly spicy and costs 31 pesos (about $1.50) each. If you have a gringo stomach, it could be challenging; however we enjoyed this location in Polanco. It's quite popular for a reason

    El Turix brought me straight back to the moment I first fell in love with cochinita pibil. I…read moreremembered it as my favorite bite in CDMX, went back years later, and it still holds the crown. The torta is absolutely legendary. A fluffy bolillo roll drenched in juicy, slow-roasted pork, tangy pickled onions, and a salsa that comes in swinging with just the right heat. That salsa alone could clear your sins. It's spicy, vinegary, addictive. I was sweating and smiling like a maniac. It's a tiny hole-in-the-wall in Polanco. Cash only, plastic stools, no fanfare. You order at the counter and eat fast because there's almost always a line of locals and tourists in the know. And they serve one thing: cochinita. You can get it in taco form, on a panucho, or in the god-tier torta. Honestly, get all three and thank yourself later. The meat is fall-apart tender and deeply marinated, full of citrus and achiote. The panucho, with that crispy bean-stuffed tortilla base, is underrated perfection. Everything is messy, hot, and dripping with flavor in the best way. El Turix is the kind of place that reminds you why street-style food is unmatched. No hype, no gimmicks, just absolute fire. A must every time I'm in the city.

    Photos
    El Turix - It's packed today !

    It's packed today !

    El Turix - Panucho

    Panucho

    El Turix - Tacos de cochinita pibil and panucho

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    Tacos de cochinita pibil and panucho

    HandShake - Banana Split

    HandShake

    4.4(154 reviews)
    0.6 kmPolanco
    $$$

    Handshake Speakeasy is worth the hype! I managed to snag a Friday night reservation in the basement…read moreroom. The interior was dimly lit and moody, and the staff would yell a welcome every time patrons entered the space. They also did the same once people started leaving. For my first drink, I chose the Mexi-Thai. Handshake is known for their clarified cocktails and I was shocked by how complex the flavors were in this clear beverage. It was almost savory with makrut lime coconut, tomato, and basil oil. For my second drink, I chose the Banana Split. This one was much sweeter with rum, banana, and a blend of sherries. It came topped with a chocolate lego filled with banana ganache, which was insanely decadent and tasty. Our reservation was limited to 90 minutes, which was enough time for me. Overall, loved this spot!

    Hard to see why this has been getting top speakeasy when I feel I've been to better... Pretty easy…read moreto find - it's in a hotel and there is sure to be a super long line waiting, so make sure you check in with one of the waitstaff especially if you haven't booked a reservation. Although our group did not book ahead, we got there right as they opened and only had to wait about 30 min to get seated - but it was also a Monday so maybe that had something to do with it... Aside from the entrance being anticlimactic compared to the bars I have been to, I think the drinks were quite delicious. I got the Earl Grey and the Once Upon in Oaxaca. The first one was honestly my favorite. It was such a refreshing drink that was a really fun take on Earl Grey tea. I really liked the lemongrass straw as well. Drinking out of the straw vs drinking the drink directly made a huge difference in flavor, which I thought was particularly unique. The Once Upon in Oaxaca was slightly smoky and definitely a more liquor forward drink. Perfect for a second cocktail. I would have liked it to be just a tad more smoky with a thicker mouthfeel. Overall, however, it was a pleasant experience, but there are definitely some other bars I'd recommend over this one...

    Photos
    HandShake - Olive gimlet

    Olive gimlet

    HandShake - Coconut Negroni yummmm

    Coconut Negroni yummmm

    HandShake - Cricket Mixed Nuts, Orange Blossom, Lychee Highball, Mexi-Thai

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    Cricket Mixed Nuts, Orange Blossom, Lychee Highball, Mexi-Thai

    Karisma - bars - Updated May 2026

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