Where to drink mezcal in Mexico

If you’re planning a trip based around Mexico’s best mezcal bars, we’re sure Oaxaca springs to mind. Unsurprisingly, Mexico City is also home to some of the top mezcal bars in the world. But you don’t have to hit these hot spots to plan a mezcalcentric vacation–a number of Mexican cities have thriving mezcal scenes, notably Guadalajara, San Luis Potosi, and Puebla. And we’re seeing a rise in mezcal bars in other cities, such as Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, which also (much to our excitement) now has a dedicated raicilla bar. (Below this text, you’ll find links to cities with multiple bars as well as a list of mezcal bars in the rest of Mexico.)

All that said, you can’t expect to walk into a typical bar or restaurant in Mexico and find an exciting selection of the best mezcals or tequilas. As everywhere else in the world, finding the places with good agave programs takes some research–hence this guide! 

We at Mezcalistas have been drinking mezcal in Mexico for decades. The publication was founded in 2012. So instead of a dashed-off list of recommendations, what you’ll find here is a thoughtful list of the best places to drink mezcal in Mexico, compiled through more than 20 years of on-the-ground research and including insight from local Mexican writers and spirits enthusiasts.

We are constantly updating our database, so if you know of a mezcal, bacanora, or raicilla bar we’ve missed, please let us know! 

(This page was last updated April 10, 2026.)