15 Best Bars + Restaurants in Guadalajara, Mexico [in 2024]

As one of Mexico’s largest cities, Guadalajara has long been hidden in the shadow of Mexico City, particularly when it comes to the city’s culinary scene. But Guadalajara invented tequila, tortas ahogadas, and even birria. With a pedigree like this, it was only a matter of time before it transformed into the true foodie favorite destination it was always destined to be.

Guadalajara now boasts an incredible range of both street food staples and the world-famous bars and restaurants that top the list of the World’s Best places to eat and drink. Read on for the best places to eat and drink in Guadalajara, handpicked by travel experts and locals as some of the city’s best.

Best Places To Eat + Drink in Guadalajara

A culinary tour through Guadalajara isn’t complete without going both high and low, trying both the award-winning spots drawing increasing acclaim and the historic street food spots that inspired some of Mexico’s most famous dishes. Looking for only the very best for your Guadalajara itinerary? These are the spots you can’t miss ~

In addition to these popular and praise-worthy spots, there are plenty more incredible places to eat and drink in Guadalajara. Read on for our in-depth guide to the city best, along with some of the can’t-miss menu items to add to your order at every stop on your self-guided Guadalajara food tour.

Read More: Where To Stay in Guadalajara, Mexico: Best Neighborhoods + Hotels

El Gallo Altanero

Best Bar in Guadalajara | $$ – $$$ | Colonia Americana

Hidden away on the second story of a nondescript building on a side street, El Gallo Altanero might not seem like all that much at first glance – but just wait until you sit down at the bar. It’s a master class in both local and international spirits, earning spot #14 on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars this year.

However, El Gallo Altanero is much more than just a homage to Guadalajara’s world-famous blue agaves. It’s constantly pushing the bar; the last time I visited, they were doing a pop-up with a bar in Madrid and had a menu of drinks the size of a small dictionary to choose from. The bar is quite small, with less than 20 seats and a few extras around the balconies of the building, so get there early but stay there late – it’s always a party here, frequently featuring live music.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: El Gallo Altanero

Allium

Best Restaurant in Guadalajara | $$$ | Providencia

If you thought El Gallo Altanero didn’t look like much, then Allium will really surprise you. Tucked into the first floor of a mixed-use highrise in an upscale financial-centric center of the city, Allium is the unexpected home to one of the most inventive kitchens in the country – listed on the 50 Best Discovery list, and rightfully so.

The seafood-forward menu at Allium is constantly changing, in part due to the chefs’ insistence on using the freshest local ingredients, many of which are grown in a garden on the building’s rooftop, though drawing from local fishermen, farmers, and producers. A large, covered patio dining space, along with passionate staff, make the dining experience truly memorable. Allium is truly a hidden gem in this surprising spot, though its growing profile won’t keep it hidden much longer.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: Allium

Pa’l Real

Best Cafe in Guadalajara | $$ | Colonia Americana

Look no further than Pa’l Real if you’re in search of the perfect way to start your day. Cool and casual, this stylish cafe in Colonia Americana goes beyond coffee and pastries to offer a robust dining experience. Everything from traditional continental dishes and Mexican favorites like the chilaquiles are spectacular, and the coffee is some of the best in the city.

Come back in the afternoon and early evening for platos fuertes that show off the true breadth of the chefs here – it seems like there’s simply nothing they can’t do well. There’s also a surprisingly impressive drink menu you won’t want to miss.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: Pa’l Real

Birrieria Las 9 Esquinas

Best Street Food in Guadalajara | $ | Centro Histórico

There’s plenty of excellent street food in Guadalajara, but there’s no beating Birrieria Las 9 Esquinas when it comes to trying birria, one of the most popular dishes to originate in Guadalajara. Birria is a slow-cooked, braised stew-like dish, usually made with goat, that originated from Jalisco’s ranch hands. It has surged in popularity beyond the confines of Mexico in the past 5 or 6 years – but is best experienced here.

This traditional eatery and its lovely interior space and spacious park out front raise it above a traditional street food experience. However, the menu makes it simple and straightforward – you’ll need the birria de chivo, nothing more, to complete one of the best culinary experiences in Guadalajara.

Check Hours + Location: Birrieria Las 9 Esquinas

Tortas Ahogadas – Jose El de la Bicicleta

Restaurant | $ | Centro Histórico

We know, we know – the debate about where to try the best torta ahogada in Guadalajara (a dish that famously originated in the city) is a contentious one. In our most humble of opinions, Tortas Ahogadas – El de la Bicicleta is the spot to try the dish; it’s been around since 1960 when the founder got his start selling the tomato sauce-doused sandwiches from his bicycle on one of the city’s main thoroughfares.

The original restaurant (there are now four different “franchises” around the city) is super simple, a cross between a food stand and a true establishment, but you’ll see the devoted fans here at all hours of the day. The order? A torta ahogada filled with pork carnitas and all the fixings. It’s the only way to try it.

Check Hours + Location: Tortas Ahogadas – Jose El de la Bicicleta

Biolento

Cafe + Restaurant | $$ | Colonia Americana

Hidden behind foliage on a quiet corner in Colonia Americana, Biolento feels like the ultimate retreat from the city, making long brunches on the shady patio one of the best ways to spend a day in one of the city’s coolest areas. Bowls and smoothies populate the brunch menu, but local classics like chilaquiles con costilla also shine. There are also a number of vegetarian and vegan dishes on the menu.

Though its breakfasts and coffee options make it shine, Biolento is open most days from 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM. With an impressive drink menu, it’s worth coming back to in the evening as well.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: Biolento

Xokol

Restaurant | $$$ | Santa Teresita

Chef-driven, corn-inspired fine dining defines Xokol, consistently ranked among the best restaurants in Guadalajara. A slender, simple dining room with one long shared dining table and dark, moody walls sets the stage for a culinary revelation. Xokol’s innovative chefs are dedicated to highlighting local variations of corn (among other ingredients from Jalisco) and traditional cooking styles in their dishes, presented with a passion you’ll taste in every bite.

Note that reservations are required, as is the pre-order of the tasting menu, which we highly recommend! It will be the dining highlight of the trip.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: Xokol

De la O Cantina

Bar + Restaurant | $$ | Colonia Americana

It is hard to beat De la O Cantina if you’re looking for the perfect mix of elevated cocktails and delicious bites. Though more a bar than a restaurant – there’s usually just one person prepping food here amidst several busy bar tenders – the tongue-in-cheek tiki bar meets Mexican cantina fusion menu is both delicious and inspiring, an easy favorite with locals and visitors alike.

The cantina has less than 15 tables, so get here early or make a reservation if you don’t want to end up eating at the bar (though this was a comfortable option during our most recent visit). Tiny size be damned, De la O Cantina made the World’s 50 Best Discovery list, and rightfully so.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: De la O Cantina

Alcalde

Restaurant | $$$ | Vallarta Norte

Alcalde has quickly become one of the best restaurants not just in Guadalajara, but in the entire region, snapping up awards from the World’s 50 Best Discovery list left and right. At the helm is Chef Francisco ‘Paco’ Ruano with his so-called “frank” Mexican cooking. Despite the kitchen’s insistence on using only local ingredients and unexpected inspiration, the menu won’t hit you over the head as an overpowering homage to Mexico – it’s incredibly fresh, and certainly like nothing else you’ve ever tried before.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: Alcalde

Cantina La Fuente

Bar | $ | Centro Histórico

In the heart of Guadalajara’s old town center, Cantina La Fuente is the type of place where you’ll find the locals sharing a beer after work, many passing through in their work uniforms for a drink and a laugh, accompanied by live music. Coolers filled to the brim with ice-old beers line the walls behind the bar. Cantina La Fuente is the very definition of no-frills, though the walls seem to seep with stories from generations past, giving it a mystique that newer haunts could never replicate.

Check Hours + Location: Cantina La Fuente

La Docena Oyster Bar & Grill

Restaurant | $$ | Providencia

La Docena means “dozen,” giving center stage to seafood and particularly oysters at this elevated eatery in one of the city’s most upscale neighborhoods, nestled beside the country club. The dark and moody dining room perfectly contrasts the restaurant’s bright, bold flavors. It’s another featured favorite in Guadalajara to make it on the World’s 50 Best Discovery list, and rightfully so.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: La Docena

Bruna

Restaurant | $$$ | Lafayette

Bold and flavorful Mexican favorites are the highlights of the menu at Bruna, a fixture on the city’s restaurant scene for nearly a decade. There’s nothing not to love here, from the inventive menu highlighting everything from mole and chiles en nogada to a local take on Beef Wellington. The art gallery and sculpture-filled garden are worth getting here early for. Plus, the cocktail menu is so good it might just start winning the restaurant a new category of awards.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: Bruna

Casa Luna

Restaurant | $$ – $$$ | Tlaquepaque

Venturing into the covered courtyard dining room at Casa Luna in historic Tlaquepaque feels like getting to the very heart of Mexico. The oversized bar, finished with handmade tiles, is well-stocked with Jalisco’s best spirits, while the over-the-top decor is all handmade by local artisans. Live music is almost guaranteed on the weekends to complete the mood.

The food? All your favorite, most classic Mexican dishes, elevated and inspired. It’s truly a love letter to the country, in culinary form. The patriotic red, white, and green chile en nogada is famous here, rightfully so, and the undisputed star of the Casa Luna dining experience.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: Casa Luna

Barolo 71

Restaurant | $$ | Tlaquepaque

A shiny red Fiat at the entrance of Barolo 71 welcomes guests off the charming streets of historical Tlaquepaque and straight into Italy. However, this is the only cliche the restaurant indulges, with a paired-down menu of well-done Italian classics featuring fresh local ingredients that keep it authentic, not cheesy. The calamari and the grilled octopus are highlights, though we have yet to find a pasta dish off the menu here that didn’t impress.

Check Hours + Make Reservations: Barrolo 71

La Tequila

Restaurant | $$ – $$$ | Ladrón de Guevara

For an upscale take on tacos, tortas, and other Mexican classics, La Tequila is a must on your Guadalajara itinerary – I have yet to find anything on the menu I haven’t loved (though the tacos are always a fan favorite). Make sure to check out the tequila and mezcal cart that makes the rounds from table to table throughout the restaurant. The bartender who mans this mobile shine to agave is infectiously passionate about his work, but then again, who wouldn’t be?

Check Hours + Make Reservations: La Tequila