We made a quick weekend pit stop in Monterrey, Mexico on our way to visit Oaxaca and my goodness did we have some damn good tacos. We ate so many tacos, I thought I was going to turn into one tbh haha.
Monterrey is a super industrial city (see Parque Fundidora below) and we didn’t come across too many other tourists around town, which was a nice change of pace.
I was really excited to be able to practice my Spanish while in Mexico. Occasionally we encountered a bartender or store clerk that spoke a little bit of English, but for the most part the people we encountered only spoke Spanish… so, make sure to brush up on your Spanish before you visit!
This trip was very last minute, so this is certainly not an all-encompassing list of the best spots around town. Here is a recap of the spots we stumbled upon and would recommend if you find yourself in MTY.
Food
Frida Chilaquiles
You guessed it… this spot is named after Frida Kahlo and is a MUST for desayuno (breakfast).
Not only was the food excellent, but the restaurant itself is a super fun experience. They give you a small tile and crayons to decorate and have them displayed all over the restaurant… on the tables, walls, and even ceilings – what a fun way to leave your mark!
Scotty ordered the Machacado Diego and I chose Los Divorciados chilaquiles. Both were excellent. The Horchata aguas frescas was phenomenal!
Taqueria Orinoco
Taqueria Orinoco is another spot I’d highly recommend. We visited the Centrito Valle location and ordered several tacos to share so we could each taste a handful of options.
We got one of each of the tacos “sueltos” – chicharron, res (beef) + trompo (similar to al pastor), the Nortena and Campechana (res+ trompo/beef + al pastor) tacos especiales, and frijoles charros.
Each tray came with grilled onions and pineapple and “smashed” potatoes. And a tray of 5 different salsas to choose from, ranging from mild + creamy to super spicy, and fresh limes.
Everything we ordered really hit the spot, but my personal faves were the Campechana (res + trompo/beef + al pastor) taco, the light green spicy salsa, and the charro beans were to die for!
Birriera Aguascalientes
We stumbled on this restaurant while out for a walk. The food was muy delicioso and the experience super authentic. Fun little spot to pop in for a quick meal!
We each got 3 tacos and they were served with chopped onions, fresh cilantro, homemade salsa, limes, and fresh chili peppers. Had to get a Mexican coke too, of course!
El Rey del Cabrito
This is THE spot to try cabrito (baby goat) if you’re up for it! It’s super tender and delicious. Another very authentic experience where a lot of locals dine!
They served us homemade tortilla chips, 2 types of salsa, and a bean dip before our meal came. We ordered the Cabrito en Salsa and the Plato Mixto, which was 1/2 order of cabrito and 1/2 arrachera (or Mexican skirt steak).
Buru Bistro & Bakery
We went here for breakfast before we headed to the airport and it was fantastic. My favorite coffee that I had in MTY and the food was outstanding. I had the Veggie Omelet, which came with refried black beans, avocado, and toast, and Scotty had the brioche French Toast which was covered in fresh fruit and seriously out of this world delicious.
Cafes
Etnia Café
As we were walking past Etnia Cafe, we were greeted at the street entrance by the sweetest café cat, so of course we ended up popping in this really cute cafe for a quick afternoon pick-me-up.
Libros Café y Detalles
Did you know Monterrey is the origin of Topo Chico?! I was happy to find them on menus all over Mexico and wanted something crisp and refreshing to go alongside our coffees the afternoon we stopped in Libros Cafe y Detalles.
Buru Bistro & Bakery
See notes above!
Booze
We were on the hunt for some good cocktails and found exactly what we were searching for at Mapache Gastropub. We opted to sit down at the bar top and enjoy watching the bartenders do their thang, but the upstairs rooftop was ~poppin’~. I would reorder any of the 4 drinks we got, they were all delicious!
Cuadro Coyote
Another colorful place to grab a refreshing cocktail in the Barrio Antiguo area!
The back patio/courtyard area was full of wall murals and the drinks were outstanding.
We especially liked the Mezcal Mule – a twist on a classic mule with mezcal.
Activities
Barrio Antiguo
Colorful historic neighborhood with cobblestone streets, old colonial buildings, and lots of street art. Great area for live music and a laid-back, but vibrant night out on the town! Really comes to life at night on the weekends.
Parque Fundidora
We visited Monterrey in February and the weather could not have been more perfect for us – we spent a few hours strolling around this large urban park soaking up the sun and admiring the many steel sculptures and structures representative of the industrial heritage of Nuevo Leon.
Grab a fresh lemonada or agua fresca to quench your thirst, rent a bike or paddle boat, visit the Museo del Acero Horno 3, or shop for different handmade items and food like churros at the farmer’s market. This park has it all!
Paseo de Santa Lucia
After exploring and hanging at Parque Fundidora for a couple hours, we walked from there to Bario Antiguo along the Paseo de Santa Lucia.
Enjoy many fountains, bridges, and murals as you stroll along the boardwalk of the longest artificial river in Latin America or take a ride on one of the guided riverboat tours that runs from end to end, if that’s more your speed.
Macroplaza
The Macroplaza (AKA La Gran Plaza) is a large, town-square-like plaza in the heart of downtown Monterrey full of various monuments, gardens, and government buildings.
We explored this are for a bit before hopping over to Barrio Antiguo.
Here are a few other activities and recommendations we didn’t have time for during our visit:
- Lomma & Limma
- Lulu Gelato
- Café Jardin
Have you been to Monterrey before? If so, please share your favorite recs with us in the comments!
–MJ
