3 Best Restaurants in Tepoztlán, Around Mexico City

This smart establishment in the folds of the mountains is surrounded by ponds and bridges. Among the delicious concoctions are chili jaral (ancho chili stuffed with shredded beef and raisins) and lamb in zucchini sauce. You can dine in the pink, high-ceiling dining room overlooking the trees and river or alfresco. A lone guitar player adds to the character weekend lunchtimes.

You'll need to call two or three days in advance to reserve a nice seat—with a view of the pyramid—for the weekend. The rest of the tables at this casual restaurant are centered around a partially open patio. A varied menu includes chicken breast stuffed with huitlacoche, an exquisite inky fungus that grows on corn, and spicy shrimp tacos. There is a place for children to play on weekends.

Hung with colorful papeles picados (paper cutouts), this family-friendly restaurant serves great bean soups, stuffed chilies, and grilled meats made in an open kitchen. Special dishes include huauzontles (a broccoli-like vegetable you scrape from the stalk with your teeth). Note that the restaurant closes at 9 pm during the week; weekends it's open until 10 or until the crowd leaves.