There are few chefs in Mexico City with as much heat radiating off them right now as Lucho Martínez. His first restaurant, Em, a moody and elegant contemporary look at Mexican ingredients, came away with a MICHELIN Star earlier this year in Mexico’s inaugural turn on the Guide – one of just seven restaurants in the capital to earn One Star or more. And his two newer restaurants, stylish bistro Martínez (opened in 2022) and upscale seafood spot Ultramarinos Demar (opened in January), are some of the most coveted reservations in town.
Born on Mexico’s Gulf Coast, Martínez spent part of his childhood in Nashville and began cooking in kitchens at the age of 14. After an early stint working in hotels in Cancún, he moved to Mexico City, where he trained at Máximo, a perennial standout popular with locals and tourists alike. He credits his lack of formal schooling with inspiring a culinary philosophy that’s freewheeling and exciting: His restaurants feel young and au courant, reflective of a chef with his finger squarely on the pulse of his city and his country’s evolving gastronomy.
With a hot spot cocktail bar – 686 Bar, located above Em – and Café Tormenta, a coffee shop that Dua Lipa was spotted at earlier this year, also as part of his portfolio, Martínez’s influence in Mexico’s culinary scene feels dominant. Below, this Mexico City tastemaker shares some of his own go-to spots around town.
What are some of your favorite restaurants right now?
Máximo has been my favorite for celebrations for many years. Order a la carte and have the chef pick. (The trick is to order five plates.)
Makan for a family meal to share. Chicken and rice, laksa, and escargots.
For a quick lunch, Comal Oculto (Bib Gourmand) is delicious, with a friendly and attentive team that’s genuine and close. Less is more.
Fonda Margarita is my favorite option for breakfast after riding my bike. I always order the scrambled eggs with beans, the chicharrón, and the bistec en pasilla.
And for tacos?
Siembra Tortillería (Bib Gourmand): The campechanos, both the green and the red, are a must, as is the taco de fideo. For dessert, the flan is excellent.
Tacos Hola El Güero is perfect for a morning or midday taco. My favorites are the picadillo, the tortita de pollo, the chile relleno, and the bistec en pasillla.
The pastor planchado at El Vilsito (Bib Gourmand): my go-to stop for good tacos.
Where do you go to have a drink?
Normally, I prefer a good coffee. At Café Tormenta, I recommend the Oleo cold brew or the Rosita latte, with a sandwich or a media luna. Buna is ideal for a quick and delicious espresso. Café Avellaneda is another great spot to enjoy a good espresso.
For bars, I like Bósforo, Caimán and Cantina del Bosque.
Where would we find you on your day off?
I love to go out for a bike ride. My favorite spots are Chapultepec Park and Ciudad Universitaria, the main campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
What are your favorite spots to see art and culture?
Biblioteca Vasconcelos, a massive and architecturally stunning public library.
Museo Anahuacalli, a hulking, volcanic stone pyramid housing Diego Rivera’s personal collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts.
Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC), the city’s main contemporary art museum focusing on Latin American artists. Located within the Ciudad Universitaria.
Las casas de Barragán, the houses designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Luis Barragán open to the public include Casa Luis Barragán, Casa Gilardi, and Casa Pedregal.
Chapultepec Park, the city’s biggest and most important park. Cineteca Nacional, the national cinema, showing new and old art films and international features in a modern space with restaurants.
Sala Nezahualcóyotl, the concert hall home to UNAM’s philharmonic.
Address Book:
Em
Tonalá 133, Roma Norte, Mexico City, 06700
Martínez
Puebla 90, Roma Norte, Mexico City, 06700
Ultramarinos Demar
Merida 21, Roma Norte, Mexico City, 06700
Máximo
Álvaro Obregón, 65 Bis, Roma Norte, Mexico City, 06700
686 Bar Tonalá 133-2do Piso, Roma Norte, Mexico City, 06700
Café Tormenta
Puebla 90, Roma Norte, Mexico City, 06700
Makan
Emilio Dondé 68B, Colonia Centro, Mexico City, 06000
Comal Oculto
Calle Gral. Gómez Pedraza 37, San Miguel Chapultepec I Secc, Mexico City, 11850
Fonda Margarita
Adolfo Prieto 1364 B, Tlacoquemecatl del Valle, Mexico City, 03100
Siembra Tortillería
Av. Isaac Newton 256, Polanco, Mexico City, 11550
Tacos Hola El Güero
Ámsterdam 135, Hipódromo Condesa, Mexico City, 06100
El Vilsito
Petén 248 y, Av. Universidad, Narvarte Poniente, Mexico City, 03020
Buna
Multiple locations
Café Avellaneda
Higuera 40-A, Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04000
Bósforo
Luis Moya 31-local 2, Colonia Centro, Mexico City, 06010
Caimán
Av Nuevo León 120, Hipódromo Condesa, Mexico City, 06100
Cantina del Bosque
Cl. 13 de Septiembre 29, San Miguel Chapultepec I Secc, Mexico City, 11750
Biblioteca Vasconcelos
Eje 1 Nte. S/N, Buenavista, Mexico City, 06350
Museo Anahuacalli
Museo 150, San Pablo Tepetlapa, Mexico City, 04620
Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo
Av. Insurgentes Sur 3000, C.U., Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04510
Casa Luis Barragán
Gral. Francisco Ramírez 12, Ampliación Daniel Garza, Mexico City, 11840
Casa Gilardi
Calle Gral. Antonio León 82, San Miguel Chapultepec I Secc, Mexico City, 11850
Casa Pedregal
Av. de Las Fuentes 180, Jardines del Pedregal, Mexico City, 01900
Cineteca Nacional
Av. México Coyoacán 389, Xoco, Mexico City, 03330
Sala Nezahualcóyotl
Av. Insurgentes Sur 3000, C.U., Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04510
Hero image: Ana Hop / Lucho Martínez
