3 AM, Mexico City.

My friend A. and I are walking down Insurgentes Sur in the opposite direction of our Airbnb. My phone died long ago and hers is hanging on at a mere 3%. We are absolutely confident that we know CDMX well enough after just 4 days that we can make it back without Google Maps.

Metrobús Chilpancingo… that doesn’t sound familiar. How did we get here?

The answer: 5+1 rounds of drinks at Limantour Roma.

Round One

We arrive at around 10 PM to a very lively Licorería Limantour. The host seats us at the two remaining seats at the bar in front of our bartender, Henry. As soon as we’re in, a line starts to form outside. I take my phone out to snap a picture… jk it’s dead.

Oregano

Ojo de Tigre mezcal, Ancho Reyes Verde milk punch, oregano.
Bright green, perfectly translucent and served over a single cube of clear ice – that’s when I knew this place was the real deal. This drink is so savoury, like pizza in a glass.

Jamaica Mezcal

7 Misterios Doba Yej mezcal, hibiscus syrup, cardamom, lime.
Served over crushed ice in a Mexican jarro, this drink is exactly as expected: fruity and refreshing. This is a safe bet for the non-adventurous imbiber.

Round Two

Turns out the guy sitting next to us is also a bartender. He and Henry are shaking two drinks each. What a vibe. Ok, time to try some cocktails off the featured seasonal menu.

Tomate Riñón

Don Julio 70 tequila, Aperol, tomato jam, orange juice, morita chile.
First oregano, now tomato… am I craving Italian food? Lots of umami from the tomato and a kick of heat on the backend from the chile.

Cacahuate

Maestro Dobel Diamante tequila, peanut butter, banana liqueur, calvados, ginger syrup.
Very peanut heavy, you don’t really taste the banana. Interesting but not my favourite.

Round Three

Henry is a popular guy, people come in just to say hi to him. He’s chatting with everyone at the bar… except us. I try to make some conversation by asking for:

Something Bitter

Cynar, Punt e Mes, citrus, orange bitters, salt.
Not a drink from the menu, I just asked Henry for algo amargo and he obliged (unlike some other bars, *cough* Gin Gin *cough*). A Negroni Sour of sorts: classic Italian flavours, nicely balanced, hits the spot.

Almond of Miracle

Skyy vodka milk punch, disaronno, almond, lime, sugar, cardamom.
Nice almond flavour with enough lime to balance out the sweetness. This was A.’s favourite.

Round Four

I finally need to use the bathroom. It’s a short walk away, but the room is rocking gently like a boat. I smile stupidly at my own reflection in the mirror, drunk, happy, and in Mexico City. Life’s good.

Mexican Old Fashioned

Abasolo whiskey, Nixta corn liqueur, fat-washed cacao and nutmeg.
Smoky corn goodness with rich cacao and warm nutmeg; I’m not even an old fashioned fan, but this was amazing.

Corpse Suculento

Roku gin, Dolin dry vermouth, Narano orange liqueur, meyer lemon shrub, absinthe.
A little too dry and you can’t taste much absinthe.

Round Five

After four rounds, Henry finally warms up to us (maybe it’s because he realized we can speak Spanish). He gives us a list of things to see in the city; we had already seen most of them. He recommends a salsa club that we don’t end up visiting. Maybe next time.

It’s A.’s turn to go to the bathroom. She leaves but comes back a short while later to ask me how to open the bathroom door; she’s definitely drunk. Her second try is successful. She sits back down and convinces me to get a fifth round.

Vicuña

The Lost Explorer Espadín mezcal, Chilean pisco, smoked pineapple juice.
Smoke on smoke… mezcal and pineapple are a match made in heaven.

La Rose

Grey Goose vodka, St. Germain, fig, pear, guava soda.
Fruity with subtle floral notes; a beautiful light drink to end the night.

Bonus Round

It’s almost 2 AM; the bar is closing. Some customers head behind the bar to take pictures with the bartenders. All of a sudden they’re pouring shots of tequila for everyone, ¡salud! We pay the bill but not before taking a selfie with Henry. I pass A.’s phone back to her, which she immediately drops on the floor. We’ll definitely make it back to the Airbnb!

Conclusion

We’re so glad we chose Limantour out of all the other bars in CDMX. I only found out later that they’re ranked #1 in North America and #4 in the world. Their cocktails are definitely the best I’ve had so far.

P.S. We managed to call a Didi with the 3% remaining on A.’s phone.