Hacienda Santiago Texmelucan

This colorful taqueria can do it all. Away from the historic center and close to the ecological park, this quiet spot has a small but focused menu that delivers wonderful tacos made with soft, plush, flatbread-like pan árabe. Both the tacos arabe and taco pastor variations are worth trying, each one waiting to be dressed up with a fiery salsa. Not to be missed are the excellent cemitas, which arrive hot, toasted and filled with melty queso. A side bowl of charred, sweet onions is a nice touch to any bite.

For almost two decades, this restaurant has stood as a standard-bearer for classic Pueblan cooking. Open at all hours, the spacious dining room features high ceilings, modern art and a host of attentive servers ready to swoop in. The menu is large, but locals know which specialties to focus on. When in season, chiles en nogada is a must. Another essential is the sizeable sample platter featuring mole poblano, verde, rojo and blanco – each one finely layered and bursting with personality. Everything has to be shared, including several endlessly tempting and fiery salsas. The restaurant is conne

Cute as a button, this charming breakfast nook is a sweet way to start the day. Royal blue walls, patterned tile floors, greenery and old-time music make for a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. Start with a warm pastry filled with sweet cream and jammy fruit. Chilaquiles with chicken and enmoladas with plantains offer plenty to share. Served with chimichurri and excellent house pickles, cemitas are hearty and stacked to the sky with the likes of avocado, stringy Oaxacan cheese and seasoned pork. Further in, find a patio and bar that comes alive in the evening.

Make your way to El Güero Marinero, a casual yet upscale seafood bar in the Centro Histórico. Divided by the hot and cold seafood bars, this lively spot is always buzzing, due in part to the well-prepared cocktails. The menu isn't comprehensive but is tightly focused on seafood, largely sourced from Ensenada. You won't go wrong with any of the offerings, but their taco de jaiba, with crispy-fried softshell crab served over a corn tortilla with avocado mayonnaise and fried spinach, is a surefire winner. Another hit? Camarones a los tres chiles, with grilled shrimp bathed in three chile sauces,

It is not every day in Puebla that one finds Chinese buns filled with pork belly and glazed in salsa matcha and hoisin or golden, tempura-fried huauzontle served with sweet potato puree. Since 2014, Chef Fernando Hernández has been cooking with global, often Asian, inspiration that is far different from the typical cuisine of the region. Dishes are as delicious as they are pretty. The grilled pork jowl with lentils, which is almost too good to share with anyone else at the table, is especially memorable. While the bar downstairs shakes up wonderful cocktails, the upstairs dining room is airy,

Set in a vintage house in Puebla’s Barrio de Santiago neighborhood, this little restaurant has lofty ambitions. There are only a handful of tables, resulting in an experience that is intimate and carefully choreographed. Chef Chriss Marin is the mind behind this experience, which acknowledges regional ingredients and traditions like pita bread, peanuts, mole and tamales and prepares them in creative, imaginative ways. The generous Mexican tasting menu is fast-paced and delivers inspired cooking that may start with a series of bold snacks like goat brain taco or rabbit barbacoa. An ambitious co

Everything you need to know about this restaurant is in the name. Boasting one of the largest mezcal collections in the region, this bright salon puts its bottles front and center at the bar and offers a multitude of flights and finely mixed cocktails. The kitchen, meanwhile, works in traditional flavors. Chile en nogada is a seasonal highlight, along with neatly stacked chalupas smeared in delicate salsas and hearty enchiladas covered in flavorful, classic moles like monchamantelas, pipian verde and poblano. For dessert, the local specialty, cremita poblana, arrives dusted in cinnamon powder