Old Money restaurants in Mexico city / Les Moustaches, an Iconic French Restaurant to Rediscover.
Opened in 1974 by Don Luis Gálvez, Les Moustaches is located in an imposing Porfirian-era mansion with French-inspired design and over a hundred years of history.
By Anna Lagos / Photos courtesy by Les Moustaches
This restaurant has managed to establish itself as an icon of French cuisine in Mexico.
If you're at "home," Luis Gálvez himself will welcome you to the house, which belonged to his grandparents, and will introduce you to the head waiter, who will take care of assigning you a table in the mansion. “When my grandmother died, my mother asked me what we would do with the house, rent it or sell it. There was no other choice. And, before I knew it, I was a restaurateur. I was young, and from there on, it was the real deal,” Gálvez himself recounts.
The decoration wasn't designed by an architect or interior specialist; the mansion actually retains the furniture and tapestries from the 1920s; a mix of French and English style with stained glass windows, high ceilings with chandeliers, and wooden floors.
Among the emblematic dishes that have consolidated the fame of Les Moustaches are the Onion Soup, Snails Provençal, Duck à l'Orange, and Fish Veronique, which is covered with grapes, in a white wine reduction, all topped with a Hollandaise sauce. There's also the Chicken Kiev, a breast that is fried after stuffing it with a fine herb butter, a recipe invented at the Merchants' Club in Moscow at the beginning of the 20th century under the name kotleta po-kievski.
The Sweet and Savory Duck, and the famous Beef Wellington or Black Pepper Steak, complete the place's dishes. Finish with a soufflé, the French dessert made in the oven with a béchamel sauce combined and egg whites whipped to stiff peaks, or the classic crème brûlée.
Under the direction of Chef Rafael Bautista, Les Moustaches has become a recurring destination for ambassadors, politicians, and artists. Les Moustaches is famous for its wine selection, offering good value for money. If you wish to pair the experience, a sommelier can advise you to choose between Mexican, French, Spanish, Chilean, or Argentine wine. From noon, the baby grand piano is played: Les Moustaches is the perfect setting to put on your best tweed ensemble and drape a cashmere sweater over your shoulders.
- Location: Río Sena 88 Between Paseo de la Reforma, C. Río Lerma, and, Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Mexico City.
- Contact info: 55 5533 3390
- Service hours: 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Ideal for: Special celebrations, romantic dinners, and important business meetings.
- Cuisine: French cuisine.
- Payment: Credit cards, debit cards, cash
- Accessibility: Wheelchair access
- Parking: Valet Parking service with private parking.
- Reservations: Recommended, especially for dinners and weekends.
- Nearby public transport: Metrobus Hamburgo
