Iconic Places for Mezcal in CDMX / El Gusto Histórico: Mezcal Tastings and Dining in the Historic Center
In the labyrinth of aromas and flavors at Mercado de San Juan, there hides a small shrine dedicated to the god mezcal.
El Gusto Histórico isn’t a restaurant but a cozy bar with limited seating, where the ritual of mezcal tasting takes center stage. Here, you’re guided through a small tasting menu that includes food, all curated to enhance the mezcal experience.
What Happened to Mercado de San Juan?
Let’s be honest, there’s a forced pretension at Mercado San Juan. Its evolution has led it to resemble a tourist trap. Choosing the right spot is crucial, as not everything that shines in CDMX is gold, as Cortés and Alvarado found out.
At El Gusto Histórico, Cornelio Pérez and Ursulino Rueda, two seasoned mezcal experts, welcome you with a knowing smile, eager for you to take a seat at the bar and embark on what lies ahead.
The tasting menu is designed to surprise and provoke. It takes you on a journey through the history of mezcal, from its pre-Hispanic origins to the contemporary expressions that emerged when Diego Luna and Gael García dominated the city and its billboards. Rest assured, they know their stuff here, and it's time you learn about espadín and pechuga so you don’t speak out of turn. Ask questions—answers and truths are guaranteed.
Each menu includes three mezcals from Cornelio and Ursulino’s personal selection and three dishes: three savory and one dessert. My experience included a bitter cream of quintoniles, a pipián with melon seeds, apple, hoja santa, chili, cinnamon, pepper, and an array of elaborate Mexican ingredients. For dessert, we had a rose petal tamal with hibiscus, filled with hibiscus flower and cabuche, the flower of the red biznaga.
Please, don’t be fooled by the hosts' seriousness. Everything is designed to make you laugh with the stories they'll share.
El Gusto Histórico is intimate. They will guide you through their treasures and quirky designs, ensuring you’re not left to your own devices with mezcal’s high alcohol content. The mezcals are selected from a network of local producers they’ve cultivated over the years.
If you're looking for something unusual, original, and truly want to learn, El Gusto Histórico is for you. You’ll leave with a memorable experience, albeit a bit tipsy. “Mezcal makes you magical,” as they say in Oaxaca.
- Address: 2° Calle de Ernesto Pugibet 21 Local 184, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX
- Phone: 55 1451 7695
- Hours of Operation: Thursday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
- Type of Food: Mexican cuisine and mezcal
- Payment: Cash and cards
- Accessibility: Yes
- Parking: No
- Reservations: Not required
- Public Transport Nearby: Metro Salto de Agua, Metrobus Mercado San Juan
- Pet Friendly: No
- Suitable for Children: No
- Vegan Options: No
