Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Mexico / Koli, a tribute to Northeastern cuisine
It was founded by three brothers and offers two tasting menus, with 9 and 13 courses. Each dish embodies a theme, showcasing the near-limitless creativity of the Rivera Río family.
By Alejandro Pohlenz
I don’t know if you were aware (I certainly wasn’t). Careful: you can actually lose your Michelin Star! If the quality of the food drops or the chef changes, you risk expulsion. One telling anecdote is that chef Marco Pierre White famously returned his star: too much pressure… he didn’t want to die of a heart attack.
Now let’s teleport to San Pedro Garza García. In 2019, it was chosen as the best city to live in Mexico according to the consultancy “Gabinete de Comunicación Estratégica.” Forbes backed this up, noting that San Pedro is the municipality with the highest standard of living in the country. There you’ll find a magical place with a fitting name: Koli (which means “grandfather” in Nahuatl).
Beginnings and accolades
Koli opened in 2015 and is the creation of three brothers: Rodrigo, Daniel, and Patricio Rivera Río. Each one masters a different realm—Rodrigo is the chef, Daniel the pastry maestro, and Patricio the sommelier and maître d’. A perfect regio trio! As they put it: “Koli’s philosophy is to explore the cuisine of northeastern Mexico—its flavors, culture, and traditions—transforming them into a one-of-a-kind tasting menu full of creativity and top-notch ingredients.”
The restaurant has been featured in Latin America’s Best Restaurants in 2022 and 2023, and in 2024 it earned its Michelin Star.
The tasting menus
Koli offers two tasting menus: one with 9 courses and another with 13. Each dish comes with its own title. Let’s take a look at the 9-course menu, priced at $1,700 pesos.
Origin: egg, loin, and chorizo, Earth: barbacoa, atropellado (a shredded beef preparation), and avocado, Art: jocoque, watermelon, jacube (a wild cactus), and beans, Nature: catch of the day, pipián, cucumber, and coconut, Tradition: mole, suckling pig, and chile piquín, Duality: picanha and beetroot, Ecosystem: succulent, muicle kombucha, bougainvillea jun, and mesquite honey (muicle is a medicinal shrub with orange flowers; jun is a kombucha variation), Ritual: chocolate from Cuna de Piedra (an artisanal Mexican brand), purple prickly pear, and flour tortilla, Modern Tradition: marrow candy, citrus miso, and cilantro
As you can see: original and daring!
- Address: Río Amazonas 224, Colonia del Valle, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León
- Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Best for: Lunch and dinner
- Payment: Cash and cards
- Accessibility: Yes
- Reservations: Required
- Phone: +52 81 9688 7333
- Pet-friendly: No
- Kid-friendly: Yes
- Vegan options: Yes
