Restaurants with terraces overlooking the Zocalo / El Balcón del Zócalo, offering exquisite cuisine and stunning panoramic views.
Restaurant with original dishes and a spectacular view of the Zócalo.
By Alejandro Pohlenz
The construction of the Metropolitan Cathedral took 250 years! It resembles some current messianic works in our country. Due to the delay (construction began in 1571), the cathedral has chia, horchata, and hibiscus styles: that is, Gothic, Baroque, Churrigueresque, and neoclassical... Why do we mention this building which, by the way, had to be "stabilized" in 1990 because it was already falling due to sinking? Because on the other side of 5 de mayo street, that is, to one side, is located, where the Palace of Moctezuma used to be, the Hotel Zócalo Central. It is a 6-story building that not only houses a hotel but also, at the top, boasts the restaurant El Balcón del Zócalo.
Interesting restaurant
According to some users, it is a "refined" restaurant and some people, frankly, found it expensive. As synonyms for refined, we find the words fine and elegant. It seems to me that it is, but also very comfortable, peaceful, and innovative. The commander-in-chief of the kitchen is Pepe Salinas, who changes the menu every season. They say he uses ingredients of local origin, although I don't know if there are octopuses in CDMX.
Menus change every 3 months
There are two menus: one has the name "menu of experiences"; the other is called "chef's selection". I want to review some of the chef's dishes, because in some cases, for those of us who are not very experienced in gastronomy, they require the kind explanation of the waiters. For example, hierba santa is an inflated rice joint, a wafer of cuaresmeño, and a lemon bud. In the DRAE, "porro" means a clumsy person, rude, or a marijuana cigarette, although in this case, we are talking about a kind of cigar. Cogollo is a sprout or the inner part of lettuce...
A dish called libertad contains asparagus crème brûlée and caviar; there is another entitled atole con el dedo: it is a shrimp tamale. In the chef's selection, there is a kampachi tiradito, roasted beet salad (I don't feel like it), milpa broth with rajas poblanas, shrimp sope, creamy duck rice, grilled octopus, totoaba loin, and Sonora beef fillet with chochoyotes (which are small dough balls). Oh, and there is also a "specials" menu: with crab claws, flatbread with wagyu (it's like a wheat flour huarache), tlayuda with escamoles, and beef chop. Once you have deciphered the meaning of the names of these eccentric dishes with your palate, have a digestif and contemplate the majesty of our Cathedral and Plaza Mayor.
- What we love and you should try: kampachi tiradito.
- What we don't like so much: the octopus.
- Address: Calle 5 de mayo 61.
- Hours and days of operation: Every day from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Ideal for: dinner.
- Payment: cash and cards.
- Accessibility: no.
- Parking: valet parking.
- Reservations: yes.
- Phone: 55 5130 5134
- Nearby public transportation: Metro Allende.
- Pet Friendly: no.
- Suitable to go with children: yes.
- Vegan options: yes.
