Wondering where to eat in Querétaro? Whether you’re craving authentic Mexican cuisine, fresh sushi, flavorful Indian curry, or buttery French pastries, Querétaro’s diverse restaurant scene has something to satisfy every palate.
Thanks to its thriving economy and more than 150 international companies with operations in the region, Querétaro has developed a remarkable international restaurant scene. It may not receive the same culinary attention as Mexico City or nearby San Miguel de Allende, but the city’s dining options rival those of many larger destinations. From traditional Mexican cantinas to Korean barbecue, Japanese sushi, Indian cuisine, Italian trattorias, and classic English fish and chips, there’s something here for every taste and budget.
Online review sites on “where to eat in Queretaro” can be helpful, but it’s often difficult to know whether recommendations come from locals who know the city or visitors who only experienced a handful of restaurants. After living in Querétaro for years and dining our way across the city, we’ve discovered the restaurants we return to again and again.
To make choosing easier, we’ve organized our favorite restaurants by the time of day you may be dining. We have everything from budget-friendly eateries to fine dining in Querétaro, and even a few extras to satisfy your sweet tooth, beer o’clock, and romantic rooftop views.
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Best Breakfast Café in Querétaro
Café Breton
Add a French twist to your breakfast or brunch at Café Breton. This charming French café is one of our favorite places. Freshly baked croissants, buttery pain au chocolat, Croque Madame, quiches, artisan breads, and authentic Mexican coffee make it the perfect spot for a leisurely breakfast before exploring the Historic Center.
Grab some friends, order different things, and share the delicious dishes that you know you’ll have to spend an extra two hours on the treadmill for, but it will be worth it.
Don’t miss: The Quiche Lorraine or the many desserts.
Best Casual Lunch Restaurants in Querétaro
Torta Willy’s
Torta Willy’s is a tiny sandwich shop with just a counter and a handful of tables serving over 20 different tortas. This isn’t a fancy place, but if you are nostalgic for mom-n’pop sandwich shops, this place is perfect. The bread is beautifully squishy, and paired with a real glass-bottled Coca-Cola, it’s awesome!
My favorite is a chicken or pork milanesa with spicy jalapeños and sauce. If you need something quick and inexpensive, Torta Willy’s satisfies both.
Perfect for: Budget-friendly lunches.
Hago Su Taco (Make Your Taco)
If you’re searching for an authentic taco place with authentic fillings, Hago Su Taco is the place to go. This hole-in-the-wall local favorite serves handmade tacos, quesadillas, and sopes filled with your choice of guisados, ranging from chicken tinga and shredded beef to rajas and queso. The flavorful salsas are prepared from fresh ingredients. It’s very casual, and the affordable prices make it a fun “local experience” for visitors.
Location: Place your back to Templo de Santa Cruz. Walk to the right down C. Felipe Luna Sur. Hago Su Taco will be a doorway on your left marked by an orange awning. There are only a few tables, so go early.
Bluefish
Many people are surprised at the quality of seafood we have in Queretaro, but it’s as fresh as if you were in Baja eating on the beach. Order some fish tacos, shrimp aguachile, or a ceviche (or two). Everything about this little restaurant will surprise you, in a good way, from the delicious cuisine to the colorful décor. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner.
María y Su Bici
Another authentic Mexican restaurant to try is María y Su Bici. This restaurant has a few locations between Queretaro and San Miguel de Allende, and each location has its own personality. The Centro restaurant on Calle 5 de Mayo is decorated with indigenous textiles, vintage bicycles, and folk art that create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The menu highlights Oaxacan specialties, including rich moles, tlayudas, quesillo, and regional drinks like pulque, a traditional fermented agave beverage.
The two things you probably will have a hard time finding at any other restaurant are pulque and insect dishes. We recommend the chapulinas con guacamole. These are small, fat grasshoppers sautéed in chili oil and served with tortillas and guacamole. Wrap them up in the tortilla with guac, and you won’t even know you’re eating insects.
Perfect for adventurous eaters.
Best Brewery in Queretaro
Jardín Hércules & Almacén Hércules
Jardín Hércules is located inside a beautifully repurposed textile factory, which makes this more than just a restaurant. Hércules Brewery is the largest craft beer producer in Queretaro. It was started by an American who worked at Ybor City Brewery in Tampa and his Mexican brother-in-law.
Spend a weekend afternoon sampling craft beer brewed on-site, buffalo chicken sandwiches, bratwurst, or a variety of tacos while dining among large-scale textile machinery. Visit in October to celebrate a Mexican-German Oktoberfest.
In another production building, rooms have been converted into clothing, art, and soap shops. A luxury hotel and spa are located adjacent to Jardín Hércules.
If you don’t have time to travel 10 minutes out of the city to Jardín Hércules, Almacén Hércules is located on Blvd. Universidad, and an easy walk from Mercado de la Cruz. You can try a number of their beers paired with pub food.
Barbacoa, Wine, and Beer Tour
For those who have limited time but still want to see and taste the local cuisine, this tour is perfect for you. This tour features lamb barbacoa, a specialty in the Hidalgo and Queretaro region, fantastic red wines at an organic family winery, and beer from the best-known craft beer producer in the state of Queretaro. Check out the tour details here.
Best Chocolate Shop in Queretaro
La Fábrica de Chocolate
For chocolate lovers, La Fábrica de Chocolate is an essential stop while exploring Centro Histórico. Stop in for a coffee or hot chocolate in the morning, and try the Chocolate Sampler: three different dipping chocolates or ice cream served with freshly made warm churros. They have other chocolate desserts on their menu, but this is what I always get, and it’s delicious! My favorite chocolate is 65% from Tabasco in southern Mexico.
I recommend planning your day so you have to pass by La Fabrica de Chocolate at least twice. Luckily, there are a few locations throughout the historical center.
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Best Dinner Restaurants in Querétaro
All of these restaurants are open for lunch as well, and some are even open for breakfast. You can walk to these restaurants in Centro except for Rio Quintana and La Laborcilla.
Restaurante 1810
Situated right on Plaza de Armas, Restaurant 1810 is a favorite among locals and tourists. Its elegant terrace provides front-row views of one of Querétaro’s most beautiful colonial squares, the centerpiece of many celebrations in the historic center.
Restaurante 1810 serves refined Mexican and International cuisines, like Chipotle shrimp pasta, Chamorro, and chicken breast stuffed with serrano ham and provolone cheese with a mango sauce. Pair your dish with an excellent Mexican wine, attentive service, a little live music, and the view, and you have the perfect restaurant for any special occasion. And don’t forget dessert. Our friend, Donna, says Restaurante 1810 serves the best flan in the city.
Perfect for romantic dinners, celebrations, and feasting on the national dish, Chile en Nogada, in September.
Tikua Sur Este
Mexico has many regional cuisine specialties, and Tikua Sur Este is a fantastic restaurant to try Oaxacan and Mayan cuisine. Tikua showcases old recipes of indigenous cultures from Southeast Mexico. Handmade tortillas, fresh seafood, and bold moles are just a few things you can expect from this distinguished restaurant.
You may not recognize all the names of the ingredients on the menu, but you are getting authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine, not the dumbed-down version for foreigners that can’t handle Mexican spice. In fact, you’ll have a hard time deciding on just one or two dishes.
Perfect for date nights and old friends catching up.
Hacienda La Laborcilla
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, Hacienda La Laborcilla has the WOW factor.
This spectacular 18th-century hacienda feels like a luxury resort hidden in the middle of the city. As you walk in, your gaze will be mesmerized by a huge open-air courtyard dotted with trees and statues surrounding a rectangular pool.
The building around the courtyard has several rooms with Egyptian, Greek, and Roman sculptures. In the back, Carter Bar, a hip cocktail bar, serves creative cocktails along with a long list of wines and spirits. The menu combines international cuisine with Mexican influences. Try the escamoles and seafood dishes, but leave room for dessert.
Perfect for romantic dinners and groups
Río Quintana
Río Quintana elevates familiar Mexican dishes through modern techniques and beautifully presented seasonal ingredients. Its soaring ceilings, sophisticated dining room, attentive white-tablecloth service, and creative cocktails make it one of our favorite choices for anniversaries, birthdays, or showing our friends that Mexico is more than just tacos.
Perfect for fine dining lovers.
Best Rooftop Views in Queretaro
Terraza La Grupa
This rooftop restaurant’s relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere makes it the perfect place to enjoy an aperitivo before dinner. Sip on a handcrafted cocktail or a glass of regional wine while sharing creative small plates and taking in the panoramic views.
As the sun sets behind the city’s domes, church steeples, and colonial rooftops, church bells echo across the historic center (you might even see the kid pulling on the rope to ring the bell!). If you’re planning a romantic evening or celebrating a special occasion, arrive just before sunset for the most spectacular scenery.
One thing to keep in mind: there is no elevator, so you’ll need to climb four flights of stairs to reach the rooftop. Trust us—the breathtaking views at the top are well worth the effort.
Perfect for sunset celebrations with a loved one or friends.
We hope this collection of our favorite restaurants inspires you to explore Querétaro, and each restaurant leaves you with lasting memories of our beloved city.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in Querétaro that we should add to our list? We’d love to hear your recommendations as we continue discovering and sharing the city’s incredible culinary scene. ¡Buen provecho!
Keep this list handy on your Globe Thrivers app
The Globe Thrivers app can keep lists and itineraries of places you want to travel to. Addresses are saved, and a handy map is easy to use. Click here to see this list on the app and explore more lists and itineraries.