Pulquería Las Duelistas
- Getting there
- In Colonia Centro near the Mercado San Juan, walkable from the historic center
Why it’s in the log
Las Duelistas is one of the last proper pulquerías in central Mexico City, serving pulque — a fermented, mildly alcoholic drink made from the maguey plant that predates tequila and mezcal by centuries. The hall is covered floor to ceiling in painted murals, and the crowd is a genuine mix of longtime pulque drinkers and curious first-timers.
Pulque itself is an acquired taste — thick, slightly sour, sold plain or "curado" blended with fruit to soften it — and the staff will steer newcomers toward a curado if asked. It's cheap, unpretentious, and a real piece of Mexico City drinking history rather than a themed recreation of one.
Go on a weekend afternoon or evening when the room is loudest and the murals are easiest to actually take in.
“If you've never had pulque, this is the place to try it — the murals alone are worth the visit.”