La Opera

La Opera is an institution harkening to the Porfiriato, a different time in Mexican history where grand buildings were commissioned (Palacio Bellas Artes) in the flavor of the French Belle Epoque. Indeed, upon passing the storefront, one might need to double take to ensure that they are indeed still in Mexico, and not in late 1800s France. The high ceilings are adorned with ornate plasterwork that compete with the food for your attention, and win. While the interior design of a location is a landmark in and of itself, the food and service are not. It seems that the management understands this, and seeks to capitalize on minimal reinvestment into the furnishings, ingredients, and staff. A true Belle Epoque location would have well-trained garcons to match. Unfortunately, we were met by a maître d' with an eccentric half haircut who neither bothered to hide her boredom nor discontentment over her station. What she lacked in customer service skills she made up for in attitude. When our time came to be seated, she motioned to us in the manner one would to get a dog to come to heel. The wait staff were no better, and would sooner drop the food on the middle of the table than provide a pleasant dining experience. The food was mediocre. Unfortunately this place will continue to do fine as they are banking on their appearance. Its lost potential is a shame.

Wandered into La Opera on Avenida 5 de Mayo to have a well deserved cold beer on a hot Sunday afternoon. Had great expectations from this historic place. But the disappointment hit as soon as I sat at the bar. The total indifference and apathy from the bar tenders was such a turn off I felt like getting up and leaving. I was an entertainer for years and the bar business/ staff attitude towards customers is what carries a place regardless of location or decor. I made a comment to myself " do they have service here" and the local gentleman sitting next to me reached out to the indifferent bartender and told him to please take care of the señorita. Yes. Client intervention in CDMX. As a regular traveler to this vibrant city it's the first time I experience bad service at any place anytime. I have no intention of returning to La Opera on my next trip or sitting at one of the fancy tables for food. Not worth it. Adios amigos. I know better places to go while in this amazing city.

They hid my little tacos in a kilo of lettuce.They were the size of my finger. They didn’t bring us forks and there was no music or atmosphere. The soft drinks and water were mini sized and no one came to see if something was needed. Very expensive for what it is. There are many better restaurants in the city center where you can eat better. The ceiling was beautiful but the booths were giving “grandma’s haunted bedroom set”

We came here in May after our walking tour guide suggested it, since it has been visiting by various famous people throughout time. We ordered sopa de medula, salad and an order of tlacoyos. Staff was friendly, attentive and hapoy to make suggestions or give you a mini history lesson of the place. It was a good lunch spot and some menu items do rotate.

You must try ! This establishment has been here forever, even Porfirio Diaz used to be a regular ! Staff is so professional and attentive and the food was great.

Had better food many other places in CDMX, but still perfectly good and more for the beautiful atmosphere and design. Note that the tacos are more like taquitos if you care for that differentiation. Very nice service

My friend said that his grandfather put a bullet in the ceiling in the 1920s. If you can find the bullet hole, please post a picture! It's a famous old cafe from the era where they were trying to look like Paris, and it's the best place for a drink and a rest while walking from the Xocaló to the fine arts museum

This place it's great, the food, the service, they have their own beer and it's great!!

I was part of a group of 20 and the service and food was excellent for our lunch. I had the best chicken molé I've ever had in my life. It was incredible. Their flan has a piece of chocolate with their name on it--such a classy touch! The flan was rich and decadent. I loved everything I ate!

Decent, but pricey compared to other restaurants in the area. You get what you pay for though because it's absolutely stunning inside. I guess it's been around forever and Pancho Villa shot his pistol at the ceiling (lol) and the hole is still there. Compared to the food, the drinks are reasonably priced (around $110-$120 for cocktails). I had one of the daily specials which was the carne enchilada. Portion of meat was a bit skimpy but to be fair they were very generous with the tortillas and complimentary bread. Service was a little lacking. At one point a waiter banged into my chair and barely acknowledged it. Again, something I'd expect to adjust accordingly given that entrees are upwards of $300 pesos. It was a cool experience once but I wouldn't go back, just so many other places to explore and this one didn't stick out to me as being exceptional for the price.

We came here for coffee and dessert after a nice meal in Cafe de Tacuba. The ambience is excellent, with gilded gold decorative ceiling. The price is very reasonable.

Overrated. Horrible service mediocre food at exorbitant prices. Went in on a nit so busy evening, ordered tortilla soup , one taco and one enchilada entree bottled water . Soup came out barely warm , told the server , the host came and microwaved it fir us, lol . Yep for those rates ,then came in entrees same barely warm , tacos were nothing spl , bland and tasteless , same with enchiladas . Bottled water it's y bit Su bottles were 40& then came the bill and the just blatantly asked for a tip , when I said 50$ for the 500$ bill he asked if I can put 50% tip, not a joke . Sense of entitlement and to demand that for less then mediocre service and food for those prices/ Never coming back

It is a very beautiful, yet cozy, place. The food is very good and the service is attentive. It can get quite busy and noisy (musicians), but that is Mexico City in general.

Pretty good drinks, service, and a cool environment. Good spot to spend time with friends. I didn't read about the history until just now, we were just looking for a nice place to kill time befored dinner.

Bland food with no taste. Served super fast and obviously heated. A terrible experience. We left the food basically untouched.

Great service, food, ambience and lovely music. Such an enjoyable experience and we felt far away from the outside hustle and bustle as if we were transported back in time and place. Another must stop like Cafe Tacuba.

Awesome place! Beautiful decor. Live music. Lots of fascinating history. If I lived here I'd be a regular. The food's not great, but the ambiance more than makes up for it.

I love the atmosphere of this place. It's almost like stepping back in time. I sat at the bar and we ordered just an appetizer but it was delicious and held us over til we got some tacos later. I ordered a mezcal and beer and it was priced very good. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to visit a piece of Mexican history and have a great drink.

This is a great place to go for lunch if you are seeing sites in El Centro. The decor is beautiful and you can feel the history in the place. The comfortable seating and spacious layout also feel like an oasis of calm after the crowded streets of El Centro. The wait staff are old school and incredibly professional and prompt. The food isn't necessarily amazing but it's good and the tequila selection is good as well. A detail I thought was illustrative is that they serve a shot of tequila with a plate of limes and a shot of tomato juice as a chaser, in a traditional, polished way. I loved it. There is just something about the place that makes it feel spot on for a relaxing lunch in the area. I've taken several different friends there on different trips to CDMX and each one has agreed.

Delicious food, fantastic service, the best restaurant in our trip to Mexico City! It was a dream to go and sit in the best seat in the house, right under Pancho Villa's historical bullet hole! The service was so amazing and the food was honestly WOW! LOVED IT!

This place is amazing and the food is delicious. We went for dinner during our visit for the Day of the Dead celebration. The service and atmosphere were great also.

Came here as it's one of the oldest bars in CDMX. Interior is nice and old school ornate. This review is only for drinks as we didn't get any food. We were seated right away which is nice. Drinks were very normal, no specialty cocktails really and my drink seemed a bit watered down. Music seemed like it was about to start when we were leaving which would help with the atmosphere! What kind of rubbed me the wrong way is they automatically bring some chips with bean dip to your table. We didn't eat any of it and we're still charged for it. Just seems like an odd thing to do...

A nice restaurant down the corner. Busy on Sunday. Service is pretty slow but reasonable. Gave us tortilla chips which we didn't order, 5 pesos. I mean it's super cheap. But still. Anyway the beans are delicious!

La Opera is a staple in Historico Centro. It's been here for decades. Close to the Palacio de Bellas Artes, it is always busy --especially on Sunday when most museums are free to Mexican nationals. We waited 20 minutes for a table, but once seated we were served promptly. I suspect most locals go here out of tradition. The interior probably hasn't changed much in the decades since it opened. The interior looks and feels like something out of the Roaring 20s. The food is nothing to write home about, so I won't. But it did feel good to honor the tradition of one of the oldest restaurants in Mexico City.

We love Mexico and really are falling in love with Mexico City. My wife found this place, as she always does, as a very unique and famous location in Central. We saddled up to the bar as usual, was greeted quickly, and had our first cocktails. The decor will take you back to the 1800's, the bar reminds me of any old western Brunswick bar you see in the western US. There was a mariachi band playing but not to distractive. The bathrooms were hidden and really kinda cool as well. All in all we had two house cocktails, a beer, a serving of bread/crackers and butter, and a plate of three huge chicken mole enchiladas with a side of beans... however considering this is a $$$ restaurant our bill with tip was $18... Another reason Mexico City kicks ass!!!

I popped in Bar La Òpera for a quick drink after museum-ing. It was a lovely place, filled with gilded ceilings and wood and leather paneled booths. Open since 1876, this bar's claim to fame is the numerous Mexican celebrities and historical figures that ordered drinks under its roof, including Pancho Villa, who left his signature in form of a bullet hole in the ceiling (which you can still see). I sat at the bar and the service was surprisingly slow and inattentive. I ordered a drink called the Cocktail Opera, which was tequila, sweet vermouth, amaro, and seltzer. It was refreshing and just what was needed. They gave me chips and frijoles without my ordering and charged me for it. I wasn't surprised, as it said this would be the case in the menu. It is definitely a place worth checking out, if only for the gilt, the drinks, and a place of respite from the bustle of the Centro Histórico.

One of the oldest bar restaurants in Mexico City near the bustling zocalo area. I went without a reservation and they were able to seat me as I was alone. They have a roaming band of musicians who go from table to table serenading the diners. The food was delicious. I had the salad and a dish from the specials menu. I was able to see the famous bullet hole in the ceiling. Whats up with Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his love for bullet holes in restaurants?? (His other haunt La cueva in Baranquilla also has a bullet hole) If youre in CDMX I recommend you go and have a drink / lunch / or dinner and just enjoy the ambience.

Not impressed. Came here when we first arrived in downtown Mexico City and was disappointed.

The food was decent, slightly overrated. Not bad though. The service was good & fast! Inside this restaurant there is a hole in the ceiling where Pancho Villa supposedly shot a bullet. We were adventurous and tried the escargot because everyone on Yelp said that is what they're known for and we were not disappointed. The sauce is what made these so delicious!!! The queso with chorizo was good too but it got hard quickly. I ordered a flank steak, it was alright, nothing fancy. The drinks were decent too. The chairs in the booth were slightly uncomfortable as they didn't give you much room. Overall, not a bad place.

Prompt service. Great food! Convenient location and easy to get a table. No wait at all.

Loved our visit here! Food was delish and the atmosphere was great too. Cool old building, great live music. We ordered the pollo fajitas, fried whole snapper and the steak at fries. If you are in town this place is a must. Will be back to this restaurant if I return to Mexico City in the future. Definitely recommend. All our food was $48 usd with tip!

Nice ambience and food was ok. Tried the escargot and the Huachinango Veracruzano. Beautiful decor and waiters were attentive. Food was just OK.

We wanted to take a peek at this historical bar and ended up getting a couple drinks and chips and guacamole. The hostess was a bit terse but the wait service was attentive. She pointed us to a table right at the door and said it was only for drink service, no food. We spied the Pancho Villa hole in the ceiling, ohhh-ed and ahhh-ed at the classical architecture, and tried to guess who were tourists and who were native within the bar - it was difficult to tell. Our margaritas were good, though small. The guacamole was very good. It was a fun, short detour in our evening, relatively cheap, too.

I went here twice on my last visit- once for a quick cocktail on a Sunday and another time for dinner on a rainy Monday. The decor immediately hits you when you enter and transports you to Paris. It is beautiful, especially the ceilings. Both times I sat at the bar. The frozen Margherita was served in old fashioned champagne glasses that make you feel like you are in a 1940s black and white movie. Although the drink itself is a little sweet. On a Sunday afternoon it was a lovely crowd but it closed early. It was nearly empty on a rainy Monday. I ordered the octopus Grecian style. And it was good. The portion was nuclear . I could have made it my meal and had leftovers. But I had also ordered the chicken. I wouldn't get that again. I was warned it would take 35 min. It was good but nothing special. The menu has a nice selection of various cultures including some Mexican.

The food was just ok, given the price. I had pork chops, which was fine, but my husband had the t-bone steak, and asked for medium-well done. It came bright red inside and had to be sent back twice, by which time it was inedible :(

Very cool, historic spot! We only came here for drinks but enjoyed the decor and reading about the history. Drinks are very well-priced. The only thing is they gave us a few chips with refried beans, without us asking, at the bar - makes it seem complimentary. I can't even eat most refried beans since I'm vegetarian. Then on our tab we were charged for the beans. It was only 5 pesos which is almost nothing (25 cents USD), so I'm not taking away a star for it, but on principle I find the practice of giving something without even asking if you want it, and then charging for it, to be a bit disingenuous. Again, it was only 5 pesos though, so not a big deal at all. Would definitely recommend checking this place out for drinks and because it's a must for its cool history!

Nice classic spot in the center of the historic district. A block or so away from El Palacio De Bellas Artes. Service was very attentive and the pricing was suburb (especially with the U.S. exchange rate 1/22/17). I would not come to Mexico City without at least stopping in for a beer or cocktail at the bar. I had a chicken soup which came with all the fixings and was legit home-style and reminded me of Mom's. 2 Negra Modelos and an order of Operations Fajitas later and I was set. All for about $15 U.S.D.

We came here after having dinner elsewhere just for drinks and were able to snag two seats at the bar. The ambiance here is romantic and lively. When we were here they had a Trio (three person group) singing and playing live music table to table. The Restaurant has the decor similar to an opera house and the menu looked to appear to have both Mexican and Italian dishes. The service was very kind and professional but I made the mistake of ordering a mojito. Do not order a mojito unless you like club soda with rum and some leaves. They have a full bar so maybe stick to Mexican mezcal. Great for groups but recommend a reservation for dinner.

The grade of this review is somewhat irrelevant. Just got a beer. But they dropped off a small plate of beans and chips in front of all bar guests same as many other bars in the area that I have been too. They ended up on the bill. Only 5 pesos so it doesn't ruin my day or anything. But if you put something in front of me when I didn't ask for it and charge me without saying anything than I will be a little annoyed.

Last dinner in Mexico City and we really enjoyed this restaurant. Kind of brought together all that Mexico has to offer, excellent food, a beautiful space, live music and of course beer and tequila. I wanted something light so got the seafood cocktail my friend got the mojarra Veracruz. The cocktail was fresh and i dumped a large portion of their tomatillo salsa into it. The mojarra(white fish), cooked whole, was moist and cooked in a tomatoey broth with lots of vegetables. Service was excellent, very attentive. It really is beautiful inside, even if you don't have a meal here, the bar area looked very inviting! Loved the live music, just a trio of older gentlemen, working for tips. Can't wait to go back.

Not ve environment good is good and good flavors but little pricey, fresh produce and delicious salsa, clericot is nice

Great food and excellent atmosphere. Place to in the Mexico City. You have to speak Spanish in this place.

Came here on a saturday night. Good fresh bread to start off. A very romantic atmosphere when the band is playing, but they only play a song or two when paid, otherwise they just sit around. Had enchiladas suiza and mojarra veracruzana. The enchiladas where delicious, great balance of sauce and cheese. The mojarra was very good too, cooked to perfection. Now the bad, i got very sick about 4 hours later, most likely was the mojarra, as my partner did not get sick, and that was the only food we didn't share all day.

This isn't just a fancy bar. It is history. I stop here always for a tequila when in Mexico City. Opened in 1876, the place is olden day gorgeous with tin ceiling molding, a huge, ornate carved bar and whatever the wall/mirror behind is called. It has velvet drapes and chandeliers. In 1912, Pancho Villa reputedly rode in on his horse, Siete Leguas, and shot extant holes in the ceiling. Men in suits and women in evening dresses often grace the tables, ordering from a moderately expensive menu. It out-classes me and my pocketbook but the bartenders are always kind to me in my jeans and are tolerantly bemused at my pidgin Spanish. It is well worth the price of a copa on a hot or rainy afternoon to sit in the air conditioning and gawk.

Would have left 5 stars but the server forgot my mother food order but didn't forget to charge us for it. When I asked for the bill I handed over my card with full confidence that we weren't charged for the dish the never came. It wasn't until my cousin pointed it out that I noticed I was wrongly charged. When confronting the server, I asked if he could adjust the bill total to correct amount but he stated there was nothing else he could do but give us the now unwanted dish Togo. We indignantly accepted the poor solution. When the server finally came with the now Togo dish, my cousin explained our discontent and the server ended up giving a cash refund (which he firstly stated was impossible). Pretty great first time except for the giant hiccup but otherwise great luxury dining.

Tourist trap. Hung around cause friends recommended it. It doesn't open for lunch till 1:00. Had tacos, soup, spaghetti, and enchiladas mole. All of it was bland, no taste or flavor. Do yourself a favor, skip this place

Nice place, unique decor, excellent service, live music, the mojarra frita was excellent and the octopus and scargot were perfect for starters, bill for a party of 4 including tip and drinks under $150 not pricey at all taking into consideration what we ate and the service we got, the guitarist even played and sang with my mother in law a peruvian song when he realized that she is peruvian, we had a memorable experience.

We had our last dinner in the city here. Fell in love with the architecture inside right away. We got a booth and it was very nice and clean. Our waiter was really helpful at first. I tried ordering some pork chops but he quickly suggested beef instead and said pork was not so clean ti eat,that I was better off eating beef so I accepted his offer and ordered a beef skirt steak with rice and beans. Their coffee was pretty decent and lemonade was different but ok. Food was good and the environment was great just customer service could have been better.

Loved the red velvet booths where we had lunch today with friends. Their specialty is snails, so my husband enjoyed that, though he thought they were a bit small. I ordered the chicken 'opera' and it was smothered in cheese! Good taste, but not healthy. I did not expect the melted cheese on my fajitas. I also ordered a soup that was not what I envisioned, but very good. Crowded on Saturday, short wait, clean bathrooms, ok clericot, live music in the main room, but we sat towards the back.

Great classical place with a rich history. The bartender is awesome and while we did not eat any dishes, the food presentation was good. If you are looking for a chill old school cantina this is where you want to be.

We had a goood time, the wine and mescal were delicious and the seafood had a nice fresh taste, plus the building is lovely

I've been here quite a few times. This last time was my least favorite experience. Recommended dish was not great(the special) and came out barely warm. On the pricey side for what you get. I love the bar and may start coming in only for a drink.

Classy, French inspired bar... Old school feel with good service. My other half and I enjoyed the traditional live Mexican music "trio." We didn't have any meals here, rather we enjoyed a couple of beers and an appetizer (jamón serrano w/cheese) it is as ehhh alight I guess... I give this place 4 out of 5 because it's classic! The structure takes you back in time. This place is supposed to be one of the oldest(if not the oldest) bars in Mexico City. You should check this place out if your nearby even if you're not gonna eat! If we're so fortunate, we'll be back on our next visit to Mexico City.

What's not to love with an old school bar, with the Pancho Villa history, all that wall panelling, great service and decently tasty food. Loved the pulpo and the sardines. Could have sat there all day, especially once the band started playing and given all the walking we had done that day seeing the sights. Highly recommended refueling station and take a pic pointing your pistols at the ceiling

This place is just amazingly beautiful. That's what great about Mexico city. You can constantly find beauties everywhere you go, and they can be greatly different from one another. The restaurant is low lit and romantic with live music. We found ourselves travel back in time to an old cigar bar in 70s, with high-profile and upper class figures. The place is obviously much more casual now. I got a shrimp cocktail and 100 year-old white tequila. The shrimp cocktail is ok. Tequila came with tomato juice and a lot of lime on the side. My friend got machito/fried intestines, and another got grilled steak and cactus. I like those 2 much better. Have to come back to try the snail mezcal and get a seat at the bar

The decor is nice, the service was great, the food it's just ok. It's a good spot for drinks and some appetizers. The main dishes are a lithe pricey and they're just ok.

Came in for a drink (or two) on the night of August 16, 2014. We sat at the bar 'cause we only wanted drinks. The place was alive and thriving. The bartender knows his alcohol and he's mostly business. I don't recommend their margarita because it's served in a small glass. Like, tiny. It's more like a shot, really. I don't have any pictures to show for, not because there are signs that state not to take any pictures, but because I simply forgot, which is unfortunate; the interior of this place is gorgeous.

Disappointing! Stopped for a drink at the bar, not offered a second drink. Bartender brought us totopos with a plop of beans and then charged us for them!