Rayo — Restaurant in Mexico City

CDMX 2024 #70, Cocktail Bar #7: our trip to Rayo was incredibly serendipitous.

A friend was in town for the weekend from LA, and as we had a drink at my place, he received a notification that his reservation for Rayo was in 15 minutes. I had just read about Rayo days earlier as they were the second highest ranked Mexican bar on the World's Best Bars North America (yes, these lists aren't the end all be all).

My friend did not remember making this reservation, but seeing as it was a reservation for four and we were four (and that we were a

proudly ranked at No. 17 on World 50 Best Bars - North America. From the moment I entered the lobby, it was evident that an extraordinary experience awaited. Promptly escorted to the second floor, I found myself captivated by the mixology mastery on display at the bar counter.

Meet Lucy, the delightful mixologist extraordinaire behind Rayo Bar, who skillfully guided me through a captivating journey of Mexican beverages, spanning from agave to pulque to sotol and beyond.

What truly elevated the experience was the innovative "Mexican True Senses" concept. Presented with a box of meticulously curated bottles, each numbered and brimming with essential drops, I was tasked with sampling them all to craft my personalized cocktail creation. It was an engaging and interactive experience unlike any other.

With each sip of sotol, agave, and mezcal, my taste buds were treated to a symphony of flavors, each more delightful than the last. Yet, what truly sets this establishment apart is its unparalleled hospitality. A heartfelt shoutout to the entire team for their exceptional service, including their assistance in recommending the perfect spot to continue the festivities next door. Truly a memorable and remarkable evening...

Horrible experience.

We arrived to visit Rayo and the young lady at the front (short, dark hair, on May 26 ‘25 evening) was awful. She told us there was an hour wait for Rayo - with an attitude- so we asked if we could eat the restaurant downstairs. After a while we were seated. Drinks were really over watered and lacked complexity. While down there we saw there were several seats available on OpenTable. Quite frustrating. So we booked one that was ready right away and head back to the front. She said “aren’t you the ones that tried to get in a moment ago?” We explained we got a res and she asked us to wait to the side with no explanation. After this we saw several groups go up one after another. We were frustrated as it seemed like she was discriminating against us so I checked with her again and she kept saying we had to wait 5 more minutes but wouldn’t explain why even after asked. We waited 20 mins with no movement, asked her one last time and finally left.

This is ridiculously poor service. Use OpenTable to book and hope you don’t...