Best Restaurants in Queretaro (Outside of Centro)
Queretaro’s restaurant scene may not be as well-known as Mexico City or San Miguel de Allende, but its flair for traditional, contemporary, and international cuisines cannot be denied. With over 150 international companies having their Latin American headquarters in Queretaro, there are plenty of cuisine choices. Queretaro has restaurants ranging from Korean BBQ and Indian vegetarian to Japanese sushi and English fish ’ n ’ chips.
*Updated March 6, 2025
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We Love the Cuisine Variety in Queretaro
If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we are major foodies. Most of our trips are planned around the Worlds Best Restaurants. We’ve eaten at Pujol and Quintonil in Mexico City, Gaggan and Nahm in Bangkok, and El Celler de Can Rocca in Spain. Our trip to Lima, Peru was solely to dine at the 10 best restaurants in the city. We are probably the only people you know that went to Peru and didn’t go to Machu Picchu.
Over the last few months, we have been reacquainted with some old favorites and dined at a few new restaurants. This list is by no means complete. Also, saying they are “the best” is obviously our own opinion. We’ve had several restaurant suggestions that we just haven’t tried yet, but if you are new to Queretaro or have been here for a while, we can highly recommend these fine restaurants outside of Centro for their food and atmosphere.
For our recommended restaurants in Centro read our post:
Restaurants in Centro, Queretaro- Where to Eat for Every Budget
Best Brunch Restaurant in Queretaro (Juriquilla)
Café Premier
Plaza Ubika, Calle Sta. Teresa 502-Local 33, Santa Fé, 76230 Juriquilla, Qro.
What could be better than having brunch in a wine bar? Vinopremier (on this list) opened its doors and kitchen to the creative genius behind Vinaltura winery’s restaurant (also on this list). You’ll find classic breakfast items like chilaquiles and moletes with an upscale Mexican twist that will tickle your taste buds.
But there’s more! We recommend trying the things you can’t pronounce on the menu, like Tlocoyos Ahogados (triangular masa stuffed chorizo verde. My favorite is the succulent rabbit carnitas. Skip the mimosas and shop for the perfect wine to enjoy with your brunch. You are in a wine bar after bar after all.
Best Sushi Restaurant in Queretaro
SOKO Teppanyaki By NAMA
11798 Paseo de la Republica, Epigmenio Gonzalez, El Salitre, 76127, 76146 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro.
Located in an old airplane hanger, SOKO is our new favorite for sushi! We like to sit at the bar and watch the chefs slice and dice. We are slowly getting through the extensive menu, and everything we have tried has been absolutely fabulous.
Tom’s favorite is the Ceviche de Jurel (horse mackerel). As for me, I could eat the duck tacos and the overfilled black cod tacos all day long. These are just appetizers, so save room for the rolls. Classic ingredients are highlighted in the spicy tuna and lobster rolls. The wine list is also impressive. We found an Italian Vermentino (not a common wine in Mexico) that paired well with all of our sushi picks.
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SUM Sushi Bar
Across from City Market at Antea Lifestyle Center in Level 3 building
Torre capita, Av. Antea 1032-local 3, 76127 Santiago de Querétaro
SUM Sushi Bar is a casual place with fantastic dishes. We had the spicy tuna roll, which was at least a foot long, pad Thai, and a sashimi platter. The portions were fantastic for the price, and the food was great. Other items you can try are yakitori (skewers), nigiri, salads, udon noodle dishes, fish, and steak. If we hadn’t been so full, I would have loved to have the yuzu lime cake or matcha crème brûlée. There’s enough variety in the menu for both meat and vegetable eaters to enjoy together.
TIP: Do not park in the underground parking garage. They have problems with the pay machine, and the security guy will not be helpful. Park out on the main street or around the corner.
Furi
Blvd. Bernardo Quintana 26, Calesa, 76020 Santiago de Querétaro
This sushi restaurant is what you would expect to find in New York or Los Angeles. By first impressions, it ticks all the boxes. The valet parking, sleek design, and attention to service have made this our first choice when it comes to eating sushi. The choices are astounding. From ceviche to rolls and hot plates of salmon, you won’t be disappointed. Save room for dessert. The bonsai tree is not only stunning, it’s chocolatey delicious!
Best Italian Restaurant in Queretaro
Restaurant Emilia (Jurica)
Privada de los Industriales 105-Int 3, Jurica, 76120 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro.
There are plenty of fantastic Italian restaurants in Queretaro, but Emilia’s makes you feel like you are in an Italian trattoria. The brick-arched ceilings are gorgeous, and the lighting is perfect for a romantic dinner (though not ideal for food pictures). The wine list features plenty of choices from Mexico and International wine regions. The pasta dishes are excellent. Try the shrimp linguine or the lasagna.
Best Mediterranean Restaurant
CHIOS Cocina Mediterránea
P.º de la República 11555, 76127 Santiago de Querétaro
I had to make a new entry for this one because the cuisine features touches of Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern. CHIOS is fine dining without exorbitant prices. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and the food is absolutely delicious. We had the rice with shrimp, Diavola pizza, and the lamb burger served with tzatziki. The lamb burger was very moist, and the pizza crust was fantastic. For dessert, I couldn’t pass up the pistachio souffle, which was more like a pistachio lava cake. Worth the calories!
Steaks, carpaccio, and salads are also offered. The wine list is extensive and not overpriced. If you have something special to celebrate, like an anniversary or birthday, CHIOS is the place we would recommend wholeheartedly.
Where to Stay?
Many of these restaurants are in Juriquilla, a 20-minute ride from Queretaro Centro. Stay in the modern AC Marriott across from the Antea Lifestyle Center (grocery store and restaurants available), or a boutique hotel in Queretaro, a short Uber ride away.
Best All-Around Restaurant (Pasta, Pizza, Steaks, Desserts)
Hunger
Urban Center Juriquilla, Fixit, 76220 Juriquilla
If you can’t decide what you want to eat, Hunger is the restaurant of choice for all tastes. From handmade pastas, Italian dishes, pizza, steaks, Asian appetizers, tacos, and empanadas, it’s the perfect place for a romantic dinner for two or a group celebration.
Some of our favorites include the short rib ragu, Diavola pasta with grilled salmon, charcoal pizza with grilled shrimp, and the chicken parmesan. Their steaks look good, but we don’t eat steaks very often anymore.
Every month, Hunger features a special menu from seasonal specialties (like Chile en Nogada in September) or Thai cuisine. Save room for dessert because there is always something unique to sample. The wine list is short, but there are some good options, and the cocktails are creative. Plus, they have a gator in their logo, so we Floridians feel right at home!
Best Seafood Restaurant in Queretaro
Santa Mar
Antea Lifestyle Center
You might be surprised by two things. One that the central part of the country has fantastic seafood, and two that one of the best restaurants in Queretaro is in a mall. Antea Life Center is one of the largest malls in the country, and has quite an array of top-notch stores, designers and restaurants.
Santa Mar’s seafood is as fresh as it comes. It’s seasonal menu only shows what’s fresh now. From a spicy peanut aguachile to lobster tacos, salmon, swordfish and oysters, you’ll easily spend all day drinking and feasting on the bounties of the sea.
El Guayabo
Blvd. Villas del Meson 54, Manzanares, 76230 Juriquilla, Qro.
Need a beach break without the hassle of travel? El Guayabo next door to Mision Juriquilla is a palapa-covered bar and restaurant serving fresh seafood dishes and tasty cocktails. Serving large portions that can easily be split among 2 people, this seafood wonderland is the perfect place to “escape” the city life and pretend you are back at the beach with pina colada and fish tacos.
Excellent Mexican Cuisine
Rio Quintana
Prolongación Boulevard Bernardo Quintana, Avenida Universidad Esq, Alamos 1ra Secc, 76160 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro.
This contemporary Mexican restaurant takes familiar Mexican dishes and elevates them with unique ingredients and cooking techniques. Unique moles, whole fish dishes, and season fruit desserts are just a few reasons to dine here. The high ceiling in the dining room and white-shirted servers add an air of elegance. Rio Quintana is an excellent choice for an anniversary dinner.
Best Brewery in Queretaro
Cerveceria Hercules
Av. Hercules Ote. 1, Hercules, 76069 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro.
Craft beers are gaining in popularity in Mexico. Every region seems to have a few local breweries. Cerveceria Hercules offers more than just craft beer. Visit the former textile factory grounds and observe the beer making process, organic garden, and beer garden vibe serving hammburgers, pizza, bratwursts and buffalo chicken sandwiches. With lots of room to spread out, this is a fun place for the whole family.
Hercules has opened a second location called Almacen Hercules off of Blvd. Universadad. On weekends a local mercado selling small production chocolate, cheese and other items welcomes you. Inside, you’ll find the great beer selection along with mezcal drinks, a select food menu and more.
Best Wine Bar in Queretaro
Vinopremier Queretaro (Juriquilla)
Plaza Ubika, Calle Sta. Teresa 502-Local 33, Santa Fé, 76230 Juriquilla
We love Vinopremier, and not just because it’s 10 minutes from our house. They have a large selection of Spanish boutique wines from obscure areas, plus a few big-name brands from Rioja, Italy, and the United States. You’ll also find some of the best Mexican wines to drink along with the delicious Spanish tapas. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram to know when they have special guest chef dinners, wine tastings, and live music.
Best Winery Restaurants in Queretaro
Vinaltura Winery
Ignacio Zaragoza, Sta Rosa de Lima S/N, 76290 Qro.
Vinaltura Winery has the trifecta: wine, food and views. Dine a la carte or try one of their 4-course food and wine pairings focused on Mexican cuisine with Mexican wine. Try a ceviche with Sauvignon Blanc, or carnitas with a Malbec.
The chef experiments with different proteins and moles, and each bite is a culinary masterpiece. The winery features many 100% varietals such as Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtstraminer and Malbec, and tasty red blends made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot and Syrah.
Puerta del Lobo
Carr. Chichimequillas-la Griega, 76249 El Lobo, Qro.
With three different restaurant choices, fabulous wines and a spectacular view anywhere on property, dining at Puerta del Lobo is the perfect way to spend a long afternoon in the country.
Dine at the Restaurante Vertical on tuna tostados shaded by sun umbrellas overlooking the vineyards. Meat lovers will love the grilled meats and tutanas (bone marrow) at the Ruins restaurant within the old walls of long-gone houses. Or get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding mountains at the El Mirador Wine Bar while noshing on local charcuterie and cheese and sipping a sparkling wine.
All the restaurants feature the winery’s wines from Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc to soft red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Syrah perfect that pair perfectly with fish or steaks.
Best Restaurant Atmosphere in Queretaro
Hacienda La Laborcilla
Prol. Corregidora Nte. 911 Bis, Quinta la Laborcilla, 76168 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro.
Consistently listed as the top restaurant in Queretaro on Tripadvisor, this restaurant is a foodie destination of its own. Occupying an 18th century renovated hacienda, the outdoor dining area surrounds a glistening pool under the shade of age-old trees. Located downtown on the edge of Centro near Plaza Boulavares and Costco, you’d never know that this lovely oasis existed. The wine list is superb and we really enjoyed the escamoles.
Best Barbacoa in Queretaro
Barbacoa Hermanos Ibarra
Paseo de la República 11101, 76127 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro.
Many of the restaurants mentioned are fine dining, but I have to give a special shout out to the best barbacoa place we’ve eaten at in Queretaro. Just off Paseo de la Republica (Highway 57) in a wooden structure with one large sign saying BARBACOA, is the perfect Hidalgo-style barbacoa eatery.
This barbacoa place is only open on Saturdays and Sundays until 3pm in the afternoon. Get there early to watch the process of the men unfolding the meat from the pit and women making the mouthwatering tortillas. The tortillas are slightly thicker than normal to hold the juicy lamb meat that practically melts in your mouth. Dress up your taco with their homemade spicy green, red and avocado salsas, sprinkle with onions and cilantro, and enjoy!
We hope you enjoyed these restaurant suggestions. If you dine at any of these restaurants, let us know what you think. And if you have any suggestions of where we should eat next, share your recommendations in the comments below.
Buen Provecho!
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This all looks amazing! While I love Mexican, it’s awesome that you can enjoy so many different types of cuisine in Queretaro.
We love Mexican food, too, but sometimes crave a little international flavor. 🙂
Luckily I read this after dinner, but I think I need a snack right now. The food scene sounds pretty complete in Queretaro. I love that you included a craft cerveceria as well, I like my beer hoppy 🙂
And there’s lots of other cervecerias popping up. The tourism board is working on a Beer Route in Queretaro.
Ok sign me up fo some sushi, seafood and barbacoa in Queretaro!! I absolutely must visit this foodie haven!
Queretaro has all the foodie havens without the high prices!
Yum! Ok now I just realized I need to eat lunch as reading this got me hungry! I would never have imagined so many different cuisines outside of Mexican food. I’d want to try them all except for the sushi (only food I don’t like). More and more I can’t wait to visit!
I hope you get a chance to visit! Queretaro is still not on many people’s radar (which is fine!), but there is a lot to see, do and eat here.
The Barbacoa sounds great and very traditional thats where I would be heading. A tour of the brewery as well sounds right up our alley
The vibes of these places are just terrific!
There certainly are some amazing restaurants in Queretaro. I’d definitely want to visit the best seafood restaurant in Queretaro, Santa Mar. Those oysters look delicious. I’d follow it up with a visit to the brewery.
The sashimi at SUM Sushi Bar looks so insanely good, I almost started licking the screen of my laptop…
Haha! It was incredible! We need to go back soon and order some more dishes. We were very pleased with everything and the portions were huge!