Where to Celebrate a Win! The Best Pulquerías & Mezcal Bars in Mexico City for World Cup Fans

In Mexico City, a football victory doesn’t end at the final whistle. It spills into the streets, echoes through cantinas and finds its natural conclusion in a round of drinks shared with strangers who suddenly feel like old friends. During the World Cup, that celebratory instinct is only amplified and there’s no better way to toast a win than with pulque or mezcal, two drinks that sit at the heart of Mexico’s drinking culture.

Pulque, often described as Mexico’s oldest alcoholic beverage, has been enjoyed for centuries. Made from fermented agave sap, it’s lightly alcoholic, slightly sour and unmistakably alive. For many visitors, it’s a revelation, especially when enjoyed in one of the city’s traditional pulquerías, where the atmosphere is as important as the drink itself.

One of the most iconic places to start is Las Duelistas, tucked away near Centro Histórico. On match days, it fills with locals debating line-ups, reliving goals and clinking glasses of curado, pulque flavoured with fruits, nuts or spices. The walls are covered in murals, the music is loud, and the mood is unapologetically festive. If you’re celebrating a big result, this is exactly where you want to be.

A short journey away, Pulquería Insurgentes offers a more contemporary take. Set in a former theatre, it attracts a mixed crowd of locals, travellers and curious first-timers. DJs often take over the soundtrack, flavoured pulques rotate constantly, and the energy feels tailor-made for post-match celebrations that stretch well into the night.

For those who lean more towards mezcal, Mexico City has no shortage of excellent options. Mezcal bars tend to strike a balance between celebration and conversation, perfect for replaying the match while sampling something smoky and complex. La Botica in Roma is a long-standing favourite, offering an impressive selection and a lively crowd without tipping into chaos. It’s the sort of place where a quick celebratory drink turns into several.

Nearby, Tlecan keeps things smaller and more focused. Low lighting, knowledgeable staff and a carefully chosen mezcal list make it ideal for fans who want to celebrate in style rather than volume. It’s proof that not all post-match nights need to be loud to be memorable.

What makes celebrating in pulquerías and mezcal bars so special during the World Cup is the sense of shared experience. These aren’t venues built around big screens and branding; they’re places where football becomes part of everyday life. You’ll hear different languages, see jerseys from all over the world, and find yourself pulled into conversations you never expected to have.

Food, of course, is never far away. Many pulquerías serve simple antojitos, while nearby street stalls keep the night fuelled with tacos, quesadillas and late-night snacks. Celebrating a win in CDMX is rarely just about the drink, it’s about the whole sensory experience.

For visitors keen to understand this culture beyond a single night, Mexican Food Tours offers guided experiences that explore the city through its food and drink traditions. While the tours themselves take place earlier in the day, they give invaluable insight into neighbourhoods, flavours and customs, making evenings like these feel more authentic and less accidental.

When a World Cup win comes, Mexico City celebrates loudly, generously and together. Whether you raise a glass of pulque or sip mezcal slowly, joining that celebration is one of the most unforgettable ways to experience the city.