Sanborns, Historic restaurant in Centro Histórico, Mexico City.
Sanborns occupies an 18th-century palace building where ornate blue and white tiles from Puebla cover the exterior walls. The interior spreads across multiple levels with a coffee counter featuring swivel stools, casual and formal dining areas, a retail section, and a pharmacy.
The Sanborn brothers opened this establishment as Mexico's first soda fountain and pharmacy in 1919, transforming an aristocratic residence into a new kind of public space. This foundation started a dining and lifestyle trend that spread throughout the city.
Staff in pink uniforms serve Mexican and international dishes in the colonial courtyard, maintaining a tradition that connects the space to everyday city life. The dining rooms reflect how locals have gathered here for meals and social occasions across many decades.
The building is easy to navigate on foot with multiple levels connecting different sections smoothly, making access straightforward. Expect crowds during peak hours, especially in the afternoon and early evening.
An elongated coffee counter winds through the interior, connecting different spaces across levels while preserving baroque architectural features that span centuries. This layout creates an informal journey where the path naturally draws visitors deeper into the building's layered history.
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