El Péndulo Condesa

The concept. El Péndulo is not a café with books: it is a bookshop that also feeds you, with a cultural programme of its own. You eat between the shelves, with live concerts, book launches and readings during the week. The Condesa branch, on Nuevo León, is one of the most comfortable for staying put for hours.

What to order. The menu is international and light: ravioli, sandwiches, salads, breakfasts and a long list of coffees, teas and small desserts. It works equally well for an early breakfast, a working lunch with wi-fi, or a drink in the evening.

When to go. It opens at 08:00 on weekdays — 09:00 at weekends — and closes at 23:00, or midnight on Thursdays and Fridays. Weekday mornings are quiet; weekends fill up. Check the programme before you go if a concert interests you. It is at Nuevo León #115, in Hipódromo Condesa, a few streets from Parque México; Metro Chilpancingo and Patriotismo, line 9, are nearby.