These Vegan Bakeries Prove Mexico City Does Indeed Have an Excellent Bread Culture

Mexico has a distinct and deeply rooted bread culture. Although wheat is not native to the country, it has been cultivated there for centuries. Following colonization, European baking traditions blended with indigenous ingredients and techniques, resulting in a uniquely Mexican approach to breadmaking.

Today, scholars estimate that as many as 2,000 types of breads and pastries are produced across the country—a testament to centuries of culinary evolution.

So, with that in mind, it’s easy to see why British baker Richard Hart, owner of Mexico City’s Green Rhino Bakery, caused an uproar when he suggested that Mexico doesn’t really have “much of a bread culture.”

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Hart made the comments on the PopFoodie Radio podcast in April 2025, though they didn’t gain widespread attention until the end of the year. In the interview, he criticized Mexican wheat as being “highly processed and full of additives,” and dismissed tortas as being made on “white ugly rolls that are pretty cheap and industrially made.” The rolls he was referring to are bolillos, a savory, crusty, oval-shaped bread that is a staple of everyday eating across the country.

Unsurprisingly, the remarks struck a nerve, not only because many viewed them as inaccurate, but because they came at a moment when tensions around gentrification in Mexico City were already running high.

Bread, gentrification, and cultural tension in Mexico City

Over the past year, residents have taken to the streets in large numbers to protest rising rents, growing tourism, and the spread of unregulated short-term rentals. 

Against that backdrop, Hart’s comments were widely interpreted as emblematic of a broader cultural disconnect. On TikTok, pastry chef Tania Medina suggested Hart “wants to be the Christopher Columbus of bread.” She added: “It’s not fair for you to stomp on where you’re going to open, and even less so if it’s not your country and that country is welcoming you with so much affection, so much love.” 

Others directed their criticism toward Hart’s business itself. His bakery is located in Roma Norte, an area widely regarded as one of the city’s most gentrified neighborhoods. Speaking to The Guardian, Rodrigo Sierra, who made a viral Instagram video on Hart’s comments, argued that dismissing bolillos as “ugly” overlooked their role in serving communities that cannot afford premium-priced bread.

“Classifying [bolillo] as an ‘ugly’ bread just because it serves the needs of a population that can’t spend 100 pesos on the bread that this baker sells in his bakery seems to me like a very poor point of view,” he said.

Hart has since apologized for his comments. “Since I moved to Mexico, I fell in love with the people and this city,” he said in an Instagram statement. “However, my words did not reflect that respect – in this country, I am a guest, and I forgot to act like one.”

The reality is that great bread in Mexico City is everywhere. Vegan celebrity chef and cookbook author Eddie Garza points to the constant crowds outside Rosetta, for example, which is a popular neighborhood bakery he frequents in Mexico City (it offers a few accidentally vegan options).

Garza emphasizes, however, that the city’s true culinary reputation lies in its over-the-top tortas: hearty sandwiches built on soft bolillo rolls. Among the standouts are the pambazo, soaked in guajillo chile sauce and filled to order; the torta de chilaquiles, a beloved local favorite stuffed with saucy fried tortillas; and the “infamous” guajolota—an indulgent creation that stuffs an entire tamal into a sandwich and layers it with additional toppings.

5 bakeries offering some of the best vegan bread and pastries in Mexico City

If you’re looking for exceptional bread in Mexico City, you’ll find it in panaderías, markets, and street stalls throughout the city. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the best all-vegan bakeries worth seeking out. But, in truth, this list barely scratches the surface of what Mexico City has to offer. Accidentally vegan gems can also be found in traditional bakeries throughout the city.

Peace of Cake

1 Peace of Cake

Founded in 2015, Peace of Cake is still going strong more than a decade later. The bakery’s chocolate rolls immediately stand out—soft, fluffy spirals filled with cashew-based chocolate and finished with a sweet glaze. Other tempting sweet breads include orange scones, cinnamon rolls, chocolate doughnuts, and the No Gansito, a vanilla bread with frosting and jam coated in chocolate—a vegan take on the popular Gansito. 

I Quit

2 I Quit

Also in Roma Norte, you’ll find the popular vegan bakery I Quit. Its cinnamon rolls are particularly beloved, but its brunch menu is also well worth lingering over, featuring dishes like French toast, flaky croissants, and specialty coffee made with a variety of dairy-free milks.

Vegamo

3 Vegamo

For a vegan feast in Mexico City, Vegamo should be at the top of your list. The café offers a wide range of savory options—including waffle sandwiches and smoked eggplant enchiladas—but its sweet breads, such as banana marble bread and pear-and-cardamom loaf, are not to be overlooked.

Miga Vegana

4 Miga Vegana

For vegan pan dulce, including croissants and chocolatines, Miga Vegana in Roma Sur is calling your name. Savory offerings, such as pizza rolls and hearty vegan meat sandwiches, will also keep you coming back for more.

Cafe Vegetal

5 Cafe Vegetal

If you’re craving cinnamon rolls, housemade cakes, and rich vegan brownies, Cafe Vegetal is an easy choice. Make sure to settle in with a cup of traditional Mexican hot chocolate, or opt for an organic coffee or matcha, for the full experience.