On Sunday I went to the cantina Agustin, near to the Mercado de la Merced.

Cantinas used to be a place for the men to go - I wonder if they were the working mens clubs of Mexico? 

Women were first allowed into cantinas in 1983. 

In the photo above you can see a trough in front of the bar - in the old days this was the urinal - right there in the middle of the cantina.

On the legs of the tables are little shelves where you can put your drinks, leaving the table-top free for games.

AND... I was allowed to go into the kitchen to meet the cooks, and take photos of the food being prepared!

That's mole in the big pan.

And these are the quesadillas with cheese inside that I took home with me... delicious.