Mezcalero & Tapas

What is Mezcalero & Tapas? Perched on the second floor at 509 Bloor Street West above the Annex bustle, Mezcalero & Tapas welcomes guests through distinctive pink doors into a moodily lit lounge styled with exposed brick, deep blue walls, and rich leather seating. Conceived by Annex restaurateur Nick Ndreka (the operator behind neighbouring favourites Victory Café and Crafty Coyote), the space is designed as an upbeat Mexican cocktail parlour and evening social club. Roll-up garage doors open into a sprawling, raised second-storey patio that overlooks the corner of Bloor and Bathurst.

Mezcalero & Tapas Menu & What to Order The kitchen turns out agave-infused Mexican tapas and shareable plates tailored to accompany an extensive selection of mezcals and tequilas. Start with the Guacamole Bar served with house totopos, root chips, and pickled cactus salad, followed by grilled esquites tossed in cotija cheese and homemade mayo. The standout dish is the Mez Fried Chicken—marinated for 24 hours, crusted in corn flour and cornflakes, and served alongside a mezcal pasilla dip—alongside the charred Octopus À La Parrilla with papas bravas. For drinks, sip the house Mezcalerita with Oaxacan mezcal and pineapple or a grapefruit Mezcal Paloma, before closing with cinnamon churros and airy ChocoSol chocolate mousse.

Know Before You Go Patio seating and dining tables fill fast on weekend evenings when resident DJs take over the sound system, making reservations via OpenTable highly recommended for groups. Bathurst subway station sits less than a two-minute walk to the west, offering an easy commute without dealing with limited Green P street parking along Bloor. The establishment runs evening service starting at 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, with weekend service starting earlier from 10:30 a.m. for brunch.