Mezcalito – Mexican bar and restaurant – has launched its second site in the capital on Newington Green Road in Islington, which opened in May to rave reviews.

On a warm and balmy Friday summer’s evening, we arrived just as Mezcalito opened at 6 pm. We were greeted by smiling and friendly staff and asked to choose our table. We opted for one at the back, where we could see the entire bar and take in the colourful décor, including a wall of comical skulls, and do a little ‘people watching’. The décor was stunning, fun and very Mexican, with shades of blue and green, comfy cushions and dark wood tables and chairs. It all added to the authenticity and ambience.

We kicked off with a cocktail each after perusing the ‘Visit Mexico Through Cocktails’ list. You will find tequila and mezcal-based cocktails inspired by multiple Mexican holiday destinations, all made with ingredients from each individual region. So, of course, it had to be a Margarita, which was delicious, cool and refreshing. We were also tempted to try non-alcoholic cocktails, and I was surprised to see how many were offered – it was refreshing to see such a great choice of mocktails.

We opted for the ‘Puebla’, which we thought was delicious. So delicious, we decided a second was definitely in order! Puebla is a spritz-style drink combining mezcal produced using agaves grown in Puebla – the fruit flavours are popular in this region. This fabulous cocktail involved Puebla Ojo De Tigre Mezcal Ensamble, Aperol, peach purée and Merchant’s Hart hibiscus tonic. You may spot the word ‘Aperol’ in the list of ingredients, but in the non-alcoholic version, they use Crodino, which is an Italian non-alcoholic bitter. We loved it.

On the food menu, you will find a mix of tacos, quesadillas, burritos and a lot of small plates, which are great to share and give you the opportunity to try a bit of everything. We began our evening with a plate of jalapeño peppers, which were filled with cream cheese, coated in crispy breadcrumbs and accompanied by a tangy chilli lime mayo. We also chose a plate of calamari, which we really enjoyed. The tacos arrived for our main course and were accompanied by a side of puréed black beans. We had one plate each of the Pollo Al Achiote and one Camaron Baja style. Each and every dish was presented beautifully on pretty and unusual dishes. It was great to have little plates that are light and tasty, and with a steady flow of cocktails and the background sound of South American music, it created a truly authentic Mexican atmosphere.

Mezcalito offers a bottomless brunch every Saturday, which contains endless frozen margaritas, Prosecco, rosé and Corona for up to an hour and a half, with a live DJ. This is a fun brunch choice. It’s a fantastic venue, perfect with a group of friends, for a couple or for any kind of celebration.

If you are looking for tequila, tacos and a good party vibe, it’s definitely the place to be!

Venue Details

A: 63 Newington Green Rd, London N1 4QU
T: 020 3556 0038
Bookings: mezcalitoislington.com
W: Mezcalito Chelsea

Social Media

TikTok: @mezcalitolondon
Instagram: @mezcalitolondon

Written by India Morse for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International