Land in Guadalajara and it gained’t take lengthy earlier than you’re feeling thirsty. Blue agaves enhance the panorama, mariachi music rings within the air, and billboards for tequila pepper the panorama. Good factor we’ve bought you coated with the very best locations on the town to take pleasure in a very good tequila, nibble on tasty botanas and meetup with associates, outdated and new. Right here they’re, in no explicit order:
Cantina La Fuente
Really feel like laughing, crying, or breaking out in music over a very good tequila? Then we have now simply the place for you within the historic heart of Guadalajara. Cantina La Fuente, established in 1921, looks like an outdated saloon, full with an outsized picket bar, old-school tables, and a piano at heart stage. However don’t let the traditional really feel idiot you – this bar is brimming with modern-day metropolis life: coworkers gathering for a drink within the late afternoon, mixing with college college students and international vacationers.
The workers is pleasant and responsive—drinks come fast and comparatively low cost. There’s not a variety of selection relating to tequila, however they’ve Siete Leguas, which is about all you want at a very good cantina in our opinion, and attractive sangrita as effectively. As a bonus, nut and snack sellers steadily make the rounds, so you possibly can carry on ingesting and singing into the evening.
Cantina La Fuente
Calle Pino Suárez 78, Zona Centro, 44100
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Cantina La Occidental
This classic-style cantina located within the “Las Nueve Esquinas” (9 corners) space of Guadalajara—a historic downtown zone stuffed with native flavors and traditions—is way newer than La Fuente, however it looks like a well-worn authentic. Cantina La Occidental options superbly tiled flooring, cozy tables, and attention-grabbing paintings on the partitions.
Don’t be stunned when the free “botanas” arrive at your desk. Plates of meals, like spicy sausages, marinated boiled potatoes, popcorn, and nuts, will magically seem the extra you drink. A legit cantina expertise!
The service is superb and also you’ll have extra decisions relating to tequila. The bar contains about 15 completely different tequila manufacturers, together with our favourite merchandise from Calle 23, Cascahuin, Tequileño, and Siete Leguas.
With two flooring, there’s normally loads of room for you and all your pals, even on a busy evening. As a bonus, they’re open on Sundays, which is uncommon for a cantina, and infrequently characteristic dwell music to sooth you into the workweek, in addition to soccer matches on the TVs.
The subsequent time the World Cup comes round, you’ll little doubt discover us there, cheering for Mexico.
Cantina La Occidental
Calle Nueva Galicia 911, Centro, 44100
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
El Gallo Altanero
Tucked behind a classy espresso bar, on the second flooring of an outdated home, the “haughty rooster” is El Gallo Altanero, the most effective locations in Guadalajara to order a tequila or mezcal cocktail, or pattern native distillates neat with a educated workers. Proprietor Nick Reid and his spouse Lupita moved from Australia to get into the tequila enterprise (Nick is co-owner of the Tequila Tromba model). They opened this full of life bar, which often fills with trade folks and locals alike, with the intention of giving voice to the small tequila manufacturers which are usually ignored.
Together with pouring tasty spirits, El Gallo additionally serves wonderful bar meals. (The huitlacoche quesadillas are a few of our favorites!)
It is a must-visit place. You by no means know which tequila character you’re going to fulfill, or when the complete bar will get handled to a free shot of Tromba Blanco. Keep there lengthy sufficient and also you’re prone to expertise each.
El Gallo Altanero
Calle Marsella 126, Lafayette, 44160
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
De La O Cantina
One other excellent place to sip and nibble within the historic heart is the De La O Cantina (pronounced “D’lao”, quick for “to the aspect” in Spanish, since sits it’s subsequent door to Pare de Sufrir Mezcalería). This new spot, opened in December of 2017, has a pleasant vary of Mexican distillates, together with Mexican rum, gin, and naturally, the very best small batch tequilas and mezcals. The menu boasts some scrumptious cocktails too, however don’t ask for a mezcal cocktail. They need you to drink mezcal the way in which the individuals who make it meant—derecho.
And, irrespective of how a lot you suppose you won’t like pulque, strive the pulque! (The celery flavored model is our favourite.) Belief us – it’s wonderful. As is their “tepache”, a fermented beverage created from pineapple. The bar’s proprietor, and Louisiana native, Braden LaGrone, generally mixes the 2 only for enjoyable, and also you get an actual deal with. The normal meals, akin to cecina and panela cheese, is tasty as effectively.
The bar closes at midnight (final name is 11:30) and the kitchen ends service at 11pm, so go early and hope you get swept up in an after-party as soon as the doorways shut.
De La O Cantina
Calle Argentina 70, Americana, 44160
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Responsible (Now closed completely)
(NOTE: Sadly, they closed down through the pandemic.) Grover and I usually speak about wanting to return to pre-boom San Francisco, when you possibly can “uncover” a cool bar with down-to-earth workers and wonderful cocktails, that’s not crowded with hipsters. (Earlier than Yelp had unearthed completely each hidden jewel, leaving nothing unknown!)
Properly, you’ve got the prospect right here in Guadalajara (for now) with Responsible, a chic bar with nice cocktails, craft beer, and a severe spirits listing that may have you ever sampling all evening. Come for a dinner as effectively—the meals is contemporary, creative and scrumptious.
That is additionally a fantastic place for a date evening since there’s loads of room to have an intimate dialog, away from the opposite patrons. The bar has a romantic Artwork Deco vibe, and your date will little doubt be impressed that you just invited them to this hidden jewel.
Responsible
Calle Gral Coronado 75-A, Zona Centro, 44600
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Salón Monterrey
We spend a lot time at this tequila-focused bar in Tlaquepaque’s historic Parian that we’ve dubbed it “La Oficina” of Tequila Matchmaker. Should you love all issues classically Mexican, as we do, you possibly can’t miss this well-known 140-year constructing (made up of linked bar/eating places), the place teams of mariachi roam 7 nights every week, and conventional dancers take heart stage without cost night performances. There are a variety of locations to selected from right here, however Salon Monterrey stays our favourite for its in depth tequila choice, curated by bar supervisor Augustín, who has labored there for many years!
Come, sit down for tequila and guacamole, whilst you benefit from the liveliness of the city, and the music within the air.
Professional tip #1- If you wish to do severe tequila enterprise, like we do, sit on the skin of the sq. the place the mariachi aren’t as loud, maybe at our “La Oficina” desk.
Professional tip #2- Take a photograph of your self at our desk and share it on-line, and we’ll share it too! Should you’re a member of the Tequila Matchmaker group, we’ll even award you a “La Oficina” badge in your profile.
Professional tip #3- When you’re within the neighborhood, remember to stroll 1 block away and go to the two greatest tequila shops in Mexico: El Buho and Nuestros Dulces.
Salón Monterrey
Calle Progreso 21, Centro, 45500
San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico
Quinta Don Jose Tequila Bar
Tucked away in a stunning boutique resort in Tlaquepaque is a restaurant bar that boasts a number of nice tequilas you’ll hardly ever discover in Mexico. Pattern flights, and beautiful expressions of each the Los Altos and Tequila Valley areas of tequila nation.
Full disclosure—we’ve been visiting the Quinta Don Jose for years and are extremely biased, however for good purpose. Their hospitality, pleasant workers, and charming property make it really feel like our second dwelling, in order that they requested us to assist curate their tequila choice. Selfishly, we packed the place with all of our favorites. Saddle as much as the bar and ask Charlie (pictured, above) to pour you one thing particular.
In fact, additionally they have a full restaurant menu of Italian and Mexican fare, so take pleasure in a scrumptious meal and dwell music most nights.
If you’re a tequila lover, this can be a excellent place to remain. Not simply due to the tequila choice, but additionally due to its central location to each the Los Altos and Tequila Valley areas.
Quinta Don Jose Tequila Bar
Reforma 139, Centro, 45500
San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico
Conclusion
These are our picks—for those who’ve been to tequila nation, the place do you wish to drink? Fortunately, new locations are popping up fairly usually, so we’ll replace our listing as wanted.
And right here’s another professional tip: Remember to set up the Tequila Matchmaker app, which accommodates a database stuffed with tequila-friendly bars, eating places, and retail shops in cities world wide, together with Guadalajara.
It might map you to all the locations on this listing (and extra) with ease. Simply faucet on the “close by” button on the underside navigation and begin exploring. Then, inform us that are your favourite locations within the feedback beneath. (In case your favourite tequila locations aren’t listed but, tell us so we will add them!)
Salud!
