Where can you find one of the best Mexican/Guatemalan inspired tequila bars?

In Surry Hills, Sydney of course.

I grew up in Southern California where the Mexican culture spills across the boarder and mixes with our own. My loving and beautiful Mexican nanny, Letty, helped raise me and didn’t speak English until my parents sent her to night school. My first word was patos, short for zapatos- shoes in Spanish.

I feel like I am an ok judge for the authenticity of the mood they were trying to create and convey. I tell you what I think- this place captures the essence of Mexico exactly (the good essence). Funny, too, since none of the owners had ever been to either Guatemala or Mexico. They just read everything they could find on it and went for it, spending 6 months gutting and remodeling the bar. A gutsy move for Australians, considering the only Mexican food chain here is called Montezuma’s. No joke. For those of you who don’t know what that means just Google it and add revenge to the end.

When you walk into the bar you feel like you stepped outside onto a Mexican patio- complete with mismatched flamingo and watermelon string lights- which is weird because the whole bar is inside, with no outside area. They play great music and behind the bar is the most bizarre collection of décor, which is so Mexico. The drink menu is written on the back of post cards. The bartenders are genuine, hospitable, and (more importantly) hand out bags of delicious popcorn sprinkled with paprika and chili powder. The drinks are wonderful, with strange twists (apple juice and tequila?), made with fresh ingredients and very flavorful. The Bloody Mary and Roberto Especial are my favorites, both garnished with thick slices of cool cucumber.

If you are looking for a fun place to hang (after 11pm I hear it gets pretty wild), that is totally different from anywhere in Sydney, I recommend Tio’s for an exotic, unusual and totally enjoyable experience.