Amigos and amigas! Take a rain check on that siesta and get ready to fiesta because we’ve found Canberra’s best Mexican restaurants and bars so you don’t have to! A guaranteed fun (and spicy) time with plenty of margaritas and tacos to go around, gather your friends and enjoy both authentic and reimagined delicious Mexican in the capital.
Paloma’s
A vibrant Mexican-inspired bar and restaurant with relaxed Latin-style share plates, authentic Mexico City style tacos, and plenty of tequila, Paloma’s is perfect for effortless unwinding and easy drinking for casual catchups. Following in the style of its namesake cocktail, being 3 parts grapefruit, 1 part tequila; Paloma’s is 3 parts bar, 1 part restaurant. Just looking for an after-work or weekend drink? Trying one of their flavoured margaritas or frozen daiquiris is a must, or their Mexican Larger in collaboration with Capital Brewing Co. For food, pair your drinks with fresh ingredients that pack a punch, including oysters with a Mexican mignonette, tuna tostadas, kingfish sashimi and tacos.
Cartel Taqueria
Fully loaded and flavour-packed, expect to get a little messy at Cartel Taqueria. While their taco menu is inspired by traditional birria beef tacos, their flavours are unique and much larger. Sure to hit the spot, think classic birria beef, pork shoulder with caramelised onion, and garlic butter king prawns with caramelised pineapple. Encouraged to wash it down with one of their famous frozen margs, which they make completely from scratch (apparently this is very hard to do), you’ll be coming back for seconds when forced to choose between chilli mango and passionfruit coconut.
Cabo
Taking you to a place where tequila reigns supreme and the food is fresh, spicy and drool-inducing, Cabo’s modern coastal vibes are fully immersive. On the drinks menu, we’re talking margaritas (including build-your-own), sangria and slushies, plus 44 tequilas and 26 mezcal varieties. Serving an equally exotic food menu, starring taco platters, guacamole made tableside and oyster shots, it is sure to put you in that holiday state of mind.
Loquita
Specialising in the top three of Mexican cuisine; tequila, mezcal and tacos, Loquita is honing in on its techniques to ensure a truly delicious outcome. A lively bar where dancing is encouraged late into the evening, sit up at one of their long tables or around the lounge and get a round of cocktails and tacos for the table. Whether margaritas or sangria is more your style, choose from the extensive list before pairing it with tacos including flathead with salsa rojo, adobo shortrib with pickled onion and chipotle mayo, and grilled chicken with tomatillo guac.
Fonda Mexican
Melbourne’s famous Mexican eatery has hit Canberra! Keeping things fresh, fast and fun, while you can get all your favs to-go, take a seat, grab a cocktail and enjoy a casual dining experience at Fonda Mexican. On the menu find everything from burritos, tacos, quesadillas and nachos, and pair it with cocktails (margs guaranteed), cerveza, cider, wine and their famous margarita tasting paddles.
If a margarita is your favourite cocktail, check out our favourite places to get a decent marg in Canberra.
