In the last few years, Mexican culture has become increasingly popular in the UK. There’s a specific agave spirits culture that I call Los Vidados which has developed in London and is working its way across the country, taking on new formats within the DNA and energy of the local community.

Manchester is another city with a strong Mexican food and drinks scene. And if you’re looking to explore it, these are the places you need to go.

Tequila and mezcal 

Enjoying a Modelo beer at Crazy Pedros.

There are several bars in Manchester where you can find a respectable tequila and mezcal collection. One of the most established is Crazy Pedros, known for its weird and wonderful pizza toppings. Crazy Pedros also stocks a large agave spirits collection of well-known brands that can be sipped and enjoyed as they are, or presented in a variety of Margaritas. There are two Crazy Pedros, one on Bridge Street on Deansgate and the second on Short Street in the Northern Quarter. 

Next on your list should be Salon on Chortlon Street at Kampus. Salon is the sister mezcaleria to Madre, a Mexican restaurant next door. The mezcal on the Salon menu is cost-effective in terms of single and double pours compared to other places in Manchester, while the bar serves some of the best Margaritas in the city when you are in the mood for a Margarita crawl.

A Tommy’s Margarita at Salon.

For a heightened dining and drinking experience, you can then make your way to Chotto Matte on the corner of St Anne’s Square at 36 Jackson’s Row. Chotto Matte has two of my favourite cultures together: Japanese and Mexican. One half of the venue is dedicated to Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei food, while the other half is a self-contained agave spirits bar and Mexican small plates restaurant called Claude. 

Moving on, it’s worth checking out my favourite area of Manchester called The Northern Quarter where there are a few other Mexican bars to check out. The first is Cane and Grain at Thomas Street that makes for another great Margarita or Paloma pit stop before you move on to Ramona on Swan Street. Ramona is one of the most highly rated Mexican cocktail joints in Manchester and there is a focus on tequila.

A Cactus Margarita from Chotto Matte.

Going outside of the city centre, it’s also worth paying a visit to Southside Tequila Joint in Withington. It’s got a ‘that’s so fucking metal’ energy about it with British bands of past and present festooning the walls and an impressive agave spirits collection colouring the back bar. 

Mexican food

Manchester is no stranger to good Mexican food either. Madre in the Kampus complex comes highly recommended for its tacos and wood fire grill menu selection that is paired alongside tequila, mezcal, raicilla and sotol. Birria Brothers Tacos located in the Northern Quarter at The Koffee Pot is a must-visit for pork carnitas and beef birria tacos. 

The birria sandwich from Rack.

There are also some hidden gems to check out inside Manchester food halls. An example is the birria sandwich done by Rack in the food market at the Arndale Centre. There’s Pico’s Tacos at Mackie Mayor in the Northern Quarter. There’s Fuego 1987 at Kargo Market at the Lowry Centre in Salford.

Also look out for pop ups and events from Enchilady, who brings a slice of the city of Ciudad Juárez with moorish tacos, enchiladas, chicken pozole and unique desserts like tres leche cake and Mexican flan.

Outside of London, I believe Manchester is the next city in the UK where the culture of agave spirits and Mexican food will take off.

Texas Toast at Cane and Grain.