Halisco

What’s the vibe? 

Picture crisp white tablecloths, immaculately manicured waiters and an elevated, classy atmosphere, and you’ve pretty much got the opposite of Halisco. This is not the place for a formal evening dinner, but it most definitely is the place to take someone you’re trying to impress. Lip-smacking cocktails, inexplicably tasty Mexican-inspired small plates and an efficient, friendly, knowledgeable team of locals are what make this place so damn brilliant – and I bet my margarita that you’ll be telling your friends about it. 

What are the prices like?

The menu here follows a small-plates format – you’ll have snacks sitting around or just below £4, small plates, which range roughly from £8-£12, and of course the tacos, which tend to start at £9.50 for two. Lucky enough to swing by in the summer months? There could well be a salad and ceviche section, which last year started at £6. Mix it up, and don’t expect things to arrive in order. 

What should I order?

Halisco’s menu changes seasonally, but be sure to start your dinner with corn chips and guac, order the tenderstem broccoli (if it’s available) in whatever form it comes, and – even if you’re a meat eater – the oyster mushroom birria tacos. To wash it down, my go-tos are either a hibiscus margarita or a modelo chelada. 

What’s worth visiting nearby?

The newly opened Bar Halisco! Perched just over the road is Halisco’s brand-new sister venue, which opened just in time for National Margarita Day 2025. It’s got all the cobbled-together, slightly chaotic charm of the restaurant, with an extended margarita menu, plus ceviche and croquettes, all executed with the same laid-back expertise. Try the cucumber and jalapeño marg – you’ll thank me.