In a few weeks, mezcal fanatics will be able to sneak into the basement of Frontera via a 100-year-old freight elevator and sip cocktails at Rick Bayless's subterranean speakeasy. Bar Sótano is a collaboration between Bayless, his wife and their daughter, Frontera Group's beverage director Lanie Bayless. The mezcal-heavy cocktail menu draws inspiration from Mexican markets and highlights ingredients like fresh sugar cane, chilies and garden herbs. A selection of Mexican wines and beers rounds out the booze menu.
"Bar Sótano’s lifeline is the vibrant markets of Mexico, where fruit stalls, healthy herb stands and chile vendors swirl in a symphony for the senses," Rick Bayless says in a press release. "The craftsmanship of those who keep these Mexican flavors alive—including those who craft dozens of agave varieties into distillates—is unlike any in the world. Bar Sótano will reflect this side of Mexico’s exhilarating culture."
On the food front, chef Rishi Manoj Kumar (Topolobampo) offers an enticing lineup of nibbles, including Yucatan Fire fried chicken, plancha-charred broccoli and a burger served with choriqueso sauce and yuca fries. The menu appears to be designed for snacking and sharing, with prices ranging from $4 popcorn to a $36 Mexican paella that's studded with shrimp, chicken thighs and poblanos.
The 50-seat bar is slated to open on Thursday, November 15. Check it out Tuesday through Thursday from 4pm to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 2am. Take a look at some of the dishes and drinks that will be available at Bar Sótano below.
Photograph: Courtesy Bar Sótano
Photograph: Courtesy Bar Sótano
Photograph: Courtesy Bar Sótano
Photograph: Courtesy Bar Sótano
Photograph: Courtesy Bar Sótano