Bar Latosa: Mexico City's Most Unexpected Night Out
- Local Co.
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
There are bars that try hard to be different. And then there's Bar Latosa, a place that stumbled into being genuinely original without making a big deal out of it.
We found it on a Wednesday evening on Tonalá 15, in Roma Norte, and honestly, we almost walked past it. No big sign, no line out the door. Just a door. You open it and step into something that doesn't look like any bar we'd seen before.
The space
The first thing you notice is that there are no corners. The whole room curves, all aluminum, brushed stainless steel, and red marble, with warm lighting coming from one central point above. The bar itself is designed in two semicircles, like the inside of a can. It's retrofuturistic in the best way, not trying to be a spaceship, just a really well-thought-out room that happens to feel like you're inside an object. The DJ booth changes design every week, lava lamps and all. It's a small detail that somehow makes the whole place feel alive.
The drinks
Here's the thing: every cocktail comes in a can. Not a gimmick, an actual concept. The bartender behind all of it is Claudia Cabrera, one of the most recognized names in Latin American mixology and a North America's 50 Best Bars honoree. She and her team built a menu of six original cocktails, all served cold, all canned, all made with real technique.
We tried the Margarita Palo Santo, smoky and citrusy with a woody finish from the Sugasawa used for the acidity, and the Tepache Mule, which swaps ginger beer for tepache from San Pancho, Nayarit, with a touch of Fernet Branca. Both were genuinely good, not "good for a canned drink" good. Just good. The Cosmo High is also worth ordering if you want something floral and a little unexpected, gin with lychee, orange, and roses.
There's also a classic bar at the back if you prefer your cocktails in a glass. No judgment.
The snacks
The food menu was designed by chefs Jorge Linares and Pilar García, and everything pulls from the same canned/preserved aesthetic: dip de cebollín with potato chips, olives in olive oil with dried carne de Chihuahua, mushrooms and shrimp al ajillo with plantain chips. It's exactly what you want while you're drinking, nothing too heavy, everything designed to share.
The vibe
What makes Latosa work is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. The drinks are sophisticated, the design is considered, but the energy in the room is relaxed. People were laughing, sharing cans, moving around. There's a DJ on Thursdays through Saturdays, and the music pulls the whole thing together without overpowering the conversation.
We stayed longer than we planned. That's usually the sign of a good bar.
The details of Bar Latosa
📍 Tonalá 15, Roma Norte Open Wednesday to Monday, 5pm to 2am Canned cocktails from $180 MXN, snacks from $100 MXN Reservations via WhatsApp: 55 2343 2024
