The owners of Bacanora and Tacos Chiwas open a buzzy Mexican cocktail bar in downtown Mesa

Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
Espiritu cocktail bar and restaurant opened Jan. 11, 2022 at 123 Main Street in Mesa.
Espiritu cocktail bar and restaurant opened Jan. 11, 2022 at 123 Main Street in Mesa.

The teams behind two of metro Phoenix's buzziest Mexican restaurants, Bacanora and Tacos Chiwas, opened Espiritu Cocktails + Comida on Jan. 11 on Mesa's Main Street.

Located between Tacos Chiwas and Proof Bakery, the new restaurant is starting with a tight selection of seafood dishes priced in the $20 to $22 range, including ceviche mixto, two kinds of aguachiles, hiramasa tostada and taquito de camarón with chiltepín aioli.

The mussels and clams come in a chiltepín and chorizo birria consomé with garbanzo corn crisps and bread from Proof Bakery.

Espiritu is still in a soft opening phase and plans to add more plates, including steaks, said Armando Hernandez, who co-owns the restaurant with chefs Nadia Holguin, Rene Andrade and Roberto Centeno.

From left to right are co-owners Armando Hernandez, Nadia Holguin and chef Rene Andrade posing for a portrait in front of their restaurant Bacanora on March 5, 2021.
From left to right are co-owners Armando Hernandez, Nadia Holguin and chef Rene Andrade posing for a portrait in front of their restaurant Bacanora on March 5, 2021.

What's on the cocktail menu at Espiritu?

The drink menu showcases some spice, some smoke and a lot of fruity flavors.

Drinks are divided into three categories: "Quick Cocktails" for a fast turnaround, more complex "Take Your Time Cocktails" that require a little patience as they're made and "Shots & Other Mistakes" for those who want to get rowdy.

From the first category, the Sonoran Sling ($15) is made with charred pineapple, chiltepín-infused bacanora, Bénédictine herbal liquer, Grand Marnier, Peychaud's Apertivo, orgeat, lime juice, pineapple juice and mole bitters.

An option that will take a little longer to mix is the Anochecer ($16), made with raicilla — an agave spirit from western Jalisco, spiced mezcal, coffee liqueur, blueberry amaro and mole bitters. It is described on the menu as something a Mexican 007 would drink.

From the shots menu, there is the Get That Corn Outta My Face! ($12), made with Mexican corn whiskey, elote liqueur and vanilla liqueur.

Feeling adventurous? Order a round of mystery shots.

Songs requests can also be made — Chente plays free.

"For us, Mesa deserves it," Hernandez said. "We wanted to do something unique and special, draw people into downtown Mesa and hope for more people to come down, especially if they live in the area. Downtown Mesa is really beautiful, it just needs more spots."

Details: 123 W. Main St., Mesa. 480-398-8129, espiritumesa.com.

Coming soon: This Diné chef is opening a fry bread restaurant in downtown Mesa

Reach the reporter at Priscilla.Totiya@azcentral.com. Follow @priscillatotiya on Twitter and Instagram.

Subscribe to azcentral.com today to support local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Espiritu Cocktails + Comida opens in downtown Mesa