MEZCALITA MUMBAI
From Features Desk
Walk past the stately colonial facades of
Churchgate, Mumbai, and through the lime
green double doors of Mezcalita, and you’ll find
yourself instantly transported, not just
geographically, but emotionally into the vibrant,
high-spirited heart of Mexico. Mezcalita isn’t
merely a restaurant; it’s a love letter to Mexican
culture, told through food, drink, art and soul.
The Visionaries Behind the Fiesta
At the helm of this dynamic cantina y tequila bar is Rizwan Amlani, a man whose journey reads like an adventure novel. A former DJ turned culinary artisan, Amlani is best known for pioneering DOPE Coffee – one of India’s first third-wave coffee brands – and for pushing the boundaries of dining culture. Together with Vicky Singh, Partner at Slink & Bardot, the duo dreamed up Mezcalita as a space that reflects the lesser known yet deeply authentic sides of Mexican cuisine.
At the helm of this dynamic cantina y tequila bar is Rizwan Amlani, a man whose journey reads like an adventure novel. A former DJ turned culinary artisan, Amlani is best known for pioneering DOPE Coffee – one of India’s first third-wave coffee brands – and for pushing the boundaries of dining culture. Together with Vicky Singh, Partner at Slink & Bardot, the duo dreamed up Mezcalita as a space that reflects the lesser known yet deeply authentic sides of Mexican cuisine.
“Mezcalita is about discovery,” says Amlani. “We
wanted to bring the true flavours of Mexico – not
just the tacos and burritos people know, but the
stories, the rituals and the heritage that breathe
life into every dish and drink.”
A Culinary Maestro from Mexico City
To translate that vision onto the plate, Mezcalita turned to Executive Chef Pablo Benitez, a culinary veteran from Mexico City. With over two decades of global experience, from the iconic Le Cirque to academia in pre-Hispanic cuisine, Benitez brings gravitas and authenticity to Mezcalita’s kitchen.
To translate that vision onto the plate, Mezcalita turned to Executive Chef Pablo Benitez, a culinary veteran from Mexico City. With over two decades of global experience, from the iconic Le Cirque to academia in pre-Hispanic cuisine, Benitez brings gravitas and authenticity to Mezcalita’s kitchen.
His culinary philosophy is rooted in storytelling.
“Every dish has a soul,” he says. “At Mezcalita,
we don’t just serve food. We serve narratives from
Oaxaca, Yucatán, Baja California – flavours that
carry generations of tradition.”
From his days apprenticing in French fine dining
to educating future chefs at Universidad del
Claustro de Sor Juana, Chef Benitez’s passion
remains anchored in celebrating Mexican
heritage with creative finesse. His arrival in India
marks a cross-cultural milestone – blending local
curiosity with Mexican pride.
A Menu That Moves from Street to Soul
The menu at Mezcalita is a vibrant mosaic. It begins with multiple versions of guacamole and ends with playful desserts like the Tres Leches de Cereza or the Frozen Berry Soup – a visual and flavourful delight.
The menu at Mezcalita is a vibrant mosaic. It begins with multiple versions of guacamole and ends with playful desserts like the Tres Leches de Cereza or the Frozen Berry Soup – a visual and flavourful delight.
In between, expect an exhilarating range: from
Portobello-Trumpet Panuchos (a mushroom
based delight from the Yucatán Peninsula) to
Habanero Prawns that arrive with fair warning for
their fiery kick. There’s also the Birria Taco,
Mexico’s beloved hangover cure, and the
Cottage Cheese Torta de Chilaquiles – a local
favourite reimagined for vegetarians.
The Mexi-Conscious section – a thoughtful nod to
health-conscious diners, features avocado buns,
adobo vinaigrettes and power-packed bowls
without compromising on flavour. Whether you’re
a seafood lover or a plant-based eater, Chef
Benitez ensures each dish carries depth, spice
and soul.
Liquid Gold: Mezcal, Tequila & More
Of course, no Mexican fiesta is complete without its spirit animals – mezcal and tequila. Mezcalita’s bar is a shrine to agave in its many avatars. Small-batch spirits sourced directly from Mexico are artfully arranged on lime green box shelves, resembling sacred artefacts in a temple of indulgence.
Of course, no Mexican fiesta is complete without its spirit animals – mezcal and tequila. Mezcalita’s bar is a shrine to agave in its many avatars. Small-batch spirits sourced directly from Mexico are artfully arranged on lime green box shelves, resembling sacred artefacts in a temple of indulgence.
Signature cocktails like the Cha-Chinga (with
charred cucumber and bird’s eye chilli), Oaxaca to
Osaka (a mezcal-sake fusion) and La Pomela
(mezcal meets grapefruit and Campari salt) speak
to a bar programme that is both experimental
and rooted.
Groups can opt for shareable Muy Grande
pitchers or even the theatrical Margarita Tower –
a towering tribute to the Mexican way of
celebrating everything with friends and fire.
Even the non-alcoholic options hold their own,
from Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus iced tea) to
Horchata (cinnamon-almond rice milk cooler),
these drinks prove that Mezcalita is as much for
sober hedonists as it is for cocktail connoisseurs.
A Design That Dances with Culture
Every corner of Mezcalita is soaked in symbolism. Conceptualised as a non-clichéd Mexican space, the interiors are vivid without being garish, and spiritual without being saccharine. Colourful murals by Mexican artist Senkoe known for blending sacred geometry, nature and mythology fill the walls with stories, not just art.
Every corner of Mezcalita is soaked in symbolism. Conceptualised as a non-clichéd Mexican space, the interiors are vivid without being garish, and spiritual without being saccharine. Colourful murals by Mexican artist Senkoe known for blending sacred geometry, nature and mythology fill the walls with stories, not just art.
The pièce de résistance is the bar altar,
transformed into a sacred homage to the agave
plant. It evokes pagan mysticism with ritualistic
items, while overhead crepe Mexican flags form a
floating canopy – turning every drink into a minor
celebration.
A Cultural Catalyst in Mumbai’s Dining Scene
Mezcalita doesn’t just introduce Mexican cuisine to Mumbai – it elevates it. It’s a place where stories are told in salsa verde, where margaritas come with cultural context, and where the walls speak in Mayan metaphors.
Mezcalita doesn’t just introduce Mexican cuisine to Mumbai – it elevates it. It’s a place where stories are told in salsa verde, where margaritas come with cultural context, and where the walls speak in Mayan metaphors.
More than just another restaurant, Mezcalita is a
cultural bridge – built by passionate people who
understand that the future of dining lies not just in
fusion, but in authentic immersion.
With its doors open daily and its bar stocked with
the spirit of Mexico, Mezcalita invites diners to
not just eat or drink, but to experience. Whether
you’re sipping a smoky mezcal under a sky of
papel picado or biting into a taco whose recipe
goes back centuries, this is one journey worth
taking – again and again.
