Mezcaleria Alma

My husband and I just had a date night here, we sat at the chef’s table. It did not disappoint! Chef Owen is incredibly nice, and an amazing chef. His recommendations are on point. Every dish is incredibly complex, and flavorful. The drinks are crazy good too! This establishment is worth every penny! Highly recommend!!!

Service was impeccable. Never felt rushed or pushed. Waitress was super informative. Food was absolutely delicious. The pork burrito was my favorite and the tuna tostada was my wife’s favorite. Atmosphere was very comfy and did not feel over crowded.

4.7/5. Mezclaría Alma is a standout in Denver’s culinary scene, especially for fans of bold, creative flavors. The real stars of the menu are the tuna dishes, which showcase the in-house aged tuna and a beautiful balance of fruit-forward flavors. They’re fresh, unexpected, and deeply satisfying. A clear highlight. The beef cheek entrée was solid and tender, but what really elevated the dish was the rich, complex mole poured generously on top. Deep, dark, and perfectly seasoned, it’s the kind of sauce you want to savor with every bite. Cocktails are also thoughtfully crafted. My drink was smooth, balanced, and an ideal pairing with the appetizers. Special shoutout to Chef Charles, who took time to walk us through each dish. His explanations added a personal, educational touch that made the night feel like a curated experience rather than just a dinner out. Highly recommend stopping in for a cocktail and a few small plates. The vibe is intimate and relaxed, perfect for a date night.

Took my wife here for her birthday dinner. It was a flavor journey, as we tried 6 different items on the menu. Each with its own personality. We sat at the bar, which allowed us to watch the the chefs work. It was an amazing experience.

We had the most outstanding dinner tonight. Everything was on point from the atmosphere, to the food and beverage selection. Our server, Bri, was so welcoming and gave us some of the best recommendations for mezcal, cocktails and which tapas to order. We got the Corn Sour and Colada- both highly recommend. There are so many mezcals to choose from but the two we got were different enough from each other and were both so smooth (see photos). We started with the tostada de toro, their dry aged tuna was melt in your mouth decadent and the whole tostada was so flavorful. They display their dry aged tuna on the wall and it really added to the aesthetic of their open kitchen. The second dish was the burrita de chicharrón- the most delicious pork burrito with homemade flour tortilla I’ve ever had with a flavorful salsa on the side. Third was the costillal de res, a bowl of braised short rib, black beans and chilled with a side of corn masa tortillas. I don’t even know what to say it was the best taco situation I’ve had in a long time. We wanted to try one more thing and had the tlacato de pato- a slightly spicy duck dish. So tender and filling. I had some corn tortillas left and made a taco out of that, perfection. They don’t openly have a dessert menu but there is one thing they serve and it’s a surprise- the most delicious one ever so go check out this restaurant and try it all!! Thanks again Bri!

Absolutely blown away by Mezcaleria Alma. Dominique, Jordan, Owen, and the entire crew made my night unforgettable. They helped me pull off asking out my now girlfriend and went above and beyond to make it special. The food is incredible, the service is dialed in, and the whole experience feels personal in the best way. Bonus points for the solid non alcoholic options too. I cannot recommend this place enough.

By far ONE OF THE BEST HIGH END MEXICAN FOOD EXPERIENCES we have ever had. My husband and I enjoyed celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary here and had an opportunity to try many items on the menu. EVERYTHING from the staff to the ambiance to EVERY SINGLE ITEM WE ATE AND DRANK was 10/10 AMAZING!!!! Not many restaurants in the world can say that EVERY item they offer is absolutely delicious but THIS ONE CAN! You can taste the long hours of preparation and love that goes into each dish. I only wish we would've found out how amazing this place was sooner because we would've had dinner here every night. PLEASE look and reserve one month in advance (depends on the season) but definitely worth the planning!!!

Came to CO for our anniversary and had one night in Denver and we’re so happy we ended up here. Everything was SO good and so impressively well balanced and every ingredient and texture complemented each other really well. We had the aguachile, ceviche, carne apache, tlacoyo de pato, barringa de cerdo and the tres leches cake and everything was on point. Can’t wait for something to take me back to Denver so I can try the rest of the menu :) Shoutout to Jordan and the rest of the staff who made the experience super warm and lovely too. Thank you!

Home run experience from Mezcaleria Alma! Had three dishes and solid experiences: * Crudo de Atun 10/10 * Tostada de Toro 10/10 * Burrita de Chicharron 8/10 Crudo was outstanding and would always order when I return. Tostada is fan fav and understandable...impressive dish with nice spice kick. Burrita de Chiccharron would be my pass next time as it was good...not great. Overall, loved the restaurant, the service (Taylor was great) and the menu execution! Get here!

5 stars but with some caveats - a few of the dishes we had were just fine, and I hope that as this is a newer restaurant they'll eventually get everything excellent. Let's start with all the things that got them a 5-star rating in my eyes: 1. BURRATA CON HUITLACOCHE: truly the best burrata dish I've ever had. This was a perfect mix of flavors, portioned well, and with some of the best tomatoes I've ever had. 2. TRES LECHES CAKE: no notes. Super delicious. 3. CORN SOUR COCKTAIL: this one is twofold - first, the drink itself impressed my very critical fiancé who tends to like only spirit forward cocktails that aren't sweet. Second, our server was really great about this - she suggested it with the promise that if it wasn't to taste, it would be replaced. Both service and quality really came through here. 4. INTERIOR: Super comfortable, enough space, good atmosphere 5. SERVICE: Knowledgable and friendly server who (I felt) really put the restaurant's best foot forward. Now, why did I go back and forth if this was a 4 or a 5? The Tostada didn't make our top 5 list, but it was still a very good version of something I've had before. I felt the COSTILLAL DE RES for what it was, was a bit mediocre and overall a bit dry. The PESCADILLA DE "MARLIN" was definitely good, but not memorable like the Buratta was. Overall, as an out-of-towner, if I come back to Denver I'll definitely want to come back here and see how the menu has changed, evolved, and been perfected over time. Hopefully I'm able to amend this review with a "this is 100% 5 stars" then.

Our current favorite restaurant in Denver! Sister restaurant (and right next door) to the Michelin-starred Alma Fonda Fina, we actually prefer the mezcaleria--much more casual, much easier to fetch a table, and it's exciting to sit at the bar counter and chat with the staff. Shout out to Alyssa for always being a friendly face! A "love letter to Mexico City" and seafood forward, we absolutely adore the menu here. We've tried almost everything, and some standout dishes include: - Scallop + uni aguachile: to die for! Could seriously eat one of these every day for the rest of my life! - Tuna tostada: amazing! best tostada i've ever tasted, hands down. Can also add a bit of uni as an extra treat! - Rice with wild mushroom broth and cured duck egg yolk: YUMMY, creamy, umami goodness! can add a bit of truffle to this dish as well for even more powerful flavor! - Pork carnitas burrito: sooooo good! love the guacamole. Also has one of the best margaritas I've ever had. Denver is a big, big margarita town, so this is saying a lot! Here's an insider hack--this place is open late night, until midnight (which is quite rare on Denver's elevated dining scene). It's awesome to walk in here around 10 pm, grab a seat at the bar, and nosh on one of the best burritos EVER for less than $20. Definitely recommend! Can you tell that I absolutely love this place? If you're thinking of trying it out... run, don't walk!

This was the most incredible experience! We booked the chefs experience which made our experience better as they chef explained the meals to us. We had the green ceviche and toro tostada and ended it with a carajillo. The place is small but is the charm to it as it makes it small and intimate. I recommend this spot for a birthday or anniversary but not for big groups. Drinks are delicious and the staff is incredible!

Another wonderful experience with some out-of-town guests. They were blown away -- this was real Mexico City food (not your typical TexMex). Must try: any of the dry aged fish dishes. Amazing flavorful dishes all. The crudo de Atun (tuna) is a personal favorite as well as the short rib. You won't go wrong with anything on the menu. Service was and always is outstanding. Our server recommended we try 5-7 dishes to share for a table of four. Be sure to try some of the Mexican wines -- yes they are all high quality. Lengthy Mescal menu. Cocktails are all spectacular.

Food was amazing, Alma is our favorite restaurant in town so we enjoyed trying next door! We celebrated our anniversary there and we are so happy we did! Jordan our waiter was so sweet and so knowledgeable, gave us the best tips and made the experience better! Drinks were our favorite 10/10 can't wait to go back!

Had another outstanding experience at another one of Chef Johnny Curiel's restaurants. We sat at the Chef's Counter and were given detailed recommendations for both food and drinks. Chef Johnny was not our chef, but we were seated next to him and two of his chef friends who were enjoying some Mezcal and snacks. No pressure for our Chef, he shared. Lol. In this ode to Mexico City, we were greeted with our choice of a shot of tequila, mezcal, or bubbles. Our chef was very attentive, and watching all the chefs carefully concoct the beautiful small plates was a joy. The first beverage we started with was the carajillo--a very smooth blend of mezcal, Licor 43, Piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar), Fernet Vallet, and espresso. It tasted like root beer and went down easy. My second cocktail was the Old Fashioned--a much bolder drink with Mezcal, Reposado tequila, and tamarind. Our chef suggested 4-5 dishes to share. We started with the Crudo De Atún--a brightly flavored fresh tuna with jewels of fennel, coconut fennel broth, and wasabi oil. I even scooped up the extra broth and ate it without tuna. The next dish, which I could not partake of due to my allergies, was a beautiful ceviche verde. The Baja Kampache used was hung in a cooler by the bar area to dry and make tender for the ceviche. The burrata con huitlacoche was served over a bed of springy salsa verde and served with freshly toasted sourdough. One of our chef's favorites is the Pescadilla De "Marlin," so we had to try it. It was a corn pillow full of deliciousness. Fresh blue corn masa was rolled and flattened by a tortilla press, filled with asadero cheese and smoked tuna, carefully pinched closed, and then placed in the fryer. Served with salsa fina, it was a flavor blast. Our final dish was the braised short rib served over perfectly seasoned black beans and accompanied by fried shishito peppers and green onions, with homemade tortillas on the side. I followed chef's orders and shredded the tender short ribs with our forks, and we scooped up the ingredients into our tortillas and made tacos. In a warm and welcoming environment, Mezcaleria Alma is a must for excellent drinks and delicious small plates. Salud!

I have eaten at Alma Fonda Fina and though slightly different, I think Mezcaleria Alma is better. The atmosphere has a deep romance to it while having a light, friendly vibe. It was just two of us so, we booked a reservation at the counter. It was perfect. We got to interact with our chef. Their were multiple chefs who clearly were assigned to their kitchen stations and also act as servers and wait staff to those at the counter. The lady we had, was knowledgable, and recommending a few items to us. We opted for a one of them which was the tostada. I could have eaten more of those but, we decided to get a few other dishes. Everything was delicious but, the real memorable experience for my husband was when he spoke in depth with the beverage manager who recommended a tequila to him which came on a plate with accoutrements - orange, lime, salt, and dried bug (not a misspelling you read that right). She recommended trying the tequila with each and seeing how it changed the flavor profile. It was crazy! It was like drinking a different drink each time. I hope they do change their menu or have a few specials because we would come back often.

First off, loved the laid back vibes of this place! It's a cozy sized restaurant, the lighting is good, and you can still hear yourself speak! Our server and everyone in the restaurant were very attentive. She had great recommendations. No notes. Food: WOW so delicious. In order of our fave to least fave 1. Tostada de toro: probably the best bite I've had all year. Must order. Next time, I'm getting my own and not sharing 2. Aguachile de erizo: so unique, the mandarin in not too sweet at all and it's still savory at the same time 3. Burrita de chicharron: the tortilla is nuts it's like a scallion pancake, the pork was crispy and also soft, the avocado and onions balance out the saltiness so well 4. Arroz a la tumbada de hongos: I liked the texture a lot (not weirdly hard inside like other risottos I've had), I made the mistake of mixing all of the crème fraiche in but I should done that more sparingly 5. Carne apache: still yummy but I didn't feel like it was anything to write home about in comparison to the other things I ordered Also got a Paloma that was great! The mezcal was the perfect smokiness and the cocktail wasn't sickly sweet at all Will absolutely be returning. This is the place you go to impress out of towners!

Not gonna lie, the food is amazing and it's worth the hype! The tostada stole the show. I legit would get 3 of these as my whole meal. The ceviche was probably the best I've ever had, super flavorful and unique. I will say, the only reason it's a 4/5 is because it was pretty expensive. Can't complain too much bc the food was great, but for what we paid, I don't think you should walk out still hungry, and we all did. There were 4 of us and we split 5 plates. I think after tip it was $260 or so... Again, food is so good BUT fairly small servings for the price

This was a long awaited visit - and it was so worth it. The food, the drinks all top notch. My date wanted the burrito entre, and I was a little dubious, but it was elevated and excellent. The uni aguachile was a total standout, and I can't recommend enough. And the tostada had a tortilla that just sung. We had about 4 courses, and two mezcal cocktails each. The Stinger was strong, but complex and a great choice if you want something to sip through the meal.

A very warm welcoming and relaxing Food was amazing The drinks were outstanding Not the biggest portions but the drink list is to die for if you know your selections of tequila right Will be back thank you :-)

Best food ever - ask to do a mezcal tasting! You can choose 3 mezcals based on price range and sip throughout dinner. So fun!!

It's official. Johnny Curiel can do no wrong. Smaller, intimate spot dedicated to the food of Mexico City. Grab a reservation way in advance. Order a blood orange margarita (off menu), and come hungry. We loved the tuna tostada so much we had one for dessert. (To the short friends out there, they only have high top tables so keep that in mind)

We loved Mezcaleria Alma! Everything was wonderful from the atmosphere, service, bar, and food. Our waiter was awesome- so attentive and had great recommendations. I loved their huge mezcal selection.. we tried a pechuga mole mezcal and really enjoyed it. Food was delicious! One of our favorites was their dry aged tuna tostada.. so neat that they have a dry aged locker. Burrata was so well done with interesting but delicious combination of flavors. They make their corn tortillas in house. Will be back!

If Michelin-star Alma Fonda Fina (from Chef Johnny Curiel) was my current favorite restaurant in Denver up until last week -- showcasing the best of elevated, authentic Mexican cuisine in America -- I am now torn between them and Mezcaleria Alma. Good thing they're owned by the same people and next door to each other! :) Where Alma is elegant and bright and airy -- Mezcaleria Alma next door is cozy and moody and a perfect delivery of the "love letter to Mexico City" that it aims to be. Rows of unique must-try mezcals and sotols line the shelves, the cocktail program is exceptional (as is the bar staff), and the food is -- again -- my favorite in Denver (and maybe the US). Michelin-star Chef Johnny Curiel delivers nothing short of brilliant dishes here, as he does at Alma -- but somewhat more decadent here -- covered in uni, smothered in mole, or topped with runny egg yolk. You can't go wrong with any dish. It's pricy, but at approximately $150-$200 that we paid per person, for 6 dishes and all our drinks -- it's nothing for a meal of this quality from a Michelin-star chef. The space is small, so I suggest date night with one other person. Chefs/bar counter seating is awesome too.

Amazing experience, service, drinks, and food. We were lucky enough to get 2 seats right at 4 when they opened. Interior and decor was tasteful. Our server was super knowledgeable and had great recommendations. We had Aguachile de erizo, the toro tostada, and burrita re chicharron. All were super flavorful and delicious. The Aguachile had such a mix of interesting flavors and textures, the toro tasted super high quality and fresh, and the burrita was simple but satisfying. They were fully booked w reservations but never made us feel rushed. We can't wait to return to try the rest of the menu and their sister restaurant next door the next time we're in Denver!

Not only have I killed the legendary Michelin starred parent @almalohidenver but I had the blessing of experiencing a feast at the new @mezcaleriaalma. If you love Mezcal this spot was fire. Not only was their cocktail selection on point, but everything I tasted was out of this world, perfectly crafted, beyond flavorful, and the bar top was a mini EDC. I must have made an impression at Alma Fonda Fina because I was blessed with the same amazing heavy pouring staff again. If you're in Denver add this to your must list.      To the bougie blonde boss I had the pleasure of crossing paths with like two ships in the night. I hope you find your love, cause I'm not leaving Vegas. The stories from the bar counter always amaze me. If you'll talk to anyone you'll always be entertained, and you may even find your partner.

As soon as we found out Alma Fonda Fina chef has a new restaurant in Denver, planned to dine here immediately. They were booked but we decided to be added to the waitlist and after about 1.5 hours, got a table. This place is right next to Alma and so you might need a minute to find parking. We started with some cocktails, I got the stinger and my husband got the old fashioned - both so refreshing. They have ~50 plus options of mezcal that you can try if that's your thing. We decided to order 5 dishes: 1. Taco de cola de res - took me back to Mexico City! This is probably the best, most favorite dish of mine here at Mezcaleria. 2. Tostada de Toro - the aged Toro is really the star of this dish- it just melts in your mouth. Fabulous! 3. Burrata con Huitlacoche : this came with a verde sauce and some crisp sourdough - tantalizingly flavorful! Must have if you love Burrata 4. Lubina Rayada - very delectable and fresh! 5. Arroz a la tumbada de hongos - this was really good too but I enjoyed everything else we ordered so much more. We were excited about every dish we ordered and every item lived up.. rather surpassed expectations. The ambiance here is cozy kind of dim lit. They had a lot of fresh plants and the art here is Vibrant and classy. Service was good. I am so glad that our wait for worth it and this restaurant is definitely in my top 3 in Denver! Highly recommend this place! Make that reservation

The space is so perfectly done. The service is impeccable. The food is so yummy. Each dish is both simple while rich and complex. The corn sour is the most popular cocktail, though the carajillo is the stand out for me. It was smooth and light. Our server recommended 5-7 dishes to share at our table of two, which was perfectly done.

The experience and food was nothing short of spectacular and a truly wonderful food experience. The entire wait staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and gave great detail about every dish. The flavors of the dish were all super concise and complex. The favorite of the night was the tostada and it was super fresh yet spicy. The only thing we didn't like was the mushroom risotto as we thought it lacked in presentation and textures but the flavor of the risotto was really delicious. Love that the restaurant was intimate but not loud. I also loved how it was very similar to Alma Fonda Fina but had its own flare and a little better priced.

Everything we had was delicious. We will definitely be back. Our server was helpful in making suggestions and attentive. This is on my new favorites list

@mezcaleriaalma (sister restaurant to the incredible @almalohidenver ) brings a taste of mexico city to denver. their whole menu compliments the unique dishes you'd find next door while remaining individualistic in comparison. hard to identify a favorite so i recommend everything we ordered. n/a colada *ceviche de kanpachi (dry aged hawaiian kanpachi, fennel & celery broth, chicatana chintextle, habanero matonnaise) tostada de toro (smashed avocado, charred habanero mayonnaise, dry aged toro, sesame chile oil, chives) *carne apache (ny strip, manzanilla olive vinaigrette, dried chile salsa, hoja santa puree) taco de cola de res (pasilla braised oxtail, charred avocado, pickled red onions, salsa chipotle) barriga de cerdo (sakura pork belly, mole rojo pipian, escabeche de jalapeno, petite salad)

It kills me to write this, but when I walk out smelling like smoke, needing to wash all my clothes, and my eyes were stinging it's not a great experience. They have a major ventilation problem, the place is very small and the kitchen is way too close to the tables without proper ventilation. Alma has the same issue. The food and service were amazing! We absolutely loved every dish, they were fresh, bright and amazing flavors and balance. This is what restaurants should strive for in Denver.

If Alma Fonda Fina next door made me a fan of Chef Johnny Curiel, then Mezcaleria Alma officially has me obsessed! I heard about this spot opening up and immediately made a reservation to dine with my Mr. and yup - as expected, we were blown away. The space is small, but beautiful and thoughtfully decorated. It's upscale, but cozy and welcoming and our server Ian was just top notch. I can't wait to snag a bar counter resy for next time! What we ordered and loved: -Tostada de Toro - smashed avocado, dry aged toro, sesame chile oil, charred habanero mayo - this was maybe my favorite dish of the night which says a lot because everything we tried was just divine. -Carne Apache - NY strip, manzanilla olive vinaigrette, dried chile salsa, hoja santa puree -Pescadilla De "Marlin" applewood hot smoked tuna, chipotle frito, queso asadero, salsa de chile tahualica -Taco De Cola De Res - pasilla braised ox tail, charred avocado, pickled red onions, salsa chipotle - each order comes with 1 taco - HIGHLY Recommend getting 1 per person in your party -Cachete De Res En Chichilo - CO beef cheek, mole negro chichilo, sweet potato puree, salsa chiles secos (this beef cheek was so insanely tender) -Dessert! I can't quite remember what this was called but it was a Tres Leches with olive oil and it was delicious. Also had their Old Fashioned and Carajillo for my cocktails while the hubs tried out some delicious Mezcal. From the drinks to the dishes, they just know how to balance flavors here. Hands down in my top 10 restaurants in all of Denver even after just one meal. Make that resy as soon as you finish reading this - you won't regret it.

I walked into Mezcaleria Alma with high expectations, and somehow, they were exceeded! Everything about my experience clicked, creating a perfect night. The music? Absolute perfection. It felt like I was back in high school, listening to old classics that took me straight home. The vibe was so on point! This is truly a love letter to Mexico City. What I ordered: - Sabana de Atún Aleta Azul - Ceviche de Kanpachi - Tostada de Toro - Burrata con Huitlacoche - Aguachile de Erizo - Tres Leches (!!!!!!!) Drinks: - Corn Sour - Daiquiri - Carajillo - Xila The Mexican Aperitif - Fernet-Vallet Mexican Aperitif - Mezcal Tasting (Aprendiz Espadín, Cruz de Fuego Tobalá, Neta Madrecuiche Capón) Best bites: 1. The Food - Everything was AMAZING! The fish was fresh, the dishes were balanced, and every element felt intentional. The Sabana de Atún (kind of like a tuna carpaccio) stood out as one of the best bites of the year for me. 2. The Drinks - Just like the food, the cocktails were thoughtful and balanced. The Corn Sour and Daiquiri were personal favorites, but the Mexican aperitifs stole my heart. Both have become new go-to Amaros, and the Neta Madrecuiche Capón is a mezcal you just have to try. 3. The Dessert - Someone joked that the chef opened the place just to serve dessert, and honestly, I believe it. The Tres Leches was the best I've ever had...elevated without being pretentious, moist, flavorful, and perfect in every way. If you're looking for a place that nails the vibe, the flavors, and the beverage, Mezcaleria Alma is it. They are not only a love letter to Mexico City, they are a love letter to Mexico.

We sat at the chef's counter at 5 pm on a Friday and had impeccable drinks, food, and service by chef Jordan. Exciting, fun vibe and still easy to hear and chat. He guided us toward the tuna crudo and tuna tostada to taste the dry-aged fish at different fattiness--both incredible--crudo so bright, tostada so rich. The burrata was a totally new flavor profile for me for that cheese, addictive and filling. Ended with the chicharron burrita, the housemade tortilla was moist, dense, and fluffy (how?) and the pork perfectly salty and crispy. Old fashioned, negroni, corn sour were original and nicely balanced and the house white had no business being that good for $12. Can't wait to keep coming 'til I've tried everything on the menu then start over.

Aguachile De Erizo 9/10 Crudo De Atún 9/10 Tostada De Toro 100/10 Burrata Con Huitlacoche 10/10 Carne Apache 100/10 Pescadilla De "Marlin" 100/10 Taco De Cola de Res 9/10 Tres Leches 100/10

I sat at the counter and loved every moment of the experience. The chef was incredibly engaging, walking us through each dish as he prepared it, sharing the unique story behind every plate. One standout for me was the beef cheeks, which had been braised for an impressive ten hours. The mole itself took 48 hours of preparation, and you could truly taste the depth and richness of the flavors. I'd also highly recommend the oxtail taco--it's been ages since I've had oxtail, probably because of the effort it takes to prepare, but this one was exceptional. It even came recommended by a mother-daughter duo sitting next to us, who were so impressed they were going for seconds! The ambiance was fantastic--warm, friendly, and inviting--without the pretension often associated with high-end dining. Although this is a more upscale restaurant, the pricing was surprisingly reasonable. We ordered two drinks, three dishes, and a dessert, and the total came just over $100, which is rare for a fine dining experience these days. If you're in Denver and can't get a reservation at Alma, definitely walk over or book in advance. This place will soon be booked out weeks in advance, I can already feel it!

Stopped in after dinner next door at Alma Fonda Fino (they don't have dessert). Split the tres leches (with olive oil and sea salt) and it was the perfect cap to the night. Will definitely be coming back to partake in their dry aged fish selection.

Coming back from a yelp-review writing hiatus to write this review because this Mezcaleria Alma deserves all the recognition I can give. They serve Mexican-inspired small plates and seafood. The flavors on each plate were so perfectly special. My favorite cold plates were the crudo de atun and tostada de toro. Both were refreshing, you could tell the seafood was of excellent quality, and they were packed with flavor. We also tried the taco de cola de res and barriga de cerdo. Both incredible! Mezcaleria Alma is the type of place where you know that everything on the menu (only 12 items!) is going to be to die for. I ordered the corn sour to drink and although it sounds strange, I thought it had the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and salty. In addition to the food, cocktails and service, I also love the vibe of this spot. They had the fresh seafood on display which I appreciated. It's a small space, so I made our reservation almost 2 months in advance. However, there's also bar seating available that would be great for those that aren't willing to wait months to get a reservation (wound't blame ya!)

This place was easier to get into than Alma Fonda Fina and the food was just as good! Everything that we ordered was lick the plate worthy!

A wonderful addition to the Denver food scene by Johnny Curiel. This is his 3rd concept after Alma Fonda Fina (next door) and Cozobi Fonda Fina (in Boulder). I made an OpenTable reservation just after they opened Nov 17 and earliest time was 830pm last night. It is a smaller space with only 28 seats and features a Mexico City inspired seafood menu. Darkly lit, cozy space with lively music being played. I was served by Jordan Tehrani formerly with Alma Fonda Fina. He is now Chef de Cuisine. He asked if I wanted still or sparkling water. He brought a mexican sparkling water, Agua de Piedra. Nicely infused water for only $4. I got a white Negroni ($16) made with tequila and mezcal. Nice kick but not an overwhelming cocktail. I got a Tostada De Toro with 4 good sized pieces of dry aged Toro (fatty tuna) on a crisp tortilla with smashed avocado for only $21. The amount of Tuna I got would normally cost more. I also got a soft taco with braised oxtail (only $8). All good. Next, I got the Lubina Rayada (Baja striped bass) on a bed of mole verde and black bean cassolet ($27) paired with a Pina Colada served in a martini glass. For dessert, I got the Tres Leches. A wonderful meal. They have an extensive list of tequilas and mezcal available for 1 or 2 oz with larger glasses. They are open till midnight daily. By 10pm, they were still half full, so late dining without a reservation is possible.

Food: Had the Carne Apache, excellent. Service : warm and welcoming, not overbearing Ambiance: The music was perfect, love that it stayed in theme, it really adds to the whole experience.

So freaking great. Will be coming back! The food is divine, great service and warm atmosphere. Felt like I was in Europe

Wow! What an amazing combination of flavors! We tried so many different dishes, but I couldn't tell you which one was my favorite because all of them were amazing! Be prepared to have your mind blown! Server Brie and Chef Alyssa were especially amazing in guiding us through the menu! Thank you for an awesome evening!

Absolutely amazing! Could not say better things about this place and it's sister alma. Best restaurants in Denver. Every single thing on the menu both food and drinks is out of this world. If you can snag a reservation you won't be disappointed. Everyone that works here creates such a great environment.

Disappointing and white-washed. The waiters can't even pronounce half of the dishes. There's also a time limit, so you'll feel rushed the whole time (they recommend 4-6 dishes at minimum, which doesn't make sense with a 1:30 time limit). It's essentially a knock-off Señor Bear/My Neighbor Felix pretending to be upscale.

I had one of the worst experiences at this restaurant. Upon walking into the restaurant, my boyfriend and I were "greeted" by a white woman at the front door. However, throughout the entire interaction, she only greeted my white boyfriend. As the only Asian person in the entire restaurant, the white hostess never once acknowledged my presence and only gave flattering pleasantries to my white boyfriend. After several minutes of being ignored, I finally interjected and asked the white hostess if one of the empty tables was available. In response, the white hostess looked right past me - as if I wasn't even in the room - and answered my question by ignoring me and, instead, addressing my white boyfriend. The hostess was incredibly ignorant of how her behaviors made me -- the only Person of Color in the entire room -- feel dehumanized and invisible. She was completely ignorant and blind to the fact that her belittling treatment is a "subtle act of exclusion" that gives preferential treatment to white customers while slapping non-white customers in the face. The white hostess' words and behaviors were incredibly upsetting and soul-crushing that we left the restaurant. I left because I do not want to give money to restaurants that greet Asian guests with racist micro aggressions. Please educate your staff on how to welcome people of color, not just your white customers. I will always remember the way I was treated at your establishment and the inequitable treatment that your staff gives to people of color versus your white customers. And the white hostess, and the entire staff at this restaurant, will never understand the larger soul-crushing harm that was done when we walked out the doors. Racist acts of exclusion like the one I experienced at Mezcaleria Alma are not rogue and isolated. They are a daily reality for non-white customers, which can be severely intensified for people in interracial relationships, that white customers will be treated much better because of their skin color. I walked away from this restaurant feeling dehumanized and invisible because of the color of my skin -- a feeling that still lingers days later. I will note that the hostess was bubbly and smiling throughout the entire interaction. But it is important to note that it is still very possible to exclude customers of color -- all the while doing it with a bubbly smile. I did not feel welcome in your pre-dominantly white establishment and the aftermath of the belittling treatment continues to reverberate days after. I will never go to this restaurant again because I do not want to tip white staff members who do not know how to treat non-white customers with basic dignity, respect, and humanity.

Truly has a great Mexico City vibe... hip but well-designed, small yet with excellent service and a fun menu. Get the burrata for sure, and the taco has great flavor. Oh, and awesome margaritas, too!! Plan ahead as reservations are highly recommended.

I love everything about this place... It is small and intimate, but feels lively yet you can carry a conversation with the person at your table because it's not too loud. Every bite we had was delicious and the cocktails were awesome. Service was great as well... I wasn't the biggest fan of the spin they did on the tres leche cake, but it was nice to have tried it once. I will definitely be back here the next time I visit Denver.

Perfect service. Reasonable prices and some of the best food I've ever had in my life. The tuna tostada, the taco and the mole beef dish were legit unreal.

Everything is excellent! It is wonderful to experience Mexican food at this level of refinement.

Chef's counter was an amazing experience, especially if you snag an early reservation before they get slammed. Chef spoke to us about every dish, their sourcing of ingredients, preparation process. Everyone was so passionate about what they were doing. The food was insane- 4 or 5 plates for 2 people was enough to fill us up, but I wish we had room to try it all. Great service, stunning food. Hard to pick a highlight, but I think the sweet potatoes were actually the most surprising. Can't recommend enough!

Wow! A new gem next to the Alma Fonda Fina in Highlands. The concept is small plates and we had 7 different dishes, and each one was more amazing than the last - incredible combinations of flavors that melt in your mouth. The Ceviche de Kanpachi has a fennel and celery broth that you wanted to savor every drop and the Tostada de Toro was excellent as well. The cocktails are unique and pair well with the food - the Corn sour with Mezcal and Corn whiskey was refreshing and unlike any cocktail I've had before. The place has been open for just two weeks and our server was on her first night, but I was impressed by how well she knew the menu, food and cocktails - great training as well as an impressive and friendly individual. The place is small, but well appointed, with moderate noise. They use quite a few chilis in their recipes, so there is a bit of a capsicum haze in the air. My only slight critique was upon seeing the bill and the addition of a 3% charge for using credit cards. It seemed tacky for such a nice restaurant and experience. Does the owner really want people paying in cash to avoid the charge with the risks of having that much cash around?