J R
Google
11 November 2025
Nocturno's first collaboration! Bar Director Lu Lopez joined forces with Audrey Hands of CDMX's Rayo Cocktail Bar, most recently awarded #5 of North America's 50 Best Bars for 2024 by 50Best.
As a one-night-only pre-paid experience, $80 covered five cocktails and two appetizers.
The cocktails all spotlighted ingredients which were extremely unusual and/or rare/unobtainable in the US. Tastes ranged widely from bitter, sour, spicy, savory, vegetal, earthy, nutty; sometimes all in the same glass. The craft and presentation were top-notch. And strong? Holy moly was my tolerance tested and humbled.
The bites designed by Nocturno's kitchen to pair with the alcohol were an effective promotion of the bar's greatest hits. Specifically, the signature tart and crunchy pickled vegetables with crab piled high on the blue corn tortilla, and the juicy double-patty cheeseburger slider.
Value: Incredible for the premium sensory and educational adventure, and the extensive coordination it took to result in a smooth enjoyable evening.
The description in OpenTable did not specify if the $80 included tax and tip, but it seemed so based on the $0.00 receipt.
Atmosphere: Jumping! Loud from conversations from the enthusiastic imbibers, yet the music -ranging from Latin to goth to guitar shredders- could still be heard and enjoyed.
Service: End to end excellent, balanced between sociable and professional. The Nocturno x Rayo team of Lopez and Hands took time to talk with the guests and provide insights into the night's inspirations. Also, was presented with an autographed menu from them and Faith Franco, a really kind gesture of appreciation. Cornelius was great as the lead bartender for our section.
Looking forward to the next event from Nocturno!
06 May 2025
Had been awaiting Nocturno's opening since learning Chef DJ Flores of Milpa was behind it. Thanks to stalking OpenTable I was able to make a reservation during the bar's soft launch.
Atmosphere: After checking in with the very pleasant hostess, was escorted to one of the low tables lining the wall. Seating was a very comfortable and plush bench/sofa. Warm browns, copper, and grey color palate. Walls plain aside from the speakers; hostess did mention more decor was inbound though. The LP and turntable shrine occupied a nook in the far wall. Sound system was clear; volume was to my ears a bit loud. Lighting projected the kind of warm orange which confuses my phone camera immensely.
The cocktail menu was more like a bible to liquid happiness. Aside from extensive list of drinks, complete with type, aliases, ingredients, and pictures, the red booklet contained a mission statement, house rules, cocktail history lessons and variants.
I might have gone overboard, ordered five cocktails (all $17). Of the two Citrusy & Bright - Crimes of Passion and Mexican Firing Squad #2 - slight edge to the latter due my strawberry bias. Tie Binder was a perky delight, while Dreamsicle had a definite frozen push pop taste, only using fresh fruit. But if I had to pick an absolute favorite, it would be the A La Louisiane, a smooth balanced biting cocktail that packed a near-lethal brain squeeze.
Food: The elevated snack variety.
Prosciutto Tower ($15) Five VERY thin slices. Chips very good and crispy, perhaps a touch salty for my taste. Pickled vegetables (cauliflower, single carrot piece) in the small bowl were the best part of dish, so much so that I next ordered the Olives & Pickles ($9). Plenty of un-de-pitted green and black olives mixed in with the veggies and even more diced olives. Not a date-night snack in my opinion, what with working the teeth around the pits, plus trying to remove said pits from the mouth in a classy manner. But quite good.
Value: Cocktails were a hit, especially for the price. I wasn't wowed by the food for the cost but not to the point of knocking off a star from the overall score.
Service: Very good from Ross, most friendly from Kapono, circulating hostesses checked in regularly on patrons.