Tequila’s smokier hipster cousin mezcal was once essentially endemic to a couple of Mexican states (notably Oaxaca), and while that remains the case in terms of production of the agave-based spirit, there’s no denying that London now very literally boasts mezcal bars in the double figures. And the more the merrier. Handsome Bethnal Green addition Little Fires boasts warm, colourful decor, a slick listening bar-style downstairs area, and a short but impressive food menu made in partnership with renowned Oaxaca bar Sabina Sabe and its chef Rodolfo Castellanos. As with the food, the cocktail menu is very punchy – there are only actually four mezcal-based entries (also partnered with Sabina Sabe), but they’re all bangers.
Time Out tip
Mezcal is nominally the main event: the Espresso Cafe was my pick of the cocktails, a faintly revelatory distant cousin to the espresso martini that tastes like deep smoked coffee. But actually the duck tacos dorados were low-key astonishing – the comfort food of the gods – and Little Fires is as good a shout for a late night snack as it is a drink.