New hideaway merges Latin America and Pacific Island traditions
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Tequila and ceviche bar, Mezcla, made its debut in the Las Vegas Arts District by celebrating its grand opening on Friday, September 30 at 5 p.m. with a ribbon cutting, live music and more.
Mezcla means “mixture” in Spanish. “That’s appropriate for us because we’re a mixture of Latin America and Pacific Island traditions,” says co-owner Melissa Robinson, who also co-owns YU-OR-MI Sushi Bar next door.
The cozy, 800-square-foot bar is meant to be an intimate escape. It’s marked by a vibrant 25-foot mural by Trenton Larson where tropical plants and animals mingle with desert agave plants and cacti.
“We wanted to create an environment where people can be themselves, relax and be in the moment,” Melissa says. “You can disconnect and feel like you’re escaping from the world a little bit.”
Though the atmosphere is relaxed, the menu is sophisticated. Chef Virakone Vongphachanh, who also designed Yu-or-Mi’s menu and learned Latin American cooking from a mentor, leads the kitchen. With Mezcla, he gets to revisit those flavors with a variety of ceviche, aguachile, seafood cocktails, homemade salsa and more.
“I like to think of it as elevated Latin bar food that pairs incredibly well with our beverage program,” Melissa says.
Bartender and designer Sean Stuart developed Mezcla’s beverage program with an emphasis on sipping spirits and rare labels that includes a range of tequilas, mezcals and bacanaros to “cover the the umbrella of agave.” There are also less common spirits such as Agua de Bolivia, an herbal liqueur that Sean describes as “almost like a light absinthe,” and Trakal, a bold Patagonian spirit.
There are also cocktails with a spin on classics like the Mezcla Margarita, a take on the cadillac margarita but with Agavero Orange liqueur instead of Grand Marnier.
“We really wanted to compliment the neighborhood,” Sean says of their unique offerings.
Melissa hopes Mezcla will be a welcome addition to the Arts District.
“It’s one of the few neighborhoods in Vegas that feels like a neighborhood,” Melissa says. “We want Mezcla to be part of that friendly, bar hopping atmosphere.”
Mezcla is at 197 E. California Ave. #110. The new ceviche and tequila bar is open Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and serves brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
