El Nivel is London’s first agaveria – a bar specialising in rare and unusual agave spirits and cocktails served with Mexican tasting plates. Imagine this, a dark wood panelled room, a couple of palms, posters and a few Frida Kahlo-esque oil beauties staring down on you in your leather buttoned chair. It’s quiet, it’s a place to sip and possibly whisper about a revolution.
at night
by day
Don’t come expecting slammers, or worms. This is an intimate bar for grown-ups, a world away from the mania of West End London with space for around 30 people. It’s up the stairs behind an unassuming door at 28 Alto Maiden Lane, Covent Garden. The name is much more than a level, named after the El Nivel which is Mexico City’s oldest licensed bar holding the licence number 001, issued in 1855 serving drinks to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.
In London it’s Tomas Estes and his son Jesse, who are the co owners of Ocho Tequila, a single estate vintage tequila and came up with the idea ‘creating the most exalted place in London to drink agave spirits.’ It’s all about sharing the delights of tequila and mezcal, along with their lesser known siblings, bacanora, raicilla and sotol to connoisseurs and newcomers. Ask for advice, you won’t regret it.
The trend for tequila and mezcal means that more people are discovering that agave spirits are more than just shots and margaritas.
El Nivel Gallery
Starting at £9, examples from the cocktail list include:
La Marquesa – £10
Tequila Ocho Reposado, fresh lime, fresh raspberries, Chambord liqueur, cranberry juice, egg white. An
instant game-changer for those wary of tequila. Think French Martini and you are nearly there.
La Porderosa – £12
Vida Mezcal, agave nectar, lime juice, cardamom and lavender bitters, topped up with fizz. Not just for your lace curtain twitching granny.
Diplomat’s Downfall – £11
Tapatio 100°, fresh lemon and orange juices, lemon thyme and pineapple syrups, pimento dram, churned
over crushed ice with a port float. Refreshing, but mind the stairs on your way out.
Fallen Angel – £12
Gran Centenario Añejo, Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth, Cynar. A heavenly twist on the Sweet
Manhattan
Water jug at El Nivel Covent Garden
The food at El Nivel has been designed with the tequila in mind and have their root in contemporary Mexican cooking, but take inspiration from Asia and Europe as well as Latin America.
Tostadas se Atun ‘Luzia’ £8
• Pork Belly Chicharones – £11
Pork with crackling and a teriyaki, sambal and sesame seed sauce. Deliciously rich and crisped.
• Guacamole “Yim Fun Ho” – £9
Avocado relish with fresh strawberries, mango, jicama Mexican yam, topped with pomegranate seeds, served on an edible Shiso leaf, accompanied by Chinese pancakes. Great idea to have pomegranate in guacamole.
• Chuletas de Cordero – £12
Lamb Cutlets with Chimichurri salsa
• Tostadas se Atun ‘Luzia’ £8
Raw Yellowfin, line caught tuna with avocado on crispy corn tortillas topped with alfalfa sprouts, served with
‘smoked chile’ cream sauce and toasted hazelnuts. We love anything with chipotle.
El Nivel seaweed tartare toast – the weirdest thing I’ve eaten this year!
We go to a lot of bars and this one is certainly different. In a good way. Quiet, laid back, unpretentious and an education in the way of the cactus.
READ MORE ABOUT LATIN SPIRITS HERE: La Hechicera the Colombian Rum Enchantress, Patron xo cafe
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