The first central London site for El Pastor from The Harts Group (also responsible for cult tapas restaurant chain Barrafina and swanky members club Quo Vadis) finds its home in Soho, taking over the former site of Mark Hix’s eponymous restaurant, which closed in late 2019.
The two-story space is split across a ground floor, lower ground floor and basement. The ground floor is apparently inspired by “the grandeur of long-standing official buildings in downtown Mexico”, which translates as a mixture of terrazzo tiles, muted walls, chandeliers and hanging plants. The bar meanwhile, an imposing zinc-wrapped feature inherited from Hix, is now stacked with glass demi-johns of Mezcal and is a focal point of the space.
As for the menu, you can expect to find the Mexican dishes that have secured El Pastor’s cult following, including the signature tortillas that are made in-house daily using heirloom Mexican corn and topped with the likes of pork, chicken and fish. New to this location though is a focus on fiery seasonal seafood tostadas, as well as a crispy duck taco which is served as a sharing plate and designed for groups. To wash it all down, there is a selection of Mezcals, Tequilas and agave spirits, as well as house made cocktails, Mexican beers and a short but well considered wine list.
Londoners who frequented this venue when it was under the guise of Hix will remember that the basement was home to Mark’s Bar, often thought of as one of the best drinking dens in Soho. The Hart Brothers are hoping to continue that legacy with their rejigging of the basement space, which now resembles a Mexican nightclub, complete with DJ decks. The lively space is used to blast out a range of genres, from Latin American tunes to electronica. Tacos, Tequila and dancing? Sign us up.