Overview: Mixteca, an agave-focused coctelería established by Euclides “Victor” Lopez and Jeff Bell, has opened its second location in Philadelphia. The venue at 2113 E. York St. in East Kensington features a full food menu and serves as a tribute to Puebla, Mexico.
The Full Story
Founders Euclides “Victor” Lopez and Jeff Bell previously worked together for 15 years at the New York City speakeasy PleaseDon’t Tell before opening the first Mixteca in the West Village last summer. The duo won the inaugural James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar in 2012 while leading that establishment. This Philadelphia venue occupies the space formerly held by Martha bar, which was previously occupied by Pig & Khao until a deal fell through.
The brand is named after the artisan-rich region of central Mexico and serves as an outgrowth of Lopez’s heritage from Puebla. The founders have been enthralled with Philadelphia since 2011, attending a gin symposium in the city and visiting local venues like Franklin Mortgage and Tequilas. Pig & Khao and Mixteca are financially backed by the same investment firm, Apres Cru Hospitality.
Production & Profile
The Philadelphia location operates as both a bar and restaurant with nearly double the number of cocktails found in the New York City venue. The menu includes 18 signature cocktails, ranging from rye whiskey Manhattans to agave-centric options like the Puebla York, which combines reposado tequila, mezcal, Cynar amaro, and cassis. House margaritas are available in classic and spicy variations, alongside seven new flavored options such as guava and blackberry.
The food menu features Poblano-inspired share plates including a whole dorade asado, steak tacos, and hamachi ceviche. A large arch over the center bar is constructed of intricate ceramic Talavera tiles imported from Puebla. The NYC venue partners with Tacos 1986 for tacos and quesadillas, while the Philly location features a full-fledged food menu.
Brand & Industry History
Lopez and Bell were part of the team at PleaseDon’t Tell that won the James Beard Award in 2012. Bell worked his way up from Lopez’s barback to lead bartender and eventually owner after buying the speakeasy and its brand from co-founder Brian Shebairo. While Lopez held consistent bartending shifts four nights a week during this time, the partnership evolved into ownership of Mixteca.
What This Means
The owners state they are not looking to outshine the neighborhood’s already-busy bar scene. Mixteca is located blocks away from Bar ILU and Meetinghouse, as well as around the corner from Philadelphia Brewing Co and Atlantis: the Lost Bar. Bell noted that there is a chaos to New York that can be exhausting, whereas he does not see that in Philly. The team intends to ingratiate themselves into the existing party rather than acting as hosts.
Consumer Takeaway
The venue seats 100 people across its airy, bench-lined main dining room, dimly lit mezzanine, and large patio outfitted with stringlights and rainbow-colored chairs. Hours are 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Wednesday; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday to Friday; noon to 2 am. Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. The address is 2113 E. York St., and the contact number is 215-714-3148.
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