Melbourne is known as Australia’s cultural melting pot so it’s no surprise that its eclectic restaurant scene includes some of the country’s best Mexican restaurants. Find top-notch tacos, tequila, and cantina-inspired ambiances in various parts of this coastal food-centric city. For a romantic date night, a party evening with flowing margaritas, or a celebratory special occasion, the best Mexican restaurants in Melbourne await.
At Carlton’s very first Mexican restaurant, tortillas are crafted in-house daily from stone-ground corn. Flame-grilled chicken—aka Mexican-style pollo asado—takes top billing at a relaxed indoor-outdoor restaurant in Footscray. Weekly salsa dancing classes are part of the draw at a lively Preston cantina.
Whether you’re after a low-key taco dinner or a high-octane fiesta, these dining hotspots have you covered. Read on for a guide to the best Mexican restaurants in Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs to try right now.
The best Mexican restaurants in Melbourne for great food and vibes – read on for a guide
For a hidden mezcal bar and taqueria loved by locals – find Bodega Underground in Melbourne CBD
Head underground to the basement of the Crossley Hotel and you’ll find Bodega Underground, a buzzing taqueria and mezcal bar. Spice up your weekend with its Mexican brunch, a five-course feast of street corn, chilaquiles (pulled chicken and tortilla strips in roja sauce), and churros with dulce de leche. Bottomless mimosas, Palomas, espresso martinis, and a steady stream of beers and bubbles keep the fiesta vibes strong.
For refined Mexican dining – book a table at Mesa Verde in Melbourne CBD
Ascend the stairs to the sixth floor of Art Nouveau Curtin House in Melbourne’s CBD and you’ll be rewarded with refined, boundary-pushing Mexican fare at Mesa Verde. Kick things off with mezcal martinis from the agave-focused drinks list and oysters before making way for guacamole with totopos (a Zapotec riff on tortilla chips) and kingfish ceviche with jalapeño-mint adobo. If you’re extra ravenous, there are heartier plates to choose from such as lamb ribs with fennel and apple slaw. Add one of Australia’s largest tequila and mezcal collections, a rotating cast of DJs, and warm mood lighting, and it’s no wonder Mesa Verde is a sought-after dining destination for special occasions.
For a cool late-night Mexican cantina – visit Los Amantes del Agave in Brunswick
Step inside this late-night cantina-style taqueria for truly explosive flavours—for starters, there are a whopping fifteen chile varieties on the menu. The backdrop is warm and casual, filled with low lighting, brick walls, and timber accents. Los Amantes del Agave’s specials include sopes (fried masa with toppings), ensalada de nopales (cactus salad), and tacos filled with smoky mushrooms and lamb barbacoa. If you’re here to imbibe, get the tasting flight—the restaurant has over 150 tequilas, mezcals, racillas, and sotols to choose from. Or chat up the mezcalier for a masterclass on all things agave.
For one of the best rooftop bars and restaurants in Melbourne – visit Benzina Cantina in Preston
Grab your friends and head to this funky Mexico-inspired rooftop bar and restaurant, built entirely from shipping containers. Benzina Cantina offers rustic al fresco dining under the soft glow of pendant lights, surrounded by cacti. If you’re here to snack, share the lightly fried corn ribs coated in red miso, feta, and butter dressing, sprinkled with paprika. For something more substantial, order the soft corn taco filled with brisket and short ribs cooked for 8 hours, topped with salsa verde, white onions and coriander, or try the chef’s pick: a hearty flour tortilla filled with sauteed chicken, corn, capsicum, salsa, garlic, coriander, and cream. Gather your crew for a bottomless brunch featuring free-flowing margaritas, negroni, and sangria.
For one of the best Mexican restaurants in Melbourne for date night – try The Milbri in Rosebud
Latin American food is treated to a Southeast Asian spin at this much-loved Mexican spot, The Milbri. Sip on a Tommy’s Margarita (The Milbri’s ode to the drink served at the legendary Tommy’s Mexican restaurant in San Francisco) as you mull over hawker-style shared plates such as grilled corn with Baja sauce, sticky adobo lamb ribs with sweet potato mole and dukkah, and nachos decked with chile con carne, guacamole, and jalapeños. Don’t miss the bottomless taco and cocktail fiesta and the Monday date night menu with tacos, sharing plates and cocktails. The dark cosy interiors and relaxed service set the tone for a mellow but memorable Mexican feast.
For outdoor dining – book at The Budgie Bar in Ringwood
Crowds flock to this modern Mexican spot for the free-flowing cocktails and the cool, fun vibes. Housed in a converted warehouse, The Budgie Bar is the place to be for a Mexican fiesta with a group, crowned by top-notch cocktails and delicious tacos from Hecho en Mexico. Expect hand-pressed tortillas filled with juicy chicken or beef birria tacos topped with Oaxaca cheese in true Jalisco-style, deep-fried burritos and empanadas with a sire of beer-battered chilli con carne and cheese fries. Consider, too, superb share plates including coal-frilled corn with chipotle aioli and spinach and ricotta empanadas and Heco’s famous nachos for the table. Bonus points for the bottomless cocktail session on Saturdays and Sundays. Sit back in the pet-friendly beer garden and make your choice between a margaritas list made with Patrón tequila, strawberry, lychee and passionfruit. Keep an eye out for special events with live music, DJs and trivia nights.
For a Mexican feast after a day at the beach – head over to La Onda Latin Mex in Dromana
Pairing Latin American and Tex Mex flavours, La Onda—which means the frequency or the wave in Spanish—brings all that and more to the shores of Dromana. The menu is well-loved for dishes such as playa ceviche (barramundi) served with plantain chips, elote loco (chargrilled corn) topped with mayo and shredded white cheese, and warm corn tortilla tacos loaded with assorted meats and vegetables, pickled cabbage, and pico de gallo. Wash it all down with a cerveza lineup that includes wine, cocktails, and Kolashanpan—a fizzy orange soft drink from El Salvador.
For a fun night out with a group – try Tacos ‘N’ Tequilas in Elsternwick
Say hola to Tacos ‘N’ Tequilas, a Mexican restaurant inspired by the streets of San Francisco. This Elsternwick dining destination is just as bold with its interiors as it is with its dishes, with decor that includes neon signs, sombreros, and a pink pressed-iron ceiling lining the back bar. Beers come in buckets and cocktails can be served by the jug. Start with small morsels such as jalapeño poppers and beef or chicken empanadas, and progress to burritos and group-friendly mains including sizzling fajita platters and paella. The cinnamon sugar-dusted churros, served with housemade chocolate sauce, make for a grand finale.
There’s so much to choose from when you dine out in Melbourne that half the battle is narrowing down what you might like. From fun hotspots serving street-style menus and spicy margaritas to lively taquerias and neighbourhood gems loved by locals, the best Mexican restaurants in Melbourne are home to some memorable brunches, romantic dates and nights out.
Book a table for yourself and friends at one of the best Mexican restaurants in Melbourne right now on OpenTable.
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