Had such a great experience at Cantina Monarca! The ambiance was beautiful and gave off the perfect Tulum vibes stylish, relaxing, and perfect for a night out. A special shoutout to our server, Irvin, who made the experience even better. He was friendly, attentive, and gave us excellent food recommendations that did not disappoint. He checked on us throughout our meal, made sure we had everything we needed, and provided outstanding customer service from start to finish. read more

The food was amazing omgggg I'm coming again especially our server Blake what an amazing person love him down what an incredible person omg they made a great decision by having him. Blake thank you so much for the service you gave us. Please give him a rise, he is very special. God sent him to us. What an Angel. See you soon read more

I want there and my server Blake and Maria were great he was on top of his game very polite and friendly with great recommendations I will be coming back every week! read more

Confession: I'm from California. Which means I come with entirely unreasonable expectations about Mexican food. It's not arrogance. It's geography. When you've spent decades eating tacos from tiny family-run restaurants tucked between laundromats and auto repair shops, you develop trust issues after moving to the Pacific Northwest, where some Mexican restaurants have the audacity to serve tater tots on the side. So imagine my delight when Cantina Monarca completely ruined one of my favorite personality traits: complaining that I can't find good Mexican food. The enchiladas were excellent. The lychee martini was dangerously drinkable. The restaurant is beautiful, the service was warm, and I happily cleaned my plate while mentally drafting my formal retraction. I'd also like to apologize to the gentleman who took me here after patiently listening to me judge the Pacific Northwest's Mexican food scene. You were right. I was wrong. I have put that in writing. read more

This is a gorgeous, high-end Mexican restaurant located right in Bellevue. The ambiance inside is absolutely incredible and immediately transports you straight to Mexico. it feels less like just going out to a restaurant and more like a beautifully curated destination right here in the Pacific Northwest. Everything we ordered was completely out of this world and offered a truly elevated culinary experience. We tried the ribeye tacos (which were incredible), the tuna tostada, the guacamole, and a variety of their margaritas (my favorite was the smoky and spicy). From the apps to the entrees to the cocktails, absolutely everything was next level. While the prices are on the higher side, the quality of the ingredients and the execution make it absolutely worth it. The entire vibe of the space is stunning, and the service matched it perfectly. Becca was our server and did an incredible job being attentive, and completely on it throughout our entire meal. It is a finely escalated experience from start to finish, and honestly, I would not be surprised at all if this place starts racking up awards. I highly, highly recommend checking this place out if you are looking for an upscale, elevated Mexican food experience. It is fantastic for a special night out, and I can't wait to go back! read more

See all

We never even got to eat because the service was so disappointing. We waited about 15 minutes for a table with our child while two groups who arrived after us were seated first. Multiple employees kept saying they were "looking for a table," but one simply walked away and never came back. Finally, another employee told us they couldn't seat us because none of their available tables could accommodate a high chair. If that was the case, they should have told us immediately instead of making us wait while seating other parties. We left feeling like families with young children weren't welcome. We took our business elsewhere and won't be back. read more

A very beautiful restaurant! We had come in for lunch and the service was very slow despite not being super busy. We had to ask to see the lunch menu. The food was very good, but honestly not worth the price given the amount that you get. Recommend coming here as a one time thing only to see the beautiful decor read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

See all

Every time I come here I find myself saying "omg I need to come here more often!" Truly a magical experience. From the second you walk in, everything is luxury. The atmosphere is iconic, the service is top notch, and the food is spectacular. I LOVE that the whole menu (mostly) is gluten free. That's how it should be at a Mexican place! As always, I started with the margarita flight. My fantastic server helped me select 4 that fit my preferences, and I'm so glad I listened to her. Each more delicious than the next. So many edible flowers too! Iconic. The hamaci ceviche was so fresh and delicious. I had to stop myself from licking the plate. The truffle taquitos were also lovely. I got the branzino enchilada as my main and WOW! Phenomenal texture and flavor. It all just worked. On top of this, the plating is gorgeous and the tables are intimate and cozy. Start to finish, they have mastered the customer experience and are able to deliver not only a delicious meal, but the feeling that you are special and cared for. Truly an incredible experience and one I will pursue again soon. read more

See all

Everything about this place is absolutely amazing. From the moment you walk into the restaurant and the attractive front desk staff greets you with smiles, being seated in a gorgeous Mayan themed ambiance (designed by famous Gulla Jonsdottir) to their amazing menu. I absolutely love their margaritas and tacos. Amongst other things I've tried over the years here. Best place for a HH at the bar Best place for date night either downstairs next to their open air windows on a hot day or upstairs (for more privacy) Best place for girly girl lunches then hitting the nordy rack for fun retail therapy Awesome spot. Highly recommend!! read more

See all

Great date spot! Service is good, which matters as I'm often going to a movie after dinner. It's a little crowded but as I'm usually there with someone I want to be close to, this isn't a bad thing. I'm not sure I'd want to come here for a business dinner... Margaritas are creative, as are the dishes. Food seems to be consistently good. Crowds have died down a little since when it first opened, so relatively easy to get a reservation here, now. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Stopped by for a work dinner. They have a cozy upstairs alcove, and the restaurant itself is beautifully decorated. - Lychee Drink (4/5): nice, fruity and refreshing! The lychee seemed to be covered in syrup so it was a lil mushy - Guac, Salsa and Chips (5/5): excellent guac, and the chips were def home made and had great crunch! - Enchilados de Pescado Ahumando (3.75/5): fish was a bit mushy, not as snappy, and the sauce was the main star. The side rice was ok- not as flavorful as I would've liked - Chicken Pastor Taco (3.5/5): friend got this and thought it was ok Good spot for the ambiance and drinks read more

See all

Decent tacos but quite pricey. The space is very cool. Staff were super nice and attentive. A good spot in Bellevue to grab drinks and tacos! read more

Cantina Monarca - Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

See all

My friend and I had this restaurant on our bucket list so we decided to check them out on a double date. It was okay, not quite our expectations. For food, we ordered 3 tacos each as recommended by the waiter. It was enough and delicious. The group's favorite was the sea bass. I personally favored the el rey just because i didnt order the sea bass. For drinks, we all thought they were just ok. Not enough alcohol, but to add a shot costed $20. My husband did like the melon beso though and thought that was the best out of the 3 he tried. My friend and her husband liked the smoke & spice. I personally didnt like any of the drinks. We understand some drinks are supposed to be sweet but it should not taste overly sweet to the point ya gotta pucker each sip. We also thought it was bizarre that you cant switch out the tequila in the drinks because they are premade yet there is a full list of types of tequila, which apparently is only for the $20 shots of tequila. One of us seemed to be prioritized on getting their drinks at a reasonable time. The rest of us had to wait a bit for ours. We made a reservation days prior and were able to get a table for the time frame we wanted. We sat upstairs, which felt crammed. There is an area upstairs in the back where it feels much more open, but the aisle area we were in was not comfortable for us. Others around us seemed to have struggled to navigate around here as well. Downstairs looks and feels more roomy. The upstairs was also not picturesque compared to downstairs. If you are making a reservation, i would see if you can get a seat downstairs. Our first waitress was rude after we were taking a while to order. Although they didnt kick us out because we spent until closing time here, the waitress eventually switched with a waiter who we thought was much nicer. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Pretty space, tasty food. Try to sit downstairs in the bar area for the best energy. Yucatan caesar was very good, tho I might ask for dressing on the side next time. Also loved the cazuela plate- lots of great flavors and textures, very filling. Friendly, attentive staff. Good spot if you are in the area. read more

On top of food being the best Mexican I've ever had, service was amazing. Kendall took great care of my table and went above and beyond making our night extra special. read more

Came to Cantina Monarca for dinner with some friends and honestly had a really fun time here. The place has a cool atmosphere, especially once it gets busy. Music was going, people were having a good time, and it had a lively energy without feeling too crazy. We ordered a bunch of things for the table and everything came out looking really good. The tacos were probably my favorite. Meat was tender, had a lot of flavor, and the tortillas tasted fresh. We also got chips and guac to start and ended up finishing it way faster than we expected lol. Portions were pretty solid too and nobody left hungry. Our server was great and really added to the experience. They were friendly, gave us some recommendations when we couldn't decide, and kept checking on us even though the restaurant was packed. Food came out surprisingly fast too. Prices are definitely a little higher than your normal Mexican spot, but you're also coming here for the atmosphere and overall experience. Good food, fun vibe, and really nice service. Would definitely come back, especially for a night out with friends. read more

Hands down they have the best tacos in town, but serving food took about 30min after ordering. With a toddler that was a bit stressful to wait. They have great cocktails and mocktails. The dessert was recommended by our waitress who was super friendly, it looked fantastic even though also took very long and the ice cream was kinda melted, also it had goat cheese that we don't like at all, maybe someone else will love it. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Nut allergy friendly: Only one dessert has nuts according to our waitress. Bonus allergen info: Big plus for being mostly gluten-free here. TL;DR: Reservation definitely recommended. People eating here may be out of my tax bracket. The food is good, and the service is great as long as you're still ordering. Would go back if not for the price. We got here around 5:15 and they could not seat a table of six. Ended up waiting for someone for a while and actually got seated around 5:30 out of luck. The atmosphere is very upscale, with a nice view of the Bellevue Christmas lights (if they're still up). Menu prices are...absurdly high. I had an El Rey Taco (4/5). The taco itself was quite good, but for $12 for something I ate in 2-3 bites, I can't justify going back. If anything, what I paid for was this hilarious photo of a gold hairclip holding together a taco, which I will happily take back and show to people in Texas while eating $1 tacos that are twice the size. My table got several other tacos and said they were quite good, highlighting the chicken tacos as very good. We ordered the Chips & Salsa (2/5) which came with a comedically low amount of salsa, which we increased to a Trio (4/5) which I would say came with a more reasonable amount of chips and salsa, but definitely not an excessive amount and there were no refills on chips. The orange sauce was my favorite. The staff were polite and good with water refills up until we declined dessert, after which we were mostly only checked up on to pour the last of water pitchers and give us a side eye to leave. Lastly, the waitress said she would validate my parking in the nearby garage (very easy to park and go up the elevator) but when I was trying to leave, they said that the validation was invalid. So whatever they did, didn't work. I had to show my receipt at the restaurant to get out without paying, which was incredibly annoying. read more

See all

We celebrated a birthday. Took online reservation in advance and checkin was pretty seamless. Table was set up with birthday sign and they offer free desert ( ice cream with 3 scoops ) - trust me the ice cream is so so delicious I'm vegetarian, so options are limited but food is delicious. Helping is on smaller side. Tables don't have much wiggle room to move around; it a very tight place. Server was warm and nice. Parking: They validate the parking read more

See all

Food is still impressive, they now allow kids during week days, and service is good, though they rush you a bit. I have been taking my friends and family and everyone is impressed by the amazing taco (especially wagyu and pork belly). Margaritas are good too but a bit pricey. Ambience is cool, makes you feel like you are in Mexico read more

See all

I've been excited to try Monarca for a while but was sadly disappointed with the overall experience... to start, the average cocktails were over $20, which is high even for Bellevue standards and were just OK. We got chips & a tiny cup of salsa. The server asked "would you like some more chips?" and were then charged extra for both chips and salsa when we said yes! At this point we just ordered a couple tacos - these were the highlight but the whole meal was over $100 and we had to supplement from home :( read more

Cantina Monarca - Smoke and Spice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

My friend and I came in on a random Sunday afternoon and it was pretty empty! We were greeted and sat immediately. The interior is very aesthetic that feels tropical and woodsy and warm. As we weren't super hungry, we each ordered a taco. I had the lengua taco and a lychee margarita. The lengua was melt in your mouth tender and so flavorful. I liked the toppings as well. The tortillas didn't hold up very well though, and broke apart pretty quickly. The margarita was delicious, no notes. Tbh so many of their drinks sound so good Overall, this was a pretty good experience. It is definitely upscale, so a lot more expensive than your average truck taco. I do like the extra fun ingredients and their expansive drink menu, so that's a plus, but not quite good enough to be a regular spot for me. Definitely worth a try though! read more

Cantina Monarca - Lengua and fish taco - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

See all

This restaurant is basically trying to legally discriminate against families with small children. Made a Father's Day reservation well in advance and wrote in the notes we were bringing an 8 month old and would need a high chair or table with space for a stroller, less than 24 hours before the reservation they texted me to say that they don't provide high chairs or allow strollers in the restaurant. The rude manager Candice was unapologetic about her staff failing to read the notes on my reservation when I made it and for the very late notice. When I asked if she could make an accommodation for a small stroller that would be the footprint of a chair she said no and that it was an elevated establishment that did not allow strollers due to the size of the restaurant(which is actually pretty large). She ignorantly offered to sit us at a table with a bench which is just plain dangerous for a baby to sit at. She also lied about the website stating no strollers or high chairs, however this is not at all mentioned on the website. This place doesn't want families there but also doesn't want the public shame with openly saying that so they just make it unsafe for your kid by not offering high chairs or allowing small strollers. Only eat here if you hate children. read more

Overall very nice atmosphere but definitely more on the expensive side. The tacos were solid and definitely worth getting the side of rice and beans. The queso was just coagulated cheese rather than melted. The drinks were cute and the atmosphere was stunning. The tables on the side were kind of small for 3 people so 2 is ideal. The service was good for how busy it was and very friendly. And parking is validated! read more

See all

Top tier! I don't fre frequent Bellevue a lot, but this place was awesome. The decor was amazing. It felt like we were in downtown Tulum. The food was also amazing. I think the fish taco was one of my favorites. The taquito as well was very crunchy and flavorful with that green sauce. Definitely it must try appetizer. The pizza looking thing and the chicken bowl were also a favorite, but I didn't try them myself. We tried all the desserts besides the rice pudding and I think the chocolate cake was amazing with the raspberry or pink sorbet. Top-tier will be back. The service was also phenomenal, phenomenal very informative and quick. read more

See all

Amazing setting, food is outstanding and service was incredible. Love this place. Everything we ordered was so good from the drinks, to the apps, entrees and dessert. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

See all

Definitely on the pricier side but this is a great spot for fancier occasions or to treat people visiting from out of town! I visited for dinner before and had a great time, so decided to stop by for lunch this time. The lunch menu is more affordable; you can select 2 items from the menu for $17. I chose 2 tacos but there's also a salad option as well as quesadillas, tostadas, and etc. I thoroughly enjoyed my tacos, especially the sakura pork belly taco. My party all ordered different things so I tried some of the salad as well, which was solid. I didn't think the quesadilla was as good as the taco options, but it wasn't bad, just didn't stand out. We also ordered the chips, guac, and salsa combo, which was a good starter. I wish there was more guac though, for the price. I love the margaritas here, they taste so fresh and are decorated with a lot of flair. Look at how beautiful they are! I highly recommend grabbing a drink here. Service was great and the elevated beach club ambience is stunning. Great place to snap pics and have an aesthetically pleasing meal that tastes good too. I'd come back for the tacos and drinks! read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

See all

They told us the restaurant was full and there were no seats at the bar. They also said we were first on the wait list and that there is nobody else on it. The next family walked up, right behind us and audibly said "we don't have a reservation" and the staff walked them straight in and gave them a table. We got a text at 5:30 and the text said there wouldn't be a table until 7:30. When we walked by the front we looked in the window and saw they were at maybe half capacity. The family they let in was the same size party so as far as I can tell the only distinguishing factor was that they were wearing collared shirts and we were wearing T-shirts. read more

Their tacos are my fav!!! Our server Irvin recommended everything we ate!!! The restaurant is a vibe. !! Love this place!! read more

See all

A cute little cantina located inside the mall... You'll definitely need a reservation if you're coming here it's pretty busy on weekends. Ambiance: is very cute for a date or to hang out with friends. Very vibey for Instagram pictures if you're into that too! Service: We arrived on time for our reservation, yet still had to wait. Waiters not as attentive as they could be.. Food: We mostly ordered drinks. Chips and guac are pretty pricey here, as well as food but i enjoyed my taco. Tacos are about $10/piece. Recommend coming here for convenience if you're going out to dinner, followed by hitting the clubs in the mall here! read more

Cantina Monarca - Birria Taco and Flight - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Unfortunately, such a miss. I've been looking forward to going here for quite a while and based on what you see online, you'd assume the aesthetic and vibe is consistent throughout the restaurant but that is not the case. We had a reservation and were taken through the beautiful and lively downstairs area. The second we got upstairs, all I could think was: Womp womp womp. The upstairs is completely a downgrade from the downstairs. Our table had cut marks and drink stains all over it. You could tell the upstairs area was such an afterthought seeing the contrast of the beautiful cocktails on such an unkept table. The server was wonderful, but the hostess said they couldn't move our table to the downstairs area when we asked. My advice: don't seat people with a reservation in the upstairs area until the atmosphere and aesthetic makes it worth our while. Seeing people who clearly put time and effort into their outfits, wearing heels and dresses, etc. being sat in an area that was absolutely not up to the same standard was beyond disappointing. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

See all

The cutest place to eat at!! The food was great! The presentation was amazing. The service was excellent. read more

See all

Ambiance - this spot is very pretty inside. Feels like Tulum Service - the team here is super friendly, and attentive! Food - queso has some serious cheese pull it's not like a typical creamy queso sauce. It comes with soft tortillas and easy turned into a quesadilla Carne asada - cooked medium well, was very delicious but pricey I thought ($69 I think) and only came with tortillas. For that price they should include rice and beans at the very least Corn side was delicious, the rice side is fluffy and had good flavor. Drinks - margarita flight $26 great way to try a few. My favorite was the pina marg read more

See all

Came in for a family birthday late lunch and it was empty! They left a birthday card on the table which we appreciated! The decorations are gorgeous and they opened the huge windows about half way through and it honestly was 10/10 vibes. We started off with the queso fundido and corn esquites and really enjoyed both! They both were packed with flavor and perfectly warm when they came out. I do wish the cheese stayed warm a bit longer though, it harden after about 5 minutes but otherwise really enjoyed! For drinks we tried the Cabo azul (4/5), spicy pepino (4/5), and the el pasion (5/5). They were all yummy but the el pasion really stood out to me. The flavor was so fresh and not overwhelming with the taste of alcohol. Would come back again purely for this! We loved the display of the Cabo azul! For food we got the seabass (4.5/5! The piece of fish was almost too big for the tortilla! It was perfectly crispy, the apple slaw and chipotle aioli were yummy and fresh, and it was super flavorful!), the pastor (5/5! Everyone loved it!), the chayote (4.5/5), and the pork belly (3.5/5). Everyone very much enjoyed their tacos and agreed they were flavorful, despite what many of the reviews say. Thanks to the birthday, they brought out 2 desserts for us - the helado (I can't remember the flavors now, one was fruity I believe? All delicious though!) and the Bosque magico! They told us that the Bosque magico was supposed to look like a little scene with the almond crumble as dirt, cilantro sponge cake as moss, with chavre (goat cheese-ish) and berry puree under, and a poached apple on top with huckleberry ice cream. They add "fog" to the plate too! I wasn't a huge fan of the chavre on the bottom and the almond crumble didn't have much flavor but it was such a fun dessert and my sister enjoyed the chavre! On the helado bowl, they had the ice cream on top of a bed of pumpkin seeds that were so delicious! I could've eaten those by themselves. I would definitely come again just for the tacos and drinks! Now that I know the food is good, I am more willing to try the more expensive dishes next time! read more

See all

It's been several months but I was blown away by the quality of the margarita flight! The food was good, but expensive, so I think I'll just get appetizers and drinks next time, then go elsewhere for dinner. read more

Cozy space with a lot of creative dishes and drinks. My cocktail came with a lime Jell-O shot on the side, like the chic, well-traveled cousin of my college Tuesday nights. The waitress tried to encourage us to have three tacos, but after sharing some of the appetizers, I can tell you that you two are MORE than enough. Don't pass up the guacamole or the street corn! Also the fish taco and the chicken, yes - chicken, al pastor are a must. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

See all

Cantina is always such a vibe but it's better when Becka is your server. She is so amazing, knowledgeable, and extremely accommodating. I love when she is on shift because she always takes care of us and anticipates all our needs. The food is delicious and again, service is incredible. Thank you Becka for such incredible hospitality! read more

If you're going for the ambiance - this is your place. The whole interior is a vibe. Food is good, drinks are good. Wish they had a better food menu. Service is great. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

its a beautiful place but just not good for a date. Its to loud the seating is horrible. The food is mediocre. The drinks are great the service is nice. Way overpriced for what you get. Just go for drinks and eat somwhere else read more

The atmosphere and decor were super cool, and the menu had a lot of interesting items that sounded great. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to the price. The cocktails were overpriced for what you get, and honestly just weren't very good. The menus were also very worn out and difficult to read, which made ordering frustrating. Overall, the vibe was better than the actual food and drinks experience. Would not recommend. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington