I was interested in getting a little pre-dinner drink somewhere and El Destilado came highly recommended to me. Upon arriving I asked to be seated on the rooftop which they obliged with no issue. The upstairs ambiance is upscale without being stuffy. They played contemporary music but it wasn't too loud. The drinks menu is interesting and there are a lot of creative options for cocktails. I ordered a drink called the GOAT margaritas and it was STRONG but balanced. Cocktails run around $180-230 pesos. The main menus are 6 and 9 course tastings but they also have somewhat reasonably priced a la carte bar snacks. I debated ordering something but didn't want to spoil my appetite which was already happening as they brought out complimentary chips and (excellent) salsa with my drink. Service was a tad on the slow side but I wasn't in a hurry. Would absolutely return! read more

El Destilado - Patio on the rooftop - Mexican Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

We ate our last dinner in Oaxaca at El Destilado, and I'm glad we did. It was a great way to end our trip. El Destilado offers a few options: a 6-course meal and a 9-course meal. (They also offer a bar menu with snacks and drinks on their rooftop if you're not up for a whole tasting menu situation.) We did the nine-course menu, and we couldn't resist adding on the drink pairing. I can usually pass on a drink pairing, since they can be really expensive and I feel pressure to keep up. But El Destilado's drink pairing was too varied and unique to pass up! Each of our nine courses came with very different beverages - two cocktails, two glasses of wine (the wines were great natural wines, but I kind of wished they offered Mexican wines; I think there are some really incredible natural Mexican wines being made now!), one craft beer (brewed in Mexico), one sake (brewed in Mexico, the first Mexican sake company), one pulque (made in house; it was fantastic), and one port (with dessert). (I think I'm missing one! I believe there were 9 - one for each course. Maybe the last one is the little bottles of mezcal they gave us with the little dessert snacks as our last course?!) I often worry that the portions of a tasting menu will be too large, and I won't be able to enjoy the meal. But I really enjoyed El Destilado's portion sizes and progression. Our first course was a plate of three small snacks (tiny versions of Oaxacan dishes), and many other courses were very light (a tomato/vegetarian dish, a single ravioli in a bowl, a raw fish course, a cooked fish course, a shared main)... It was a smart way to serve a lot of great dishes without your guests filling up too fast! I think my favorites were the quail main, the foie course, the seafood courses, and the snack course! Overall, the food was all really good - modern takes on Oaxacan dishes and flavors. Fun and beautiful without losing focus on the flavor. The service was top notch (felt so welcome and comfortable and our server went out of her way to explain every course and beverage pairing) to us while still giving us time to enjoy. They can do service in Spanish or in English. The restaurant is beautiful and yet still understated for a tasting menu restaurant. It's on the pricey side. But it was my favorite of the pricey side meals we had. It was interesting and delicious and exciting, and I'd absolutely return to eat there again. read more

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El Destilado experience was an awesome culinary journey. We got the reservation for tasting dinner with accompaniment of alkohol. We chose the upstairs outside seating as the weather was gorgeous. Our menu consisted of six moments and six different alkohol , I also got a nice surprise small cake foe my birthday occasion which was nice . All the dishes very very interesting, giving us an insight of Oaxacan culinary tradition. Tacos de oreja de Leon were absolutely spectacular. Rib Eye steak with mole sauce was also super delicious. The service was great and the whole dinner lasted about 2 hours. We would definitely come back. read more

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We love this place. Everything has been delicious so far and we love trying all the mezcals. They generally have a tasting menu with many dishes, but we've only just sat at the bar and had small plates. The bartenders have been so knowledgeable and the vibe is super cool. One day we'll try the hole menu. read more

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We were only here for drinks and snacks. The drinks and service were good. The guacamole and chicharrones were heavy on my palate. I learned that some in Mexico believe that no lime juice is necessary in guacamole. I disagree, particularly if you are serving guacamole with something heavy like chicarrones. All that said, we had a good visit and it is worth a visit. read more

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Got the 9 course tasting menu with the drink pairing and my total came to about $100 USD. The food here is incredible but not super traditional/local. It's not authentic Oaxaca's cuisine as much as just a really cool space to eat yummy upscale food. They use all locally sourced drinks and most of the food as well. I took pictures of mostly everyone we had. Would recommend and the bartender Mike upstairs was really really great. So was the rest of the staff but I didn't catch their names. I would recommend this place for sure. The food was great, and the staff took the time and the care to ensure a high quality experience. The atmosphere was really rad too. read more

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The food was unique and tasty. The service was superior. The price was very expensive. Although we enjoyed the experience, there are so many places in Oaxaca that are just as good for literally half the price. read more

El Destilado - Wonderful service - Mexican Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

The 9 course tasting menu was among the best meals and most fun experiences we've ever had. Every course was incredible, the wait staff was incredible, and the ambiance was perfect. If you're opting for the drink pairing: pace yourself: we were all quite drunk (but incredibly giddy) when we left. If you have one fancy meal on your trip to Oaxaca, choose El Destilado! read more

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We were here for the 9 course meal with beverage pairing. Loved the whole experience. Interesting modern take with Oaxaca ingredients. Loved the mole, aguachile, foie gras pre-dessert and tomato soup/salad. Great service and really enjoyed ourselves. read more

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Spectacular -one of the top 5 eating experiences of my life! I'd go back to Oaxaca just to eat here again. It reminded us of Restaurant Andre in Singapore Food: a culinary tour through Oaxaca elementals - prepared, explained, and served with so much love. Definitely get the beverage pairing if you go! Ambience: gorgeous rooftop dining that was at one causal but gave the aura of magic. Service: spectacular - they walked us through each dish and it's meaning in Oaxaca. E.g. we didn't realize how important corn was, but we learned about the ways in which it contributes to society and culture. Met the chef at the end too. read more

This was a great find. The food tasted great and the presentation was on point. We tried the mushroom tacos, pork belly tacos and yellow aguachiles. Everything was delicious. We also tried a couple of drinks and those were great as well. I tried pa las rodillas and it was the prettiest drink ever read more

El Destilado - Yellow aguachiles, mushroom tacos and pa las rodillas drink - Mexican Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

Best meal and service we had during our 5 days in Oaxaca. If you are looking for more upscale, experimental Oaxacan food in an intimate setting this is the place to go. We are vegetarian and they were very accommodating. Would also recommend the beverage pairing (alcoholic/non alcoholic options). The 6 course was plenty for us. read more

Perfect dinner on the upstairs terrace fish tacos and fish pasdor and guac. Great service. Highly recommend! read more

El Destilado - Fish taco - Mexican Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

It does not get better than this ! The food here is authentic with a twist it is served as tastings and paired with a drink. If you are open to a new experience and just love food then this is your place read more

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Went with a group of 6 and did the group tasting menu. The ambiance, staff, and food (obviously) were all top notch!! Our party had a back area all to ourselves. The table was really unique and the spot was decorated so well - it was festive without being too fancy or stuffy. We did the tasting menu/family style feast (I believe it's offered for groups of 6-9). We didn't add the alcohol accompaniment but it did come with a welcome cocktail that was strong and delicious. Some courses were shared family style dishes and others were served to each person. All were incredible: unique combinations of local ingredients and flavors that were all so delicious! For example, one course was a "leaf" taco - instead of a tortilla, the taco was wrapped in a native leaf. The texture complimented the filling of chicharron, chapulines and other stuff perfectly. We also had a course of mezcal ice cream as a palate cleanser before the final entree. Loved that! I was also so impressed by how they accommodated the vegetarian and the peanut allergy in our group. This is harder when you add family style to the mix but they did it perfectly and neither felt like they were missing out on the experience. All of the vegetarian dishes, for example, were similar to our meat dishes but wish veggies subbed for the meat. We also ordered the corn fungus - not because the tasting menu left us hungry, but because we'd heard it was to die for. We weren't disappointed! It was plate-lick worthy! The staff made the evening extra special. Carlos, our waiter, was so much fun, so informative and so helpful for ordering drinks. He let us try a few different mezcals to ensure we ordered the ones we liked best. He also suggested some street food and bars to check out during our stay in Oaxaca! Great guy. The dinner was worth every penny. Highly recommend for a special evening to anyone visiting Oaxaca, particularly for a group. read more

While the food was decent, it was overshadowed by the rude service and overpriced menu. They seem to justify high prices by making everything sound "fancy", but the quality of food and service didn't hold up to the air they put on. We ordered guacamole which was great, but only came with about 5 chips to eat it with. Then we got Mahi Mahi tacos which looked pretty but were basically a pile of cabbage atop a mostly batter bit of fish. The waitress who brought the food announced the platter as though it were gold. I don't mind spending money if the food holds up, but I'd rather spend less at a hole in the wall where food is good and skip the fancy presentation. read more

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100% the best meal we had in Oaxaca (and one of the best meals we've had this year)! We ventured here after a recommendation from fellow yelper Lou he is quite the Oaxaca connoisseur and had terrific suggestions​ for everything you'd want to do in Oaxaca. So after careful consideration between El Destilado and another restaurant we decided to have the Chef's tasting menu here. Best decision ever. Some high-end​ restaurants leave you overspent​ and wanting more. Others offer fantastic service, but the food is meh. El Destilado was terrific from​ top to bottom. Service- As​ aforementioned, we had the Chef's Tasting Menu on the bar adjacent​ to the kitchen. That kitchen was immaculate; clean, quiet, and seemed to work just like a symphony. It's as though I was watching a Chef's Table episode (and ​Chef's Table worthy chef). Slow motion, bright kitchen, beautiful​ plates, and great conversation by the chef. Food- ​Everything is local (farm​ to table if you will), seasonal, and menus seem to be created (or fine-tuned) daily. The dishes were similar and yet all very​ different. The two standouts​ were the mole and the chef's Baja dish. You have to try their mole even if you don't do the Chef's tasting. Honestly, besides my mom's mole, and yes, Pujol's mole, this mole is impressive. It was creamy, full of dimension​, spicy, sweet, and luscious. Everything you'd want your mole to be. The Baja​ dish was terrific! Think sea, sea to table. Is that a thing? It was just as delicious as the seafood​ dishes I had in Baja. The thing about this dish that made it stand out was that it included everything from the seaweed to fish.​ Drinks- You can choose a pairing menu with the chef's table menu that includes wine, alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic​​ beverages​. It was a great option, but we decided to order from the menu​. Our drinks were amazing. Hands down a must go to in Oaxaca. read more

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The food and service were great. Beautiful atmosphere. Great craft beer. We observed that mostly foreigners were there. Highly recommended!

I love Pujol. I love Alinea. But -- really and truly -- my favorite restaurant is El Destilado. Three dinners (and one brunch) in, this place continues to impress. So ... I'm probably at 25 meals now. This place continues to get better and more engaging. As I'm writing this from Chicago, we're in the thick of the pandemic. And of course I'm worried about the financial and physical health of my friends and family. But I'm also thinking about this incredible restaurant--about the dedicated staff who have made so many great memories for my wife and me. And I'm wondering when I'll be able to return. When those doors reopen, I want to be first in line. read more

Perhaps one of the best culinary experiences ever. From presentation to service everything was flawless. A true foodies paradise. The happy staff is like none other. We opted for the 9 course meal with wine pairings. The plates are small but ample, with 9 courses you won't leave hungry. The pairings are not only generous but unique, from beer to Saki to wine and everything in between. Consider yourself fortunate to dine here as there are very limited seats. Truly exceptional. read more

Hands down best meal in Oaxaca. I ordered the 6 course vegetarian tasting 1: cucumber drink 2: sope with guacamole and blue corn - squash flowers Mushroom sope 3: tortilla leaf tomato stew, rice chicharrón 4: blue corn ferment tomato filled with giant black bean 5: beet mole tart with puma queso and flowers 6: wheat from the maintains, tomatoes, Parmesan Oaxaca from Chi pías , fermented chayote 7: avocado leaf ice cream read more

We stumbled here after arriving on a delayed flight from DF and Just followed the recommendations. It was going to be the first meal in Oaxaca so we looked for the the closest best rated restaurant from where we were staying. The kitchen was closing but the staff was accommodating and after a round of amazing cocktails in the roof terracewe had the best ribeye and barbecue tacos ever and tamales de hoja santa. Cant wait to return. read more

Wow. After coming here a year ago when they didn't have their liquor license and enjoying the best fish tacos this side of the moon, we ventured back during our return trip to Oaxaca and enjoyed even better tacos, along with amazing cocktails , amazing ensalada, amazing tres leche postre and of course the friendly and helpful staff( the Cocineros come to meet you as well ) I can't wait to come back. I wish they were open for Almuerzo ! read more

El Destilado - Once again the Fish taco with Chilcana simply cannot be beat - Mexican Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

Make sure to make reservations ahead of time because we made the mistake of trying to book a few hours ahead on a Friday night. Luckily we got called 30 minutes before dinner time bc we joined the waiting list. We had the 9 course meal and were sat in the back of the restaurant near the kitchen and side table (where you sit for the 12 course). The back had a home like feel which was cool. The service was GREAT, the servers spoke English too which was a plus for us. The food was INCREDIBLE and that's about all I can say..... We enjoy tasting upscale food all around the world and boy was this an experience for the books! I would DEFINITELY recommend this place. It is pricey (for Oaxaca) but 100% worth the money. We will be back!!! Thank you!! read more

El Destilado - Unbelievable!!! This was only 8 of our 9 course meal (not in order). I forgot to take a pic of one of the desserts :( - Mexican Near Me - Oaxaca, OAX

We loved our late night taco and guacamole meal at El Distilado. We just popped in, and climbed the stairs to find a perfect terraza for a nice night! After we had eaten, I remembered that a friend had suggested going there- what a fun coincidence. It is a great spot for food and drinks! read more

Worth a seat at the chefs table..... Great place located in the heart of historic Oaxaca. An intimate setting that allows you to see into the kitchen where Chef Julio & team create the best food we've had in Mexico. Highly recommend the Sandia Salad, quesadillas and ask about the tasting menu. Best place in Oaxaca to eat good and late at night Open till Midnight read more

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Did the 6 course meal option with the alcohol pairings and It was all better than I envisioned it to be. The atmosphere was on point as we sat in the upstairs patio area. Our server was very attentive, knowledgeable and answered all question. read more

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Amazing food. Broccoli with smoked eggplant purée and fish tacos were highlights. Tables were all booked, but when I called they said they'd save us seats at the bar. read more

This was easily the best dining experience I've had so far. The attention to detail was superb. Staff was knowledgeable about all ingredients and drinks and extremely pleasant. read more

We had the 9 course meal paired with drinks. Unbelievable meal. Fantastic service! Very knowledgeable server and the food was amazing. We asked for vegetarian meal options, and each bite was phenomenal. So happy to have found this charming place and it will forever be the most memorable meal in Oaxaca we have had! read more

One of the best dinner experiences I've ever had! This is not a hyperbole, we were absolutely amazed by the food quality, presentation and service. We went on head first for there 9 course tasting menu and drink pairing. I won't go the through ever dish here but I will say that (for me) everything was fantastic! Great flavors and very thoughtful plate executions. Highly recommend! read more

Who wouldn't love a Smoky Old Fashioned made out of local mezcal and house whiskey crafted from ancient black corn? Who wouldn't love traditional techniques and ingredients lovingly crafted into new meals? This is one of those restaurants where you can taste the love and care that went into choosing and using each ingredient. It's not stuffy, services is great, and food was top 5 for our 10-day trip. Plus, our waitress, a cordon bleu trained pastry chef, recommended specific meals we must try at other restaurants in the city. read more

The worst ever, went there for the 9 course pairing. No menu of courses (a clue). Absolutely rubbish food, only one wine in the pairing of poor quality, others of God knows what. One was a bottle of local beer to share. Truly awful, everything seemed like kitchen left overs. We have been to 60 Countries over 25 years, this was up there with the worst restaurants. Oh, the bill. $265 US, This in a city of fabulous food at amazingly low prices. They had a charge of $100 for the pairing in that bill. This was as close as I ever got to wrestling with a restaurant manager ( He told me the waiter should have told us the pairing was extra and offered a free dessert or drink. Yep, let's blame the poor young waiter). In the end one pairing was deducted so $200 for absolute garbage. Will the owner read this ? I hope so, shame on you pal. read more

This insanely fabulous restaurant deserves a Michelin star. Every step was fabulous. The food, drinks, this service. We have eaten at so many restaurants around the world and this stands among one of the best. read more

This is a long-overdue review from when we went to Oaxaca last year, but we just couldn't let the owners and staff down after the best dinner experience of OUR LIVES. This is the BEST restaurant in Oaxaca, if not Mexico in general - and this is from someone who's been to Pujol and goes to Michelin starred restaurants all over the world. We loved the tasting menu (which is as fantastic as everyone says) but the best part of the experience was talking to the owners and the chef for hours after the restaurant closed down. They care so much about the food and mezcal served there, it's incredible the amount of artistry that goes into every they do. Can't recommend this place enough, it's a MUST visit if you come to Oaxaca! read more

Nice rooftop bar. Thought the food was just alright. Their alcohol selection was toward the sweet side.

chef compIeteIy overshadowed by the (manager's) terrible service We were so mortified and disgusted with this experience, that I truIy have a hard time remembering the food. If you go here, make sure you're a coupIe or smaII group - they can't handIe more. As a food enthusiast & return cIient, I booked a tabIe for 10 of the best dinner companions I couId find - chefs, industry peopIe, traveI industry food critics, etc. I was anxious to support smaIIer taIented chefs, newer on the scene, as the most famous restaurants in Oaxaca tend to get aII the attention (Casa Oaxaca, Ios Danzantes)... What a terribIe mistake. I booked more than 2 months in advance - Iess than a week before, someone wrote me requesting a 50% pre-payment to hoId the reservation - requiring each person to book the 9-course tasting menu (which is around 90 USD per person). I kindIy decIined and said we wouId be there and expected to DINE - not to worry. He did not get back to me. Our tabIe was not ready when we arrived (fine). When it was, no one came over fo rthe first 15 minutes we were seated. FinaIIy, the manager came over and asked us to commit to the 9-course tasting menu. He did NOT BRING MENUS. He DID NOT OFFER DRINkS. HE DID NOT say, "weIcome". HE DID NOT EXPLAIN ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOOD, the CHEF, the CONCEPT - but DID MANAGE TO DEMAND MONEY. WOW. As the organizing host, I gentIy suggested he perhaps Iet us know what was avaiIabIe before shaking us down for cash. He sent someone for menus, and asked us if we wanted seperate biIIs and how (stiII no menus, no drinks...) Most of us had the 9-course tasting menu. THEY SUBSTITUTED at Ieast 3 dishes with cheaper options... the most offensive of which was the PORK BELLY main which is basicaIIy the star of the show and the Iargest dish - we recieved basic pork Ioin... I imagine thinking we wouIdn't know the difference. NeedIess to say, sometimes we were missing a dish, the dishes were not weII expIained (with the exception of the 2 times the chef came out himseIf), the service ettiquette was atrocious, and we often needed to get out of our seats to get drinks at the bar. At the end, regardIess of the manager's intense questioning at the beginning, we recieved ONE BIG biII, which we aII painstakingIy worked through with cards and cash. Then they miscaIcuIated, didn't know what was missing, started a huge fuss, found some of the money, and then said again a few drinks needed to be paid (Mass Confusion). When I paid wth my card at the end, FOR the most atrocious service I have ever recieved at this price point, he had the nerve to ask for a tip. I aIways Ieave a tip, even if there are questionabIe moments. Here 0%. WOW. I feeI Iike anyone off the street couId have waIked into this restaurant myseIf, with zero experience, and served our tabIe of 10 better than the manager did............. At Ieast they wouId IikeIy being with, "heIIo". WOW. read more

Like numerous others have said, eating here was one of the best culinary experiences ever. Four of us had our own little room that opened to the rest of the restaurant that was delightful and where we could easily talk. Loved everything about our 6-course tasting menu - the portions, timing and the food were all perfect. There were some lovely surprises too! Can't wait to eat here on my next trip to Oaxaca. read more

These are my people. Chef Julio is the man, and our server Carlos was amazing. Both of them knew perfect English as well, which made our experience unforgettable. This was by far the best meal I had in Oaxaca and I went to all of the other restaurants that rank top 10 in the city. Name one....This is better. Get the chefs tasting menu, you will not regret it. Everything was delicious! read more

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Good drinks, good food great personnel, what a great bar experience and the tacos were excellent!