GREAT CANTINA FOR A LOCAL VIBE - La Negrota is a really fun local cantina where most of the seating…read moreis in an open courtyard and you get packed in like sardines as it fills up at night. With live music playing often you will have spontanoeous dancing eruot as couples get into the groove and enjoy the fun. With drinks you also get botanas, basically free appetizers, which are fine but nothing to wrote home about. The food is pub food style with a latin twist and while they aren't shooting for fine dining if you are in the mood for a local style pub meal its a great optiion and a lot of fun. Happy eating from John Seeto!

Came through twice…read more The first was at noon on a Sunday. Joke is on us: we learned they're not open until 2pm (only on Sundays. Otherwise, they're open at noon all other days.) We came through a couple of days later because it came highly HIGHLY recommended by Big Bro. So, I was more curious than anything. Another reason I came through is to try their kibi's. (It topped my Yelp search when looking for this particular grub.) We wanted to get drinks as well since it was a hot and humid day! Pina colada for me, brewskis for Hubbers. We put in an order for the kibis because that's main reason I came through. Drinks came through, and then... mini plates of snacks, oh, WHAT! La botana, is what they call them. Whew, didn't plan on eating more than the kibis, but I welcomed it! It was a pretty good variety, too: there were sausages, pork skin, jicama and some sort of salad. Staff told us if we wanted refills on any or all of them, to let them know and they'd be more than happy to comply. Kibis finally came through, and I have to admit that I was disappointed. Not only did they lack taste, but they were also hard. They may have been overcooked which most likely contributed to the lack of flavor. Initial thought in mind were hockey pucks. Chewing through one was a challenge that I didn't bother going for a second. (It was practically inedible.) The guac, pico de gallo and sauce were great, but didn't do much for the pucks. Hubbers really liked it, though, so there's at least that. FOOD: 2. SERVICE: 4. I noticed staff mostly just hanging out together at the bar, but they were excellent at being mindful of guests. VALUE: 3. 5 for las botanas, 1 for the kibis. PARKING: Street only. It will be a challenge, for sure. OVERALL: 3. FUN FACT: They are the second oldest cantina in Merida (opened in 1917.) I learned the place is far livelier at night when they have bands performing. Someday, maybe...? Not a one-and-done, but it'll be a long minute before a second visit, if at all.

This is a drinking man's bar. You can buy a bottle of booze ( probably terrible, I stick with…read morebeer) and they will leave it on the bar, just like in the cowboy movies. Some of the patrons were pretty well loaded by 4:00 pm on my Saturday visit, some giving me surly looks. ( read "Fucking Entitled Gringo" ) but many at the bar were glad for a diversion , an old white guy with mediocre spanish dares come in here. The owner, about my age,(68) has a not so old wife who was drinking at the bar. She put a straw in her bottle and held it to her crotch, intimating that she could drink it by sheer vaginal suction, and wanted me to take a photo. I obliged, and left very shortly afterwords. I wouldn't go there after dark, but it's something to see for sure . And only a block from Dolores Alba , one of the best,medium priced, beautiful Colonial hotels in Merida.

I do not speak any Spanish so I use my phone. This place is very kind for that. Drinks and…read morewaitresses are wonderful, Music is great, vibe is amazing. Cuz I don't speak Spanish it is nice that a waitress or any one working actually helps me out. I recommend this place if u want some drinks and good music

Love this place! Great drinks and cool atmosphere. I will be going back!…read more The staff were friendly and attentive too!

Really cool styling and throwback to when buildings where built functionally but still aesthetic…read more Owner was very friendly and service was prompt.

Great experience at Eladio's Bar! The food was delicious and full of flavor, and the drinks were…read moreperfectly made. Live music was amazing. Manager Jorge was very pleasant and welcoming, and our waiter, Juan Carlos Alejos, was amazing -- so friendly and attentive. His service truly made our visit special. Highly recommend and will definitely be back!

It was a great dining experience. The small tapas that come with your drinks were delicious…read more Service was excellent. Highly recommend this place

I have to say that this has been by far the worst experience I've had in Merida, Mexico. We came…read morehere due to a family member's suggestion. Unfortunately, literally, everything was wrong. Everything from the food, my drink order, my side orders, and the waiter's service. The waiter, Victor, was not only poor at his job, but was always rushing and messed up all of our orders. I ended up not eating due to my food being cold, late, and getting the wrong side orders. This was by far the worst restaurant I've been to and it will be the last time I come. It was way too expensive for the quality. The drinks were pretty bad and the service even worse. We were 8 people and only 6 of us ate. Unfortunately, it was my only meal of the day, but at least now I know how terrible it was.

People get excited for free snacks - but they are the snacks that come from cans or have been…read moreforgotten in the fridge for 2 weeks. Mexico is damn cheap - pay 50 pesos for a decent fresh meal instead of getting gratis Basura.

BEST OF MERIDA 2025 - Botanas Botanas are a special treat,…read morebasically free food you get with drinks. Lucero doesnt call it in here, they serve a great variety of excellent options (mmm the gizzard is absurd). It varies throughout the day the service levels and botana availability; but show up around 7-8pm for a safe bet on a good experience with solid service, availabilty, and a good place to hang. See prior reviews for more details and happy eating from John Seeto!

What a great surprise this was! I had no idea what we walked into, I thought we were just going to…read moregrab drinks at this ultra chic looking bar. We ordered beers, we received those, and literally 2 min later a waitress came out with all these mini tapas and I was in shock. I had mentioned that we didn't order them and she said they came with the beer, and oh my, it's genius! we literally didn't feel the need to leave the bar and ordered more than we should've. Some of the tapas were great, some were decent, nothing terrible but what a deal and concept.