We had a lovely experience at el techo for happy hour. The environment overall can't be exceeded. A rooftop bar in center city among the sky scrapers is already an incredible spot for an outing. The roof is rather crowded and can be difficult to find your group if you are there on a work outing or for a party, but the restaurant does its best to accommodate everyone and mark off individual sections. The food was great- as a vegetarian I felt that there were plenty of options. The Califlower tacos exceeded my expectations significantly. They had a lovely texture with Califlower, tomato, and salsa toppings. The flavor was spicy without being overwhelming (but I do love spicy!). I would love to try some of the other vegetarian options next time, such as the floutas read more

El Techo - Drinks - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Stunning rooftop views in a prime location. El Techo is your spot for your next happy hour or social gathering! The Condesa Hotel is stunning and you have to walk through the lobby and dining area to get to the elevator for the rooftop. El Techo is on the 11th floor. I arrived with some friends around 5:15 PM on Friday. We didn't have a reservation (shame on us) but the wait wasn't unbearable. We stood at the bar and ordered drinks while we waited. I got the Spritz to start. It honestly didn't have much hibiscus or lavender flavor to me, but it was fine. I still enjoyed it. The coliflor tacos were hands down my favorite item of the night. Yes, they are $6 a piece and yes they are small, but the crispy cauliflower with salsa macha mayo on a soft tortilla will have you overlooking the price and size. So delicious and not messy to eat! The guacamole was delicious, too. The chips weren't oily and the guac wasn't salty. Everything tasted just right. Service was fast even with how busy it was. Food comes out as it's ready but we all mostly got our food at the same time, which I appreciated. Our waitress was pleasant and took great care of us. read more

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Nice roof top view and summer party vibe. If you are a hotel guest and used the Motto hotel food gift card, a 20% tip is automatic added to the check. The cocktails were refreshing, the taco was not worth the $6, but again, we are so used to the LA street taco, so I might be biased. read more

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I need to get this off my chest, a rooftop should overlook something interesting. This one overlooks a parking lot and target. I'm sick of bars creating this hype around "rooftop" and then the view is trash. Eat downstairs or eat before you come, the most reasonably priced thing is the flautas and my party had mixed opinions on them. Anyway the drinks were good, the waiters were attentive and chill and the vibes were good. I was there for a while so I have to give them their props on creating a place that people want to be! read more

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Beautiful ambiance with lots of space and light. We loved it when the windows opened to really take in the city view. The tacos were also great and we'll absolutely be back to have them again. My spritz was filled to the very brim which is always appreciated and tasted so good! read more

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El Techo is a vibe. The tacos were absolutely delicious, especially the shrimp tacos--perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. Service was quick and efficient, which I really appreciated. I also loved that even though I was dining with a group, I was able to pay for my own food easily--such a thoughtful and convenient touch. The dim lighting and sexy, elevated ambiance made it a great spot for a night out. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Philly. read more

El Techo - Chicken, beef and shrimp taco. - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Came here for food and drinks after the Rittenhouse row festival and it did not disappoint! I am always a fan of this place when it's nice out because it's one of the only rooftops that feels casual with affordable prices! I love the vibe on top and the service was great. Had a margarita with tajin rim and it's was perfect (not too sour not too sweet) - it felt refreshing. Shared chips and salsas which were great. My favorite was the verse and lime crema. For my tacos, I got one chicken tinga and one al pastor! I liked that they came on blue corn tortillas which i thought was different! read more

El Techo - Al pastor taco and chicken tinga taco - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rooftop views, cocktails and tacos. You really can't go wrong, and I was glad that we visited El Techo on an unseasonably hot day in October. They have a fun take on an Aperol spritz that was infused with mezcal and lavender. Sign me UP. Hubs got a margarita and also really enjoyed it. We had some chips, guac and tacos and everything was delicious. Tacos are little, so order a few if you are hungry. The vibes were great here, and you get some nice views of the city. Ten outta ten rooftop experience in Center City. read more

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We came here for lunch and it's worth it for the views! You get a rooftop view of the city! The food was okay, nothing too special. Our waiter was very helpful and the food came out fast. Keep in mind, on Sundays they only take reservations read more

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Went to El Techo, I really like how they open the rooftop of this restaurant. It was nice to have this on a nice spring day. The food was pretty basic in my opinion. I had the chicharron, guacamole, and cauliflower taco for my appetizers/entrees. The chicharron was so big. There was a lot of it. I really liked how it came with a lot of sauce as well for dipping (the sauce was cilantro based). The guacamole was very basic. I liked the cauliflower taco. It was very unique, in my opinion. The standout feature of this restaurant was definitely the popsicles. Don't sleep on the popsicles! I had the chocolate banana popsicle. It was absolutely delicious. read more

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I ventured up eleven floors to the top of the Motto by Hilton in Rittenhouse Square, not out of curiosity or hope, but because someone once told me that rooftop bars are supposed to be enjoyable. That person owes me thirty-four dollars and an apology. To reach El Techo, you must first stand in line in the lobby of a different restaurant called Condesa. There, a hostess doles out elevator access like she's guarding a Cold War bunker. This might make sense if I weren't staying in the hotel. But I was. Still, I waited. Hotel keys mean nothing in this brave new world. When we arrived on the roof, the sun greeted us with the enthusiasm of an angry god. The space looked nice in the way showrooms look nice, carefully arranged and entirely inhospitable. There was little shade and many surfaces seemingly designed to reflect sunlight directly into your retinas. I ordered a drink called the Mango Mango. It promised rum, lime, ginger-agave syrup, and tajín. What it delivered was a watery whisper of citrus sadness. The rim was the best part, and that rim was store-bought. My wife ordered a spicy margarita. It cost an extra dollar to make it "spicy," which apparently meant placing a single slice of jalapeño in the glass like a souvenir from a better bar. It tasted like a marketing meeting in liquid form. The staff was kind, but very slow, like a dream where everyone is moving through molasses. We finished our drinks and fled before the heat could finish baking our brains. We were there for maybe twenty minutes. The drinks were forgettable. The views were mediocre. The sun was unforgettable. I give El Techo two stars, one for effort and one for the tajín. Neither belongs to the bartender. read more

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I had a great time with friends on a Wednesday evening for dinner in November. It was actually kind of quiet and cozy. The menu and ordering was through a QR code at the table, which was easy to navigate. I got a spritz which actually had a kind of unexpected smoky taste but was refreshing. We shared the guac and chips which was very delicious, and I got a cauliflower and a shrimp taco which were both SO good. We had a great time! read more

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Came here on a Tuesday at 4:45. There was a sign at the front that said seat yourself which I was pleasantly surprised about seeing since it's typically packed. I was looking for seating for a large group. I had a party of 8 including me, one person was already there and the others were very close behind. A server directed me to the cushioned bench seating and said we could push the tables together. Five minutes later 4/8 of us were seated and had drinks already when we were asked to move. Someone had just walked in and had a party of "12" arriving. The server (manager?) apologized and said they had a lot of corporate parties. To assume we were not gathering from an organization (we are a non-profit public charity) is crazy. We were moved to a much smaller area with little breathing room. We were given free espresso martini shots which in no way made up for the inconvenience. Very disappointed in the service and set the night off on a less than ideal tone. I quickly left after that. read more

Guess I should not complain much as I had gift cards to use given to me by the Motto as part of their Elite program. The bar/ restaurant is located in the top floor of the Motto Hotel. I had $75 dollars worth of gift cards to use so thought it would be fun on our last night to view the city lights. The views are amazing and beautiful and that is about the only nice thing I can say. Everything here is Self serve... You order and pay through app... Drinks are limited, small and costly. I ordered a glass of sparkling wine/Champagne that was flat not a bubble to be seen and seemed like it was the dregs of a bottle that had been left open for a while. The expresso martini was tasty but small. What got me was the cost and all the extra fees. I ordered nothing from kitchen but was charged a kitchen service fee, because I used gift cards from Hotel was charged a fee for that. To have most of the gift cards used for two drinks was insane with the one drink being so bad I could not drink made it worse. Getting assistance with drinks was difficult at best due to the lack of service. There are other lovely bars with a view that would be better and definitely friendly on your pocket than this one. read more

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Went on Tuesday evening for a snack and beverage. Food was delish and the service fast. The guacamole was fresh and tasty. Ambiance is relaxing and upbeat. Would go back! read more

On a recent business trip to Philadelphia, I visited El Techo for some delicious appetizers, Tacos and margaritas. Little did I know that Hector, my bartender, would offer some tastes tests of other tequilas. His hospitality and knowledge was welcomed and appreciated. Great food, drinks and service! Did I mention the rooftop atmosphere? Highly recommend! read more

The service & ambience are 10/10 & the food is a good 8/10. The drinks are also great as well! Truly love date nights here!! :)

Came here during happy hour time. Not sure if they have dedicated happy hour menu but definitely worth visit and going to rooftop for great ambiance. You can order everything on your phone and also pay that way which is very nice and food came out quick. read more

El Techo - Paletas - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is less of a review and more of a public service announcement. If you stay in the adjoining hotel, El Techo will run the double tip grift on you. They are very will trained in executing this maneuver so watch out! Specifically, they hit hotel guests with a default 20% tip, then display another screen soliciting 20%, 22%, or 25% while engaging in small talk to distract you as you leave. read more

Menu is limited to tacos and apps, but food was tasty. You order from your phone and food/drinks brought by various people. The issue with not having a dedicated server is that no one checks on if you need a refill or how your food is. We had to flag people down to refill our water and ask for missing food items not brought out. When we were seated, we kept getting dripped on by something above us and even after notifying someone, no manager came to talk to us or try to move us somewhere else. You pay on your phone too, and your bill includes a service fee for the kitchen staff too. The overall vibe was cool, but overpriced for what you get. I spent $51 for a cocktail, one carnitas taco, and a shrimp cocktail app. read more

Came for brunch. The space itself is cool: you take an elevator to the 11th floor and you're transported to a rooftop restaurant. The roof is retractable so could be a nice option when warmer (it was closed when we went). We got all the salsas (free chip refills!) which came with a surprising amount of options, so that was nice. The barbacoa tacos were fine, nothing special but standard (the tortilla tore a little easier than I would have expected so a bit hard to eat). The chorizo rojo hash was delicious. A solid amount of chorizo with a delightful sauce. The menu didn't have a ton of things outside of barbacoa tacos that I was interested in so I was surprised to have enjoyed this as much as we did. The drinks were fine-standard margarita with a tajin rim. The service was a bit slow. We were one of two tables and it took a strange amount of time to get napkin refills, water, and the check. read more

El Techo - Chorizo rojo hash - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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First and foremost ! Monica was absolutely amazing! She suggested wonderful tasty margaritas! Her service was above and beyond! Now that we moved here from California, this will be our go to brunch spot! On a separate note The music doesn't match the vibe I almost felt like I was in an airport terminal E for exit.. it's loud but if they chose better music I think it would make me wanna catch another flight and stay longer Service was great though read more

El Techo - Wonderful fresh chips n salsa - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shady practices. The server presented a receipt to me totaling $247.59. As I handed her my card, we let her know that the people at the end of our table had not yet gotten their drinks. She advised that the bar had been having printer issues and she would check on them. She then ran my card for a higher amount, $342.95. I discovered this the following day. We tried to call, but there is no number to reach these people according to the hotel front desk where this restaurant is located. The server had charged us again for the drinks we never received and a higher "kitchen service fee" than previously listed. There is no way to contact them to resolve this. Terrible business practices read more

Fun space for drinks and lights and seating inviting. Fish tacos were crispy but portions were somewhat small read more

El Techo - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We went to El Techo for the first time Saturday night. We arrived at 5, thinking we would 'beat the crowd'. It was standing room only-however, within 15 minutes, we had a table. The outdoor space is beautiful-it's loud and has a strong vibe. We started with a few Margaritas - they were good. We were going to have some chips and guacamole, but went straight for the tacos. We wanted to get a variety of tacos, so we ordered 4 different types. The first was the Coliflor taco, which is crispy cauliflower, with salsa verde, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and a delicious salsa macha mayo. The cauliflower was crispy outside, yet tender and very tasty inside. It was the first cauliflower taco I'd had and was an excellent introduction! The next taco was the Barbacoa, which is braised beef. It looked so appetizing, but fell short on taste and texture. It was also a little too spicy for me. We had the Camaron taco next - which turned out to be the star of the show! Beer battered shrimp, with all the fixings, including an amazing chintesle (chipotle) mayo. The shrimp were large and succulent-perfectly fried to a light crisp. We ordered another at the end of the meal because it was so delicious! The last taco was the Carnitas, with pork, guacamole, onions and cilantro. It was a tasty taco, but some of the pork was overcooked and the texture wasn't typical of pulled pork. In retrospect, the venue's rooftop is incredibly inviting on a nice summer evening. It's worth a visit just to enjoy the restaurant's unique setting. We will be back and will definitely order the shrimp and cauliflower tacos - they were truly some of the best I've had. read more

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I used to come here the last few years and always loved the food, drinks, and vibes. I haven't been in a year and realized they changed some of the menu. The tacos were different and were not good. I got the chicken tacos and brisket tacos and was not impressed. They changed the chicken tacos to chicken cutlets and it was unappetizing. But my table got the guac and we loved it. I also got a classic margarita and it tasted watered down. My friend also agreed it was watered down. Although, the server taking our order was very nice and friendly! read more

The space itself is beautiful. Service was fine, sat at the bar and a bit hands off but it did get busy. The drinks were fine. Didn't try any food but the menu looked good. read more

Great vibes. Great service. I was here for a work thing and the servers handled everything with grace. They were so impressive.

We almost didn't visit this rooftop taqueria in the Motto by Hilton hotel,but I'm oh so glad we did. Not only were these extraordinary tacos, but the ceviche was the most amazing we have ever had. We had both the carnitas (loved the pineapple) and the Barbados. The kanpachi fish was fresh and very pleasing in the coconut milk, citrus, tiger milk, cucumber, tomato sauce with a bit of crunch from pumpkin seeds and plantain chips. Josh, one of the bartenders served us and was super efficient and friendly. If we have a nit, it would be fairly weak, loaded with ice, margaritas for $13. The view was fun and the place was obviously popular. read more

Hmmm could it be that my expectation was too high? I was dying to try this place and when we finally had an opportunity to check this place out, I was super excited. When we arrived, there was a long wait we put ourself on the waitlist and waited to go upstairs. This is where things get confusing, if you don't want a table, you can go upstairs as long as they're not at max capacity. So it seemed like bunch of people are cutting in line but they actually weren't? But eventually we went upstairs and typically roof top bar, no one's friendly but we also didn't expect our service to be so horrible. We didn't get napkins or sharing plate for food...so we kept asking for it. The roof top is super nice but it's very crowded so it's not even enjoyable at that point. Glad to try this place out at least once but I will be going elsewhere for my rooftop bar! read more

El Techo - Cantaritos - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Five stars for a spot that has ambiente (vibes), the ability to order from your phone at the table, and the opportunity to enjoy pitchers of margaritas. El Techo, me tenias cautivada al hola (you had me at hello). A group of us popped into El Techo post event hosting, and we were hunnnngry! Queue to the large order we placed from my phone that started with queso fundido, all of the salsas, and guac. The salsas were amazing - it features a salsa verde, taquera, chipotle, some sort of habanero and some sort of creamy salsa which was divine. The starters and margs came out soooo quick which was awesome. We then ordered a slew of tacos. They have a good amount on the menu, and I opted for al pastor and barbacoa. Both are served on house-made corn tortillas and were delish. The food was good, the service was quick and the vibes were high. It was a Thursday night, and when we walked in around 9:30 and it was packed! The seating is first come, first served but we quickly found a table after a few minutes of kind smiles to a seemingly departing table. In terms of groups - I do believe you can make multiple tabs under the same table which is good for those with check splitting anxiety. I would say this is def a good spot to grab drinks with a group on a nice night because the views are awesome. Also, as a girlie from Miami I give it at A+ for the playlist as well. Felt right at home! read more

i'm commenting this just to say that I don't think the music matched the vibe the music was blaaaaaaring and everyone was sitting down eating lol. they were playing standing up-music. My michelada was good though and their arbol pepper salsa is fireeeee. I liked their aesthetic and ambiance and the ordering online from your table. every thing other than the too-loud music was good. read more

- food was really good, no issues with any of the things I ordered - the turn around time from ordering was phenomenal, I'd order them look up and it's there within 5 minutes - the vibe was very nice and chill, granted it was about 40 minutes after they opened but it was still nice, around 5/6 it picked up but it wasn't too busy read more

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We started with the salsa sampler, which came with an assortment of six salsas of almost every color and heat level. I wish I had asked which was which, as I would have liked to call out my favorites (the dark red one). We also ordered the queso fundido, which we all agreed had a mild pizza-like taste, but we couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. It was delicious either way. The chips that were served with all of the dips were delicious -- well salted and sturdy enough to support the dips, especially the thicker queso. For my entree, I ordered the sweet potato chorizo taco and pollo verde taco. I'm not sure if the sweet potato chorizo was meat-free, but it was delicious. The pairing with black beans made it even better. The flavor notes from the onion and cilantro elevated the taco to another level. I will definitely be ordering more than one of these next time. I wasn't as crazy about the pollo verde taco. The chicken wasn't well-seasoned, and the other ingredients -- pumpkin seed salsa, radish, onion, cilantro and crema -- weren't able to compensate. The taco wasn't bad, but I don't think I'd order it again. My favorite thing I had was probably the papas -- crispy potatoes, roasted poblano vinaigrette, scallions and cotija cheese. Despite the toppings and vinaigrette, the potatoes maintained their crispy texture well. The flavors melded together perfectly. I could have eaten an entire order by myself. The service was great and I actually enjoyed the order via phone system as it worked well for the format of ordering as you go. We didn't have to worry about tracking down our waiter every time we needed to order another round of drinks or food. One note: if you go during the day, there's a good chance that you'll be sitting in the direct sunlight -- shaded seats are limited. It's just something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to the sun. Since this isn't a place you run in and out of, I'd recommend bringing sunglasses and sunscreen just in case. read more

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This place was amazing! It's a bit hidden but definitely worth it to go give it a try. Great views and the ambiance/environment was amazing! Not much to comment on for the service since you order via mobile app and they bring it out to you, but they were nice! I had some of their tacos, and by a good amount I would say they are one of the better tacos I've had in the city! I would definitely come back! read more

El Techo - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came here for an after dinner drink, you take an elevator up to a gorgeous rooftop bar. We only had time for one drink, as we didn't realize they closed at 11 on Thursdays. Don't try to come in after 10:30 or they won't let you up. We took the elevator up at 10:26, and a friend tried to meet us there 10 minutes later and they said the elevator stops taking people up at 10:30. The margaritas were very good though, definitely strong but executed well. read more

El Techo - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

El Techo is a rooftop restaurant/bar in Philly close to Rittenhouse Square. It's located on top of Condesa. My friends and I walked in around 2pm on a Saturday and we were easily able to find a table. The menu and ordering is done through a QR code but our food and drinks took a relatively long time to arrive. We ordered cocktails, the queso fundido, all of the salsas and a few tacos to share. The food was relatively expensive for the quality but the ambiance and vibes made up for it. I'd recommend this rooftop to someone looking for an aesthetic hot girl weekend activity. read more

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Love El Techo! The shrimp tacos are my go-to--super tasty and always hit the spot. The vibe and rooftop space are awesome, perfect for hanging out with friends. Also love that they have Valentina hot sauce--big win in my book. read more

El Techo - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Super convenient. Excellent place to have a date, great views, great ambiance. The service is so convenient you order through an app and the food didn't even take 10 min to arrive. Super fast service. Overall i would definitely come back. read more

El Techo - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Worst service I've experienced out in Philly in a long time. The wait staff all appeared to be high and uninterested in doing their jobs. It took 20 min to get our drinks with the place having less than 15 customers. I would've spoke to a manager if anyone was even around to care. I'll never give this place another chance. read more