The Tequila Mockingbird Team Is Opening a Hard-to-Find Pop-Up Restaurant in the CBD

Paddington favourite Tequila Mockingbird is set to bring its South American and Mexican flare to the CBD next week when pop-up restaurant Tequila on York opens its doors. Located in an old print shop off York Street, the hard-to-find venue will join the likes of nearby speakeasies The Barber Shop and Baxter's, the three-level Prince of York and mezcal bar Cantina OK!.

To access the restaurant, you'll be given a phone number to call on arrival and then personally escorted through the concealed entrance. As such, bookings are a must, with only one lunch sitting and two dinner sittings per night.

Once inside, expect to find a similar offering to the parent venue, including a menu of twists on Mexican favourites and a drinks list heavy on mezcal and tequila. Tequila Mockingbird's Executive Chef John Frid is behind the seasonal menu, which will be delivered solely as a four-course feast for $89 each.

Steven Woodburn

While the eight-dish menu will change regularly, expect the likes of kingfish ceviche with watermelon sorbet and fried plantains; spinach and feta tamales with rajas poblanas (roasted poblano peppers in cream sauce); and wagyu tartare tacos with egg jam and mountain pepper leaf. Larger plates include grilled chicken with mole and wagyu rump cap served with bush tomato salsa.

The fit-out will pay homage to the building's heritage with exposed sandstone walls, towering archways and timber beams. For now, the pop-up is only expected to run until Friday, October 9 — so, we recommend grabbing a booking ASAP.

Find Tequila on York at 50 York Street, Sydney from Wednesday, September 2. It'll be open for lunch at 12pm and dinner at 6pm and 8.30pm, Wednesday–Friday. To book, head here.

Images: Steven Woodburn