Santa Catarina

Overview

If you love mezcal and Mexican fare, you need to add the high-end Oaxacan restaurant and artisanal mezcal bar Santa Catarina to your list. At this laneway locale, lit by soft lamps and natural light through its large streetside window, you'll find an outrageous collection of mezcal — with some expressions so rare you'd even struggle to find them in Mexico.

The cosy booths feature tiling that evokes traditional Oaxacan interior design and velvety seats. Traditional woven plates adorn the walls to give the chic eatery a more relaxed feel. This is elevated further with live music every Saturday night.

For $49 per person for a starter, main and side, the Fixe Lunch Menu includes guacamole, crispy squid, roasted chicken breast with coloradito mole and black angus flank steak with chimichurri. Dinner time offers more deliciousness with the extensive a la carte menu. There's a raw bar offering ceviche and fresh oysters, five types of taco, four iterations of traditional moles and a range of share plates, including lamb shoulder barbacoa, smoked duck breast and charred prawns. There are also two set menus if you want to avoid making decisions and instead focus on making your way through the six margarita styles.