El Gallo Altanero

Now Guadalajara’s nightlife centre, Avenida Chapultepec and its surrounds have a host of options that can fit any budget: try Cerveceria Chapultepec — where everything on the menu costs 23 pesos (£1) — or the upscale El Gallo Altanero for perfectly crafted agave-based cocktails. Partying stretches long into the morning — and, whatever time you leave, the snack vendors will be ready.

While the pedigree of Freddy Andreasson’s highly acclaimed El Gallo Altanero — it’s No. 8 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and No. 48 on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 — might make you assume a degree of seriousness and solemnity, that misconception is shed almost the moment you walk in. Now, the drinks are definitely serious, but the vibe is far more lively and party-oriented than many other bars of its ilk. At the loud, open-air spot, it’s not until you take a sip of the stunning Negroni Tropezado, made with raicilla, Aperol, and fresh pineapple, or the justifiably famous Paloma that you realize just what good hands you’re in.

Tucked behind a trendy espresso bar, on the second floor of an old house, the “haughty rooster” is El Gallo Altanero, one of the best places in Guadalajara to order a tequila or mezcal cocktail, or sample local distillates neat with a knowledgeable staff. Owner Nick Reid and his wife Lupita moved from Australia to get into the tequila business (Nick is co-owner of the Tequila Tromba brand). They opened this lively bar, which regularly fills with industry folk and locals alike, with the intention of giving voice to the small tequila brands that are often overlooked.

El Gallo Altanero: These guys have rocketed to fame after being named on the 50 best bars of North America list (Guadalajara’s only spot on the list), but I think it’s deserved. I love the vibe here, it feels kinda like a friend of a friend’s Sunday barbeque filled with cool people getting wasted and singing love songs one minute, dancing to hip hop the next. The bartender I talked with was a little too mansplainy about the drinks and the spirits for my liking, but the rest of the crowd was so fun who cares.

El Gallo Altanero es otro de los bares que vale la pena conocer en Guadalajara, posicionado como No. 21 dentro de ‘The World’s 50 Best Bars‘ y con una propuesta de tragos contemporáneos que promete deleitar hasta los paladares más exigentes. Su concepto de tequila y parranda asegura una buena noche de copas, ya sea disfrutando su Negroni Tropezado –tequila, Cinzano, Aperol y piña– o su Champagne batanga –Tequila Tapatio Reposado, cáscara de lima, té rojo, miel de agave, vainilla y burbujas–.

To create their cocktails, El Gallo Altanero’s skilled bartenders make their own bitters, syrups, infusions, and extracts in order to bring out the best of local spirits. That’s how I ended up with a “Chinga tu Margarita” in my hands. This version of the famous cocktail is prepared with Tequila Arette Blanco, lime juice, a tepache extract (a pre-hispanic fermented probiotic drink made with pineapple, unrefined sugar, and natural yeasts) and salt from Colima.

El Gallo Altanero opened just this February and has already established itself as the bartender haunt du jour. The bar—tucked away on the second-floor terrace of a traditional home-turned-restaurant—pays homage to the Guadalajara’s Tapatío culture while focusing on showcasing local, independent tequila brands who struggle to find space on most back bars dominated by industry giants. There’s also locally made vodka, gin, and rum on hand.

Con un enfoque firme en enaltecer los destilados tapatíos independientes y pequeñas marcas, El Gallo Altanero no podía pasar por alto la raicilla, tequila y mezcal. Su concepto fresco y lleno de fiesta ofrece la oportunidad de probar este destilado de agave en cocteles o solo. Entre trago y trago, la selección musical parrandera garantiza un buen movimiento de tobillo y cintura.

El Gallo Altanero: This intimate 80-seat bar, located at 125 Calle Marsella, focuses on boutique agave spirits such as tequila, mezcal, and raicilla (a mezcal crafted in western Jalisco known for its herbal notes). El Gallo Altanero made it to number 14 on North America’s 50 Best Bars List in 2024. Visitors like Ross Lynch and Tame Impala (Kevin Parker) have been spotted here.

Ross Lynch and Tame Impala (aka Kevin Parker) have been spotted at El Gallo Altanero, which opened in 2018 and landed at number 14 on North America’s 50 Best Bars List in 2024. The intimate 80-seat establishment at 125 Calle Marsella focuses on boutique agave spirits: tequila, mezcal and raicilla, a mezcal crafted in western Jalisco, known for its herbal notes.

El Gallo is consistently on The World’s 50 Best Bars and North America’s 50 Best Bars lists, among other best-ofs, for good reasons. Inside an adobe building housing Cafe Fitzroy, head through a charming, open air courtyard. Upstairs you find a wrap-around perch gazing down over the courtyard below illuminated by a stained-glass window of an agave plant.

Una publicación compartida por El Gallo Altanero (@elgalloaltanero). Coming in at No. 48 in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list, El Gallo Altanero is a tribute to the agave culture of Jalisco. The bar’s cocktail menu boasts agave spirits exclusively, combining commercial brands and a large selection of independent producers.

Recently named to North America’s 50 Best Bars, is a cozy spot located in the historic center of Guadalajara. The bar features a wide selection of tequilas and mezcals, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. This is a great spot to enjoy craft beers and cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere.

Otros bares mexicanos que aparecen en la lista son: Handshake Speakeasy, en la Ciudad de México, con el segundo lugar; en el cuarto sitio está la Licorería Limantour, en la Ciudad de México; también de la capital del país están Baltra Bar, en el sitio 16 y en la posición 17 se ubica Rayo.

But Guadalajara also has a growing reputation for its cocktail scene, most obviously led by El Gallo Altanera, which has won a spot on North America’s 50 best bars since opening in 2018, and De La O, which seems to get a lot less press but whose cocktails I admit I like even better.

- What Sets it Apart: Gallo Altanero is a tequila haven where unconventional cocktails and a diverse range of labels redefine the traditional tequila experience. Sundays here are extra special with DJs and guest gastronomic projects for delightful pairings.

The very spirit of Jalisco feels manifest in El Gallo Altanero. First, visitors must pass through the Cafe Fitzroy into the adobe and plaster-walled courtyard before climbing a set of stairs to find, perched atop a small balcony, a true temple to agave.

El Gallo Altanero: If you’re a mezcal lover, El Gallo Altanero is a must-visit. This rustic bar specializes in mezcal, offering a wide range of flavors and varieties. Sit back, relax, and let the smoky aroma of mezcal transport you to another world.

When it comes to craft cocktails, El Gallo Altanero is the place to go. With trendy decor and a revolving array of tequilas, visitors rave about their modern take on the Mexican Paloma. Feeling adventurous?

Exceptional tequilas and mezcals await you, served with contagious passion. Specialists guide diners through the complex flavors and the soul of Jalisco in a cozy, and colorful setting.

El Gallo Altanero is a laid-back multi-level bar, bobo as the French like to say, that is dedicated to all things agave. The tequila menu is impressive; light food is offered.

Guadalajara's one and only entry on the list of the World's Best 50 Bars in North America is El Gallo Altanero in Colonia Americana.