I ate at Cavita, one of London’s best Mexican restaurants

From the adobe plastered walls, to the chefs cooking on asada grills in the open kitchen, and pretty decorative ornaments on the stone fireplace, it’s like discovering a little corner of Mexico in central London.

Chef owner Adriana Cavita worked under the legendary Ferran Adrià at El Bulli in Spain and her debut restaurant on Wigmore Street opened in 2022.

From the plants and traditional decor to the candles on the fireplace Cavita is an immersive Mexican dining experience. (Image: Vigo Jansons) It has a warmth and character that’s very different to many sleek modern restaurants, and the food – modern twists on traditional Mexican dishes – is beautifully presented and put together – delivered with impeccable service.

We started with a cocktail and a mocktail, while we munched on house made tortilla chips with a trio of progressively hot sauces; one smoky tomato; one avocado; and one with habanero.

Londoners come here just for the margaritas, mezcal and Mexican spirits in the vaulted subterranean El Bar De Cavita, and you can see why.

Try the filled tacos and tortilla from the street food section. (Image: Cavita) I am not a fan of tequila but there’s plenty else to enjoy – my companion’s mocktail of hibiscus syrup, lime and elderflower tonic was a refreshing treat for the non drinker.

My Azteca Spritz featured a rum liqueur Huana Guanabana, with passion fruit, prosecco and lime leaf and was a perfectly constructed cocktails – fruity but not sweet.

The dishes are designed to share, there’s a raw bar including a yellowtail sashimi that looked lush, but we started with a trio of grilled prawns in a punchy marinade with a slick of pineapple sauce.

Cavita opened in 2022 and serves Mexican dishes with a modern twist. (Image: Cavita) The Iberico pork tacos also featured pineapple in the marinade and the flour tacos – their sweetness offset the habanero and chilis in the marinade was a highlight.

We also much enjoyed the Quesabirria. This is elevated street food, the beef shin slow cooked to melting perfection enfolded in tortillas with raclette cheese and dunked into a veal consomme.

There were only two of each but we could have eaten more.

Mains are also for sharing, there’s sea bass sold by the 100g, or dry aged rib-eye but we went for the hearty Mole Amarillito, a cornfed chicken with a traditional Oaxacan sauce – jointed and presented with its colourful accompaniments, a dish of vegetable rice, ladles of the reddy-brown sauce and grilled asparagus and courgettes.

Desserts were an indulgent chocolate mousse, and our favourite, a Mexican corn cake soused in a not overly sweet sauce and topped with ice-cream and a pretty flower – unexpectedly delicious.

Cavita may be pricey but the craft in the cooking and cocktails and dramatic setting make for a special night out.

Cavita is at 60, Wigmore Street, Marylebone.