Margo's

There’s no greater universal disappointment than dining at a Mexican restaurant, expecting to get punched in the face with zingy, spicy and numbing flavours… Only to be left with a friendly pat on the head at best. Such is not the case at Margo’s. Tucked down a charming laneway off Ballarat Street, a portal to the colours and flavours of Mexico awaits.

While it’s clear they love to have fun at Margo’s, don’t let that fool you into thinking they don’t mean business in the kitchen. It’s hard to have favourites, but a selection of dishes have certainly topped the charts. Ask any die-hard fan, and they’ll wax lyrical about the Chapultepec Style prawn cocktail, Bad Hombre nachos, Chichen Tinga taquitos and La Playa market fish ceviche. There’s also a dedicated vegan section, and it wouldn’t be a night in Mexico without something sweet to finish things off, whether that’s a bowl of crispy churros or zesty lime sorbet.

Almost everything is designed to share at the table with a build-your-own approach that gives the dining experience a new dimension of enjoyment. Plus, the team will check in before your meal arrives to arrange a selection of hot sauces tailored to your spice tolerance – a small touch that goes a long way. 

It would be blasphemous to not call out the star of the drinks list. High-quality tequila is used across the board to produce a strong range of margaritas you’d be struggling to find elsewhere. Smoky or spicy, there’s a marg to match every palette. And if you’re still thirsty for more, make sure you head downstairs afterwards to Margo’s sibling, Little Mez.

From the tongue-in-cheek neon signs and poppin’ pink bathrooms to the high-energy service and delicious dishes that will live rent free in your head for the foreseeable future, Margo’s is an experience that will leave you tingling for days. Make sure you sign up to their mailing list to find out when the next bottomless brunch is going down.