I agree~ I did love the food – mainly for all the cheese.
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Cafe Pacifico
Covent Garden, London
Star distribution
48 reviews
Mexican Restaurants Covent Garden | Mexican Restaurants London | Restaurant Covent Garden | Restaurant London
Cafe Pacifico is London's original Mexican Cantina opened in Covent Garden banana warehouse in 1982. Since that time, Cafe Pacifico has provided great value for money, friendly service and a lively... show more
- Address:
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5 Langley Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JA
Tube:
- Covent Garden Tube Station (<0.1 km)
- Leicester Square Tube Station (0.3 km)
- Contact us:
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020 7379 7728
Contact via email
cafe_pacifico
www.cafepacifico-laperla.com/
- Opening hours:
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Mon - Sat: 12:00 - 23:45
Sun: 12:00 - 22:45 -
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- Downloads:
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tequila season card DEL MAGUEY
tequila season tasting flight DEL MA
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48 reviews of Cafe Pacifico in English
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This is one of my favourite Mexican restaurants in London! The food is always excellent and I am only subtracting one star as the service is sometimes a bit slow and inattentive. This however can be due to the fact that they are always quite busy and booking is absolutely essential on weekends for dinner.
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As a big fan of the different cuisines, I have checked a dozen of Mexican restaurants. I think that one of the best places is this restaurant, because it can offer you traditional food on good prices. Well, I know that the Mexican meals are complex and it is not easy to make their right delicious taste. However, I know that the rich flavour and nice aroma of the dishes will satisfy all your expectations.
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Nice restaurant with delicious food and quick service. The thing that annoys me a little is that it is a little crowded sometimes and I don't like how the tables are placed very closely to each other. That's my only complain I guess.
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If you would like to enjoy some nice Mexican atmosphere with friends, this is your place. The service is friendly, you will get your order on time, for sure. Sometimes it is a bit crowded but this is a sign of the popularity of this restaurant. I'll go there again soon.
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A very lively mexican restaurant indeed! Have nothing much to say as other reviewers have noted everything - great food with great tequilas equals result!
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At one point in time, Cafe Pacifico used to be one of the only London restaurants who actually knew what a burrito meant. Today, with a number of competing Mexican restaurants popping up each yearby the dozens in London, you'd think Cafe Pacifico would do something to keep its edge - but instead it has gone in the opposite direction, seeming unconcerned that loyal patrons such as myself may start frequenting other restaurants.
Upon recently arriving at the Cafe Pacifico, we were seated quickly but it took over 30-minutes to actually get our order taken (only after I prompted the host to find out where our waiter was). After complaining, someone did eventually take our order and our food followed fairly quickly, but one of the dished ordered was wrong. Deciding to eat the wrong dish rather than return it and wait even longer, we started eating and immediately noticed how the quality had gone done compared to what was prepared five or even 10 years ago.
We finished eating and low and behold, had to wait another 30-minutes before having our bill brought to the table, despite asking various waiters and waitresses, and only after it looked like we were about to leave without paying the bill.
Needless to say, the experience was not acceptable, unless you're the type who doesn't mind waiting around for Mexican food that isn't very tasty. Also, if you're looking for a restaurant where you can have a quiet conversation, Cafe Pacifico is not the place.
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I went to Cafe Pacifico as part of the Qype Covent Garden Crawl that I was lucky enough to be part of.
I have been working in London for the past 24 years, and yet somehow, Cafe Pacifico jjust a few steps away from Covent Garden station had passed me by. I don't tend to hang around Covent Garden much any more due to its touristy nature, but Cafe Pacifico is tucked down a little side street.
As you walk in, it is like walking into a little bar in Mexico - you suddenly feel like you must be more fun and vibrant because everything around you is!
We couldn't have been made more welcome than we were by the lovely Carlos - manager and part-owner.
We were given glasses of iced water, gorgeous samples of food (best guacamole I have had in years and the beef and jalepeno quesadillas were to die for), and of course tequila.
We were given a huge jug of beautifully fresh, zingy margueritta and then treated to a very passionate talk about tequila and Cafe Pacifico's history.
Carlos then taught just how to drink tequila (another skill to put on my CV) and it is the first time I have been able to enjoy it - not a salt shaker or lemon/lime piece in sight!
The rest of our group ended up having to come and hunt us down as Carlos brought out more jugs of margueritta, showed us photos of the agave plantations (the plant tequila is made from) and generally made us feel like his special guests.
A great place to spend a lively evening with friends :)
I have been working in London for the past 24 years, and yet somehow, Cafe Pacifico jjust a few steps away from Covent Garden station had passed me by. I don't tend to hang around Covent Garden much any more due to its touristy nature, but Cafe Pacifico is tucked down a little side street.
As you walk in, it is like walking into a little bar in Mexico - you suddenly feel like you must be more fun and vibrant because everything around you is!
We couldn't have been made more welcome than we were by the lovely Carlos - manager and part-owner.
We were given glasses of iced water, gorgeous samples of food (best guacamole I have had in years and the beef and jalepeno quesadillas were to die for), and of course tequila.
We were given a huge jug of beautifully fresh, zingy margueritta and then treated to a very passionate talk about tequila and Cafe Pacifico's history.
Carlos then taught just how to drink tequila (another skill to put on my CV) and it is the first time I have been able to enjoy it - not a salt shaker or lemon/lime piece in sight!
The rest of our group ended up having to come and hunt us down as Carlos brought out more jugs of margueritta, showed us photos of the agave plantations (the plant tequila is made from) and generally made us feel like his special guests.
A great place to spend a lively evening with friends :)
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First stop Cafe Pacifico part of my review crawl, a lively mexican restaurant where the Owner greeted us and spoke passionately about the restaurant and origins of tequilla. I enjoyed a mango espanadillas, mini nachos accompanied by assortment of dips, sour cream, gucamole washed down by a margarita and a shot of Tequilla. A enjoyable experience overall and a place i recommend everyone to stop of at if they fancy a authentic mexican delight.
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I've never been fond of Tequila, for
me it's always been that nauseating drink that's forced upon you at the
beginning or the end of a night along with a dry wedge of lemon and
salt. Yuck, yuck and triple yuck!
However I have heard that along with Whisky and Rum, that if you avoid the horrible, cheap ones that you find littering bar shelves across the country, and find a good one, it's actually rather nice.
I've tried very hard to find a good tequila bar... and here at Cafe Pacifico I think I may have found it! They have a good range of Tequila, appear to be rather passionate about it. they even have a lovely certificate to prove that they have been approved by the Tequila Regulatory Council and that they are the first UK catering establishment to be awarded the distintivo T award for it's promotion of Tequila.
I take this to be a good sign and can confirm that the Tequila that I sampled here, is indeed nice, in fact I might, even hasten to add, delicious!
Cafe Pacifico is affiliated with La Perla, another Mexican restaurant with branches located around London. It has a very similar feel - quite rustic and down to earth, with lots of wood and chunky tiles. This restaurant, unlike others in the chain, however is not underground so it has a nice bright atmosphere and is warm and lively.
The food at Cafe Pacifico and La Perla, is also very similar, expect nacho's, taco's, quesadilla's.... which, although quite uninspiring, is made well, appears to be fresh, and is great Tequila drinking food!
The restaurant itself was very busy (especially for my Wednesday visit), but if you go to eat rather than sit at the bar, you'll have more chance to bag yourself a seat. So grab yourself a seat and a few plates to share, and enjoy the lively buzz!
Whilst not a gourmet experience, I can see this place as being a fun and friendly place, with a good vibe, perfect for meeting up with friends after work for a few drinks, or before going out on a weekend.
However I have heard that along with Whisky and Rum, that if you avoid the horrible, cheap ones that you find littering bar shelves across the country, and find a good one, it's actually rather nice.
I've tried very hard to find a good tequila bar... and here at Cafe Pacifico I think I may have found it! They have a good range of Tequila, appear to be rather passionate about it. they even have a lovely certificate to prove that they have been approved by the Tequila Regulatory Council and that they are the first UK catering establishment to be awarded the distintivo T award for it's promotion of Tequila.
I take this to be a good sign and can confirm that the Tequila that I sampled here, is indeed nice, in fact I might, even hasten to add, delicious!
Cafe Pacifico is affiliated with La Perla, another Mexican restaurant with branches located around London. It has a very similar feel - quite rustic and down to earth, with lots of wood and chunky tiles. This restaurant, unlike others in the chain, however is not underground so it has a nice bright atmosphere and is warm and lively.
The food at Cafe Pacifico and La Perla, is also very similar, expect nacho's, taco's, quesadilla's.... which, although quite uninspiring, is made well, appears to be fresh, and is great Tequila drinking food!
The restaurant itself was very busy (especially for my Wednesday visit), but if you go to eat rather than sit at the bar, you'll have more chance to bag yourself a seat. So grab yourself a seat and a few plates to share, and enjoy the lively buzz!
Whilst not a gourmet experience, I can see this place as being a fun and friendly place, with a good vibe, perfect for meeting up with friends after work for a few drinks, or before going out on a weekend.
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if you dont know your tequilla history then this is the place to come. They even serve their own tequilla. Behind the bar is a collection of tequillas to sample.
We had the best margarita i have tasted before (i've never been keen on them but this was NICE)
We were also taught how to correctly sample a tequilla not the USA movie style that we all think ie salt lime shoot tequila.
The bar food we tasted was lovely but we didnt really have enough time to taste properly as we were the first of the qype crawl to start there so time ran out.
But i would definetly like to go back and have a margarita and peruse the menu
We had the best margarita i have tasted before (i've never been keen on them but this was NICE)
We were also taught how to correctly sample a tequilla not the USA movie style that we all think ie salt lime shoot tequila.
The bar food we tasted was lovely but we didnt really have enough time to taste properly as we were the first of the qype crawl to start there so time ran out.
But i would definetly like to go back and have a margarita and peruse the menu
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I was invited to Cafe Pacifico as part of a Qype review crawl.
It's a lovely Mexican bar, tucked down a side street near Covent Garden. It's obviously popular as it was already buzzing when we arrived just after 6pm on a Wednesday.
We were settled down with a (incredibly refreshing) margarita, and given a really interesting talk on the history of tequila. We were taught how to properly 'taste' tequila as a liqueur by sampling Cafe Pacifico's own brand (apparently it's best to breathe through your mouth when smelling it so that you don't get too strong a hint).
We also got to sample some of the bar food - usual Mexican fare of quesadillas, nachos with cheese and guacamole. My favourite thing was pork strips which came complete with mini tacos, avocado sauce and shredded veg - yum!
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Came here a part of Qype's review crawl and realised that I have actually been here before!
As part of the crawl we had a great time learning about tequila and I'm no longer a tequila virgin - yay! An interesting fact about tequila, it's like Champagne as in it can only be called tequila if it's made in a specific region.
A tip for drinking to enhance the flavour, firstly take a deep breath through your nose and slowly out your mouth, then slowly inhale the tequila - this means rater than smelling the potency of the alcohol you can begin to take in what actually makes up the drink.
They also have boards around the bar area with people's names on which is for when people by expensive shots of tequila - up to £205 I believe! Sadly didn't get a taster of that!
We also had some margarita's -- AMAZING, fresh, zingy and not to sugary! Very refreshing!
The food was delicious - real homemade, hearty comfort food. It was amazing! I would really recommend coming here if you want a nice, casual fun night out.
My only qualm, was it was a bit noisy. If you came with a group you could only really chat to those close to you rater than across the table.
As part of the crawl we had a great time learning about tequila and I'm no longer a tequila virgin - yay! An interesting fact about tequila, it's like Champagne as in it can only be called tequila if it's made in a specific region.
A tip for drinking to enhance the flavour, firstly take a deep breath through your nose and slowly out your mouth, then slowly inhale the tequila - this means rater than smelling the potency of the alcohol you can begin to take in what actually makes up the drink.
They also have boards around the bar area with people's names on which is for when people by expensive shots of tequila - up to £205 I believe! Sadly didn't get a taster of that!
We also had some margarita's -- AMAZING, fresh, zingy and not to sugary! Very refreshing!
The food was delicious - real homemade, hearty comfort food. It was amazing! I would really recommend coming here if you want a nice, casual fun night out.
My only qualm, was it was a bit noisy. If you came with a group you could only really chat to those close to you rater than across the table.
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Cafe Pacifico was the last stop in our review crawl. The restaurant is incredibly busy so it's definitely not a place to go if you're looking for a quiet romantic dinner, but definitely the place for friends or Mexican culture enthusiasts! We had a great crash course on how tequila is made and also how to properly enjoy a good tequila, whilst enjoying really yummy margaritas. Carlos is an incredibly welcoming, friendly individual, who made us all feel at ease and taught us a lot about tequila and a similar liquor called mexcal. We also got to try a bunch of dishes Cafe Pacifico has to offer, including quesadillas (one which had mango in it, odd but tasty!), small tacos, nachos, and guacamole. Everything was really tasty and fresh. This is definitely my kind of place, and I'll definitely be coming here again!
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bexb-d, 20 August 2012:
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Cafe Pacifico has been around for 30 years or so, which along with its sister La Perla restaurants a stone's throw away in Maiden Lane and Charlotte Street, are the original London Mexican cantinas. And they are the first bars in England to be honoured with the 'Distinctivo T' award by the Tequila Regulatory Council of Mexico for thie exceptionally high standards in the service and promotion of Tequila. This cafe-bar brand is managed but the charming and knowledgeable Carlos Londono (actually!) who taught me that Tequila is made from a blue Cactus-like agave plant grown in a limited area of Mexico with AOC-DOC type regulation - you may know that, but I bet you didn't know that Mezcal is another broader term for this spirit category and made from similar plants though with a range of different colours! It's the difference between Cognac and Brandy if you forgive my second French alcohol comparison in a Mexican place review!
The busy yet relaxed party atmosphere here would be great for tables of any party size or even for one, two (or many like us) to prop up the bar. Colourful wall posters and food dishes abound - both of which include good quality versions of the standard fare you'd expect in a Mexican here such as guacamole, as well as less 'Tex-Mex' outcomes like the interestingly-tasting and nicely spiced tender beef or mango empanadillas that come with sour cream dips, or the pork belly slices with red cabbage in authentic imported tortillas. I will go back here again and again. They did it right, if I might borrow the phrase from the post-Olympic verdict of London 2012. Well I had to get it in somewhere (who's not still excited?)
The busy yet relaxed party atmosphere here would be great for tables of any party size or even for one, two (or many like us) to prop up the bar. Colourful wall posters and food dishes abound - both of which include good quality versions of the standard fare you'd expect in a Mexican here such as guacamole, as well as less 'Tex-Mex' outcomes like the interestingly-tasting and nicely spiced tender beef or mango empanadillas that come with sour cream dips, or the pork belly slices with red cabbage in authentic imported tortillas. I will go back here again and again. They did it right, if I might borrow the phrase from the post-Olympic verdict of London 2012. Well I had to get it in somewhere (who's not still excited?)
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It's nice to see that Cafe Pacifico is still going strong after many years; and thanks to the Qype Review Crawl I was reminded just why this used to be one of my favourite hang-outs. I now don't spend that much time going out in Soho and Covent Garden anymore, and somehow the draw of something new quite often outweighs old favourites.
I didn't know that Cafe Pacifico is part of a little chain of quality Mexican restaurants in London (La Perla is a sister restaurant) and Amsterdam. I also didn't know that they are the only bar in London to be accredited by some official tequila authority. But then that's not that much of a surprise as I am not a big fan of spirits and have bad memories of a hangover following a tequila party years ago ...
Tasting tequila in a more respectful way has almost convinced me to give the stuff another chance. The margarita was delicious, and I will come back from more when there is time to finish the glass.
We were treated to a selection of snacks from the bar menu. They were all delicious albeit a bit messy to eat. The jalapeno taccos were drenched in cheese and very moreish, and I even triied a piece of belly pork which was served with guacamole and a red coleslaw and eaten wrapped in a soft tortilla.
I am looking forward to an excuse to come back for a full meal soon.
I didn't know that Cafe Pacifico is part of a little chain of quality Mexican restaurants in London (La Perla is a sister restaurant) and Amsterdam. I also didn't know that they are the only bar in London to be accredited by some official tequila authority. But then that's not that much of a surprise as I am not a big fan of spirits and have bad memories of a hangover following a tequila party years ago ...
Tasting tequila in a more respectful way has almost convinced me to give the stuff another chance. The margarita was delicious, and I will come back from more when there is time to finish the glass.
We were treated to a selection of snacks from the bar menu. They were all delicious albeit a bit messy to eat. The jalapeno taccos were drenched in cheese and very moreish, and I even triied a piece of belly pork which was served with guacamole and a red coleslaw and eaten wrapped in a soft tortilla.
I am looking forward to an excuse to come back for a full meal soon.
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Ok people, I've got to admit the fact that I've lived in London for 12 years, and in that time I can't remember how many times I must have passed Pineapple Studios. So, why I never noticed this Mexican gem in the same street just baffles me. But hey ho - I know it's there now.
A great, bustling canteen-like place with affordable food, a good atmosphere and - yes people, great tequila to go with it. Perhaps not a place I would go for a quiet, romantic dinner, but for any bustling 'during the week' outings with friends or colleagues it's pretty perfect.
A great, bustling canteen-like place with affordable food, a good atmosphere and - yes people, great tequila to go with it. Perhaps not a place I would go for a quiet, romantic dinner, but for any bustling 'during the week' outings with friends or colleagues it's pretty perfect.
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Gestern war ich hier im Rahmen eines Qype Events. Dies war die dritte Station unseres Covent Garden Crawls. Ein super Event, übrigens!! Ein großes Dankeschön an T und die Londoner Qype Crew!!
Hier wurden wir von Carlos begrüßt, der schon seit ungefähr 15 Jahren im Geschäft dabei ist. Das Cafe Pacifico ist nich nur auf mexikanines Essen Spezialisiert, sondern schenkt auch viiiiele verschiedene Tequilla-Sorten ein. Darum ging es hier auch: Um Tequilla. Ob pur oder im Margarita-Cocktail - es schmeckte uns! Und heute geht es mir auch gar nicht so schlecht, wie sonst wenn ich einen Tequilla-Abend hinter mir habe ;) Die Qualität der Spirituose, die aus der blauen Agarve gewonnen wird, ist also tatsächlich eine sehr gute gewesen. Darauf pochte Carlos auch: Das dem schlechten Ruf von Tequilla endlich ein Ende gesetzt werden muss!!
Das Restaurant an sich ist sehr rustikal aber gemütlich eingerichtet. Viel Holz, eine offene Küche und recht groß. An der großen Bar stehen zig Tequillaflaschen und das Personal ist bestens drauf.
Ich werde auf jeden Fall wieder kommen!! Das Essen war grandios, die Margharita war köstlich (frischer Limonensaft, besser gehts gar nicht!!) und die Stimmung war super.
In diesem Sinne: Muchas Gracias!!!
Hier wurden wir von Carlos begrüßt, der schon seit ungefähr 15 Jahren im Geschäft dabei ist. Das Cafe Pacifico ist nich nur auf mexikanines Essen Spezialisiert, sondern schenkt auch viiiiele verschiedene Tequilla-Sorten ein. Darum ging es hier auch: Um Tequilla. Ob pur oder im Margarita-Cocktail - es schmeckte uns! Und heute geht es mir auch gar nicht so schlecht, wie sonst wenn ich einen Tequilla-Abend hinter mir habe ;) Die Qualität der Spirituose, die aus der blauen Agarve gewonnen wird, ist also tatsächlich eine sehr gute gewesen. Darauf pochte Carlos auch: Das dem schlechten Ruf von Tequilla endlich ein Ende gesetzt werden muss!!
Das Restaurant an sich ist sehr rustikal aber gemütlich eingerichtet. Viel Holz, eine offene Küche und recht groß. An der großen Bar stehen zig Tequillaflaschen und das Personal ist bestens drauf.
Ich werde auf jeden Fall wieder kommen!! Das Essen war grandios, die Margharita war köstlich (frischer Limonensaft, besser gehts gar nicht!!) und die Stimmung war super.
In diesem Sinne: Muchas Gracias!!!
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What a great find, I was lucky enough to be invited to Cafe Pacifico and will most definitely be back again soon. The place was buzzing with a good atmosphere and loved the Cantina style decor.
I tried the nachos, roast beef and jalpeno quesadilla and tortillas with fresh guacamole. I have been to many Mexican restuarants and I would highly recommend this one. Mexican food should have a kick to it so I loved having jalapenos in everything I tried.
To wash it down I sampled the Margaritas which again where lovely. I have never been a fan of Tequila but Carlos was successful in changing my mind and learning how to drink it properly. His passion for anting customers to enjoy their experience is delightful to see.
I look forward to trying more of the menu and maybe even a shot of the £150 tequila if I win the lottery!
I tried the nachos, roast beef and jalpeno quesadilla and tortillas with fresh guacamole. I have been to many Mexican restuarants and I would highly recommend this one. Mexican food should have a kick to it so I loved having jalapenos in everything I tried.
To wash it down I sampled the Margaritas which again where lovely. I have never been a fan of Tequila but Carlos was successful in changing my mind and learning how to drink it properly. His passion for anting customers to enjoy their experience is delightful to see.
I look forward to trying more of the menu and maybe even a shot of the £150 tequila if I win the lottery!
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Friendly atmosphere and good service. The staff are quick and attentive. The cocktails were very imaginative and tasty. The food was fresh and served promptly. overall, a pleasant, quick and good value-for-money dinner
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Personally my favourite Mexican restaurant in London.
Food is excellent as are drinks (large choice of tequila). Service is very attentive.
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