When you first arrive at Paris' hidden gem, the Mexican-inspired La Candelaria, simply look for the crowd of trendy Parisians spilling out into the laneway devouring authentic Mexican street food and sipping cold Mexican cervezas. Open for lunch and dinner, the brightly-lit front canteen space, indicated by the bright pink neon ‘TACOS’ sign in the front window, has only one communal table and a diner-style standing space that fills up quickly in the evenings. On offer is authentic and reasonably priced authentic Mexican fare, including tostadas and tacos served with chips and homemade guacamole, made by a bona fide Mexican chef, Luis Rendon. If that wasn’t enough, tucked away behind an unmarked door at the back of the restaurant is La Candelaria’s sultry, prohibition-style cocktail bar. The considerably more spacious clandestine bar is headed up by former mixologist from the Experimental Cocktail Club, Carina Tsou, and her husband Adam, who serve an enticing list of well-crafted cocktails along with “guest” cocktails contributed by some of the best bartenders in the world. You’ll also find a selection of high quality tequila and mezcal thrown in the mix. This is one of Paris’ in-the-know cocktail drinking and casual eating hot spots, so arrive early to avoid the crowds.
