"Hyde Park's bustling 53rd Street has long been packed with dining options, but it wasn't until Cantina Rosa opened in 2024 that the neighborhood finally had a cocktail bar worth lingering in. With a focus on Mexican spirits - from tequila and mezcal to rum and gin - as the foundation for easy-sipping tropical drinks, it's well-suited for a low-key date night or an escape from whatever's bothering you this week."
"The Jushu, a mezcal-based riff on the Bee's Knees, is tart and crushable, with acacia honey balancing the smoky agave spirit. The Manta Ray is refreshing yet spirit-forward. The gin and bacanora come through clearly, while jalapeño gives it a subtle bite. There's only one frozen cocktail - a transportive guava colada that evokes the feeling of laying on a beach with a drink in hand."
"The crisp empanadas de hongo are packed with mushrooms and black beans. Add a drizzle of green salsa for a touch of heat; the tangy onion-habanero slaw provides a bright contrast. Despite offering tropical cocktails, Cantina Rosa isn't a kitschy tiki bar. The stylish space is bathed in moody lighting, and intimate booths tucked into alcoves and a fabric-draped ceiling create a warm, inviting atmosphere."
Cantina Rosa opened in 2024 on Hyde Park's 53rd Street and centers Mexican spirits—tequila, mezcal, rum and gin—into easy-sipping tropical cocktails. Signature drinks include the mezcal-forward Jushu balanced with acacia honey, the spirit-driven Manta Ray featuring gin and bacanora with jalapeño, and a single frozen guava colada. Food offerings are small but satisfying, highlighted by empanadas de hongo with mushrooms and black beans, green salsa, and an onion-habanero slaw. The space emphasizes mood and intimacy with moody lighting, fabric-draped ceilings and tucked booths. Quesabirria and a torta appear during specified happy hour times.
Read at Eater Chicago
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