New Rooftop Concept Blends Mesoamerican Heritage with Contemporary Bartending Oscar Valle, bartender at Licorería Limantour (ranked #20 on North America's 50 Best Bars), has opened TONANA, a rooftop bar in San Miguel de Allende. The venue, which launched officially in June atop the Casa Hoyos hotel, marks Valle's first project outside Mexico City and represents a collaboration with Casa Hoyos owner Vianney Torres. The concept draws from pre-Hispanic traditions, honoring the mother goddess Tonantzin and emphasizing "the memory of the earth, and the wisdom of ancient healers." The design, by Andrés Gutiérrez of A-G Studio (an AD100 2026 honoree), incorporates volcanic stone, sculptural forms, and references to indigenous spirituality and Mesoamerican mythology.
Cocktail Program Features Ancestral Ingredients Valle's cocktail menu combines ancestral Mexican ingredients with contemporary techniques, using aromatic plant infusions, smoky distillates, and botanicals sourced from local gardens. Featured drinks include the Carmesí—made with mezcal, beetroot, and raspberry—and the Maximiliana Milk Punch, a clarified tropical cocktail using raicilla (a distilled spirit from Jalisco) and finished with volcanic salt. Valle is also co-founder of Despacho Margarita. The venue completed a soft opening over the winter before launching its full cocktail and food menu in June.
Why It Matters The opening reflects growing momentum in Mexico's hospitality sector, particularly in heritage-focused destinations like San Miguel de Allende. For operators, TONANA demonstrates how ingredient storytelling and indigenous cultural references can differentiate a cocktail program in an increasingly crowded experiential beverage market.
---
For more insights and trends in the food and beverage sector, check out more articles in The Food & Beverage Magazine family of publications.
Written by FBM Publications Editors
