Lupe's Cantina

You'll find this unassuming cantina on Cardigan Road, where the walls are splashed with vibrant Mexican art and the smell of proper corn tortillas hits you the moment you walk in. The kitchen doesn't mess about with Tex-Mex nonsense – everything's made fresh, from the salsas that pack genuine heat to the slow-cooked carnitas that fall apart at the touch of a fork. The cocktails deserve equal billing here. Their margaritas are properly balanced with good tequila, not the sugary slush you get elsewhere, and the micheladas are a revelation if you've never had beer served the Mexican way. It's BYOB-casual but the food's serious enough that you'll find yourself planning your next visit before you've finished your first plate of street tacos.