Mezcalero is Toronto's mezcal and tequila bar also serving elevated tapas in the Annex.

Located on the second floor, behind pink doors lies an evening spot that promises to be a destination, rather than simply a stop along your night.

Operating under the mantra of "Life is beautiful," they want to be a place where you celebrate life to the fullest. Inside you'll find deep blue walls, brown leather seating, and an exposed brick wall that leads out to a full patio. 

Marking the third venture from the team behind Crafty Coyote and Victory Cafe across the street, General Manager Anthony Walker tells me the decision to open was to bring a vibrancy he felt was missing. 

"This side of Bloor Street is boring, it's a lot of sushi," Walker said. "It needed more juice."

Walker also tells me the true tequila spirit is to celebrate life and has worked hard to incorporate it in all their food and drink menus, meaning you should expect to find mezcal and tequila in many dishes.

We started with a shot of mezcal to start our night. It was perfectly sweet, almost like watermelon juice. 

The Pink Lady ($16) is a nod to the door you enter through and uses tequila made of blue agave, raspberry liqueur, lemon juice, pineapple juice and egg whites to create a fruity, fun drink.

Palomas come with either tequila or mezcal and this Mezcal Paloma ($15) uses Mexican grapefruit soda to keep it light.

The Mezcalerita ($16) is a spin on the classic tequila-based drink. Instead, it uses mezcal from the Oaxacan Sierra, pineapple purée, and triple sec.

For plates, the Esquites ($12) was an interesting deconstructed Mexican street corn. Using a non-traditional mix of yellow and white corn, it's grilled and stripped so it's easier to share. 

It comes with classic cotija cheese, homemade mayo, lime, and a secret spice blend and overall it's a great take on a well-known dish.

Walker decided to put tatelas on the menu instead of the tried-and-true tacos and we got these Cactus Tatelas ($15) that are an Oaxacan staple. Presented with triangular masa pockets filled with grilled beans, cactus is the star ingredient.

The cactus salad that sits atop has a great pickle-like sour note that cuts through the dense masa. It also happens to be vegan!

A stunning Octopus A La Parrilla ($20) offers thick tentacles marinated in a cilantro-lime-garlic jalapeno oil served with a side of papas bravas. The size of dishes here are definitely meant for sharing. 

A popular menu item is the Mez Fried Chicken ($17) that's marinated for 24 hours, then breaded in corn flour and corn flakes. Dip it in the mezcal pasilla pepper dip to contrast the bitterness. 

To finish the night, order Churros with Chocolate Mousse ($12). The chocolate comes from Chocosol and is an airy, fluffy delight. 

On Fridays after 11 p.m., there's usually a DJ playing, turning the bar into a dance-friendly space. 

Mezcalero is located at 509 Bloor St W. Open 7 days a week.