Note: Calavera is now closed
Just when you thought Jalan Mesui couldn’t be better for partying, drinking and dining, along comes Calavera. You can find this Latin-American-inspired bar and restaurant in the newly opened Mesui Hotel. The place has an unmistakably Mexican vibe, with its orange walls, colourful decor, and a bar covered in energy-saving light bulbs. Be warned: You’ll see an abundance of candy skull designs around the place – ’calavera’ means ‘skull’ in Spanish.
The food menu here is inspired by Latin American cuisine, with some twists. Try the red snapper ceviche served with plantain chips; it comes with a spicy dragon fruit vinaigrette that’s just addictive. Another signature is the crispy fish taco – a Mexican dish with fish cooked in light tempura batter, smoky chilli paste and papaya slaw wrapped in a quesadilla, with chimichurri sauce on the side. There’s also a barbecue menu laden with choices of meat and sides.
For drinks, Danny is the man behind the bar. He’s a ten-year bartending veteran, so you can be sure he knows what he’s doing. Props to him and the rest of the team who created the inventive cocktail menu, which is full of fun names. Our drink was inspired by ‘The Simpsons’: You Don’t Make Friends with Salad, a creamy green concoction with cucumber, apple, mint, lavender syrup, lemon, egg whites, vodka and absinthe. We also like the Ozone Layer – it’s like an avocado smoothie but with the addition of gin, mint, green tea syrup and lemon. A smoothie with a kick? Yes, please.
Wednesday is ladies’ night with DJ Augie and Nesh on the decks. There’s also live music and a DJ every Friday, with two guest DJs playing on Saturdays.