I tried Newcastle bar with 'world's largest margarita menu' - who knew tequila could taste THIS good?

It’s a bold claim, but this is a bold bar, with a far from ordinary drinks selection.

The world’s largest margarita menu, you say? Don’t mind if I do.

Now, having been to El Guapo, I’m still not sure of their actual claim. Without checking every margarita menu on the planet, this writer cannot say with any great authority whether their statement is indeed correct. What this writer can say, however, is that El Guapo is absolutely amazing - and has a real cute cantina charm, tucked away up a hidden staircase right slap bang in the middle of Newcastle’s Pilgrim Street.

Drinks, drinks & more drinks

It’s easy to miss El Guapo, or ‘the handsome’ for the less linguistic among us. I did, I walked up and down the street wondering if the charming little staircase, bursting with colour was indeed the place where NewcastleWorld had so kindly been invited to dive into some Cazcabel tequila cocktails. It was. And I wasn’t to be disappointed.

Snaking around the stairs, it soon becomes obvious this is not just your usual bar, with loud decor from floor to ceiling, Latina artwork and sombreros, you’re welcomed with the hum of noise and vibrancy.

Not messing about, myself and my pair of fellow taste testers find our pews in a snug near the bar entrance. The bar is stocked high with all kinds of exotic drinks and accompaniments - a tequila paradise, if you will.

Nine different drinks, nine totally different experiences - and, as the bold moniker claims, we barely got through a quarter of the menu on offer.

Round one: Santiago Munez; Margy Robbie; Smokey

As a trio of Newcastle United fans, it would have been rude not to go for a Magpies-related drink on the menu. It’s fair to say, it was a unique one - think a espresso martini-type vibe with a tequila kick.

The Margy Robbie, as recommended by the bar staff, was sweet and fruity with pink hooch making it a light, easy to drink mix and the smokey, from the chilli menu, was very much that, smokey with undertones of capsicum warmth.

Round two: Bubblegum; Lagerita; Pablo Escomarg

This was the showstopper round.

The Pablo Escomarg, with accompanying bag of white powder, added some humour while the Lagerita had some show to it, with its mini beer bottle forced into the ice, ready for pulling from the drink. The bubblegum, another sweet number, brought back childhood memories, especially with the gum balls at the bottom of the drink. Screwball, anyone?

Round three: Spicy; Coconuts for Margs; Sangrita

Another one from the chilli section, the spicy also did what it said on the tin. Very much like the smokey, but with added kick from the chillies. It also had candied chillies in the drink. Not for the faint-hearted.

Coconuts for Margs, with coconut Cazcabel, was a taste of the Caribbean, in many ways and acted as a perfect, chilled end to what was a (positive) assault on the senses for the evening, while the Sangrita was a margarita version of a sangria. Would recommend.

And it was Taco Tuesday!

I didn’t go in hungry, but a few drinks down and the taco specials on the wall started to look very appetising.

Again, this was no let down. We ordered a full tray, for just £18, although any other day of the week our offerings would have totalled £36. Worth every penny, though.

We went for a lamb taco with pomegranate as well as traditional beef and a zesty chicken number - the latter for the win!

Chilled, traditional with flavours for days, both by the glass and plate - El Guapo gets the NewcastleWorld seal of approval.

TASTE: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

VIBE: ⭐⭐⭐

RETURNABILITY ⭐⭐⭐⭐