New Mexican cantina-inspired pop-up arrives downtown Vancouver on July 22

Cantina Social Club, a new Mexican cantina-inspired pop-up concept from the team behind Bib-gourmand-recognized Chupito Cocteleria, launches Wednesday, July 22 at Pinche Taco Shop on Seymour Street in downtown Vancouver.

Inspired by Mexico City's beloved neighbourhood cantinas, the concept blends old-school Mexican drinking houses with contemporary Mexican cooking and Pacific Northwest ingredients. The menu changes with seasons, local harvests, and kitchen creativity. Running Wednesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. until late, the space transforms nightly into a lively-yet-intimate cantina with candlelight, communal tables, lush greenery, high-energy playlists, and no reservations required.

Chef Maria Ponce leads the culinary program, exploring the vibrancy of Mexican cuisine beyond familiar expectations. She draws inspiration from different regions of Mexico while embracing B.C. peak-season ingredients, creating dishes that evolve with time and place.

An equally dynamic beverage program is curated by award-winning bartenders Tara Davies and Erick Vazquez, who celebrate seasonality and community through low-intervention B.C. wines, cervezas, and rotating low-waste cocktails. Highlights include Half-and-half Paloma, Pina Daiquiri, Cantinatini, and rotating La Ronda—large-format cocktails made for sharing.

The concept introduces Sergio El Bailador, a playful dancing skeleton mascot inspired by Mexican folk art, embodying the joyful irreverence of the cantina. Throughout the residency, acclaimed chefs, bartenders, winemakers, and producers from British Columbia and beyond will be invited to collaborate on one-night-only dinners and experimental events.