Esteban

bar

A moody basement Mexican bar and taqueria hidden beneath Temperance Lane, featuring one of Australia's largest tequila and mezcal collections alongside charcoal-grilled tacos.

4.7

(1,831 reviews)Google

Happy Hour Deals

Happy Hour

$12 drinks, $9 tacos

Monday

5:00pm – 6:00pm

Happy Hour

$12 drinks, $9 tacos

Tuesday – Sunday

4:00pm – 6:00pm

Best For

BarOutdoor SeatingTakes ReservationsWheelchair Accessible

1 Temperance Lane, Sydney CBD 2000

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Monday5pm – 11pm

Tuesday5pm – 11pm

WednesdayToday5pm – 11pm

Thursday12pm – 12am

Friday12pm – 12am

Saturday12pm – 12am

Sunday12pm – 11pm

The Vibe

Physical space: Descend into a moody 65-seater basement lined with custom tequila cabinets and warm golden-brown leather booths and banquettes - the colour of a proper reposado. Architects have preserved the building's Art Deco bones, keeping sandstone walls, timber beams and towering archways while layering in the atmosphere of Mexico City's heady basement bars.
The crowd: Groups settling in for date nights and tequila tastings, with the energy building as the roaming tequila trolley makes its rounds. The space fills with couples and small groups testing varietals and pairing spirits with cheese or chocolate.
Upstairs alternative: A more intimate dining room with counter seating around an open kitchen, anchored by a floor-to-ceiling mural inspired by Diego Rivera's frescoes. The enormous 400kg acid-aged steel front door sets expectations before you even step inside.

What People Love

The tequila experience: One of Australia's largest tequila and mezcal collections, served via a roaming trolley where you pick and choose from dozens of varietals. Tequila flights let you compare three expressions side by side or opt for guided tastings paired with cheese and chocolate.
Charcoal-grilled tacos: Executive chef John Frid works a custom Parilla grill and vertical charcoal rotisserie in the centre of the restaurant, turning out traditional Tacos Al Pastor with hot coals of Aussie ironbark. The soft corn tortillas are handmade daily using a bespoke machine imported from Guadalajara.
Standout dishes: Wagyu beef tartare taco, Hiramasa Kingfish ceviche with watermelon sorbet and the signature "Tres Camotes" dessert - a sweet potato tart, ice cream and meringue trio that perfectly caps the meal.

The Neighbourhood

Location: Tucked away on Temperance Lane in the heart of the CBD, the entrance is easy to miss among the area's mix of office buildings and laneways. The former printing shop building sits in one of Sydney's quieter CBD pockets, away from the main thoroughfares but still walking distance from major transport hubs.
Street-level dining: The al fresco setup on Temperance Lane transforms the narrow street into an extension of the restaurant Tuesday through Saturday. Tables spill onto the laneway for lunch, dinner and late-night street food-style snacks until 1am.
The precinct: Part of the CBD's growing collection of hidden basement bars and intimate dining rooms, where heritage buildings are finding new life as atmospheric venues that prioritise mood over foot traffic.

Nearby in Sydney CBD

Ratings from Google

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Contact

The Vibe

Physical space: Descend into a moody 65-seater basement lined with custom tequila cabinets and warm golden-brown leather booths and banquettes - the colour of a proper reposado. Architects have preserved the building's Art Deco bones, keeping sandstone walls, timber beams and towering archways while layering in the atmosphere of Mexico City's heady basement bars.

The crowd: Groups settling in for date nights and tequila tastings, with the energy building as the roaming tequila trolley makes its rounds. The space fills with couples and small groups testing varietals and pairing spirits with cheese or chocolate.

Upstairs alternative: A more intimate dining room with counter seating around an open kitchen, anchored by a floor-to-ceiling mural inspired by Diego Rivera's frescoes. The enormous 400kg acid-aged steel front door sets expectations before you even step inside.

What People Love

The tequila experience: One of Australia's largest tequila and mezcal collections, served via a roaming trolley where you pick and choose from dozens of varietals. Tequila flights let you compare three expressions side by side or opt for guided tastings paired with cheese and chocolate.

Charcoal-grilled tacos: Executive chef John Frid works a custom Parilla grill and vertical charcoal rotisserie in the centre of the restaurant, turning out traditional Tacos Al Pastor with hot coals of Aussie ironbark. The soft corn tortillas are handmade daily using a bespoke machine imported from Guadalajara.

Standout dishes: Wagyu beef tartare taco, Hiramasa Kingfish ceviche with watermelon sorbet and the signature "Tres Camotes" dessert - a sweet potato tart, ice cream and meringue trio that perfectly caps the meal.

The Neighbourhood

Location: Tucked away on Temperance Lane in the heart of the CBD, the entrance is easy to miss among the area's mix of office buildings and laneways. The former printing shop building sits in one of Sydney's quieter CBD pockets, away from the main thoroughfares but still walking distance from major transport hubs.

Street-level dining: The al fresco setup on Temperance Lane transforms the narrow street into an extension of the restaurant Tuesday through Saturday. Tables spill onto the laneway for lunch, dinner and late-night street food-style snacks until 1am.

The precinct: Part of the CBD's growing collection of hidden basement bars and intimate dining rooms, where heritage buildings are finding new life as atmospheric venues that prioritise mood over foot traffic.