The sun has only just dipped below the horizon in Mexico City, and the night begins to stir — one toast, two conversations at a time. The music slowly swells as guests filter into Outline, the newly opened venue that’s rewriting the rules of hospitality in the Mexican capital. At the heart of the Roma Norte neighbourhood, the bar’s counter is already in full swing, churning out dozens of cocktails poured with ease from the towering draft wall that anchors the space. This is a fluid place, where mixology meets urban design, music, and visual art by creatives like Smithe. Every night feels like a statement of contemporary style, creative energy, and global perspective.
Outline, the Realm of Cocktails on Tap
Behind it all is a dream team: Walter Meyenberg, the visionary behind cult spots like Hanky Panky and Brujas; Maura and Alex Lawrence Milia, both seasoned talents with international acclaim. Joining them are Tony Delfino and Mercadorama, lending Outline a graphic and musical identity that feels deeply rooted in the local culture. But it’s behind the bar that the venue’s most revolutionary idea reveals itself: a draft cocktail concept serving over thirty pre-batched drinks — each one crafted with precision and designed to maintain the highest standards of flavour. These recipes are the result of in-depth research and careful calibration, stored in innovative containers that preserve freshness and balance.
Outline, the Drink List
The result? Speed, consistency, and the freedom to explore a vast and inventive menu without missing a beat. The drink list unfolds like a liquid map, beginning with bright, easygoing twists like the Mango + Cream — vodka, vainilla and mango — and the Rosaloma, which pairs tequila, raspberry, and lavender soda into a refreshing floral bouquet. Then come the more technical variations, like the Masa Negroni, where gin meets masa infused vermouth and Campari, or the Jitomate Highball, which mixes tequila, basil, beer honey, and spices in a balance of umami and green vibrancy that speaks the language of contemporary mixology.
Unveiling the Identity of Each Draft Cocktail
Other drinks are bolder in structure and depth, like the Cacao Manhattan, blending bourbon, cocoa, and maple syrup into a rich autumnal glass. The Coco Old Fashioned plays with the toasted notes of coconut and the mellow warmth of honey, while the Jurassic Gimlet — made with gin, fino sherry, and poleo — evokes the mystery of a forgotten herb. Every cocktail has its own defined identity, yet all remain in harmony with Outline’s ethos: free, playful, grounded, and always open to exploration — both in flavour and in rhythm.
Mexico Served in a Glass
References to Mexican culture are woven in with subtlety and wit. The Verdura Torino layers mezcal, fennel and carrot water, Campari, and vermouth into an herbal-citrus twist that defies expectation. The Oaxacan Penicillin — with tequila, mezcal, honey, and ginger — is a smoky caress of tradition viewed through a global lens. And then there’s the Outline Dirty Martini, one of the bar’s signatures: vodka, fino sherry, basil, and shiitake for a vegetal, umami-rich take that’s both surprising and supremely elegant.
Outline’s Food Menu
Rounding out the experience is a food menu designed to complement, not compete. Mexican and American influences meet in the likes of asada tacos, grilled prawns, shrimp rolls with spicy mayo, and the ultimate comfort bites, a “stadium-style” hot dog and a fried chicken burger. Desserts flirt with nostalgia and indulgence — grilled mango on brioche, pretzel sundaes, cornbread with seasonal ice cream.
Outline, an Emerging Voice
In every detail, Outline speaks a language that is young, musical, and instinctive. A Funktion-One system, tuned with surgical precision by resident DJ Boho, delivers a soundscape curated by Mercadorama: a mix of emerging DJs and eclectic selections played throughout the indoor space and the rooftop terrace above. Ultimately, Outline is a place where high-level cocktails, urban aesthetics, and music converge into a single, coherent narrative — one that reimagines the potential of draft cocktails and sets a new tone for the city’s nightlife.
The article first appeared on Coqtail – for fine drinkers. Order your copy here
Images courtesy Outline
