The Team Behind Award-Winning Chupito Cocteleria Introduces Cantina Social Club

The Goods from Chupito Cocteleria

Vancouver, BC | A brand new experimental dining experience is arriving in downtown Vancouver on July 22 2026. CANTINA SOCIAL CLUB is a new Mexican cantina-inspired pop up concept brought to you by the team from the Bib-gourmand recognized Chupito Cocteleria.

Inspired by the convivial spirit of Mexico City’s beloved neighbourhood cantinas, Cantina Social Club blends the soul of old-school Mexican drinking houses with the creativity of contemporary Mexican cooking and the extraordinary ingredients of the Pacific Northwest. The result is an ever-evolving dining experience where the menu changes with the seasons, local harvests, and the creative curiosity of the kitchen.

Running every Wednesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. until late at Pinche Taco Shop (367 Seymour Street), the space will transform nightly into a lively-yet-intimate cantina illuminated by candlelight, communal tables, lush greenery, high-energy playlists and the unmistakable energy of gathering over exceptional food and drink. No reservations required.

Leading the culinary program is Chef Maria Ponce, whose cooking explores the vibrancy of Mexican cuisine beyond familiar expectations. Drawing inspiration from the different regions of Mexico while embracing British Columbia’s peak-season ingredients, each menu becomes an ongoing expression of time and place. Rather than adhering strictly to tradition, Ponce celebrates it, using it as the foundation for inventive dishes that evolve alongside the seasons and the relationships she continues to nurture with local farmers and producers.

Complementing chef’s creation is an equally dynamic and playful beverage program curated by award-winning bartenders Tara Davies and Erick Vazquez. Guided by the same philosophy that celebrates seasonality and community, the drinks menu showcases low-intervention British Columbia wines, cervezas, and a rotating low-waste, high-fun cocktails that echo the flavours and ingredients found on the plate. Some highlights include Half-and-half (half frozen, half sparking) Paloma, Pina Daiquiri, Cantinatini, rotating La Ronda – seasonal large format cocktails made for sharing, and more.

“Cantinas have always been about more than food and drinks—they’ are places where people gather, celebrate, debate, and build community,” says Vazquez, whose grandfather was a Cantinero in Mexico City. “Every time we visit Mexico City, we’re inspired by that incredible sense of energy and belonging. Cantina Social Club is our interpretation of that experience in Vancouver: creative without being complicated, refined without pretension, and always centred around bringing people together to have a great time, every time.” adds Davies.

The concept also introduces Sergio El Bailador, the resident playful dancing skeleton mascot. Inspired by Mexican folk art and the festive spirit of the classic song of the same name, Sergio embodies the joyful irreverence of the cantina – a place where the music gets louder, the tequila flows, and strangers leave as friends.

Beyond its seasonal menu, Cantina Social Club is envisioned as an evolving creative platform for Vancouver’s culinary community. Throughout the residency, acclaimed chefs, bartenders, winemakers, and producers from British Columbia and beyond will be invited to collaborate on one-night-only dinners, guest shifts, and experimental events, making each visit a unique experience.

Neither traditional restaurant nor conventional pop-up, Cantina Social Club is a living, breathing project that celebrates the beauty of seasonality, the freedom of expressions, and the simple joy of sharing food and drink with the community.

For more updates, please follow @cantinasocialclub on Instagram.