First day in Glasgow and the first meal is here.. Dont get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with the food, it just wasn’t very Mexican.. It lacked the proper spices but that is maybe to cater to the local tase.. The service was amazing and very accommodating. That much I liked. But the food wasn’t as good as the service was. The price wasn’t bad though. I would not recommend it as a place to have a proper Mexican place but I would rather say it is a safe option.
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Before you go
- Chef / owner
- Paul Sloan
- Opened
- 2014
- Style
- Mexican cantina: fresh tacos, sharing plates and margaritas, Scottish-owned since 2014
- Setting
- City-centre St Vincent Street cantina with murals, tequila gantry and outdoor terrace
- Known for
- margaritas and tequila, sharing tacos, city-centre terrace, group celebrations
- Signature dishes
- Tacos, Hand-smashed guacamole, Frozen and classic margaritas, Taco of the month
- Good for
- groups, after-work drinks, date night, lunch, students
- Prices
- Group party package £35pp; student 20% off à la carte food (Student Beans); lunch and pre-theatre menus advertised
- Typical spend
- Around £25–40pp with drinks depending on sharing style
- Lunch
- Lunch service from noon; express/lunch deals rotate — check current menu
- Reservations
- Walk-ins often fine
- Booking
- Book online or phone 0141 248 9359; group enquiries via groups@topolabamba.com
- Book online
- Open booking page
- Dietary tags
- gluten-free menu, vegetarian options, vegan options
- Dietary
- Separate gluten-free menu published; not a dedicated GF kitchen — confirm if coeliac. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes typically available; ask about dairy and spice levels.
- Groups
- Group bookings and events; £35pp party package (margarita, chips/guac/salsa, two dishes, salt & chilli fries, churros)
- Outdoor seating
- Yes — Outdoor terrace on St Vincent Street
- Drinks
- Strong margarita and tequila/mezcal focus (35+ spirits highlighted at opening); Mexican beers and soft drinks
- Noise / pace
- Lively cantina energy, especially evenings and groups
- Getting there
- Buchanan Street subway about 4–5 minutes’ walk; Central and Queen Street nearby
- Parking
- City-centre street / NCP nearby
- Also by them
- Topolabamba Edinburgh (Lothian Road)
- Also
- Sun–Thu 12:00–22:00; Fri–Sat 12:00–22:30; Email stvincent@topolabamba.com; Pre-theatre menu advertised for Glasgow
Glasgow restaurant
Topolabamba
Opening hours
- Monday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
Overview
Topolabamba is a Scottish-born Mexican cantina at 89 St Vincent Street, opened 16 July 2014. Paul Sloan’s team built a colourful room of murals, reclaimed wood and a long tequila/mezcal gantry; there is also an outdoor terrace. A sister restaurant sits on Edinburgh’s Lothian Road. The kitchen leans on daily-made salsas, hand-smashed guac and shared plates: tacos, tostadas, burritos, loaded fries and margaritas (including frozen). Gluten-free menu available; tell the team about allergies. Group party package is £35pp (margarita, chips and dips, two dishes, fries, churros). Students get 20% off à la carte food via Student Beans. Book online or call. Open noon–10pm Sun–Thu and until 10:30pm Fri–Sat. Handy for lunch, after-work drinks and celebrations in the city centre.
Reviews
Amazing service and even better food, everything was REALLY delicious. We ordered the crispy fried fish, pork and Barbacoa tacos and grilled prawn tostadas, hard to pick a favorite. We arrived just before closing and the manger still sat us, we had Jonathan as our server and he was so patient and helpful, thank you for an amazing dinner and an even better service !
Read on Google MapsTopolabamba is by far the best Mexican restaurant in all of Scotland, The flavors are so authentic that you truly feel as if you are dining in Mexico itself. Every dish is full of taste, freshness, and passion. On top of that, the staff are incredibly welcoming, attentive, and always make the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience real Mexican cuisine
Read on Google MapsThis is the most authentic Mexican I've had since being in the UK. I highly recommend you go there and try it for yourself. The tacos are amazing, as are the burritos. Good for sharing with a partner or friends; order a couple of different dishes and share them to see what you like.
Read on Google MapsAbsolutely fantastic Mexican restaurant serving authentic food. Great halal options. Food is incredibly tasty and the manager was extremely accommodating. Will definitely return, although portion sizes are on the smaller side.
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