¡Viva Tijuana! Meet the Master Mixologist behind TJ’s Trailblazing Speakeasy

By Michael Benninger

When Prohibition passed into law in 1919, millions of Americans looking to wet their whistles had to score booze from shady bootleggers, finagle entry into secretive speakeasies or head to Mexico for a cocktail. Because the Mexican government would never do anything as crazy as criminalize alcohol, there wasn’t a need for a speakeasy south of the border back then. Today, however, inspired by a trend sweeping across American cities, Tijuana finally has one to call its own.

Hidden inside the wood-paneled walls of Oryx Capital Gastro Pub lies a not-so-secret speakeasy called Nortico. Photos of Al Capone and other infamous outlaws hang on the walls of venue, where head bartender and Tijuana native, Fernando Villalobos, seems poised to make history.

PACIFIC: How do customers gain entry into Nortico?

FERNANDO VILLALOBOS: Nortico es un lugar que se da a conocer de boca en boca. No necesitas una invitación formal, solamente saber de él. Para los que ya son mis clientes y los nuevos, yo les recomiendo reservar con tiempo para el fin de semana, esto con la finalidad de no saturar el lugar y ofrecer un servicio de primera.

Nórtico is a place known by word-of-mouth. You don’t need a formal invitation, you just need to know about it. For people who already know the place, and for new visitors, I recommend making a reservation ahead of time for the weekend, because we don’t want to be over our capacity and we want to offer excellent service.

What tips do you have for first-time guests? No pidas una cerveza, siempre hay un cóctel para cada gusto.

Don’t ask for a beer; there’s always a cocktail for everyone to enjoy.