Fun loud place great for groups. Apart from the ceviche (Peruvian) Mexican food was good and not too expensive. Margarita was not great, you may be better off with a beer. Fun atmosphere in general, it made me feel like in Mexico.
Excellent place for casual dining, drinks and dancing. Super energetic place with lot of Australians, few Indian, few local guests. Food is great, drinks are moderately priced and music is generally 80s, 90s and early 2000s with the occasional top 40 hit of the last 3 years. Ideal time for families is 7:00 pm to 9:30-10:00 pm and the floor goes berserk after that. Kitchen shuts at 10:30 but they serve nachos and tacos until 12.
UPDATED REVIEW:
Holy hell, what happened to this place! The gem I found 4 years ago has been transformed into an unrecognizable abomination of a tourist trap. The decor is mostly similar, but the vibe is
drastically different. The clientele is older, louder, whiter, and a thousand times more obnoxious. Think: young waiters pulling baby boomers on stage to “sexy dance” to Mambo No. 5. Yep, that bad. I’m sure the owners are laughing all the way to the bank, but they’ll have to live with the fact that they turned Motel Mexicola into Señor Frogs. 🙁
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
If you check out one bar while in Bali, make it Motel Mexicola. This place is an absolute art director's dream, themed out to the fullest in colorful Latin American vibes, down to the wonderfully random minutia. Apart from the decor, the atmosphere is further elevated by excellent, authentically-Mexican food and drinks served by a friendly staff. Final thoughts: DO. NOT. MISS. OUT.
Last night was the first time I ever when to Mexicola when I got inside the club, my friends and I had the best time the place was amazing, the bar staff inside were great, the DJ really knew what to play and had everyone dancing. But now you want to know why I only gave it a 1 star? Well, I understand 100% that people come into establishments like this and have a fun time and not buy any drinks, but the way how you did it last night was so very very wrong, you were forcing everybody to buy one of two different drinks, the two drinks you had where over 100k each and just to make it clear the price of the drinks was not the problem, the problem was I did not want to buy any of the two drinks that you where offering. And I will not be forced to buy something I don't drink. And by having your staff at the front of the establishment and your security staff bullying your customers and myself made the night to be a SHITY ONE. I would have been happier if I had to buy two 50K drink vouchers at the door to be used inside the establishment. If you want to continue bullying your customers like this, my friends and I will not be returning to Mexicola.
A pretentious uppity place in Bali, that attracts locals and foreigners alike. Trendy crowds and nice food but the gate keepers needs to know mannerism. They have lots of seats available spread in every corner yet they claimed all are reserved, and if we don't mind sitting in the bar stool. Live music available and liquors are reasonably priced. Parking is a problem, and I don't suggest going there by car. Take a cab or rent a scooter instead.
The crowd here is crazy! I didn't try food, drinks were not much expensive. You'll enjoy this place. Do visit to have some more fun. One of the best places in Bali to party. DJ was also good. Overall give this place a try. You'll enjoy
I will start with the positives. We went on Saturday night and it was busy. Great, fun atmosphere and our older teenage children loved how it turned into a nightclub. Our waitress was fantastic too. She was very attentive to our large group of 12. We ordered the set menu which was reasonably priced and the food came out when we were ready to eat more. Ok so the negative! Out of our group of 12, 10 of us went down with severe food poisoning approx 6 hours later and 3 of them needed a doctor. We are now 2 days later and only just beginning to feel ok. Be wary if you are going to eat here.
Fun place to visit. Had a nice Mexican dinner and dancing. Music is good. The staff are super friendly. Affordable price and of course a very nice enviroment. A really worth to visit. Try, and you will love it for sure
Most places with big reputations flatter to deceive (looking at you Nalu Bowls.) A few meet what you expect and on very very rare occasions a place even exceeds the lofty expectations. This is one of those places. The food and drinks are authentic and incredibly tasty and everything about this place oozes coolness. Top atmosphere too.
Where to start.. Mexicola was one of my most memorable moments in my recent trip to Bali. From start to finish it was absolutely unreal. The staff were amazing and are clearly looked after by the owners as they were all conversing, smiling and having a good time. The food was some of the best Mexican I've ever experienced!
Me and my partner got the feed me option which we got to choose from a range of dishes to come out through the night. It was worth it !! We enjoyed everything.
The only downside is it was a little bit hard to understand what the feed me option actually included but we got there in the end, possibly due to the language barrier.
The vibe was absolutely incredible, so packed and everyone enjoying their time.
The food and drinks were a little bit pricey which wasn't desirable but I would still go back. I think the prices do need attention though.
We enjoyed the cocktails and the fun we had with the bar man serving them.
Thanks again
Got lucky as I was there in the off season. The place was still pretty full, so I guess in peak season it would be pretty full and possibly line ups. Mexican food here is great, I highly recommend the chicken and beef tacos. The nacos with guacamole are a great start with some cocktails. The ambiance is colorful, relaxed and friendly. Don't be shy and hit the dance floor.
I cannot even begin to explain the positive vibes this place gives out. Everyone here is really friendly and as soon as I entered Mexicola, I felt like a part of the party.
Everyone just wanted to dance the night away.
The ambience, music and food here are just perfect for a late night party out with they boys or your better half.
Believe me, you cannot miss out on what this place has to offer.
Good Mexican food and a fun spot to go to for a night out in Seminyak. It can get quite busy during peak season, do aim to get there early to avoid the long line ups. The drinks are nice as well, with a pretty good selection. For food options, the taxis were the best option on the menu, but some of the other Mexican dishes were also very good. Pretty authentic experience and a great atmosphere for a night out. It is a bit out of the way from other places though.
Really great party atmosphere! The food was amazing, we had the banquet for a party of 8 and there was more than we could eat! All authentic mexican with fresh flavours. The drinks were delicious also - the cucumber jalapeno margarita was a highlight!
The staff were vibrant and attentive.
Loved the decor and the atmosphere was infectious!
When sitting down for a dinner reservation I believe it would have been better for conversations sake to have sat away from the dance floor - not complaining but just a recommendation for anyone thinking of booking for dinner!
We had a great time and greatly appreciated the prompt, friendly and professional service given by all staff I came in to contact with - from reservations to the waitress who served us.
Great spot for food, drinks & entertainment. We were there on a Friday evening and it was packed! Service was really good and the prices reasonable. Great for bigger groups but also couples. We had a blast and the food tasted great! Would definitely come back
This restaurant/cafe has uniqueness with the Mexican design and they authentic Mexican food. The place is stiflingly hot on a very sunny day and the menu is quite pricey. Also they only have a few choices of non-alcoholic drinks.
Love the atmosphere. Great cocktails and Mexican food. Good for casual groups dinner. A great place to chill, have a laugh and drink lots of booze!
Such a great place! We've been here twice during our holiday and it was amazing, staff is friendly and awesome, always dancing and in a good mood. The food is delicious! Absolutely loved the food! We're gonna miss this place..
Solid 3 star restaurant. Semi authentic Mexican food, the best if you're craving it in Bali. The food is a total hit or miss. The shrimp tacos are amazing however the ceviche was a bust. Tasted like soy sauce. The ambience/decor is great.
Wow this place is nuts! We organised a dinner for 12 here and were given a table near the entrance, but it was far too noisy as we had some older people in our party. The staff were gracious and moved us to a booth which really helped. This place GOES OFF at about 9pm, everyone around us was dancing and up on the tables, the music was great and the service super friendly. We were all joining in and it had a great vibe. If you want relative quiet, book your table earlier in the day and try to get upstairs or at the back. If you come to party, you will find what you're looking for! Wonderful decor, and lots of energy :)
Overpriced place. But if you looking for photo-worthy place this is the one. For food i don't really feel here was the best choice. The staff is kinda giving you a judgmental stare first with something you order. For the location wise, its really easy to find, but beware for traffic jam. Recommend to visit it while noon~
the whole cafe is really awesome! I love their decorations which is really amazing, the vibes is also great, really make me wanted to stay longer here. It's not really packed in the afternoon, but as the sun sets, the place gets pretty crowded, I'm going back to this place when I'm back in Bali!
Came for a quick bite and a few drinks after a long day out in the sun exploring. Very loud and hot inside, So wasn't the best choice depending on circumstances. The decor is incredible and the whole place has a good vibe. Food was ok. A bit more on the pricey side as its a very western place so they milk the tourists. It's definitely worth a visit though if you're in the area
The joyful ambience of the restaurant design was violated by the way the waitress served local residents. I had been here twice. The first time was with all western friends, and everything was fine. The second time I came with my friends who were also the local residents, the waitress limited us with minimum transaction and maximum one and a half hour of being on this place. At first I thought it was just a procedure for busy hours and just walked in and ordered food. However, the food took a long time to serve (even the salad took 30 minutes), and shockingly they truly kicked us out not even one hour after the food served although there were still empty tables, and the western guests next to us who were only drank beer before our arrival were still enjoy talking. A very unfortunate discriminating experience. Never come back!
Decent music and venue with no entrance fee. I saw several fights break out though. It's not a very high class place and is full of many drunk tourists.
What a fun place with awesome mexican food. We ate at the bar and ordered the small plates as we needed them. Everything came out quick and was amazing! I live in the US and eat plenty of Mexican food, and this place is easily at the top.
I came to Motel Mexicola a couple of nights ago with the intention of a mad Mexican feed. And man did it deliverer! We probably ate more than we needed and loved every second!
So the food was amazing!
The service was very welcoming, great fun with the crowd, efficient!
After meeting some lovely fellow Melbournians we stuck around for another drink despite a full blown Food pregnancy. And it was the best choice I've made thus far! After the dinner service people started dancing left, right and center! And from old walks of life, the staff were having a great old time too!
All kinds of music from Michael Jackson to the village people and even some Elvis! Safe to say I found heaven!
The decor is also very very cool!
If your in Seminyak and want a really fun night out or at least some awesome food and people watching then you should definitely go to Motel Mexicola!!
I know where I'm spending my last night in Bali!
Thank you so much to the wonderful staff at Motel Mexicola for making it such a great night!
Really fun place for a casual dinner and night out. The tasty food is served at communal tables, which creates a nice social atmosphere, but it's probably not the place for a quiet romantic dinner. Shared a few small plates and enjoyed everything. There is good space for dancing to the mix of current and older pop hits once you are done with dinner. Or you can just come for drinks and get straight to dancing. All the makings of fun night out with friends.
First time i know this place is from a friend. This is located at Seminyak but not at the main road. The road of Motel Mexicola is small and there's no car park there so i decided to park my car at mall in Seminyak and walk. The place is unique. You feel like you're in Mexico :) And you can take photos there since there are a lot great spots. The foods are nice. Although there are spice i don't familiar with but overall it's worth to try..
This place is amazing, in the afternoon you can enjoy some tasty Mexican food and in the evening, it turns into a fantastic place to have some drinks and dance! Unlike the other places who being racist to the local people, the Motel Mexicola staff are so friendly and helpful! Love it!
I would give this place slightly under 4 stars. It is a large, airy room with a cool vibe. Lots of weird Mexican-inspired decorations and art. The staff outfits looked a lot like Baskin-Robbins cast-offs. The food is tasty but portions are small, at least what we had. For example, tacos were 30k rupiah each but really little. The place is a bit overrated, I think, but I imagine that it could be quite the party place in the evenings.
I have had a couple of very good experiences here. Great food and great service staff. Sit out the front if you like it a little more relaxed and quiet
An absolutly fantastic staple of any Bali trip this side of the island. The staff are absolutely fantastic, attentive and friendly. The food is absolutely incredible and traditional (no sour cream or cheese unless asked for) and the variety of drinks leaves even the most picky drinker satisfied.
Those that criticise the smoking or service of this amazing venue do not understand the ideal of Motel Mexicola. It is a place for absolute, unadulterated fun and joy. The staff are absolutely fantastic, the vibe is incredible and your evening is sure to be one of fun, wonderful memories and terrible decisions.
Unfriendly staff ! Too bad the good food tasted bad because of the staff attitude and I'm sure they think
I'm just a local tourist as I speak Indonesian and treated me with 0 interest big mistake I'm
Actually Australian citizen & lots of Australian love & going Bali, so won't be recommended to anyone you won't get the famous Balinese friendly & warm service here stay away!
Lovely food and drinks - great energy here. One star is off as they could cool the place better! We had fish tacos and the coconut prawns which were simply awesome! Go!
Untapped potential, this place is staffed to the max but simple hospitality severely lacking. Walking past and decided to try the venue we were told we had a 45 minute wait no problems on our end, sent to a reception waiting area then moved on to the bar with no seating and a bar full of smokers. Tried asking for some help with getting seats away from
Smokers and were not helped. Eventually we were given a seat and told the time we had to be finished. There were not enough cutlery on our table for everyone. We moved the ashtray off the table to a nearby table and the waiter placed it back on our table why???. One of the girls had not finished her meal she literally had the last peice of food in her hand and the waiter removed her plate no communication. The smell of the drain was overpowering and the complete meal delivery system was Ass backwards no meals came out together and the entrees came out last.
The venue looks great and is themed well but a lot more work goes into making the customer experience than pretty lights, disappointed.
Good food and service is great, they seem to really enjoy working there. Most important thing is the vibe of the place, it's casual and really buzzing every time I've been. Makes for a fun night
Funky and unique beautiful mexican food. Turns into to abit of a fiesta later into the evening
Your typical latin inspired bar. Reggeatón, Salsa, Merengue, Spanish pop at top volume. Not as sleazy as other latin bars in this region of the world or as intense.
The cocktails are strong and it is a great place to start the night, if you like the music.
Trendy place, good vibe, cool decor but the Mexican food as usual for Indonesia is lacking
Came here by chance, loved the atmosphere, food and drinks. Waiters were very attentive and food & drinks came out super fast. Would highly recommend if you love mexican food and want a good night out.
A slick tourist venue filled with patrons and a well put together Mexican theme. Good for groups this establishment is geared for young visitors and a party atmosphere. Tapas and drinks don't come easy and best enjoyed using US$ or UK£ - Real Mexican food is cheap, as a chef and ex restaurant owner the wrong ingredients are used in some dishes to mask Mexican food. Fun for some!
Well worth a visit to Motel Mexicola. Great Decor and vibe. Visited with our young family, good was great with something for everyone.
I only came to have drinks with friends before going to another nightclub. The place looked nice with festive decor and fun, party ambience. Service was okay, could be better.
OVER-RATED! Average over-priced food small servings, drinks over-priced, you PAY for water!!! average service compared to many other dining places in Bali. Seating system is OTT, huge place - when we went there lots of empty tables downstairs and upstairs but were ushered to the 'no booking' side only to end up on the 'bookings' side (wtf?) and then seated on this solitary side table as if they were at capacity. Won't be going back!
The food are good, the place is extraordinary! But the waitress can be nicer. Oh the menu is a bit pricey
We loved it. Had a banquet for 10. Service was extremely prompt. Food was fresh and delicious. Highly recommend.