Inspired by their grandfather, Mexican brothers Ricardo and Eduardo Nava's bar is built around a love of aperitivo.
Riding the wave of Mexico City's unique cocktail and dining scene, Bar Mauro has risen to prominence in the single year since opening. And this move upwards has been further boosted since being named winner of the Campari One To Watch Award at the 2025 edition of The World's 50 Best Bars.
The bar was created by two seasoned cocktail specialists, brothers Ricardo and Eduardo Nava, with inspiration born out of nostalgia, family storytelling and the tradition of aperitivo. They have also fused the vibrancy and unique architecture of Roma Norte, a neighbourhood ripe for bar hopping, into the offering.
Aperitivo hour and storytelling
"After travelling to London, Rome, Milan, and other European cities, we noticed that the aperitivo tradition was something we both deeply appreciated," explains Ricardo. "Our grandfather, Mauro Mendoza, was a bon vivant, the kind of person who could captivate a room with his storytelling, recalling his bohemian life during his 40s and 50s."
The Nava brothers opened Bar Mauro in late 2024 as an homage to their grandfather
Ricardo and Eduardo were born and raised in Orizaba, a small city in the Mexican state of Veracruz, surrounded by green mountains and coffee-growing farms. Ricardo first entered the coffee industry, working as a barista in their hometown. The jump from coffee to cocktail-maker came a few years later, when the brothers started working together to cater for parties and local events.
"We have done it all," says Eduardo, recalling their shared journey in the hospitality sector. "From working behind the bar in trend-setting cocktail spots in Mexico City like [Licorería] Limantour and Café Paraíso to serving as hospitality managers, brand ambassadors and private bar consultants." 
Bar Mauro takes its stylings from 1970s Milan
Throughout those years, the dream of creating their own concept – one that would hit home in more ways than just being their own – was always cooking on the back burner. "We knew we wanted a space dedicated to Italian liquors and the aperitif tradition," recalls Ricardo. "We didn't have a name yet, but during our discussions, we remembered our grandfather's bar cabinet filled with digestifs and bottles of Campari. He had a daily ritual of bread with olive oil, perhaps some nuts to nibble on, and, of course, a vermouth or a bitter-based cocktail."
International influences
Bar Mauro's design is inspired by the 1970s architecture of Milan, blending retro glamour with tailored hospitality and a modern approach to cocktail-making. The menu features aperitif classics such as the Sbagliatto bianco and a Negroni 1929, while the signature cocktail, the Maurito – a mix of mezcal, lillet blanc, sherry, and guava – captures the essence of Mexican flavours combined with fortified and aromatic wines. "It has become our best seller, following the trend of low ABV cocktails with carbonation," explains Ricardo.
The Negroni 1929 combines the bar's Italian character with local Mexican spirits
As Mexico City's cocktail scene continues to evolve, newcomers such as Bar Mauro are seeking inspiration beyond a Mexican-centric ethos and flavour palette, embracing a cosmopolitan approach. As winning the Campari One To Watch Award comes just a year after Bar Mauro's opening in October 2024, it's undoubtedly a push forward towards a style of hospitality that values experience over seating turnover; comfort and attention to detail over hype.
It stays in the neighbourhood
"There's a huge opportunity right now to grow into a long and diverse career devoted to hospitality in Mexico City," says Ricardo. "Currently, the trend in the cocktail world is to offer a small menu, and most restaurants have a comprehensive cocktail programme."
Bar Mauro is no exception; its Italian-inspired menu is a central feature of the experience. Dishes such as the prosciutto arancini perfectly complement the bitter-sweetness of the garibaldi cocktail, which is made with Campari, cynar, bitter Italian aperitif and passion fruit.
The Nava brothers collected the bar's award on stage in Hong Kong
Bar Mauro focuses on hospitality by making guests feel at home, creating a familiar space that invites them to return. "We aspire to be the neighbourhood bar where people can go twice or three times a week to have a drink, grab a bite, and move on to their evening plans," says Ricardo.
The concept behind Bar Mauro is to return to the roots of enjoying the local bar experience, where everyone is comfortable, well-tended and in an atmosphere that is both sophisticated and unpretentious.
Eduardo, reflecting on Bar Mauro's recognition at The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, pays tribute to the team. "This is one more reason to keep going, a reassurance that we are on the right track. Our team is young, and they have believed in the project since day one. We have created Grandpa Mauro's extended family." And Ricardo agrees: "For all of us, this is a dream come true and a way of making our grandfather proud."
The list of The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier, was revealed at a live awards ceremony on Wednesday 8 October in Hong Kong.
