Eli Martínez Bello

The spirit of Mexico

There is no one more passionate about Mexico’s gastronomy and mythology than its newly anointed mixology matriarch, Eli Martínez Bello.

This total devotion to all things Mexico is manifest in Tlecān, Martínez Bello’s Mexico City bar, which is named after the Náhuatl term for "place of fire" and stands as a mezcal-fuelled homage to her heritage and culture. From the pre-Hispanic design elements to the brand-less agave spirits and its prodigious use of local ingredients, every element is designed to bring guests closer to Martínez Bello’s spiritual and cultural homeland; even the small details like the toothpicks, which are made from agave thorns rather than disposable wood.

Martínez Bello’s love affair with Mexico started as a child, when she would dream of travelling across the country and meeting as many new faces as possible – something that became a reality in adulthood as she carved a career path in hospitality, starting with her first job in a local café at age 17.

Café work quickly turned to bartending in her late 20s, when she began to immerse herself in the stories and legacy behind Indigenous spirits and distillates, and in turn, the producers behind them. From a head bartender gig at Grupo Pata Negra and a five-year stint as head bartender at Enrique Olvera's Pujol (No.33 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024) to opening the doors to Tlecān in 2023, Martínez Bello’s career has been a testament to her appetite for discovery and her desire to show the world the beauty and bounty of Mexico.

In the last few years Martínez Bello has developed and consulted on beverage programs and trained staff for cocktail bars around the world. Now, her mission is twofold: to continue to share Mexican culture in liquid form through cocktails and to advocate for better opportunities for bartenders to extend and professionalise their careers in order to create a more caring and sustainable hospitality future.

For a genuine devotion to her homeland’s traditions, spirits and history that is evident in both her bar, her drinks and her work within the community across the country, Martínez Bello becomes the first Mexican recipient of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award as part of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025.

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