You could be forgiven if you forget you’re on Central Avenue when you walk into the new Red Mesa Mercado in West St. Pete. The lush new space, home to the latest Red Mesa concept, is an oasis in the middle of the city with covered seating, tons of greenery, and palmetto trees blowing in the breeze.
Located at 6001 Central Avenue, Red Mesa Mercado delivers all the amazing food and drink the fast-casual Mexican spot is beloved for, but in a spacious getaway that invites you to kick back, relax, and maybe order that second margarita while you play a game or cornhole.
While long-time Mercado fans will recognize many of their favorite dishes, the new location has an updated menu all its own, along with rotating food and drink specials with each season. Mercado West also ups the game in the dining experience, offering an enhanced sit-down experience with full service from their wait staff.
There is covered outdoor seating, a garden lounge, a game area, and a full indoor dining room and cocktail bar. We took our first visit recently, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better casual Mexican experience in town.
Cali-Mex inspired eats take the main stage
Red Mesa Mercado’s modern Mexican street eats are still the star, of course. The tacos and bowls are outstanding, and we’ll put their gigantic burritos up against anyone in town. No matter what you get, the combination of house-made tortillas and fresh ingredients ensures a tasty meal on every visit.
Highlights of the menu include street tacos, birria quesadillas, taquitos, and house-made queso and chips. The burritos are the big star, and our go-to is one of their most popular items, the Cali Burrito. This hefty bad boy will fill you up on your hungriest of days: a house-made flour tortilla stuffed with ground beef, refried beans, cheddar jack cheese, guacamole, crema, pico de gallo, and that ultimate Cali touch – skinny, crispy fries. It’s the kind of burrito they write songs about.
And as always, Red Mesa’s cocktail program comes strong. With the full bar inside, their range of margaritas and specialty creations features fresh juices, house-made syrups, and sliced fruit that sends you straight to toes-in-the-sand bliss. They also take extra care to create truly crave-worthy mocktails. Check out the rotating cocktail specials on each visit.
Red Mesa Mercado West has become a fast favorite among those in the neighborhood and it’s easy to see why. No matter where you live, this new spot is worth seeking out, either on the way to the beach or downtown, or as a destination unto itself.
Plus, as long-time Mercado lovers, we’re thrilled to see the concept come to life after years of planning by Red Mesa.
“Mercado West has been a dream for a long-long time, and it’s incredibly rewarding to finally see it come to life,” said Pete Veytia III, COO of Red Mesa Group. “We’ve navigated many moving parts—from the service model, menu, and design to approvals—but we stayed focused on the vision: to create a place where guests can gather, enjoy our Cali-Mex tacos, burritos, bowls, and margaritas, and experience the Mercado energy in a whole new way.”
If you love Mercado in the EDGE District, add this new spot to your list. If you’ve never been to either, this is your sign. Follow Red Mesa Mercado on Instagram to see the latest.