Any Zia Taqueria margarita fans in this strange little mountain town? Raise your hands.
If you’ve been lusting after Zia’s margs for the last few years, we have good news for you. You’ll soon be able to get those salty, sweet boozy amalgamations at Zia’s very own bar.
Known as Zia Cantina, this new boozy spot will be located right on top of the new Zia Taqueria location at 2977 Main Ave. That new Zia location opened late last fall, and the rooftop above it was prime pickings for a bar.
So, the owners created a new partnership with Peach Street Distillery — Ska Brewing’s sister distillery located in Palisade, Colorado, and opened one.
And this isn’t just any bar. This is a Zia bar, meaning it features local products as often as possible. Zia’s restaurant locations try to source produce and meat from local agriculture as much as possible, and this bar will follow suit.
It will follow a few other Zia traditions, too — like the good ol’ ordering at the counter dynamic used in this local burrito haven’s restaurants.
At Zia Cantina, you’ll follow that same order-at-the-bar schtick, but you’ll also be able to order and pay at your table via a QR code. This option is steller for a bar opening in the midst of a pandemic, when social distancing and hands-free ordering are a necessity.
“We hope to provide a really cool venue to enjoy north Main Avenue that’s family friendly, and convenient and accessible, and yet still has kind of a fun hip bar vibe, without having to go downtown or battle the crowds there,” Carly Van Hof Thomson, co-owner of Zia, told the Durango Herald.
And, if you’re planning a post-pandemic party or wedding, or even a family reunion, you may want to check this place out. Van Hof Thomson told the Herald that the space is going to be open to event rentals, making it a hot spot for large gatherings like rehearsal dinners and family reunions.
Curious what will end up on the menu at this new rooftop cantina? While there aren’t any firm drink menus available yet, you can almost guarantee that the bar will feature those infamous margs, including their classic margarita, prickly pear margarita, and jalapeño margarita.
We’re also hoping to see some of Zia’s delicious seasonal cocktails, like the End of Winter, a drink that just rolled out using Peach Street Distillery’s GOAT Vodka, along with some cranberry juice and ginger liqueur.
Either way, this new spot is a great addition to the up-and-coming North Main area, which is becoming more vibrant with each new addition.
Angelica Leicht
