Eli Martinez Bello, co-owner and head bartender of Tlecān in Mexico City, has been named the 2025 Altos Bartenders’ Bartender by North America’s 50 Best Bars. She is the first recipient from Mexico to earn this peer-voted honour, which recognizes leadership, innovation, and meaningful contributions to the bar industry.
Martinez Bello is celebrated for championing traditional Mexican spirits and uplifting lesser-known producers, especially those led by women. Her bar, Tlecān Mezcaleria, offers guests a deeper understanding of heritage spirits such as mezcal, sotol, pulque, and tejuino, sourced with transparency and respect. Before launching Tlecān, Martinez Bello led the beverage program at Pujol, one of the world’s most acclaimed restaurants.
The Altos Bartenders’ Bartender award is the only category selected exclusively by industry peers. It reflects the growing recognition of bars and bartenders across Mexico and highlights a shift toward inclusivity and cultural storytelling in cocktail creation.
This announcement comes ahead of the North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 awards ceremony, which will be held for the first time in Canada, on April 29 in Vancouver. The full list will be revealed live and streamed globally on the 50 Best Bars TV YouTube channel.