La Vida Urbana

Non-standard issue tacos. A mini-forest of tequila and mezcal bottles. That light-up pink neon donkey. The family resemblance between La Vida Urbana and its parent venue El Publico – is obvious. Yet there’s more to La Vida Urbana than simply moving the Mexican eating and drinking party from Beaufort Street to Leederville.

Whereas the original is best described as a bar-slash-restaurant, this fresh-faced Leederville venue tips the sombrero to the suburb’s famous café culture. So while street food inspired snacks such as guacamole and corn chips feature on the menu, they’re joined by the brunchier likes of skirt steak with beans and chipotle-spiked hollandaise.

On weekends, a more cosmopolitan breakfast menu is offered: think toasted bacon and egg sandwiches, avocado toasts, plus pastries from Mary Street Bakery.

Night times sees the place really hit its straps. Fuelled in no small part by the aforementioned booze stockpile (Mexican liquor asides, beer and easy-going wines are also served), merry guests hook into chorizo fried rice, charry lamb ribs, crisp-fried school prawns and other share-friendly winners.