Tio’s

Feel like blowing off steam in a way that only beer and a huge range of Mezcal & Tequila can? Enter Tio’s.
This place is a bit of an icon, fairly unassuming from the outside, it can be quiet one night and raucous the next. Testament to all of the good times had in this establishment, one of the first things you’ll notice is the impressive range of garments hanging from the ceiling!
Why not have a few Tecate with salt and lime to take the edge off after a long day? Then if you’re game, grab a small batch Mezcal with some dehydrated pineapple and have a chat with the very friendly staff and probe their seemingly infinite knowledge on all matters Mexican booze.
I’ve never had a bad time at Tio’s, not sure it’s even possible. That in mind, don’t forget to drink responsibly.

This Guatemalan tequila bar was hailed as a ‘hot neighbourhood bar’ at the backpackers we were staying at. I liked the dimly lit, kitschy interior and they serve up strong tequila cocktails and free popcorn. It wasn’t busy early evening when we were there, just one table making a helluva noise, I can imagine the rabble when this place is full!

We are the Elite. Your hospitality will be assimilated. Open your doors and surrender your chips. We will add your booze and nourishment to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.
Like the collective hive mind of my fellow Unilocalites I bucked the trend of those enjoying Tio’s.
The ingredients for a successful small bar are all here but for some reason the cake just doesn’t look as tantalising as it does in the glossy photo — Hipster bar-​staff, cocktails, good beer, pimped up snacks, graffiti, underwear, atmosphere.
No, wait. That last one smells a bit… did you check the use by date?
I totally agree that you wouldn’t wanna start a night here, that’s a natch fact after visiting. Thing is I rocked up hella soused with a crew of né’er-do-wells and we still didn’t have a great time.
From the upbeat vibe of our previous venue we entered Tio’s and walked straight into a Nacho Libre elbow off the top rope that had team mates tapping out faster than you could grab a steel chair to save ‘em.
It’s loud, beyond bearing loud. It’s dim, as in back alley seedy sally dim. It’s pissed, as in populated by pissed patrons.
Then you have the fun-​stoppers. Gigantic picnic benches slicing Tio in half and applying the squeeze on the limited space available. Coupled with the bar loiterers this creates a bottleneck that halts the flow of a good booze-​a-​thon.
Maybe I am just too old to appreciate a good thing. It felt like I was in an Airlie Beach backpacker nightclub after one too many snakebites. The humidity and spilled stickiness sapping my remaining strength. It certainly didn’t feel like a Sydney small bar.
I’d come here again probably if I was drunk ‘n’ dragged and the occasion justified it. Otherwise gimme somewhere with less noise and more room.
P. S. I never saw any bras — Maybe I just had an off night? ;)

When a bar is open according to Unilocal,I would appreciate it being open, gets 2 stars for the walk though.

It’s rare that I have such a different opinion to what the consensus seems to be, but there was just nothing at all remarkable about this place. Especially when you figure that kitchy Mexican is the bar/​resturant theme du jour in Sydney and they are a dime a dozen these days.
So you have the hipster staff, mediocre drinks, a mexi-​kitch theme and tacos… I guess one recommendation is that they have $ 10 tequila based cocktails. Meh… whatever.

It has taken me a while but I have finally collected all of the Forte and Scott Tetralogy. I almost wondered if I had the right place with Tio’s. Right there on the street for all to see! Not hidden away at all. Although I suppose the Mexican Cantina theme suits the night air better than a musty basement.
We got there very early on a Friday after deciding to reward our hard work by skiving off early. My boss was with me so it’s ok. Arriving at 4.30pm there were a few small groups dotted around but it was easy to get a table.
Straight onto the cocktails with a Roberto. Like a naughty Green Juice with cucumber and apple. I almost felt like I was being healthy.
After that it was time for the obligatory margarita. They’re not the sickly sweet affair you get elsewhere. I kind of prefer my cocktails sweet so I was a little disappointed but my more worldly companions assured me this is a real margarita.
Finally I found what I was looking for in a Tommy’s. Agave syrup is popping up everywhere and I’m glad.
Early on a bag of popcorn was thrown on our table. It didn’t last long.
I’m inspired by the décor to do up my backyard. I love the tiles and the chilli shaped fairy lights and have already googled honeycomb paper fruit decorations. I don’t consider myself a raging feminist or a prude but the number of bras these guys have collected in exchange for free drinks is disconcerting. Stay classy Sydney.
The bar tender I had was not as friendly as those at Shady’s and Frankie’s. Bar tenders are the new Baristas. It’s becoming a profession and some of them take themselves a little too seriously. I’m in HR and I think I have more fun than some of these guys.
We left about 8pm to go find dinner. It was getting pretty crowded by then and I was getting that «the crowd is taking a turn for the worse» feeling, mostly brought on by a large, ungraceful young lady who decided she’d claim our table before we managed to climb out from behind it. Kids these days…
Overall it’s pretty good. Nothing beats the original Shady Pines experience, still the best of the four. But I do love tequila so I’m sure I’ll be back at some point.

I’ve been to Tio’s a couple of times now and have to say it’s definitely a destination for after you’re buzzed and headed toward hammered rather than a place to start your night out in.
It’s loud, it reeks of tequila (which is somewhat comforting if you’re already plastered but fairly nauseating if you’e still on the sober side), but the bartenders are friendly and super helpful when you’re clueless as to what type of tequila shot to take next.
I think a big drawback of Tio’s is how it’s designed– it’s a long and fairly narrow bar with pretty much just long tables for seating, which means if you can’t get a spot at a table you’re essentially jamming the walkway on either side.
If you’re wondering what all the bras are doing hanging up in the bar, they’re the symbols of Sydney chicks who have bared it all for a free tequila shot. I don’t really understand the logic, but if you’re willing to flash or hand over your bra then you’ll get a free shot from the bartenders. From the looks of it half of Sydney has decided they’d rather go down this path than pay $ 12 for a shot!

Why did the Mexican push his wife off the cliff… Tequila! hahah get it?!
If you are looking for a place with a relaxed vibe with staff to match, look no further.
Tio’s has all that and more. the more being Free popcorn!
$ 10 cocktails or Mexican beers whatever your fancy i’m sure they can mix you up something nice and spicy or sweet.
It reminds me of a dive bar probably cause of the lighting but hey that is the charm.
I try to go Thursday or Sunday nights as you can find a place to sit.

Great cocktails (get the Roberto. Seriously.) good cheapish beer, great vibe, and free popcorn… loves it!

Tio’s is good fun. Affordable cocktails, nostalgic music and tables for sharing. It’s all encouraging for conversations with people you don’t know and dancing when there’s not actually a dance floor.
Pop in mid-​week after work and it feels a bit like you’ve arrived to a party, but everyone’s invite got lost in the mail. Part of the décor at Tio’s is the rowdy crowd of people in Hawaiian shirts, rifling through smokey paprika popcorn (moreish, forewarned) and generally being a bit noisy. Not for a sophisticated evening, not for chilling out. Saturday night is where it’s at. Burn off that extra energy at Tio’s, but don’t come if you’re offended by beards. Or old bras.

When you walk into a tequila bar and you immediately feel like you’ve been coated in an ocean mist amount worth of salt, you know you’re up for a night of trouble.
Trucker caps, bushy beards, sleeve tatts and sticky floors, bars and tables would normally mean you’d accidentally walked into Shark Bar, but this bar is in Slurry so it’s worth lining up for.
God knows why you’d come here if you «didn’t like tequila» but for some reason all of my friends and I were attracted to this bar like flies. Perhaps it was the bras hanging from the bar, the backdrop of pinatas, ridiculously loud mexican fiesta music, the bacon flavoured free popcorn, or long benches full of people preparing themselves for their next tequila slammer but there was something about this place that made us order 3 cocktails in an hour per person.
If you aren’t a tequila fan then stay away from the $ 17 cocktails (they are seriously whacked strong). I was satisfied after an Especiale with fresh apple juice (it was juiced in front of me) and the El Diablo with ginger beer. Initially I thought «oo this is a bit strong» and then I tried my friend’s Bloody Mary and realised my cocktail was just right.
Great way to start a night and then spend the rest of the evening doing things you will forget.

Here’s a tip, direct from me to you.
If you want to spend the night snuggling with your bathroom floor then hand over your credit card to the happy, Hawaiian shirt clad heroes at Tio’s. Start a tab! Order every drink on the menu! Particularly enjoy how the spiciness of the Bloody Margerhita mingles with your stomach acid when you’re experiencing it all over again in reverse.

Wasting away in Marguaritaville
Nothin to show but this brand new tattoo
But it’s a real beauty
A mexican cutie
How it got here I haven’t a clue
Saw off Giovanni the Irishman last night at Tios
He saw off a bottle of Tequila I gave him.
Typically, he packed the place out.
He’ll be back
Great place, just needed some swamp music.
Margys were $ 17 a pop! — line ball call, but they were pretty good.

$ 5 tacos! Beef brisket or pulled pork!
You can’t beat cheap and tasty tacos almost everyday of the week. Plus they have a vegan option and a pulled pork burger. The beers and cocktails are reasonably priced, and also the free bags of popcorn are just too good to pass on. Very busy on friday nights and music is very loud, perhaps too loud for a place to have a chat/​date. I can’t remember the name of the cocktail but it was mostly apple and for $ 10 i ended up having a few. delicious.

First up, apologies for not remembering the proper names of the drinks, my research may have been a little bit too extensive. What started out as quiet night being charmed by the staff and the décor — short-​shorts with pulled up socks and Mexican eclectica — turned into a bustling party. By the end the charming staff were topless and shoveling spiced popcorn into brown paper bags. Awesome.
Being a tequila bar, the best place to start is the margaritas. My traditional ($ 17) was served blue and lipped with shards of fresh salt. On the other end of the hand-​written cocktail menu is Tommy’s margarita, which features agave and a whole heap of lemons freshly squeezed in front of me. The lemon masks the alcohol, ideal for those worried about catching the sniffles as winter approaches, but otherwise the drink is a bit overpowered. For a nice middle ground try the Strichnine, a delicate blend using absinthe.
Perhaps better value are the Refrescos: the Especial, made using cloudy apple juice and cucumber is the most delicious drink on the menu. Those looking for something different should try the one featuring rice milk and cinnamon. The name of this and a few other drinks escape me. That’s unusual for me, and it’s a sign that this place, even with all it’s lines and hipster cachet, still has something special going for it.

I’m sorry Tio (‘s), I’ve abandoned you for awhile but you knew I would be coming back. Don’t worry though, I’ve kept in touch with the family and have been dropping in at you know where.
It’s your colourful tiles and lights that I am still drawn and amazed at your pretty lights. Oh, and that ROBERTO… yea, always makes me feel refreshed. Quite ESPECIAL, yo digo. (Whispering: get the Roberto Especial)
And my oh my, that Jalapeño Margarita is WOW! Aye aye ayeeeeeeee!!! It has a kick that I love!

When you walk into Tio’s you are walking back in time to a US/​Mexico boarder town cantina. The music is old school spanish rock, the tequila collection is no joke better stocked than anywhere else I’ve seen in Sydney and the spicy popcorn is the now official handshake of the Sydney small bar.
We start on a Paloma and Ricardo trying the tequila with Ginger Beer before moving on to what we are really after. Serious tequilas.
After a few complimentary tastings we settle on a glass of the el Tesoro de Don Felipe anejo tequila (one of the best rated tequilas on the planet) and an equally smooth Herrencia Historico both $ 100-​$ 200 bottles of tequila that I wouldn’t dare open if I could get a bottle in my collection. These guys know their tequila and my sombrero goes off to them.
**Want a shot or a quick tequila hit? — Tequila drinks, cocktails — range from $ 10-​$ 20
**Are you a tequila connoisseur? — Extra Anejo & Anejo Tequilas can be found at Tio’s — a generous pour will set you back anywhere from $ 18 to $ 30 dollas but oh so worth it.
**Want to avoid a line? Go midweek (before 630pm) or for an inspirational tequila Sunday which is what we prefer.
** Try something new or something to make you feel homesick. Paloma’s are the national tequila drink in Mexico — (tequila with grapefruit soda) — try it! $ 10

First it was whisky and pretzels, then it was tequila and popcorn…
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — the Sydney small bar phenomenon rocks!
It’s a Sunday night in Sydney, and I can’t think of a better reason to check out one of the city’s newest small bars, Tio’s. Two ex-​Shady Pines barmen (notice a theme here) have teamed up to open this Mexican style tequila joint. Tio’s (that’s Spanish slang for ‘dude’), is hidden away on Foster Street in Surry Hills, just a bit up from that much classier establishment, Bar H.
The first thing you’ll notice is the neon street sign. Step inside and you’ll see it’s a dark den, lit by candles and mexican style fairy lights. This is my kind of lighting. The bar is stocked with upwards of 70 bottles of Tequila, and loud (but not too loud) latin music provides the just the right ambiance. In fact, once inside, it was not hard to imagine I was somewhere like Guatemala, rather than Foster Street, Surry Hills.
We take a seat and instantly a tattooed rockabilly barmen greets us like old friends, brings us glasses of water, a bag of popcorn and hands us two menus. One is a tequila cocktail menu (note: all cocktails are $ 10 — bargain), the other is a wine list. Both are handwritten on what appear to be rather large and slightly tattered Mexican postcards. I love it already.
I tell the barman it’s my first visit to the bar, and I ask him what their ‘specialty’ is. Turns out it’s the drink with ‘Especial’ in the title. Duh. So, I order that (El Roberto Especial — Tequila, three herb elixir, fresh apple juice, lime & cucumber). Mr H orders a Paloma (Tequila, grapefruit & soda).
My drink is certainly ‘especial’, and I love it. It’s not fancy, it’s in a mug with a red plastic straw, and it’s served with a cucumber garnish.
Mr H is also pleased with his choice. I try it for good measure and confirm it’s a winner.
I notice the bar is quite busy for a Sunday night — not a bad feat, considering it’s only been open a few months. The vibe is relaxed, casual and inviting and you get the feeling anything goes here, and is even encouraged. Everyone is here to have a good time. It’s a raucous bunch — the barmen mingle with the customers, the customers mingle with each other — there’s laughter, the occasional ‘whooping’ and everyone’s enjoying themselves.
We love it so much, we decide to stay for another round. This time I order a Tequila con Limon (Tequila & lime skin with lemonade), in which I am told half a lime, skin and all, is placed through the juicer and poured straight into my drink. After a conversation with a friendly barmen, Mr H orders a ‘Scorpion’ — not a drink on their menu, but a drink the barmen tells him will ‘make all his dreams come true’ (I start to wonder if I shouldn’t have ordered the same). Both are good, real good, and they leave us wanting more.
We leave only when the lights come on at 10pm, to let us know our fun for this evening has come to an end. I can’t wait to return here.

Had to line up to get in here. I haven’t lined up for a bar for months. I didn’t mind it so much, actually, everyone in the line was hepped up on anticipation and super chatty.
I like my Mexican cantinas the same way I like my wimmin’ (scuzzy and bulb-​lit) and Tio’s is exactly that. You don’t feel bad spilling stuff on the floor; hell, you almost feel obliged to do so. Would be rude not to, in fact.
The bartenders are rad, they’re tattooed up the wazoo and throw down some serious house pours. .. my first drink, the Bloody Maria, broke me over it’s knee and discarded my limp corpse into the back alleyway for the street dogs to have their stinky way with.
The last drink was even more potent, if such a thing were possible. A glass mug of tequila and grapefruit juice was passed among my friends like a jar of plutonium, each of them entertaining an exploratory sip before dry-​screaming, unable to handle the sweet/​sour/​boozy mule kick the drink delivered. It doesn’t sound it on paper, but man that drink was hardcore. It knocked a good two hours off my memory.
I do remember $ 5 cans of Rio Bravo though, with a lemon wedge jammed in the mouth and a handful of rock salt tossed over the top of the can.
So, Tio’s rules because there are no rules. Wanna dance like a tool? Feel free. Throw (the free, spiced) popcorn in peoples hair? Go nuts. Everyone else is.

$ 10 tequila drinks, spiced popcorn and hipsters galore. What’s not to love?
I was enjoying the «Roberto» made with tequila, three herbs, fresh apple juice, lime and cucumber. Also recommend the «Bloody Maria» Tio’s take on the classic bloody mary. It was very spicy with a nice kick.
This place is trendy, but also surprisingly casual and chilled out. Great addition to the Surry Hills neighbourhood. I’ll be back again soon.