Santanera Bali Cinco de Mayo Rooftop Party Latin Culinary Celebration

Sat, May 2 - Wed, May 6 2026, All day

Featuring collaborations with Motel Mexicola and Barō

2–8 May 2026 | Opening Night: 2 May | Santanera Rooftop, Bali

Across cultures, food is how people celebrate, remember, and stay connected to where they come from. Recipes carry stories, techniques hold tradition, and what is shared at the table reflects pride, heritage, and a sense of home. Somewhere between the familiar aromas and the first bite, the distance feels a little smaller.

This spirit sits at the heart of Cinco de Mayo, a day that honours resilience, culture, and community. Inspired by this connection, Santanera marks the occasion by bringing together friends of the kitchen and bar, including the team from Motel Mexicola and Barō for a collaborative rooftop gathering that celebrates Latin culture through food, friendship, and shared creativity.

Rooted in Mexico’s historic victory at the Battle of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo has since grown into a wider celebration of Mexican heritage and the richness of Latin communities around the world. On 2 May, Santanera’s rooftop sets the stage for the Cinco de Mayo Kick Off Party where chefs, bartenders, and guests come together for an evening defined by flavour and atmosphere. The bar sees a collaboration with Motel Mexicola, with both teams working side by side to present cocktails inspired by the bold character of Mexican and Latin flavours.

A Collaboration Across Kitchens

For the opening night, Santanera is joined by teams from Motel Mexicola and Barō. Each brings a distinct perspective. The result is a series of dishes that reflect how Latin flavours are understood, adapted, and reworked across different kitchens in Bali today.

Techniques such as fermentation, curing, and open-fire cooking run through the menu not as statements, but as foundations. Ingredients like leche de tigre, longaniza, chilli, citrus, and grains appear in different forms, shaped by each team’s approach.

Seafood is treated with acidity and fermentation, creating ceviches that balance brightness with depth. Meats are cooked slowly or over fire, layered with herbs, pickles, and spice. Desserts move through grain, dairy, chocolate, and fruit familiar elements, restructured with a more contemporary hand.

Behind the Bar

The bar programme is developed in collaboration with Motel Mexicola, with both teams working side by side for the night. Cocktails draw from the flavour profiles commonly found across Mexico and Latin America, chilli, citrus, smoke, and spice while remaining grounded in balance and drinkability. Alongside these, aguas frescas such as horchata and jamaica offer a quieter counterpoint: everyday drinks that carry cultural familiarity and refreshment.

More than a menu, the collaboration reflects a shared process among the chefs: revisiting familiar techniques, rediscovering ingredients, and embracing traditional ways of cooking while shaping them through their own lens.

As the sun sets and music carries through the rooftop, the evening unfolds naturally from dining into celebration, capturing the essence of Cinco de Mayo as it is meant to be experienced: gathering, sharing, and connecting through culture and food.

Following the kick-off, Cinco de Mayo specials will be available from 2–8 May, offering guests the opportunity to explore the menu throughout the week.

Event Details

Cinco de Mayo Kick Off Rooftop Party

Location: Santanera Rooftop, Jl. Tanah Barak No. 55-57, Bali

Date: 2 May 2026

Time: 6 PM until late

Reservation:

Special menu available from 2-8 may