This Mexican Immigrant Built America’s #1 Bar in New York’s East Village

From Cheddar.

At the corner of First and First in New York City’s East Village, Super Bueno is rewriting the rules of Mexican hospitality. Ranked #1 in the United States and #12 globally by the World’s 50 Best Bars, this vibrant cocktail bar is the culmination of maestro de ceremonias Ignacio "Nacho" Jimenez’s 20-year journey through NYC’s cutthroat hospitality scene.

But Super Bueno isn’t trying to recreate Mexico City in Manhattan — it’s something uniquely hybrid. From a Mole Negroni featuring 13 ingredients fat-washed into mezcal, to a "vodka soda" that’s actually guajillo pepper-infused vodka with clarified guava cordial (they sell 3,000 per month), every drink tells a story. Nacho identified a crucial gap: sophisticated representation of Mexican-American culture beyond margaritas and palomas.

In a neighborhood that’s seen 8-10 new bar openings since Super Bueno launched, Nacho’s focus on lighting, music, custom Japanese ice, and genuine hospitality has created more than a bar — it’s a 20-year story poured one cocktail at a time.

0:00 Intro
0:30 Meet Nacho Jimenez: From Guanajuato to NYC
1:31 Breaking Stereotypes: 24 Years in the Making
2:23 Filling the Gap: Mexican-American Culture Done Sophisticatedly
3:52 The Mole Negroni: 13 Ingredients, One Signature Drink
4:38 The Viral Vodka Soda: Not What You Think
6:09 Food Philosophy: Flavors That Remind You of Mexico
7:38 World Recognition: #1 in the US, #12 Globally
8:23 A Local Bar With a Global Impact

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