Mercado Latin Inspired Market Cuisine

This is where Latin American joie de vivre is spread. Vibrant colours as far as the eye can see: floral sofas, multicoloured walls, flowers pictured all around. Immediately, we felt at ease and decided to go for a Latin American cocktail to warm up. Their pisco sour proves that the bar alone is worth a visit at Mercado. But we came to eat and experience the 'absolutely underrated Latin American cuisine', as owner Klaus Piber puts it. All dishes are available à la carte, in multi-course menu including wine pairings or as “Discover Mercado Packages”.

We're in discovery mode so we start off with a fresh and fruity, slightly tangy seafood ceviche and yuzu-marinated salmon. Green spelt risotto with green asparagus and mushrooms is surprisingly mild and a perfect antagonist for the spicy grilled octopus, as soft and juicy as can be. We start to get excited. Dedicated young manager and sommelière Helena Jordan recommends a Grüner Veltliner Wachauer Steillagen 2013 of Martin Muthenthaler vineyards, a perfect companion to our zesty foods. It could have been our new favourite bottle, but it was the last one, sadly.

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Our dinner continues with sea bass on fiery annatto sauce and bean purée, as well as crispy salmon filet on a potpourri of potato along with a bowl of fantastic grapefruit soup. Servings of crunchy potatoes with Mexican chilli mayonnaise and lightly marinated black beans with avocado and cilantro make for a perfect balance vis-à-vis the rich, chilli oil-marinated, on point hanger steak on creamed spinach and chilli-habanero butter – nothing for the faint of heart! If you have a thing for fiery hot, you will appreciate this.

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