Child, it is chilly. Time to dip into some spots that remind you of balmier climes and spicier times. As I pulled out my puffy coat and fingerless gloves, Merkado in SoMa’s South Beach enclave perfectly fit the bill for a sweet night out—full of warming spices and innovative twists on Mexican standards, deeply rooted in Jalisco and Yucatan tradition.

Many knew Tres Agaves as a fabulous and a bit overwhelming tequila bar-restaurant in the 2000s (notoriously co-owned by rocker Sammy Hagar), which rebranded as TRES more than a decade ago. When that closed, General Manager Fabien Santos transformed the lofty space into elegant, plant-filled Merkado, revamping the menu to reflect his love of vibrant Mexican and Spanish markets while keeping the vast selection of tequila and mescal flowing. •

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