Motel Mexicola has never been known for its restraint.

The Bali institution first opened its doors in Seminyak in 2013, where it made a name for itself with free-flowing margaritas and bold Mexican flavours.

Following the success of its first venue, its owners decided to expand to Canggu, opening a second venue in 2023.

But even that wasn’t enough, with the group recently announcing it had headed south to Uluwatu to open its third — and largest — Motel Mexicola, spread across a whopping 2500sqm site on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula.

The huge indoor-outdoor venue can accommodate up to 350 people across a collection of dining and drinking spaces.

At the centre of it all is a soaring 21m campanario, or bell tower, which houses two bars — one on ground level and another in the bell chamber.

There are more bars and dining areas inside the main venue, plus a DJ booth, separate stage and eight intimate two-person dining booths.

And while bigger was clearly the brief for this project, the Mexicola team didn’t want this site to simply be a supersized version of its siblings, as each of its venues take inspiration from a different corner of Mexico.

For instance, Seminyak looked to Mexico City for its design, while Canggu was inspired by Yucatan.

For Uluwatu, the team has turned its attention to Baja California, the rugged peninsula in Mexico’s northwest known for its coastline, surf towns and seafood.

“This project was born from a strangely familiar connection between Baja California and Uluwatu,” Mexicola founder and co-owner, Nicolaza Que Pasa says.

“For me, Baja has always represented a different side of Mexico — fresh, wild, unpretentious and deeply connected to the ocean. It’s a region where seafood is eaten straight from the water, where wines grow from unlikely desert soils, where meat charred over open flames is an event.

“Uluwatu carries that same laid-back energy, with afternoons revolving around the waves and epic sunsets leading into late nights full of great food and music.”

Visit motelmexicola.info/uluwatu for more information.