Located on the southern edge of Walker’s Point, La Piña is bringing the highest quality tequilas, mezcals, and agave spirits to the 414. This all-things-tequila bar is packin’ more than 100 brands, flavors, and bottles in its space so each patron can find something they’re sure to love.
You may be wondering, how did this agave-based business land in Milwaukee? Through Patrick Todd’s love for tequila and the service industry. After seeing tequila and agave-experience businesses in bigger markets and the affinity for it in Mexico, he knew he wanted to capture the essence of the spirits and bring it to Milwaukee.
While he acknowledged that there are great bars and restaurants in Milwaukee that offer tequila selections, he felt that there was a bigger opportunity for tequila and agave-based spirits here.
The goal was to create a place where cocktails were specifically designed around the spirits, with in-depth knowledge of the alcohols, and a hands-on experience curating the selection – essentially forming a deeply personal relationship to the spirits to honor the unique tastes and the culture they come from.
“Everything’s created from scratch. No shortcuts.”
Following trips across the border to visit distilleries and to educate himself on the processes of bringing tequila to life, Patrick launched La Piña in 2023. While “la piña” refers to a pineapple in Spanish, the name is derived from industry jargon, where the agave (which takes 7+ years to grow) is called “piña” due to its resemblance to a pineapple.
To Patrick, la piña is the heart of the agave.
From bartender to business owner, serving customers has always been a motivating factor for Patrick. While his original plans may not have involved becoming a service industry veteran, that’s exactly what happened once he took a bartending job in 2008 while looking for a career in his field: “I just haven’t left it since.”
“I like working with people. I like serving people. The creative outlet for cocktails and food, and now on the backend of the business side of it, I just really enjoy it.”
While his positivity and energy around La Piña are contagious, running the establishment is not without its challenges. He admits that since COVID, bars and restaurants have had to adapt dramatically to changing consumer behavior. Not only that, but larger generational trends are coming into play as younger consumers are decreasing their alcohol consumption or choosing not to drink at all.
Regardless, as La Piña enters its third year, Patrick is looking forward to seeing where the future takes it. “La Piña is a place for everyone. I built it so Tequila and Mezcal fans have a place to go, connect, learn, educate, and share.”
“This is my family. I love Milwaukee. I love what it offers. I love being part of this community. There’s nowhere else I want to be.”
Tequila and mezcal not your thing? No worries, they also have a selection of beers, wines, and non-alcoholic drinks to choose from.