Atlanta

Here are El Tesoro's Plans in South Downtown and West End

El Tesoro is expanding with two locations in Atlanta.

Image from El Tesoro on Instagram

El Tesoro is expanding with two new Atlanta locations. Owner Alan Raines told Business Debut that they are targeting a March opening in a new location in West End and a late April opening in South Downtown.

In South Downtown, El Tesoro is taking over a historic building at 171 Mitchell St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, while the West End move will bring the concept out of Wild Heaven Beer’s Lee + White taproom and into the former Best End Brewing space at 1036 White St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, Raines said.

What to Expect

At 171 Mitchell St SW, the South Downtown restaurant will be 3,700 square feet on the main level plus a basement level for storage, offices, and a private dining room/overflow mezcal bar, Raines told Business Debut. The mezcal bar in the basement is inspired by Raines' former Tortuga y Chango concept.

The plan also includes an approximately 1,800-square-foot wraparound patio that connects along Broad Street and is expected to open onto a new park being built nearby.

In the West End, the new 1036 White St SW setup is expected to give El Tesoro full control over food, bar, and front-of-house operations, shifting from “El Tesoro inside a brewery” to a standalone restaurant. The space is also designed to support events, including meetings, parties, and weddings, with an additional event room planned for larger gatherings.

Raines said South Downtown will keep El Tesoro’s core menu, supported by a much larger kitchen, while adding rotating regional specialties from around Mexico. He said the team plans to spotlight dishes that are less common in Atlanta, including items inspired by Baja and other regions, and aims to keep a mole available more consistently.

Raines also said the kitchen team includes staff with roots in multiple regions of Mexico, and that El Tesoro gives cooks room to introduce their favorite dishes as specials—some of which may become ongoing fixtures on the menu as the expansion continues.

Opening Timeline

In the West End, El Tesoro is targeting March 9 for opening at 1036 White St SW. Raines said the team plans to stop cooking in the Wild Heaven space at the end of February as the move happens, then reopen after a short transition.

For South Downtown, the current goal is late April for the 171 Mitchell St SW opening, with construction underway in a renovated historic building.

Hours

Raines said the South Downtown location is planned for seven days a week with similar hours to the current operation: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m. — 10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. — 11 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. — 11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. — 10 p.m. He said hours may extend for major event days.

Raines said the West End location is expected to run similar hours.