When you step into Zócalo, owners Lindsey and Sergio De Los Santos want you to feel like you’re on a vacation at the beach—without leaving downtown Colorado Springs.
Lindsey is the brains behind the design of the bright, vibrant space. She designed every detail, from the VW Bus in the back corner to the swinging seats by the large front windows.
“We can open those windows, even in the winter, and it feels like you’re at a taco stand at the beach in Mexico,” Lindsey says.
And for Sergio, it’s all about the food. He combines his family recipes with his memories of vendors selling tacos on bicycles, sauces hanging from the handlebars.
“I like to take the food I grew up with and put a different spin on it,” Sergio says. “I just like to feed people!”
Food That Started at Home
Feeding people started at the De Los Santos home near Chicago, where they would host neighbors and friends for birthday parties in their home.
“We would make all of this food,” Lindsey says, “and people would tell us ‘You should open a restaurant.””
Sergio and Lindsey went on to open Sergio’s Cantina, which they ran for 15 years, before adding a bar a few years later.
But when their son moved to Colorado for college, the couple decided to relocate to Colorado Springs. Zócalo gave them the ability to be close to family and also to experiment with what they wanted their new space to be.
“We love the beach, and wanted to create a Tulum-style beach eatery," Lindsey says. "We wanted people to feel like they were escaping their everyday life when they step into this space.”
Hospitality at the Heart
One of the first things you notice when you come to Zócalo is Sergio. If he’s not greeting guests or running food, he’s in the kitchen prepping ingredients for fresh-made guacamole and salsa.
“Taking care of people is really what makes Sergio tick,” Lindsey says.
Over the years, Sergio has created a rapport with his customers. When he sees a familiar face, he will often drop off a sample of a new special he’s working on, both to get their opinions and to see their faces light up with delight.
“That’s my biggest satisfaction,” he says, “seeing my customers happy.”
And Zócalo is certainly full of happy customers, munching on fresh made guacamole, dipping quesabirria tacos in spicy au jus and savoring slow-cooked carnitas—with a flight of margaritas on the side!
In a city full of places to eat, Zócalo stands out for how it makes people feel. It’s a place where food carries memories. Where strangers become regulars. Where hospitality isn’t an afterthought.
Address + Phone: 418 South Tejon Street, Suite 100 | 719-344-8392
Website: https://zocalocolorado.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @ZocaloCOS
Lindsey and Sergio’s Picks
Lindsey loves the Maui Fish tacos: “They’re the perfect blend of crunchy, creamy and flavorful—I recommend getting them fried.”
Sergio is a fan of the Chicharron Canasta: “They take me back to my childhood, days at the beach—but with my own twist.”