Opening day

SANTIAGO PEREZ • Santo Taco

CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine

SANTIAGO PEREZ • founder • Santo Taco
Neighborhood you live in: Noho

It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
I’m in the process of opening Santo Taco, my first solo project (I also have Cosme with chef Enrique Olvera) and my most personal one yet. We opened our doors to the public yesterday, bringing Mexico City-style tacos to the crossroads of Soho and Nolita. It’s in an iconic space — the street-level storefront was previously La Esquina, which continues on next door as a cantina and downstairs space.

I probably won’t find the time today, but normally, Friday afternoon is sauna time. My go-to spot is Great Jones Spa, around the corner from my apartment. Occasionally, if I’m with a friend, I’ll go to Bathhouse in Flatiron instead.

Any restaurant plans?
Tacos are pretty much all I’m thinking about right now. At Santo Taco, we have a very focused lineup of five tacos. I know you’re not supposed to pick a favorite child, but I’m really excited about sharing the steak trompo. We tested a lot of different versions to get to our combination of prime New York strip and sirloin. The meat spins on the vertical rotisserie in our open kitchen.

It is awesome to see how the taco landscape — not just in New York City, but globally — continues to evolve and grow. It really is a tight community. We see it as a conversation and we’re excited to be able to contribute to it.

If I wasn’t opening a spot of my own and had more free time, I would want to walk over to Ceres. I got to know the two young chefs in a community board meeting and have been following them since — they make some of the best pizzas in Manhattan. Another standout I’d like to get back to is Penny, the East Village seafood counter.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I recently went to Glenstone, just outside Washington, D.C., and can’t recommend it enough — it's possibly one of my favorite open-air sculpture gardens. I'm also not much of a Broadway guy, but recently saw George Clooney perform in Good Night, and Good Luck and loved it.

Any weekend getaways?
I can’t wait to go back to Careyes on Mexico's Pacific Coast. It isn’t a quick weekend getaway, but it’s definitely the kind of trip that gets you into relaxation mode.

What was your last great vacation?
I would definitely say exploring the Norwegian fjords with my family last summer. It was the perfect mix of nature, food, and movement. We hiked a lot and naturally worked up a big appetite. The quality of salmon there is incredible.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A great sound system made from the folks behind Brooklyn-based House/Under/Magic.

What product or service do you always recommend?
Eight Sleep. It is an investment, but good sleep is life.