Voted ‘Best Restaurant’ by Country Line Magazine for the past five years, it’s no mystery why Mas Mexicali Cantina is a must visit when in West Chester, PA.
Located at 102 East Market Street in West Chester, Mas offers exceptional Mexican cuisine with multiple bars and a spooky historic atmosphere you will not want to miss out on. If Taco Tuesday, Wild Wednesday or Sizzling Saturday sound like your kind of days, get over to Mas and see what the excitement is all about. Everything from three floors of entertainment space to specials each day is what keeps locals coming back for more.
Mas is a large, three-story restaurant. On the first floor, you will find a big dining area with some outdoor sidewalk seating. The first floor is decorated with vintage Mexican décor and gives off the feel of a real Cantina. On this floor you can find a booth, table or even grab a stool at the first-floor bar to catch your favorite sports game on one of the many TVs.
If you are hosting an event or attending a social, the second floor is where you’ll be headed. On this floor, you will find private dining rooms along with another bar and an area for a dance floor. This floor is perfect for a graduation party or even a corporate happy hour. This floor is themed by a rock-n-roll meets tequila vibe. The Tequila Bar and Velvet Lounge on this floor are sure to keep you hanging around and enjoying your time. With an open view to the first floor from the second, you feel the large restaurant atmosphere while still enjoying some private space.
If it’s a beautiful fall, spring, or summer day – you can be sure the 3rd floor rooftop bar and dining will be open for your business. On this floor, you can find a stool at the large rectangular shaped bar or even take a seat at a table and have waitress service come to you. As West Chester’s only rooftop dining, Mas can house up to 150 guests on a given afternoon. On an average spring day, you can find college students and locals eating and enjoying a Mas Signature frozen margarita at this rooftop bar. Some nights the rooftop bar even provides live music for your enjoyment. For a relaxing, outside afternoon full of fun and high-quality service, the rooftop bar at Mas Mexicali Cantina is the place to be.
Though the atmosphere and layout of Mas is a perfect setting for a good time, there are some secret stories behind the restaurants history, which keep it so intriguing. Mas has been known since its opening in 1942 to have some ‘ghostly company,’ if you will. Let's take it back a few years and have a quick history lesson so we can unravel this ghost spirits that linger around Mas’s walls.
Back during the Great Depression, locals would knock off the edge of the hardships they were experiencing at Mas’s bars. During this time, a young woman tragically threw herself off of the rooftop. Since this catastrophe, it has been noted that there is a spirit lingering around Mas.
Guests and employees alike have reported to often spot a woman in a long white dress run up the three stories, headed for the roof. Along with the silhouette sightings, some have even noticed the woman’s long brown hair. Owner John Caulfield reported on these speculations that during building renovations late at night, he would feel a sudden chill when approaching the front of the staircases. This chill was enough to scare Caulfield off and hesitate walking up the staircase. It has also been reported that décor has unexplainably flown off of the bar walls.
To attempt to understand what was really happening, Mas staff called upon a local psychic medium. Ricky Wood has communicated with the spirits at Mas. Wood is a West Chester local medium who offers services ranging from psychic readings, life coaching and guiding others to meet their spirits. Wood agreed to come back to Mas and host events to bring together its friendly spirits and the curious customers.
If a ghostly history worries you, do not fear. In all the years Mas has served West Chester’s public, the ghostly friends have done no harm and have only given customers spooky tales to tell as they enjoy beverages with friends.
As a location in a college town, Mas realizes that most attendees are not in the business for spending big bucks. Mas offers daily specials that keep college students satisfied, and their pockets still full.
Each day of the week has a ‘theme’ as the special. Funday Sunday starts off the week with $5 Bud Light Pitchers for the Sunday Football fans and ½ off kid’s meals for the local families. The next special is Modelo Mondays where you can get a $3 Modelo draft or a $5 burrito. Taco Tuesday is a crowd favorite as guests can enjoy $2 tacos from 5-7 p.m. Wild Wednesdays are home to Mas’s karaoke night. Along with the entertainment from people who probably shouldn’t quit their day jobs, guests can enjoy a $10.99 fajita dinner. Thirsty Thursday is another popular night at Mas, as guests can attend a DJ dance party at 10 p.m. or a happy hour with $6.99 bad boy nachos. End your week with Fiesta Friday with another round of live music at 10 p.m. or $5 Vodka Redbulls. And to end off the weekly specialties we have Sizzling Saturdays. Another 10 p.m. DJ dance party and multiple other great drink specials are celebrated on this day, each week.
As if the daily food and drink specials aren’t enticing enough, Mas hosts a happy hour every Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. During this time, guests can enjoy ½ price appetizers and drinks at all of the three Mas bars.
Mas has been awarded ‘Best of the Main Line & Western Suburbs’ for Mainline today six years in a row. Along with this honorable recognition, Mas was awarded with ‘Best of the Best’ for County Lines Magazine since 2012.
As West Chester’s only rooftop bar, filled with entertainment and some spooky history, Mas is a must-go place when visiting the Borough. For a drink to make you feel as though you are on an island, and décor to take you back to rock-n-roll, visit Mas and you’ll be sure to enjoy. Visit www.masmexicali.com for specials and contact information.
