Long, cold, a little bitter and very refreshing, the Paloma is the tequila cocktail for people who think they don't like tequila. It's on the bar menu at Nonòs Judd Street, our Greek Mediterranean kitchen and bar at 112 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NT, five minutes' walk from King's Cross St Pancras. Here's what goes into it and where the name comes from.
Tequila, lime and grapefruit
The Paloma is a tequila-based cocktail, most often made by mixing tequila and lime juice with a grapefruit-flavoured soda and serving it over ice with a wedge of lime. Some bartenders salt the rim of the glass. Another way is to swap the soda for fresh grapefruit juice and a splash of soda water. In Mexico it's usually made with a local grapefruit soda.
At its simplest, a Paloma is just two ingredients: tequila and grapefruit soda. A more elaborate relative, the cantarito, adds lemon and orange juice as well as lime. Its closest cousin is the Greyhound, which pairs grapefruit with vodka or gin rather than tequila.
Dove or grapefruit?
Paloma is Spanish for "dove", and that's the usual explanation of the name. Others think it may come from pomelo, the Spanish word for grapefruit. Wikipedia's Paloma page has more.
A word about tequila
Tequila is distilled from the blue agave plant, mainly around the town of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the Mexican state of Jalisco. By Mexican law it can only be made in Jalisco and a few municipalities in four other states, and it has been a protected designation of origin in the European Union since 1997. Mezcal is also made from agave, but tequila must come from blue agave only. More on Wikipedia's tequila page.
Our Paloma
On our drinks and bar menu, the Paloma is Tequila Ocho, agave syrup, fresh lime, grapefruit juice and grapefruit soda, so you get both fresh juice and the fizz.
Emma rated the bar: Delicious cocktails, really friendly staff, and good Greek food.
(Emma H., Google review) Sophie's team lunch went the same way: Food and cocktails was so tasty!
(Sophie U., Google review)
Other agave cocktails on the list
- Margarita: tequila, orange liqueur and freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Smoky Picante: mezcal, fresh lime, our house spicy syrup and coriander, for something smoky with a kick.
Our posts on cocktails and aperitivo hour, the Espresso Martini and the Pornstar Martini cover the rest of the list. Not drinking? The Lady in Red and Virgin Mojito are on our alcohol-free list.
What to eat with it
Grapefruit and lime cut nicely through anything salty, fried or spicy. Try it with Kalamari, crispy fried baby squid with lemon; Halloumi Fries; Prawn Saganaki in spicy tomato sauce with ouzo and feta; or Tyrokafteri, the spicy feta and red pepper dip, with pitta. Our post on spicy Greek food has more ideas.
“great and friendly staff, made my experience so much better”
Had Nat, Google review, October 2026
Good to know
- Address: 112 Judd Street, King's Cross, London WC1H 9NT. Phone 020 7278 9700.
- Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 08:30–22:00, Thursday to Saturday 08:30–23:00. The à la carte menu starts at noon.
- Allergies: please speak to our team about allergies and dietary requirements. Menus may vary slightly by location and season.
Judd Street is open until 23:00 Thursday to Saturday. Book a table at Nonòs Judd Street or just walk in. Please drink responsibly.