Whether they're shaken or frozen, whether it's Cinco de Mayo or Cinco de Octubre, whether you prefer salt or no salt, nothing hits the spot like a margarita. We've ranked our five favorite margs around town—from the traditional to the creative—to make your next Taco Tuesday or Saturday-night fiesta a delicious one.
5. Flower margaritas at Vivo Restaurant ($6.95-9.95)
Hancock
If you're seeking a margarita that looks as beautiful as it tastes, this Tex-Mex spot delivers at a great price: just $6.95 for a small and $9.95 for a regular house marg (pictured above), shaken or frozen. For an extra 75 cents, get it in mango, prickly pear or strawberry, and for another buck, add hibiscus syrup or cucumber puree. All drinks come adorned with an orchid, adding a floral flair to even the most straightforward of margaritas. And on weekdays from 4-7pm, the price goes down to $5, along with 2 for $5 tacos and $5 appetizers.
4. Avocado frozen margarita at Curra's Grill
South Austin/Travis Heights
Before mashed avocado on toast became a thing, Curra's Grill was blending the creamy green fruit into its renowned margarita, an icy-smooth concoction of tequila, triple sec, lime, cilantro and avocado. The food is good too: from chiles rellenos to ceviche, the Tex-Mex cuisine will provide a solid base for a few rounds of margs.
3. Margarita La Clasica at La Condesa ($10)
Second Street District/Warehouse District
If an old-school marg is your drink of choice, try La Condesa's "clasica," made in the traditional style with high-end booze (El Jimador silver tequila, Patrón Citrónge, lime juice and agave nectar). The secret is the cactus and lemongrass-infused salt on the rim, which pairs nicely with an order of chips and your choice of four types of guacamole (try the jumbo lump crab and apple version). On weekdays from 5-7pm, margs are just $5, and tostadas, sopes, and taquitos are $3-5.
2. Frozen margaritas at Trudy's ($4)
Various locations
Discounted margaritas abound at all four locations of Trudy's, where they run a mere $4 on weekdays from 2-7pm (and all night on Mondays). If that wasn't enough, sangria and strawberry margaritas are $4.50 on Fridays and Saturdays, and ruby red margaritas are $2.50 till noon and $4.50 till 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Pair your margs with the famous stuffed avocado, or an order of nachos.
1. Flaquita at El Alma Cafe y Cantina ($10)
South Austin/Bouldin Creek
El Alma Cafe y Cantina offers a robust menu of margs, including the famed flaquita, a watermelon-serrano chile version with El Jimador silver, lime juice and agave. It's one of the restaurant's most popular items, but if you're looking to try something new, drop by on the weekend, when drink specials like blueberry basil margaritas—made with 512 Tequila Reposado, Cointreau, lime, agave, blueberry purée and fresh basil—steal the show.
