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. Frozen margarita at Border Café ($7.50)
Harvard Square
In the depths of a Boston winter, it can be hard to find an old-school frozen margarita, but Border Cafe delivers at a great price: just $7.50 for a classic slushy marg with above-average components—Hornitos tequila and Grand Marnier. The food is cheap, too: from the green chile chicken enchiladas to the beer-battered fish tacos, nearly everything is under $10. Just be sure to plan ahead, because they don't take reservations, and with prices this low for food and drink this delicious, it can get hectic.
4. Coco at Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar ($12)
South Boston
If you're cuckoo for coconut, say hello to your new favorite drink: the Coco (pictured at top), a creamy combination of coconut milk, lime, triple sec, and Maestro Doble tequila. It's perfect for cooling the burn of the famed spicy duck taquitos, or pairing with the killer charred pineapple guacamole for a sweet-and-salty piña colada vibe. Be sure to drop by for Taco Tuesday, when you can enjoy it with mix-and-match tacos for half-price ($2-3 each).
3. Blood orange margarita at Tico ($12)
Back Bay
Sweet and sassy blood oranges provide a twist on Tico's classic marg, which is made with blanco tequila, Patron Citronge, and a hefty dose of blood orange puree. And unlike the other spots on this list, you can pair it with more than just a taco or burrito: Tico's "Latin meets American" fare ranges from a ceviche-flavored tuna tartare to risotto with chorizo and chilies.
2. Tequila Sunset Margarita at Sunset Cantina ($9)
Allston/Brighton
With a lineup of more than 100 different tequilas (roughly matching the count of drafts at its sister beer bar, Sunset Grill & Tap), you can bet that Sunset Cantina put a lot of thought into the contents of its namesake margarita. With tequila, mango liqueur, pomegranate juice, OJ, and grenadine, it actually resembles a colorful sunset, and its sweet and fruity flavor will make your taste buds light up.
1. Spicy cucumber margarita at Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar ($13)
Back Bay
In the hands of this sleek Back Bay lounge (which boasts a selection of more than 200 tequilas), a classic marg becomes hot and frosty at the same time, thanks to the addition of both spicy serrano chiles and cooling cucumbers. Grab some friends, order them up by the pitcher and enjoy them into the wee hours; the bar is open until 2am every night, with late-night bites like garlic shrimp tacos until 1am from Thursday through Saturday.
