Margaritas: The ultimate crowd-pleaser.
They're tangy, sweet, fruity, frosty, and even sometimes spicy. In Austin, there's a margarita out there for every palate. We found some of the best margs in a town full of margs. You can thank us later.
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photo via instagram
506 San Jacinto Blvd
Into rooftop margs? How about rooftop, poolside margs? If you answered yes, you're in luck. The newest addition to The Thompson Hotel downtown is Arriba Abajo, a rooftop cantina with a menu packed with flavors from Oaxaca to the Yucatan, as well as refreshing cocktails. When it comes to margaritas, they give you just about every option possible. First choose between tequila or mezcal. Next, pick your flavor: mango, passion fruit, prickly pear, or strawberry. Salt or Tajín on the rim? Spicy or nah? Create your ideal marg and order a lobster quesadilla pizza or some wagyu barbacoa taquitos and you've got yourself a pretty dang good meal. You can make a reservation here.
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photo via instagram
1800 E 6th St
If you're looking for a delish marg to go with tacos so good they were featured on Netflix's Taco Chronicles, head over to Suerte in East Austin. If you're willing to stray from the classic marg, we recommend going with their signature drink, The Don Dario, made with Reposado Tequila, tamarind, lime, sarsaparilla bitters. However, they do also make a great classic marg, which you can always upgrade to a spicy Mezcal margarita if that's more your speed.
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photo via facebook
4715 E Cesar Chavez St
Voted best Margarita in Austin by The Austin Chronicle in 2023, De Nada Cantina's margarita has quickly become one of the most popular margs in the city. They have a variety to choose from, but most opt for their classic frozen. They also have a rotating seasonal frozen marg, made with fresh fruit. These margaritas are known for being on the stronger side, so there's a limit of 2 large margs per guest.
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photo via instagram @elalma_atx
1025 Barton Springs Rd
4521 Westgate Blvd
This unique cafe is perched on a hill off Barton Springs Road and has a wonderful patio. It's one of the best places in Austin to sip a margarita or two. Try the sweet n' fruity Mangorita or go bold with the Flaquita, which is made with watermelon-serrano infused el Jimador blanco.
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Photo credit: Roger Ho
606 Trinity St
Starting with only the finest tequila west of the Mississippi, Iron Cactus shakes up a freshly-squeezed, perfectly sour, perfectly sweet margarita that'll have you feelin' real fancy as you sit on their second-floor patio overlooking the chaos of the Sixth Street District.
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photo via facebook
2108 S Lamar Blvd
Lesson 1 of Margaritas 101: You can't go wrong with a classic marg. Black Sheep Lodge is the perfect patio hangout for exactly that: a no-frills, just-right, fresh and frosty creation. Black Sheep's frozen margs are also one of the best deals on this list, especially on Thursdays when these bad boys are just four dollars all day. Yep, you read that right. Pair with fried jalapeños or some green chili queso for a Tex-Mex feast.
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photo via instagram @512bites
900 E 7th St
9600 S. IH Frontage Rd.
This adorable Eastside Mexican joint offers a variety of margaritas, and they're all worth a try. Our favorite, if we had to pick one, is Gabby's margarita - the house-made tamarind syrup and chili powder rim make for a spicy-sweet, sensational sip. The Mezcal-rita with cucumber is simultaneously smoky and fresh, making it a standout on the menu as well.
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photo via instagram
6406 N IH 35
Boasting "modern Tex-Mex" fare, Vivo is a great spot for happy hour drinks and tacos. Their drink menu offers a slew of margaritas and tequilas to choose from. Customize your beverage order by adding unique flavor mix-ins like hibiscus, blood orange, or cucumber. Vegetarian options and loaded appetizers round out the food menu and make Vivo a solid choice for just about anyone.
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photo via instagram @lacondesaaustin
400 W 2nd St
La Condesa's snazzy kitchen and bar located in the heart of downtown is a beloved spot for drinks and Tex-Mex food. This joint's tart Margarita la Clásica, with a cactus-lemongrass salt rim, proves that you don't need to reinvent the wheel to mix up a fabulous margarita.
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photo via facebook
2310 Manor Rd
Get this: frozen margs at Haymaker are just $4 on Fridays. All day. That's what we like to call a damn good Friday, folks. Post up on this neighborhood bar's patio with some pals and take advantage of the deal all day long. And if you get hungry, rest easy, because Haymaker's food menu is chock-full of amazing snacks.
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Curra's Grill614 E Oltorf St
4215 Duval St
No list of margaritas in Austin would be complete without a mention of Curra's mind-blowing avocado marg. Yes, it's a margarita blended with avocado. Skeptics, you just gotta try it - the avo marg is creamy, fresh, and decadent. You will not regret this Austin classic.
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photo via instagram @mimadresrestaurant
2201 Manor Rd
We adore the tacos at Mi Madre's, and they are complemented beautifully by one of this casual Tex-Mex spot's tasty margs. Our pick: the unique fusion beverage called the “Basil Serrano Margarita” with Herradura Blanco Tequila, muddled basil and chilies, fresh lime and agave.
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photo via facebook
1412 S Congress Ave
Another Austin classic, Güero's Taco Bar is a kitschy gem on South Congress with one of the best people-watching patios in the city. It also has one of the lengthiest margarita menus on this list, offering tons of tequila choices. Pair the famous guacamole with a Dirty Rita - their take on a Mexican Martini made with house tequila, triple sec, fresh squeezed lime juice and olive juice.
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OTHER PLACES FOR A GREAT MARGARITA:
2330 W North Loop Blvd
110 San Antonio St
121 E 5th St
2207 Justin Ln
3008 Davis Ln
1621 W 5th St
3121 S Lamar Blvd
5610 N Lamar Blvd
Various Locations
Various Locations
10201 Jollyville Rd.
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Did we miss your favorite margarita in Austin?
Drop us a line.
