Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style with the spiciest margaritas, tastiest tacos and more at these local spots.
Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar’s Diablo Margarita packs a spicy punch
Burro Bar
Tacos and tequila reign supreme at this effervescent eatery, making it a sure bet for all your Cinco de Mayo celebrations. With splashes of Baja and Oaxaca to Veracruz and Yucatan, chef Joe Cassinelli’s dishes showcase a creative, fun side of familiar flavors, where ingredients and local produce take center stage. We recommend the pork carnitas enchiladas, served with tomatillo and cilantro bechamel, tres queso and cotija. Multiple locations, burrobarboston.com
Citrus & Salt’s colorful cocktails.
Citrus & Salt
This Baja-inspired restaurant reflects celebrity chef, restaurateur and Hell’s Kitchen personality Jason Santos’ enthusiasm for the cuisine of Southern California and Mexico. Fun and bright coastal-inspired decor adds to the allure, while savory cocktails and brilliant bites headline the menu. Begin the Cinco celebrations with a Tequila Is Cheaper Than Therapy—a mixture of Ghost tequila, mango jalapeno, agave, cucumber and lime. 142 Berkeley St., 617.424.6711, citrusandsaltboston.com
Yellow Door Taqueria offers a variety of margarita flavors like passion fruit and raspberry mint
Cósmica
Nestled in The Revolution Hotel, Cósmica is serving up Cal-Mex cuisine and vacationworthy cocktails that are sure to soothe the senses. While sipping the Cool as a Cucumber—a mixture of jalapeno-infused tequila, cucumber agua fresca, lime and agave—place an order for their farm vegetable mole or skirt steak fajita. 40 Berkeley St., 617.313.7878, cosmicaboston.com
El Centro
What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with authentic cuisine from Sonora native and chef Allan Rodriguez? With family recipes, homemade tortillas, spiced sangrias and authentic micheladas, El Centro brings Mexico to you. Its famous arrachera a la tampiquena is a must—think grilled skirt steak, refried beans, guacamole, pico de gallo and an enchilada with your choice of meat and sauce. 472 Shawmut Ave., 617.262.5708, elcentroinboston.com
Savor Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar’s Mexican bites like birria tacos with Jalisco-style braised short rib
Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar
Situated in South Boston, this neighborhood eatery specializes in tacos, oysters and, of course, tequila. Flaunting a chic, rustic atmosphere, Loco Taqueria is dishing out Baja-style Mexican fare with a wide range of tacos, classic carne asada and street corn. With a lengthy lineup of tequilas, and flavors, we recommended ordering the signature Coco Marg, made with Lunazul blanco, lime, coconut and milk. 412 W. Broadway, 617.917.5626, locosouthboston.com
Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar
Lolita is serving up Mexican-inspired eats and tequila aplenty from the Back Bay to Fort Point. This bustling cantina is known for its dimly lit ambiance, accentuated by handpainted wall murals and Mexican calaveras with gothic sophistication and a craveworthy menu. Blackened mahi-mahi tacos wrapped in housemade flour tortillas will appease your appetite, while handcrafted margaritas make for a Cinco celebration of rebellion and all-out revelry. Multiple locations, lolitamexican.com
Lone Star Taco Bar
Transport yourself to Oaxaca or Mexico City’s open-air markets and taquerias with a visit to Lone Star Taco Bar. Created by Aaron Sanders and Max Toste, the flavor-packed menu focuses on mezcal, tequila and Mexican street food while utilizing fresh ingredients. Not to mention the extensive beer and wine selections pair with the restaurant’s delectable dishes like the refried bean tostada with house beans and napa cabbage. Multiple locations, lonestar-boston.com
The Painted Burro
Sister restaurant to the Burro Bar, The Painted Burro showcases a mouthwatering seasonal menu that marries local chef-driven styles with modern interpretations of your favorite Mexican dishes. Let the festivities begin with the roasted chicken enchiladas and street cart chicken with achiote-citrus marinade. After a few bites, quench your thirst with one of the eatery’s 100-plus craft tequilas. Multiple locations, thepaintedburro.com
Cósmica’s carnitas tacos
Yellow Door
On the other side of this yellow door awaits a lively, colorful atmosphere with flavorful, Mexican bites to match. Drop in on Cinco de Mayo for a tray of street corn nachos with elote, cheddar and cotija, pickled red onions, poblano peppers, cilantro and fresh avocado. To keep the fiesta going, order a carafe of the sangria blanco. Multiple locations, yellowdoortaqueria.com
Photography by: JOSH JAMISON; Courtesy of CITRUS & SALT; DANIELA MARCHIONE; REAGAN BYRNE; COURTESY OF CÓSMICA
