Thanks to Houston’s epic Tex-Mex scene, the city is brimming with excellent margaritas. Whatever your preferences — frozen or on the rocks, a simple drink or something fruity — Houston’s restaurants offer a bevy of options for enjoying what may be the world’s most perfect cocktail. Certainly, everyone has their favorite margaritas, but these Houston bars and restaurants serve up the kind of tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails that keep regulars coming back again and again. Ranging from beloved classics that have been satisfying Houston drinkers for decades to creative newcomers, these margaritas are a must.
Read More19 Supremely Refreshing Margaritas to Drink Right Now in Houston
Frozen or on the rocks, absolutely nothing can beat the classic combo of salt, lime, and tequila
Teotihuacan
Oversized margarita goblets dot the tables at Teotihuacan, and for good reason — the lively Mexican restaurant (at its buzziest during weekend brunch) features frozen margaritas in many fruity flavors, like watermelon, peach, raspberry, strawberry, banana, and mango.
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Eight Row Flint
Eight Row Flint boasts a huge cocktail menu, mostly featuring whiskey drinks, but the margaritas are worth a try, too. Choose from on-the-rocks varieties like the Pink Rattlesnake crafted with orange Curacao and hibiscus-serrano syrup or opt for a frozen mangorita rimmed with Tajín. Pair with one of the ice house’s most-excellent tacos, and you’ve found Tex-Mex bliss in a whiskey-drenched bar.
Julep
The backstory of Tommy’s Margarita at Julep is that it was created in the ‘90s by Julio Bermejo of Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco, and according to the bar pros at this acclaimed Washington Avenue cocktail bar, it is the best representation of tequila in a margarita. Made with only three ingredients — tequila blanco, lime, and agave nectar — it’s a simple pleasure.
El Big Bad
El Big Bad has a huge tequila menu and plenty of inventive infusions to make this classic cocktail a little more interesting. Try the churro tequila, or just stick with the classic “lime, tequila, salt” formula for a solid sip.
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Flora
Enjoy aesthetically pleasing margaritas of all types in the majestic, chandelier-bedecked dining room at Flora. The new see-and-be-seen restaurant is a destination for authentic Mexican eats, and its margaritas make worthy pairings. Both mezcal and tequila margs are represented well, but if you prefer them both, the Grant, made with Tapatio tequila reposado and Del Maguey vida mezcal and rimmed with cricket salt, is a must.
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation
A conversation about Houston margaritas is not a real conversation without mentioning Ninfa’s. You can’t go wrong with the Ninfarita, which tastes the perfect bits sweet and sour, but for a fragrant and floral sip, try the red rose margarita crafted with rose-infused syrup. It also serves the “perfect prickly Patron margarita,” which comes in a miniature replica Patron bottle.
Xochi
Xochi is the second spot on the list by chef Hugo Ortega, but should you find yourself Downtown and in need of a potent margarita, it’s an obvious choice. The restaurant’s namesake margarita, the “Xochi Rita” is crafted with mezcal, but there are plenty of tequila-fueled options as well.
Cuchara Restaurant
The cuisine of Mexico City stars at this spirited Montrose hangout, and that includes margaritas. Cuchara’s house margarita pairs tequila and fresh lime juice with dry curacao, while a daily “margarita of the day” incorporates a fresh, seasonal ingredient to keep things interesting.
OSTIA
A traditional margarita is given the Ostia treatment at this trendy Montrose restaurant. The
Ostiarita is an off-the-menu secret, but IYKYK. Thoughtfully built with Cimarron blanco tequila, lime juice, and blood orange liqueur as a nod to the menu’s Mediterranean influences, it’s best paired with chef Travis McShane’s famed roast chicken with salsa verde.
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Hugo's
At this Houston institution, Mexico City-born chef Hugo Ortega’s “Hugorita” is one of the city’s best, thanks to its perfectly balanced blend of tequila, lime, and salt. Looking to elevate the evening? Consider “The Greatest Margarita” made with Gran Centenario Añejo Tequila and 25-year-aged Grand Marnier, a splurge at $29.
Armandos
Margaritas flow like water at this River Oaks institution, where every Thursday night is a party. The Texas-sized Armandos house margarita is 17 ounces of pure margarita goodness, made with Jose Cuervo traditional silver tequila. For a fancier sip, consider the “River Oaks Rita,” which uses Jose Cuervo reserve and is garnished with a 24-karat gold lime slice.
El Patio
El Patio has been a Houston institution for over 50 years featuring Tex-Mex deliciousness and strong-as-heck margaritas. Club No Minors is the bar-club in the back, where the margaritas are so potent that the website highly recommends designating a driver or cabbing it to and from the restaurant. Between the excellent sips and the safety guidance, an experience at El Patio is worth carving time for.
Candente
The margaritas come in two sizes at Candente, and trust in the fact that you won’t regret going for the larger one. There are plenty to pick from, including an excellent premium mezcal margarita made with Ilegal reposado. Teetering between two flavors? Go for the half-and-half which features equal parts of the prickly pear and mango frozens.
Arnaldo Richard's Picos Restaurant
“The Perfect” is a suitable name for Pico’s traditional margarita, simply crafted with Herradura Silver, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice, but there are plenty of non-traditional ones to explore that are tasty, too. The 1800 Coco Rita is a sweet indulgence, which combines tequila with coconut cream.
Mahesh's Kitchen
The tamarind-infused margarita at Mahesh’s Kitchen is proof that the sky is the limit when thinking up creative, new flavors. Crafted with cumin-infused tequila and then shaken with tamarind chutney, triple sec, and fresh lime juice, this margarita is sweet and spicy unlike any other in Houston.
Pier 6
Margaritas always taste better with a view, which makes Pier 6 in the coastal town of San Leon one of the best places to kickback. The house frozen is made with reposado, agave, and citrus and is a treat on its own, but if you like a little variety, it is available in a flight with three other boozy frozens as well.
Verde Garden
Head to the Tex-Mex joint to try the Verde Margarita. It’s made with Cazadores blanco or mezcal, lime, agave, dry curacao, mint, and parsley. Another great one to give a swirl is the Tommy s Margarita with aguasol sour and tart tequila blanco plus lime, orange, and agave.
1891 American Eatery & Bar
This casual Heights destination offers its classic house and frozen margaritas alongside more out-of-the-box options like the spicy, jalapeno-infused “Tejas Killer” or a “Garden” margarita with seasonal fruit and rosemary. For those who are tempted by more than one flavor, the restaurant’s margarita flight lets diners sample four for $16. Soak it all up with a plate of pork burnt end tacos, or, for seafood seekers, grilled fish or shrimp.
Money Cat
This Japanese sushi and robata bar in the Upper Kirby neighborhood offers a deftly curated cocktail menu to pair with its inventive Japanese bar snacks (think: puffy bao with Filipino-style braised beef and crispy maitake karaage). The margarita play on the menu is the omija-rita, a uniquely Japanese rendition that uses tequila, shishito, togarashi, sudachi, omija honey, and hibiscus tea to create its flavor profile.