From the sun-kissed beaches of San Diego to the bustling streets of Chicago, if you’re looking for an excuse to enjoy a party, Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner. In keeping with this vibrant festival’s theme of celebrating Mexico’s historical past, rich culture, and sense of adventure, join us as we travel to five fantastic cities in search of the perfect margarita for Cinco de Mayo.
Perhaps you’re wondering what is Cinco de Mayo? Initially celebrated in Mexico in honor of the Mexican victory over French forces in 1862, Cinco de Mayo translates to mean the fifth of May. Today, Mexican Americans celebrate this annual festival with mariachi bands, traditional dancing, great food, and, of course, the hugely popular citrusy beverage, the margarita.
Our first recommended hotspot to find the perfect margarita for Cinco de Mayo sees us heading to the West Coast and San Francisco, California. From the street parties on Valencia Street in the energetic Mission District to the colorful historic avenues of North Beach, San Francisco wholeheartedly embraces the yearly Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Here in San Francisco, you and your friends and family can dance in the streets to the rhythm of the mariachi bands and feast on the sizzling spicy tacos Mexico is famous for. However, in our quest to find the perfect blend of tequila, lime, and triple sec, our vote goes to the incredible margarita masters at El Techo and their rooftop views over San Francisco.
Take in the sights and sounds as you enjoy your Cinco de Mayo vacation at the Best Western Plus Grosvenor Airport Hotel in San Francisco, California.
With its endless coastline and sunny skies, visiting San Diego for the festivities always ensures a happy Cinco de Mayo. With countless Cinco de Mayo events to choose from, you can join in with the bouncing parades and folk dancers or just sit back and listen to the infectious Mexican music echoing around Old Town and down to the San Diego waterfront.
With so many great venues to choose from, our search for the perfect margarita for Cinco de Mayo in San Diego was a tough one. Nevertheless, when you’re in town, for us, the best frosty margaritas can be found at the amazing El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria in Old Town. Not just for their zesty margarita drinks and sensational Mexican cuisine but because it’s also home to the largest tequila museum in the United States.
Experience the lively plazas and sandy white beaches during your Cinco de Mayo escape by booking your stay at the Best Western Cabrillo Garden Inn in San Diego, California.
Our next destination sees us arriving in Denver, Colorado, a city that knows what Cinco de Mayo is and how to celebrate it properly. With the spectacular Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, the air in the Mile High City during Cinco de Mayo is infused with a blend of pulsating mariachi music and the enticing aromas of tacos and smoky carne asadas.
Dressed in the colors of the Mexican flag — green, white, and red — we suggest heading to Denver Cinco de Mayo in Civic Center Park for two days of fine food, upbeat music, dancing, and parades. Not forgetting our mission to source the perfect margarita for Cinco de Mayo, we highly recommend visiting the remarkable Kachina Cantina in the LoDo district of Denver.
Enhance your Cinco de Mayo celebration in Denver, Colorado, by reserving a room at the Vīb Hotel by Best Western Denver RiNo in the heart of the city.
We journey west again in search of the perfect margarita for Cinco de Mayo by heading to the scenic Pacific Northwest city of Portland, Oregon. For a few days each year, Portlanders swap their love of coffee for a fiesta of Mexican food, music, and tangy margaritas.
Every year, Portland erupts with the contagious rhythm of mariachi bands and Mexican dancers, who love to welcome visitors by wishing them a happy Cinco de Mayo. Despite the vast selection of excellent venues, the variety of margaritas is extraordinary. However, our favorite creative bartender margarita mixes must go to the expert mixologists at Que Pasa Cantina in downtown Portland.
Make the most of your Cinco de Mayo event and celebrations in the Pacific Northwest when you stay at the Hotel Eastlund, BW Premier Collection in Portland, Oregon.
Our final recommendation on our shortlist of the top five cities to find the perfect margarita for Cinco de Mayo has to be Chicago, Illinois. With every Cinco de Mayo event in Chicago, the city becomes a festive tribute to the historic pride and spirit Mexicans associated with the fifth of May. It might be due to the enchanting musical beats and traditional dancers, or perhaps even the sounds and smells of the sizzling spice cuisine radiating from the numerous colorful Mexican food trucks in the city.
From the dazzling skyscrapers to the shores of Lake Michigan, Cinco de Mayo in Chicago provides a stunning backdrop to its annual pulsating celebrations. However, if you and your friends are searching for the best citrus-infused margaritas, head to La Josie Restaurant and Agave Bar on Chicago’s world-renowned Randolph Restaurant Row. Here, you can celebrate this famous Mexican festival as you sip margarita drinks long into the night.
Top off your pilgrimage to find the perfect margarita for Cinco de Mayo in Chicago by getting a great night’s sleep at the Best Western River North Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.