Best margaritas in New York, 2026.

El Coco is the ultimate party destination with three NYC locations, where lively music sets the tone for a vibrant atmosphere perfect for a spirited gathering of friends. The star of the show? Some of the most affordable margaritas in New York City.

Despite being crafted with affordable tequila, El Coco’s margaritas pack a punch. The restaurant has an all-day, every day happy hour that boasts $5 margaritas, a true steal. It’s become my go-to spot for wallet-friendly Mexican cuisine and pre-game drinks.

Mad Dog & Beans Cantina, with locations in the Financial District and Midtown, stands as a bustling haven for some of NYC’s top margaritas. The lively ambiance is matched by attentive staff ensuring a memorable experience. Indulge in their fresh and flavorful margaritas, with the option to personalize with various enticing flavors like mango, coconut, pomegranate, and more.

For the ultimate celebration, dive into their colossal Margarita Tower, a 100-ounce spectacle (that’s about the equivalent of 10 drinks) perfect for a party of four or more. On the rocks and brimming with customizable flavors, this towering libation from Mad Dog & Beans promises a warm and fuzzy journey through one of the largest margaritas in NYC.

I have a hard time putting The Junction into a category, is it a pub? A sports bar? A cantina? Then I remember the drinks are served cold and strong and I think, who cares! The first non-Mexican restaurant to crack the list of best margaritas in NYC, The Junction offers a steal of a deal.

They have a generous happy hour (from 11AM to 7PM, daily) that has $4 off cocktails, including the margarita. The margarita comes out swinging, with the first sip you can’t help but relax your shoulders and crack a smile (do I sound like I have a problem?). Plus, for an extra dollar you can make it a coconut margarita, which I always do.

Calebrije’s is an easygoing restaurant that sells uncomplicated but flavor-loaded food. The menu is simple, revolving around a variety of tacos and nachos. The drinks follow suit, there’s only margaritas! There are 21 flavor options, which allows you to visit multiple times and try something new, every time.

Not to mention, you can combine flavors. Calebrije’s offers one of the most customizable margaritas in NYC , not many places can say they do the same. Some of the most unique flavor options include lychee, kiwi, pink guava and tamarind.

Shocker shocker, Añejo, a tequila bar, makes the list of the best margaritas in NYC, who would’ve guessed? The popular Tribeca brunch destination serves some of the best margaritas in New York City from sun-up to sundown, offering a tempting bottomless brunch option.

For $55 the table gets 90 minutes of unlimited margaritas, bloody marys, sangrias or mimosas (but the whole table must participate). Or, if you prefer you margaritas at night, visit for dinner and order a flight. Indeed, Anejo makes one of the few margarita flights in NYC, which comes with tequila blanco, añejo, mezcal and jalapeño, so you can really taste the nuances between the popular drink.

Calexico brings small town Mexican cuisine to the Big Apple, accompanied by friendly service and some of the best margaritas in NYC. The restaurant started as a food cart in SoHo in 2006, but has since upgraded to brick & mortar locations in the Upper East Side, Park Slope, Greenpoint and Red Hook.

Every location shares a rustic, border town charm that feels just as warm as you will after a couple margaritas. Speaking of which, the margaritas taste fresh and strong. I’d venture to say that Calexico makes the best frozen strawberry margaritas in NYC (perfect for a summer day).

Jajaja Mexicana is a plant-based haven where vibrant flavors meet creative, meatless Mexican cuisine. With an inviting atmosphere and a commitment to sustainability, Jajaja is one of the best vegan restaurants in NYC, and their menu showcases innovative plant-based twists on traditional dishes.

Like most other Mexican restaurants you’ll find an assortment of Mexican beer and cocktails. But tequila is the name of the game at Jajaja. To be more specific, the frozen agave margarita with the swirl of mango habanero is drool-worthy, and one of the most memorable margaritas in New York City.

Margarita Monday just got a lot more interesting when Street Taco joined the party. Hosting a mix’n’match Monday, Street Taco offers one of the best margarita flights in NYC. Guests are welcome pick any three margaritas from the draft or frozen menu for $15.

Aside from the classic margarita, flavors like watermelon, blood orange and passionfruit jalapeño steal the show and keep you coming back for more. Street Taco is a great place to swing by for groups. With plenty of shareable dishes and some of the best margaritas in NYC, it’s easy to lose track of time.

The Ragtrader is the perfect blend of the past mixed with the modern-ness of the present. What was once an old garment factory now acts as a restaurant & cocktail bar serving one of the best margaritas in NYC. The food is classic, yet elegant and the atmosphere is quirky yet sophisticated.

Expect to find everything from pizzas and pastas to calamari and salmon poke at this establishment. But back to the margaritas, highly recommend ordering the El Guapo. It’s one of the freshest margaritas in NYC, made with Milagro Tequila Silver, fresh cucumber, lime, agave, and chili.

The Black Ant has been featured on everything from The Wall Street Journal to Jimmy Kimmel Live, thanks to an affinity for cooking with insects. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s definitely an ice breaker to have ants in your salt or grasshoppers on your croquettes.

Trying the unique dishes requires some courage, which I always take in the liquid form of the best margaritas in NYC. There’s only a few to choose from (classic, tamarind, cucumber, mango) so there’s no need to stress about which one to order. However, if you want some added protein you can order the smoky jalapeno margarita with a black ant salt rim. 😉

Cowgirl is a Western-themed West Village bar that brings southern comfort to the heart of the city. It’s a cherished spot for those seeking a taste of the Wild West in the Big Apple. The food at Cowgirl is solid, but the main reason I keep coming back is for the vibe and some of the best frozen margaritas in NYC.

It’s my comfort-spot in the West Village, unpretentious and fun! It’s impressive that the local haunt has remained strong since opening in the 1980’s! Especially when you consider they make some of the most affordably priced margaritas in NYC (especially for the neighborhood).

The margaritas come in a variety of flavors, but the Cowgirl makes one of my favorite lime margaritas in NYC. The blood orange is a close second, but after a few the flavors all start blurring together!

If you’re looking for an underrated joint where you won’t have to wait long for the best margaritas in NYC, I suggest swinging by El Camion Cantina. Let me be the first to say the drinks are strong, and if you’re not careful they will sneak up on you (I speak from experience!).

It’s not my fault though, they’re so good I usually finish my first one before the food comes out. There’s a variety of options that fresh and are (extremely) tempting. Not only are they infused with fruity flavors, but you’ll find liquor replacements (mezcal or brandy instead of tequila) and spicy margaritas.

Somewhere between an upscale and casual neighborhood restaurant, Toloache is an easy spot to fit into any itinerary. My favorite item on the menu is one of the best pineapple mezcal margaritas in NYC. The pineapple makes it sweet and fruity, and the mezcal adds a satisfying, smokey texture.

But the options don’t stop there, there are fruity flavors and house-cocktails. Take the namesake Toloache which is made with hibiscus, blueberries and lime that showcases the ingenuity of the restaurant. Besides some of the best margaritas in NYC Toloache also makes elevated Mexican cuisine.

Barrio Chino is a low-key, cozy Mexican restaurant whose name roughly translates to Chinatown. Some of the Lower East Side bar’s standout margarita flavors include hibiscus, habanero grapefruit and elderflower. Quality is instantly tasted after the first sip and the drinks pair perfectly with the tacos.

And not only does Barrio Chino make a mean tequila margarita, but they make some of the best mezcal margaritas in NYC, too. Make sure to order the spicy tamarind margarita with a side of barbacoa tacos , so good!

If you find yourself in the West Village between 4-7pm and want to enjoy some of the most affordable margaritas in NYC, swing by Ofrenda. For $8 (almost half the regular price) you can enjoy a few rounds without breaking the bank.

The food is great (tortillas and salsas are made in-house) and will keep the party going longer. In terms of flavors (mango, prickly pear, cucumber, blood orange), there’s less variety then some of the other spots mentioned, but the price-to-quality ration can’t be beat.

Ofrenda is a sister restaurants to the Black Ant, a high-end restaurant that also cracks this list of the best margaritas in New York City. Similar quality at a fraction of the price? Say less.