The Best Margaritas in Austin
Frozen, classic, avocado, oh my! Austin has endless delicious margarita options, and we’ve rounded up the best.
Austin, TX - There’s a reason Guy Clark sang about the margaritas in Austin—they might as well be the city’s unofficial drink. When it comes to the sheer variety of options, it can start to feel overwhelming. But exploring the wildly different options in town is part of the fun, and we’re here to guide you through the best margaritas in Austin! Whether you like your margaritas sweet or spicy, with ice or frozen, simple or adventurous, there’s something for everyone on our list.
De Nada Cantina, located in a charming greenhouse setting in East Austin, has garnered a reputation for its exceptional, traditionally handcrafted margaritas. Forget pre-mixes and artificial flavors! Here, the focus is on quality ingredients and techniques. Their menu features a tempting selection, including the classic house rocks margarita, the fiery spicy Lunazul margarita, the sweet prickly pear rocks margarita, and the fruity strawberry rocks margarita.
Matt's El Rancho offers a wide variety of margaritas, from the classic Janie's Margarita made with Herradura Silver & Cointreau to more unique options like the Burnt Orange Margarita and the Matt's Mezcal Margarita. Their frozen options include the Sangria Margarita, a house frozen margarita with a swirl of sangria, and The Cactus Pryor, a frozen margarita blended with prickly pear puree. They also have top-shelf options such as the Martinez Margarita and La Pina Patron.
Workhorse bar offers a few margarita options, including their signature Workhorse Margarita made with 100% Agave Tequila, Paula's Texas Orange, fresh squeezed lime and agave nectar, a Spicy Margarita made with Jalapeno Infused Tequila, and a Mason Jar Marg, which is a Workhorse Margarita for two, available for carry-out or delivery. Known for offering a great value, the Workhorse Margarita is often cited as a fantastic option that doesn't break the bank, making it a local favorite for those seeking quality at an affordable price.
Lupe Tortilla
Change up your brunch routine with a Mimosa-Rita at Lupe Tortilla. This tasty frozen concoction has fresh-squeezed orange juice, 100% agave tequila, triple sec, lime, and whipped cream. Aside from their incredible brunch option, their everyday menu has fruity options like strawberry, mango, prickly pear, berry, and blueberry margaritas.
Though this spot is best known for their tacos and extensive beer menu, their made-from-scratch margaritas should not be missed. Their Margarita Casera is a simple but flawless take, complete with 100% agave tequila, Paulaʼs orange liqueur, hand-squeezed lime juice, and jalapeño agave. Another option here is their spicy frozen margarita with 100% agave tequila, triple sec, hand-squeezed lime juice, and the addition of fresh jalapeño.
Güero’s Taco Bar
Though many feel this spot is a bit of a draw for a largely tourist group, plenty of locals love this classic Austin institution. The restaurant has an outdoor garden area to enjoy live music and a full bar. If you’re looking for margaritas, they have a whopping 21 to choose from. That said, the options aren’t too wild, but instead they have varying tequila options and even a vodka margarita.
A go-to spot for locals looking for tasty wood-grilled Mexican fare, they have delicious margarita options, too. If you’re wanting to enjoy the perfect cool summer option, you can enjoy their newest addition, which is a frozen coconut margarita. The rest of their frozen marg menu includes limon, prickly pear, and avocado. If you’d like one on the rocks, you can have a classic margarita, get more experimental with a cucumber cilantro one, or even try their ancho chile margarita with a sweet chile salt rim.
Sure, this spot is a little pricier, but we’d say it’s worth it. Founded in 1975, it was the first restaurant in Texas to truly focus on interior Mexican cuisine. Fonda San Miguel focuses on authentic flavors from Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, and Yucatan. Additionally, the museum-worthy paintings and decor add to the experience. For a delicious classic done right, try their Numero Uno Margarita, complete with Corazon Reposado, Grand Mariner, agave nectar, and lime juice. This margarita is shaken and served on the rocks.
No list of the best margaritas in Austin would be complete without mentioning avocado margaritas, and Curra’s Grill is where the trend started in town. Though some may pass on the idea of a creamy avocado blended into a margarita, the drink has plenty of devoted fans. At Curra’s, they add a tiny bit of cilantro to create the bright green hue.
Polvos
This family-owned and -operated interior Mexican restaurant has been serving Austin since 1997. When you’re with a group of friends and craving margaritas and tasty food, head to Polvos for their margarita pitchers! You can even order a frozen margarita pitcher. Also, they have some truly unique flavors and options to choose from, like peach, banana, cantaloupe, and beer margaritas.
El Alma
El Alma offers a vibrant take on classic Mexican flavors, and their margaritas are no exception. With 11 options to choose from, they’ve definitely earned a spot on our list! They have a few spicy options like the Flaquita, which has watermelon-serrano infused Jimador Silver, watermelon purée, lime juice, and agave served on the rocks. For those feeling especially brave, try their La Llorona margarita with ghost pepper tequila. They have a frozen brunch option, too. At El Alma, you can hang out and enjoy your choice of margarita on their rooftop deck.
El Arroyo
Famous for their funny and constantly changing sign out front, this restaurant is also well known for their margaritas. The Royo Rita is their signature margarita, and it’s made with 100% Blue Agave Jarana Tequila, Patron Citronge, agave nectar, fresh lime, and a splash of orange juice. They’re also pretty reasonably priced, with most coming in at less than $10.
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