Cinco de Mayo isn’t until Tuesday, but plenty of restaurants and bars around the area are kicking off the holiday this weekend. Here’s where to celebrate:
Apapacho
1280 Fourth St., NE
This La Cosecha taqueria is running food and drink specials from Saturday, May 2 through Cinco de Mayo. Look for $10 margaritas; $13 taco trios; $6.50 elotes; and $7 esquites. On Saturday, May 2, there will be live mariachi at 1:30 PM; look for a DJ from 5 to 8 PM on Sunday, May 3. On Tuesday, May 5, you’ll get both: a DJ from 6 to 9 PM and mariachi from 9 to 10 PM.
Calico
50 Blagden Alley, NW
At this indoor/outdoor Shaw hangout, specials—including a Sonoran-style bacon-wrapped hot dog and a spicy grapefruit-and-tequila cocktail—start at 5 PM on Cinco de Mayo. At 7, there’s free bingo.
Cielo Rojo
7211 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park
This destination taqueria in Tacoma Park is knocking $2 off its margaritas on Cinco de Mayo. A mariachi band plays from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.
Colada Shop
All locations, except DCA
These Cuban cafes are serving $8 margaritas all day on Cinco de Mayo.
dLeña
476 K St., NW
This Mount Vernon Triangle Mexican restaurant is throwing a five-day celebration starting Friday, May 1. Offerings include mezcal-and-honeydew margaritas and tequila-and-hibiscus cocktails for $16. All margs will be $13 at the weeknight happy hour, which runs from 5 to 7 PM. Check out live music on Friday and Saturday from 8 to 10 PM.
Elegancia
1280 Fourth St., NE
From Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 10, this La Cosecha cocktail bar will offer four margaritas, including watermelon, pineapple, and spicy ($15 each). Order one, and you’ll get a QR code for a $10 rebate. On Saturday, May 2, an afternoon party with a DJ and giveaways runs from 2 to 5 PM.
HiFi Tex Mex BBQ
2000 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
On Cinco de Mayo, margarita madness will be underway at this Del Ray joint from 4:30 to 10 PM. Classic lime and frozen mango versions go for $8; Bluejacket’s Mexican lager is $5; and food specials include a smoked chicken caesar salad burrito and a tuna tartare tostada.
Immigrant Food
4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington; 1701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 925 13th St., NW
On Cinco de Mayo, margaritas will be $5 at all locations except Union Market; in Ballston, the deal is running all week.
Little Miner Taco
4308 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood; 39 Maryland Ave., Rockville; 1015 H St., NE
There will be deals at each location of this birria-obsessed taco shop on Cinco de Mayo. Rockville will have $3 street tacos from 4 to 6 PM; DC will have $8 margaritas; and Brentwood will feature $3 Tecates.
Lulu’s Winegarden
1940 11th St., NW
This Shaw wine garden is throwing a party on Cinco de Mayo with happy hour pricing on food from 5 to 10 PM, and discounted margaritas and tequila shots. From 5 to 7 PM, there’s a free blind tasting of Mexican beers.
Mezcalero
1280 Fourth St., NE
The La Cosecha location of Jessica and Alfredo Solis’s taqueria is serving up $3.50 tacos with eight different fillings on Tuesday, May 5. Want to celebrate a little more? Margaritas are $8, and the house tequila is $5.
Mi Vida
98 District Square, SW; 575 Seventh St., NW
On Cinco de Mayo, find $8 mezcal margaritas at these Mexican dining rooms at the Wharf and in Penn Quarter. From 3 to 6 PM, tacos will be $4.50.
Mission
1606 20th St., NW; 1221 Van St., SE
These popular Tex-Mex hangouts are offering $9.95 margaritas and $35 pitchers, along with tacos for $5.25, on Cinco de Mayo. At noon in Dupont, a DJ will kick off the party; the bash starts at 11 AM in Navy Yard.
Oyamel
401 Seventh St., NW
José Andrés’s Mexican small plates spot in Penn Quarter will serve up food specials such as sopes with carne asada ($25), and a smoked half chicken with mole, rice, and blue corn tortillas ($32). Make your way to the bar to order drinks ($17 to $20) such as the famed foam-topped margarita or the “Tolum Spritz” with mezcal, Aperol, pineapple, and lime.
Republic Cantina
43 N St., NW
This laidback Tex-Mex dining room in Truxton Circle is offering specials from Friday, May 1 through Tuesday, May 5. It’ll resurrect its strawberry margarita, plus serve neat pours of mezcal and tequila for half-price. Get $1 off a “pico back”—a tequila shot chased by pico de gallo juice. On Cinco de Mayo, the dining room is walk-in only.
The Roost
1401 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
This Hill East food hall has food and drink specials galore from Friday, May 1 to Tuesday, May 5. Look for margarita flights, build-your-own ranch waters, walking tacos, and more. On Tuesday, there are a few extra taco deals.
Sax Restaurant and Lounge
734 11th St., NW
The downtown DC lounge is throwing a party from 7 to 9 PM on Sunday, May 3. Look for $7 margaritas, lemon drops, and shots along with DJs.
Shipgarten
7581 Colshire Dr., McLean
Looking for a kid-friendly celebration? Head to this outdoor bar in Tysons for a magic show, bounce houses, crafts, and face-painting on Sunday, May 3 from noon to 6 PM. At 3:15, check out a live Encanto performance.
Taqueria Habanero
670 Rhode Island Ave., NE
Another family-friendly option: the Bryant Street Market block party fueled by this beloved taqueria and sister bar Alegria. It’ll run from 1 to 10 PM on Saturday, May 2. Celebrate with face-painting, a mechanical bull, a salsa class, a mariachi band, and more throughout the day.
Taqueria Picoso
1472 N Beauregard St., Alexandria
On Cinco de Mayo, this Alexandria taqueria is serving $3.50 tacos al pastor all day and extending happy hour discounts on margaritas and beer from noon to 4 PM. Live music runs from 6 to 9 PM.
Taqueria Xochi
300 Tingey St., SE; 1450 S. Eads St., Arlington
The Navy Yard location of this street-taco spot is hosting a “llora y canta” (cry and sing) party with reggaeton and Latin music on Friday, May 1; and a DJ on Saturday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 5. Look for happy hour pricing all weekend and on Tuesday at both the Crystal City and Navy Yard branches.
Vagabond
1836 18th St., NW
This surf-themed restaurant in Dupont will sling $10 classic and spicy mezcal margs, plus $10 beer-and-shot combos, on Cinco de Mayo.
Samantha is an Editorial Fellow at the Washingtonian and a senior at American University, studying Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities Studies. She lives in Washington, D.C.
