Where the Deals Are For National Margarita Day 2020 in Houston — Updated
The Jumbo House Margarita at Cyclone Anaya's. Courtesy photo.
If you already have weekend plans, it’s time to cancel them. Saturday, February 22 is National Margarita Day, and there are so many parties and establishments offering specials on traditional and upscale variations of the drink that you’ll want to make the most of it.
El Big Bad, 419 Travis: Head downtown to the “World’s Largest Infused Tequila Bar” featuring over 70 different tequila infusions. You don’t have to stop at one: you can add multiple flavors to your custom margarita. This year, El Big Bad is hosting its 10th Annual National Margarita Day Party from 4 to 10 p.m. featuring $5 fresh-squeezed house margaritas and more. Look forward to tequila samples and giveaways, and after 10 p.m. a DJ is keeping the party going until closing time. Be sure to try the Blueberry, Jalapeno and Cilantro Margarita on the Booze, Bites and Historical Sites tour every Friday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. as well.

Chuy’s, various locations: “Live Grande” at Chuy’s with all-day specials on both food and beverages. For just $2 extra, make any regular house or frozen margarita a Grande, plus you can keep the commemorative cup. Chuy’s is also offering $1 floaters of tequila or orange liqueur on any margarita. Food is definitely in order after those hefty drinks, so try the Taco Fries — seasoned fries with queso, taco meat, jalapenos and more — available only on National Margarita Day.
Cyclone Anaya’s, various locations: Forget having only one day of celebration at this Tex-Mex joint. Cyclone Anaya’s is turning February into The Month of the Marg. Featuring different margaritas each week, diners can try the Mango Tango — a mix of Titanium silver tequila, Cointreau, mango puree, lime juice and agave nectar for $11. The special for National Margarita Day is the Jumbo House Margarita for only $7 all day long.

Doneraki, 300 Gulfgate Mall: One of Houston’s oldest Mexican restaurants, which was formerly on Westheimer and then relocated to Gulfgate Mall, is celebrating its 47th anniversary this year. There’s an all-day, blowout party planned for National Margarita Day, so this makes for a good option for revelers on Houston’s southeast side. Enjoy $5 margaritas, frozen, on the rocks and in several flavors, all day. Or, opt for the Top Shelf Mercedes Margarita and get a second one for $6. Get a margarita pitcher instead, and a free medium chile con queso and chips comes alongside. Next up is a patio party from 6 to 9 p.m. with live music by Grupo Elite as well as Kache and Rudy. The Jose Cuervo Tequila Tradicional Girls will be in the house giving away swag and tequila shots from 8 to 9 p.m. There are also Mexican Candy Shots for $5 and Fireball for $4. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., it’s DJ Roby Rob with Get Funk Crew’s turn to bring the beats.

Eight Row Flint, 1039 Yale: It’s party time at this Heights spot. All margaritas on the menu are $1 off. These include specialty riffs such as Pink Rattlesnake with Aretté Blanco Tequila, El Super Trio, lime oleo, fresh lime juice, egg white and salt and the Port of Call: Galveston with Los Vecinos Espadín Mezcal, El Super Trio, fresh lime juice, lime oleo, Clément Coconut Liqueur, crème de cacao and egg white. In addition, there is a $16 “Big Ass Margarita” special and a shot block pouring $8 shots of Patrón Tequila. Another tequila brand, El Tesoro, is hosting a satellite bar with $12 premium margaritas. Be there from 4 to 5 p.m. to catch the live mariachi band.

Frank’s Americana Revival, 3736 Westheimer: Take the classic margarita up a notch or two with the one-day-only Grilled Orange Margarita, made with grilled orange slices, aged añejo tequila and kosher salt. The grilled orange infuses the margarita with sweet, bitter and smoky flavors that are rounded out with fresh lime juice. Frank’s is also offering Social Hour pricing on its specialty cocktail, A Train to Coahulla, made with Sauza Tres Generaciones tequila, blackberry and sage. The Grilled Orange Margarita is $10 while “A Train to Coahulla” is only $7 all day.

Hugo’s, 1600 Westheimer: The longtime Montrose restaurant is offering a taste of something special — at a very special price all day long. The Greatest Margarita Ever Sold regularly is usually $30, but for National Margarita Day, it’s discounted to $15. So, what makes it the greatest? That would be the 25-year aged Grand Marnier combined with Gran Centenario añejo tequila.
In addition, Hugo’s and other restaurants owned by H Town Restaurant Group — Xochi at 1777 Walker in downtown Houston and Caracol, located at 2200 Post Oak in the Galleria area, are offering $7 house margaritas and special taco plates for brunch. Each place is doing something a little different. Caracol is serving taco entrée plates that range between $12 and $15: Baja-style fried avocado tacos with chipotle aioli; breakfast tacos made with eggs, Hoja Santa leaves and carnitas; carne brava tacos with wood-grilled skirt steak, roasted peppers and onions; and grilled fish tacos al pastor-style with grilled pineapple and cilantro and onion. All are served with rice and beans. Xochi’s offering is $10 taco small plates with two tacos each featuring heirloom Oaxacan corn tortillas. The choices are taco de hongos with shitake mushroom, avocado, king trumpet mushroom and salsa tatemada, breakfast tacos with spice-rubbed and roasted potato, egg and chorizo and tacos de lechon, or suckling pig tacos.

Jax Grill, 1613 Shepherd: “M” is for more than margarita at Jax Grill: it’s also for Mardi Gras. This restaurant’s layered yellow-on-purple frozen margarita is made with grape, mango and sour apple and is only $7 all day long. The special doesn’t stop there—each margarita comes with a free ticket to the 109th annual Mardi Gras in Galveston. After the festivities, head back to Jax on Fat Tuesday for a party with zydeco music, gumbo, crawfish étouffée and plenty more.

La Grange, 2517 Ralph: It’s all about classic cocktails and special prices at this Montrose patio bar. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can order frozen or on the rocks Hornitos Margaritas for just $5. Since plenty of other bars and restaurants are offering Margarita specials all day, La Grange is a solid choice for starting your day.
Monkey’s Tail, 5802 Fulton: Have your pick of frozen or on the rocks margaritas for only $8 at this Lindale Park newcomer. The on-the-rocks margarita is made with Sauza Blanco tequila, orange cordial, agave nectar and broiled lime for extra flavor. The frozen margaritas give you more options, such as the classic margarita or the flavor of the day. The bas hasn’t released what Saturday’s flavor will be, but with past offerings such as Tropical, Peach, Pineapple and Fruit Punch, it’s bound to be interesting.

The Original Ninfa’s Uptown, 1700 Post Oak Blvd: How about some art appreciation alongside your margaritas? The Original Ninfa’s Uptown is going all-out with an entire day of entertainment. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. and is followed by a suckling pig roast by chef Alex Padilla at 1 p.m. Head outside to the patio at 2 p.m. for a mural unveiling by local artist Donkeeboy, plus a special El Tesoro tequila tasting that includes the debut of Ninfa’s single-barrel reposado tequila that was hand-picked at the distillery. DJ Felipe Galvan of the long running local ska band Los Skarnales is spinning tunes, while bar consultant and longtime Houston bartender Linda Salinas pours new cocktails to quench your thirst.
Pistolero’s, 1517 Westheimer: It’s parking-lot party time at this Montrose cocktail bar, and the tequila of the day is Espolon. Pistolero’s is offering $5 shots as well as margaritas and palomas featuring a delicious, white-oak-aged tequila. The party starts at noon and goes until 2 a.m.

Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, various locations: How do you make Enchilada Queen Sylvia Casares’s culinary tour of Mexican and Tex-Mex offerings even better? With a tour of margaritas featuring Dulce Vida tequila, that’s how! For only $7, you can choose the Autentica Margarita, Sweet Heat Margarita with Dulce Vida Pineapple Jalapeno, the Perfect Paloma or the Skinny Lime Rita. All drinks can be ordered frozen or on the rocks, and the specials are good until the doors close at 10:30 p.m.
Tequila is a wonderful spirit with a devilish ability to sneak up on you, so please drink responsibly and bring a designated driver with you, or use a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft.
Josh Armendariz is Houston Food Finder’s lead beer and cocktail writer. He can often be found on a stool at your favorite bar, sipping a hoppy craft beer and talking about the Astros with anyone who’ll lend an ear. Follow him on Instagram at @drinkwithjosh.
Article updated on 2/19/20, 5:08 p.m. to add Hugo’s and 2/20/20, 12:50 p.m., to add Doneraki.
Josh Armendariz is the beer and cocktail writer at Houston Food Finder. He can often be found on a stool at your favorite bar, sipping a hoppy craft beer and talking about the Astros with anyone who’ll lend an ear. Follow him on IG @drinkwithjosh.
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