Mezcal Over Margaritas
Cinco de Mayo in New Orleans warrants more than weakened drinks and plastic sombreros.
This city values
authenticity, culture, and flavor with a story, qualities embodied by Latin
America, with some influences from the Caribbean and the Spanish, especially in
restaurants influencing today's cocktail scene. Here you can find eight
extraordinary spots around New Orleans, each serving a margarita that is not
only tasty but also uniquely one-of-a-kind. These unique cocktails are crafted
with skill, creative twists, and flavorful roots, elevating the enjoyment of
the holiday experience.
While this is our unique list, check out other spots that are around the city, whether you prefer a meal-infused sip, a fruity twist, or a spicy note that hits all the right notes, for a festive experience.
Mr. Tequila
Address: 5018
Freret St.
Drink: Rosé Rita
Ingredients: Classic
Margarita and Martini & Rossi Sparkling Rosé
Mr. Tequila's Rosé Rita leans into a softer blend of sparkle that feels playful without losing its edge. Built on Cazadores Reposado and fresh limes, it gets its blush from a simple sparkling pour of rosé, with a touch of martini flavor. It's bright but not too loud and sweet without tipping over, which makes all these flavors contrast perfectly. You taste the balance in every sip, with a little elegance folded in. The kind of margarita is a festive, flirtatious, and easy-to-love cocktail that any typical martini or rosé drinker would enjoy on a cool spring afternoon in Uptown.
Galaxie
Address: 3060 St.
Claude Ave.
Drink: Galaxie
5000 Margarita
Ingredients: Don
Abraham Blanco Tequila, Orange Liqueur, Lime, Agave
A staple in the Bywater, Galaxie provides a refreshing, well-balanced, and deceptively simple cocktail. Don Abraham Blanco provides a smooth, vegetal foundation, and the orange liqueur and agave add a rich undercurrent without overpowering the citrus. As you would expect, it's a wonderfully uncomplicated margarita, as if it just appeared out of nowhere, though, of course, as always, it really didn't. Along with Galaxie's retro garage and their patio, it's a cocktail that fits in just right.
Mayas
Address: 2027
Magazine St.
Drink: The Spicy
Watermelon
Ingredients: Painted
Donkey Watermelon Tequila, Lemon Juice, and House-Made
Watermelon-Blueberry-Jalapeño Mix topped with Tres Agaves Organic Margarita Mix
At Mayas, one of the city's unique margaritas is served—a drink that is fruity, spicy, and interesting without ever overwhelming bold flavors. It starts with Painted Donkey watermelon tequila, adds an interesting dimension with its house mixture of watermelon, blueberry, and jalapeño, adds lemon juice to keep things bright, and adds depth with Tres Agaves. It's a drink with a refresher up front and a spice kick afterwards, which suits Mayas' Nuevo Latino-style menu.
La Cocinita
Address: 4920
Prytania St.
Drink: Jalapeño-Cucumber-Mint
Margarita
Ingredients: House-Infused
Jalapeño Tequila, Fresh Lime Juice, Elderflower Liqueur, House Infused Mint
Simple Syrup, Muddled Cucumber, Fresh Mint, Cucumber, and Jalapeño Garnishes
A Venezuelan version of a margarita is not only a unique twist but also a specialty of flavors. La Cocinita's jalapeño-infused tequila makes the drink spicy, but the cucumber and mint syrup mellow down the heat. The addition of elderflower liqueur makes the cocktail elegant and unexpected. The drink is garnished with fresh ingredients and is a refreshing change from the usual spicy margarita. This drink is a winner for those who want complexity in a drink without losing the authentic significance of a margarita cocktail.
The Velvet Cactus
Address: 6300
Argonne St.
Drink: Cucumber
Orange Margarita
Ingredients: Fresh
Muddled Cucumber, Fresh Orange, and House-Made Cactus Original Margarita Base
Velvet Cactus is known for its colorful, creative margaritas, but their cucumber orange margarita is the one that truly stands apart. Fresh cucumber keeps it cool and clean, while orange adds a burst of brightness that feels tailor-made for warm weather. Built on their signature cactus original base, this drink is refreshing, citrus-forward, and just different enough to feel special. It's the kind of margarita that sneaks up on you for being simple at first glance but unforgettable once you've had it.
Bésame
Address: 110 S.
Rampart St.
Drink: Margarita
Picante
Ingredients: Patrón
Tequila, St. Germain, Habanero, Lime
Bésame's Margarita Picante, made with Patrón, St. Germain, lime juice, habanero, and agave syrup, is a floral, spicy, and bold masterpiece. Patrón serves as the foundation, but the addition of St. Germain puts this cocktail a cut above the rest. The liqueur provides a subtle sweetness, which rounds off the spiciness of the habanero perfectly. The lime keeps things balanced, resulting in a spicy yet sophisticated margarita.
La Carreta on Magazine Street
Address: 1814
Magazine St.
Drink: Champagne
Disaster
Ingredients:
House-Made Frozen Margarita Mix with a glass with sugar or salt around the rim
with a choice of a mini bottle of Champagne in a large bowl
La Carreta's Magazine Street location brings a playful colorful twist to the margarita with the Champagne Disaster—a frozen margarita crowned with a mini bottle of champagne to match the Instagram-aesthetic atmosphere. As the bubbles slowly mix into the drink, the flavor grows from tart and icy to bold and bright. It matches the vibe of how dramatic, fun, and undeniably chaotic New Orleans is. For those who prefer beer over bubbles, the Mexican Disaster swaps champagne for a mini beer, but the champagne version is the true showstopper.
Espíritu
Address: 520
Capdeville St.
Drink: Fresa
Margarita
Ingredients: Fresh
Local Strawberries, Lime, Mezcal, Basil Salt
At this breezy, bohemian, Mexican-style restaurant, Espíritu's margarita is a true love letter to mezcal with traditional roots in flavors and with the spirits in mind. Fresh local strawberries bring natural sweetness, the lime adds acidity, and the mezcal ties everything together with a smoky backbone. The basil salt rim is the final touch for an herbal, aromatic, and unexpected flair. It's one of the most thoughtfully crafted margaritas in the city and a perfect example of Espíritu's commitment to honoring spirits with creativity and respect.
