But, hey! Any excuse to party, right? So dust off that sombrero you got on that cruise to Cozumel and head out to one of these 12 Miami restaurants and watering holes to celebrate Cinco de Drinko!
AQ by Acqualina
The restaurant at the tony Sunny Isles resort is offering a special Mexican-inspired menu. Starting at 6 p.m., enjoy spicy shrimp tacos with guacamole and pico de gallo ($28); crispy mole chicken wings with sriracha ranch dressing ($14); and beef and cheese quesadilla with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole ($18). Wash it down with $9 margaritas and $5 draft beers.
Brickell Fest Cinco de Mayo at American Social
American Social hosts the ultimate Cinco de May blowout. From 6 p.m. - midnight listen to music by DJ Irie and mariachis and take a selfie with the mini luchadores. $30 general admission includes a 16 ounce beer, souvenir sombrero, and mustache tattoo. VIP tickets are $56 and include a 16 ounce margarita or beer boot, souvenir sombrero, mustache tattoo, tequila shot, and more. Purchase tickets at brickellfest.com.
Cinco de Mayo at Mary Brickell Village
This mega fiesta turns Mary Brickell Village into a party town on Cinco de Mayo. From 2 - 11 p.m. drink Mexican beer and tequila, dance to music at two DJ stages, and enjoy mariachis. Dancers, sombreros, mustaches.and...a giant 12 foot tall donkey pinata! .it's all there at this Cinco celebration. Tickets are $5 for general admission. A $27 fiesta party pack gets you admission, a 22 oz. souvenir cup, a beer, and a party favor pack that includes a sombrero, mustache, and more (while supplies last). To purchase tickets and for more information, visit cincodemayobrickell.com.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila
Celebrate Cinco all day at Bodega.From noon - 5 a.m. enjoy mariachis, drink specials including $5 Modelos and $6 margaritas, $5 shot specials start at 6 p.m., along with music and a complimentary churro cart. Have a seat at the "shot chair" and post your tequila-infused selfie with hashtag #dobellayback for a chance to win a bottle of Dobel tequila.
The Federal and J. Wakefield Brewing
The Federal Food Drink & Provisions is teaming up with J. Wakefield Brewing for a five-course Cinco de Mayo dinner. On May 5 at 7 p.m., enjoy a cocktail session featuring passion fruit margarita Berlinerweisse, appetizers, and tequila shots. The five-course beer-pairing dinner will include a scallop crudo paired with tamarind slush Berlinerweisse; smoked suck breast with sopa de elote, huitlacoche, and drunken cherries paired with a dark cherry doppelbock; chorizo lauta, refried beans, migas de papa, avocado mousse, and Mexican crema paired with guanabana saison; smoked pork shank, masa harina, encurtido de cebollinas, and mole negro paired with Tootsie ROll brown ale; and a Mexican chocolate mousse, mixed toasted seeds, hazelnut, bunuelos and cajeta paired with harbinger hazelnut coffee imperial sweet stout. Dinner is $65 per person plus tax and tip. Call 305-758-9559 for reservations.
The Gale Rooftop
Celebrate Mexican Pride with live music by DJ Pirate Stereo and the Fox Brothers. Make a custom margarita at the build-your-own margarita bar and break a pinata for prizes. You can even find forever love at the pet adoption area. Admission is free. The party goes from 6 to 11 p.m.
JW Marriott
The JW Marriott's La Terraza bar will have a host of Cinco de Mayo specials for lunch and dinner, including $3 tacos; $6 margaritas; and two for one Mexican beers.
Jalapeño Mexican Kitchen
Join Power 96 for an Ocean Drive fiesta at Jalapeño Mexican Kitchen. Starting at 5 p.m., enjoy $3 street tacos, $4 beers, and $5 margaritas at the cash bar while you enjoy a live DJ and mariachi band. Enter the largest sombrero contest or the macho nacho eating contest. There's also a photo booth and plenty of giveaways throughout the evening. To get home, sign up with Uber using promo code JMKCinco and your first ride is free (up to $20).
Naked Taco
Join Ralph Pagano for his second annual Cinco de Mayo event. From noon - midnight enjoy $5 beers, $3 drafts, free food, mariachis, dancers, and mini luchadores. Giveaways include a free trip to Bimini!
Radio Bar
Instead of having someone make your margarita for you, learn to make your own at Radio Bar's mixology class. From 7 - 8 p.m, bartender Teddy Collins and a special guest will teach you how to make two tequila cocktails. radiosouthbeach.com/events to sign up.
The Shelborne Wyndham Grand South Beach Hotel
Celebrate Cinco poolside from noon 6 p.m. with a live mariachi band and house DJ. Mexican inspired bites by the pool include carne asada tacos with chili charred beef ($16); chicken taquitos with picode gallo ($10); and smashed avocado with fire roasted salsa and crispy tortillas ($7).
Tongue & Cheek
Tongue & Cheek is all about the cinco. On Cinco de Mayo, enjoy $5 tequila shots, $5 micheladas and Cheladas beer, and $5 snacks. Souvenir sombreros, mustache tattoos, and lucha libre masks get the party started.
Villa Azur's Watermelon Cilantro Margarita
Why not try something new this Cinco de Mayo? Villa Azur's head bartender, Martin Gutierrez has created a watermelon cilantro margarita that's refreshing and fragrant. Enjoy it there for $14, or make it at home with this recipe, courtesy of Villa Azur:
Watermelon Cilantro Margarita
- 2 pieces of fresh watermelon
- 6 cilantro leaves
- 2 pieces of fresh lime
- Splash of agave nectar
- 2 oz of don Julio reposado tequila
- 1 oz of Cointreau
Muddle watermelon, cilantro, and lime in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 oz. of Don Julio Reposado, 1 oz. Cointreau, and a splash of agave nectar. Shake and double strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a watermelon spear and a sprig of cilantro.
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