Cinco de Mayo isn’t just for endless tequila — although, that doesn’t hurt. There are hundreds of restaurants and parties across the city for revelers celebrating Mexico’s 1862 win during the Battle of Puebla.
Check out some of the best places to eat, drink and celebrate Mexico’s victory.
Learn to make tequila-based cocktails
Park Central’s Park Lounge Bar, 870 Seventh Ave., Manhattan, May 4
Mixologist Jason Bodoy will teach you how to make three of his favorite tequila drinks and how to make them quickly in time for Cinco de Mayo. Tickets are $45 for the event, which begins at 3 p.m.
Fiesta at House of Yes
2 Wyckoff Ave., Brooklyn, May 5
Dance the night away to music by Mickey Perez and Milagro Verde during this free party that starts at 3 p.m. Just don’t wear Mexican culture as a costume.
Hudson Terrace
621 W. 46th St., Manhattan, May 4
There will be a two-our open bar, free tacos live DJs, games, and many drink specials ($5 shots, 2-for-1 margaritas) and more at this outdoor party at Hudson Terrace, starting at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $20.
Quiet disco booze cruise
Hornblower Cruises, Pier 15, 78 South St., Manhattan, May 4
Set sail and rock out to music spun by three DJs through glowing headphones during this four-hour cruise that passes the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. There will be drinks and guacamole available all night. Tickets start at $30.
‘Book of Life’ with live mariachi
Nitehawk Cinema, 188 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, May 4
Before the screening at 10:15 a.m., Mariachi Estrella Juvenil will perform for the audience. The film, starring Zoe Saldana, Diego Luna, Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Kate del Castillo, Channing Tatum, Danny Trejo, Ron Perlman and Cheech Marin, follows the journey of a young man in following his heart. Tickets are $18.
Free chips and dip from Tostitos & Avocados from Mexico
Herald Square, Madison Square, Columbus Circle, Washington Square Park, May 3, 11:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Tostitos is teaming up with Avocados From Mexico to bring chips, dips and avocados in the form of Cinco de Mayo brunch on the streets of Manhattan on Friday.
At the restaurants
Parklife
636 Degraw St., Brooklyn, May 5
Savor tacos made from scratch (including the tortillas and herbs and spices from Mexico) that are three for $10 and check out Parklife’s new drink, Tequila Blossom ($12). A DJ will spin tunes from 3 to 7 p.m., too.
Ghost Donkey
4 Bleecker St., Manhattan, May 5
Get your photo taken with a live donkey, that’s right, and jive to a live hip-hop mariachi band while you sip on special cocktails like the Stealth Margarita, Paloma and Mezcal Negroni and enjoy a whole roasted pig taco bar. There will also be a nacho-eating contest with professional eaters (so you don’t have to partake). It’s free to attend.
Bodega Negra
355 W. 16th St., Manhattan, May 1-5
Bodega Negra’s Habanero Hot Box is filled with habanero, jalapeño, chile de árbol and chipotle peppers, four types of cheese, jalapeño chorizo, chile salsa, chipotle salsa and habanero crema. The restaurant also recommends sipping on El Medico — a tequila cocktail with coconut cream and citrus — to help combat the spice.
Taco Dumbo
multiple locations, May 5-9
Stay golden, pony boys. Taco Dumbo will be handing out 24K gold leaf golden tacos to random guests during happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. at all locations. It will also give out 104 Taco Dollars, which gets customers two free tacos a week for a year. The golden taco is vegan friendly and includes black bean mash, Impossible Taco meat, vegan queso sauce, brown rice with rice pearls and crunchy garlic, and a 24 Karat gold leaf.
Caliente Cab Co.
61 7th Ave. S., Manhattan, May 5
Caliente Cab isn’t exactly throwing a fiesta for Cinco de Mayo, but it is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a 55-ounce margarita the entire month of May. The Caliente Anniversary Gigante is $100 and is filled with Mezcal, fresh pineapple and mango juices, and is topped off with 24 Karat edible gold flakes and sparklers.
Añejo
668 10th Ave., Manhattan, May 5
There’s no need to party alone on Cinco de Mayo. Añejo will offer a special deal for groups of two. For $85 per person, guests will get a two-hour reservation with a signature taco platter, pitcher of margaritas and a bucket of 10 Coronas. The deal is available at the tequileria’s Tribeca and Hell’s Kitchen locations. Reservations should be made online at anejotribeca.com or anejonyc.com.
Hill Country Barbecue Market
30 W. 26th St., Manhattan, May 6
Hill Country wants to keep the Cinco de Mayo party going with a special taco dinner and documentary viewing party. Starting at 6 p.m., guests will can enjoy five different tacos inspired by scenes in the documentary and have a question-and-answer session with the creators that will be moderated by food editor Rick Martinez. Tickets are $65 and are available here.
Brooklyn Cider House
1100 Flushing Ave., Brooklyn, May 4-5
This Bushwick staple is planning a two-day special fiesta for Cinco de Mayo. The cider house will have $2 tacos, guacamole and cider-ritas. The holiday specials will be available indoors and outdoors on their just reopened deck.
The Hummus & Pita Co.
multiple locations, May 3-10
This Brooklyn-based Mediterranean favorite is joining in on Cinco de Mayo with fried pita tacos. All restaurant locations will offer three fried pita tacos for $9.95. All tacos are fully customizable with the restaurant’s standard menu items, including falafel, Turkish meatballs, shawarma, chicken tabun, veggies, salads and hummus.
Taco Electrico
201 Park Ave. South, Manhattan, May 4
This Union Square establishment is celebrating early with a Cuatro de Mayo party. The party starts at 10 p.m. and features a DJ all night, raffle prizes and two for one Casamigos margaritas.
The Horny Ram
951 2nd Ave., Manhattan, May 5
All the margarita lovers in NYC will love this deal. The Horny Ram will offer fresh margaritas for $13 all day, and from 4 to 7 p.m., those margaritas will be lowered to $7 each. They will also have six for $36 beer buckets throughout the day.
Tijuana Picnic
151 Essex St., Manhattan, May 5-11
The party doesn’t have to end on May 5. This restaurant will have special Cinco de Mayo deals from May 5 to 11, including $10 house margaritas, $50 taco platters, $60 margarita pitchers, five Tecate for $30, and one-hour open bar for $50. Specialty cocktails, including El Diablo and Piñata Punch, will be available for $13 each. Reservations should be made at opentable.com.
La Central
518 W. 27th St., Manhattan, on May 4-5
For quick and easy Mexican food favorites, La Central will offer truck-style tacos and other menu items May 4 and 5 for lunch and dinner. Tacos are from $12 to $16, depending on the filling, which can be queso, chorizo, lengua, bistec, pollo or al pastor. Other menu items include chips with salsa and guacamole, enchiladas, tamales, churros and tres leches flan.
Vida Verde
248 W. 55th St., Manhattan, May 1-5
Joining in on the weeklong celebrations is Vida Verde. From May 1 to 5, the restaurant will be featuring daily specials, including buy-one-get-one margaritas from 6 to 8 p.m. on Cinco de Mayo. Other specials include La Piñata, a milk chocolate sphere stuffed with chocolates, churros, marshmallows and Mexican candy; a soft-shell crab bowl or burrito; and sope con hueso. A mariachi band, DJ and special dancers will appear throughout the week, as well.
City Tamale
1316 Oak Point Ave, the Bronx, May 5
Looking for a traditional Cinco de Mayo snack? Nationally-recognized restaurant City Tamale is offering a special holiday combo. For $10, you can get three tacos, one tamal and agua fresca. They are also offering buy one, get one half off Micheladas.
El Paso
123 E. 110th St, Manhattan, May 5
Mouth-watering tacos are the go-to at El Paso. The restaurant is offering two tacos for $5 with a choice of carnitas, al pastor or chicken. You can also get a bucket of five beers for $25 and $5 margaritas.
Pinch Chinese
177 Prince St., Manhattan
Happy hour runs all day long on Cinco de Mayo, with $5 draft beers and $8 rosè and well cocktails. Pair your drinks with $5 dumplings, $1 sweet Sichuan chicken wings, $3 cumin pork ribs or the Da Jie Platter ($15), which includes pig ear salad, charred octopus and beef shank.
Mexicocina Ageveria
708 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, May 5
For a little fun in Brooklyn, head to Mexicocina Ageveria. The restaurant is offering a great deal on May 5 only where you can get two tacos and a margarita for $16. They will also have $5 shots of tequila and $3 Tecate.
El Vez
259 Vesey St., Manhattan, May 5
Special for Cinco de Mayo, El Vez will offer several one-day specials, including the Purple Haze Margarita, a butterfly pea tea infused Gran Agave tequila with lemon, agave and a dehydrated orange wheel. They will also offer ceviche mixto tostada, nachos al pastor, tacos gobernadora, and beef short rib flautas and will have a mariachi band from noon to 8 p.m.
Toro Loco
15 Stone St., Manhattan, May 5-6
For a more upscale experience, Toro Loco will offer a $500 DIY margarita experience. The Patrón Margarita Tower is a three-tier personal drink bar with rock glasses, Patrón Silver, cocktail garnishes – including pineapple fronds, dehydrated oranges, limes, truffled sea salt and edible flowers, caviar in oyster shells, dry ice, and cocktail flavors. The deal will be available through May 6.
Social Drink & Food
Inside Yotel at 570 10th Ave., Manhattan, May 5
Rooftop parties are nothing new at this bar, but they are going all out for Cinco de Mayo. From 3 to 7 p.m., Social Drink & Food will host a fiesta sponsored by Casamigos that includes music, games, food and more. Guests can get a Bandera watermelon or Casamigos margarita, tacos, and guacamole with homemade tortilla chips. They will also have a mini piñata filled with mini sunglasses and mini liquor bottles, and Mexican Bingo where guests can compete for the Social Drink & Food Cinco De Mayo Kit – a party package that includes a drink ticket and sombrero.
Num Pang Kitchen
1129 Broadway, Manhattan, May 5
This Cambodian sandwich shop is mixing things up for Cinco de Mayo by partnering up with Los Tacos No. 1. Los Tacos will take its Mexican cuisine skills to the Kitchen’s special Cinco de Num celebration from May 5 to 7 to make handmade tortillas. Guests can order pork belly, coconut shrimp, grilled steak and veggies, as well as frozen drinks, such as lychee and ginger and spicy watermelon froze.
Baar Baar
13 E. First St., Manhattan, May 5
For a little flair on your Mexican dishes, BAAR BAAR will offer a special Indian-inspired Cinco de Mayo cuisine for the holiday. On May 5, the restaurant will offer two tacos and an Indian-spiced margarita for $30. Taco options include chicken ghee, lamb keema, or masala jackfruit, all with avocado and sour cream.
Dos Caminos
Multiple locations in Manhattan, May 4-5
The best parties begin with the best pre-games and Dos Caminos wants to be the best. The restaurant will kick off Cinco de Mayo on May 4 with a pre-game celebration featuring special drinks and party platters, such as tamale dumplings, shrimp alambres and poblano quesadillas. On May 5, the party platters and drink specials will be accompanied by a “No Siesta” brunch menu until 4 p.m., as well as giveaways and DJs.
La Chula Harlem NYC
137 E. 116th St., Manhattan, May 5
Look no further for taco specials — La Chula is offering taco de carnitas ($4.25) with braised pork carnitas in Mexican coca cola and orange, chile de arbol tomato salsa, onions, and cilantro; and taco de cabeza ($4.25) made with roasted veal head, salsa verde, onion, and cilantro. It will also serve up a special cocktail called El Julio Cesar Chavez ($13), which is a fruit punch made with Sombra mezcal, Astral tequila, with orange, lime, and pomegranate juices.
Grand Central Terminal
89 E. 42nd St., Manhattan, May 3-5
Head to GCT’s restaurants and stores for some Cinco de Mayo specials. The Bar at Great Northern Food Hall will have dulce vida margaritas and a four-beer bucket of Bronx Brewery Que Milagro Mexican-style lager on May 4-5; La Chula will serve taco de carnitas with braised pork for $4.25 May 3 -5; and Central Cellars has Don Julio Claro Anejo 70th Anniversary tequila for $74.94.
Cantina Rooftop & Cantina 48
605 W. 48th St., Manhattan, May 3-5
Enjoy city views as you celebrate. Cantina Rooftop and Cantina 48 are serving six cans of beer for $36 and will have brunch and dinner all three days with music by DJ Javi.
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