Two parts tequila, one part triple sec, and one part lime juice – that’s the classic way to do a margarita. But we’re not ones to stay within the parameters of tradition, especially when it comes to the endless tipples London has to offer. We’re embracing the wealth of margaritas the capital is serving up, from hibiscus infused to blood orange pimped.
As if we needed an excuse to go out for margaritas, this Saturday 22nd February is National Margarita Day and there are plenty of London bars and restaurants getting involved. That’s one way to brighten up these grey February days…
Madera at Treehouse
Inside Central London’s coolest new hotel you’ll find Madera restaurant with its modern, reimagined Mexican-inspired menu and a whole list of margaritas.
Choose from the Ghost Rider, altos plata, fresh mint, lime juice, agave; the Prickly Pear, avion blanco, lime juice, agave, prickly pear or the Thai Basil, ocho blanco, thai basil, lime, agave.
The drinks are seriously good here and the food as delicious as it is Instagrammable – make sure you try the tacos and the ‘Rocks’ menu – a selection of meats and fish served sizzling at the table on hot lava stones.
But it’s the views which stretch right over Central London that make this one of the coolest margarita spots in the capital.
Treehouse London, 14-15 Langham Place, London W1B 2QS
www.treehousehotels.com
Red Rooster & Green Room, The Curtain
Tequila kings Patrón are literally essence of the Margarita cocktail. And Red Rooster & Green Room have teamed up with the tequila makers with a bespoke Margarita Day menu. Made with a combination of Patrón Reposado tequila, Patrón Citrónge Orange liqueur and lime juice, the restaurant and bar at this Shoreditch mainstay will be serving The Perfect Patrón Margarita between 19th and 23rd February; perfect by name and perfect by taste. And if you can’t make it, Patrón will be serving their drinks at 100 other bars across the UK.
Red Rooster & Green Room, The Curtain, 45 Curtain Road, Hackney, EC2A 3PT
www.redroosterldn.com
Club Mexicana at the Spread Eagle
If you’re after vegan food that’s all about virtuousness, this is not the place. Club Mexicana at Hackney’s Spread Eagle pub is pure filth. Think fully loaded nachos, beer battered ‘tofish’ and Mexican-fried chick’n’ burgers – all 100% vegan but not a smidgen healthy.
Wash it all down with one of the bar’s signature margaritas which, for an east London boozer, are pretty damn good.
The Spread Eagle, 224 HOMERTON HIGH STREET, London E9 6AS
www.thespreadeaglelondon.co.uk
Ella Canta
Interiors that make you want to redecorate your home, food that makes you want to book a flight to Mexico and a whole menu dedicated to margaritas – we can’t fault Ella Canta.
Book a table if you want to get stuck into the authentic food menu, but if you really want to have some fun, pull up a pew at the bar and let the bartenders talk you through the dedicated margarita menu.
Ella Canta, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1J 7QY
www.ellacanta.com
El Pastor
The guys behind El Pastor learnt their margarita craft running a nightclub for 10 years in Mexico City no less. Head here for an authentic taqueria experience – tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, mezcal, tequila and some of the best margaritas this side of the Atlantic.
Naturally they have outposts in some of London’s hippest street food spots from Coal Drops Yard to Maltby Street Market and Stoney Street.
Various locations
www.tacoselpastor.co.uk
The Hoxton
The name might suggest somewhere in Hackney but the team at all three of London’s Hoxton hotels know where they’re at when it comes to Mexican margaritas. They’ve teamed up with Cointreau to bring each outpost a twist on the classic drink.
At their Southwark location go for the Riviera Daisy shaken up with Cointreau, Altos Olmeca Tequila, Cocchi Americano, and Sudachi Juice.
If you want to spice things up, Holborn are delivering with the Hot Hawaiian, a sweet and spicy concoction featuring Cointreau, Tequila Blanco and Reposado, pineapple and jalapeno syrup and lime juice.
Or in true Shoreditch style, The Hoxton on Great Eastern Street are mixing things up with the Reverse Margarita, a smoky twist on the classic made with Cointreau, Quiri Mezcal, Fresh Lime Juice, and Agave nectar. To celebrate National Margarita Day they’ll be serving up £4 tacos with every order of the drink between Monday 17th and Sunday 23rd February.
Shoreditch, Holborn and Southwark
www.thehoxton.com
Corazon
If a margarita and a bowl of nuts just isn’t going to cut it for your night out, head to Corazón, where during the whole week leading up to National Margarita Day, they’ll be offering a delicious Mexican menu with each dish paired with its own margarita.
Created by Head Chef Paul Daniel, the three course menu features a blood orange and Mexican avocado tostada, drizzled with a Cointreau dressing and paired with a rosé champagne margarita; duck Barbacoa tacos paired with a spicy carrot margarita; before finishing off with a toasted coconut tres leches, paired with an orange marmalade margarita.
The drinks are seriously good – we even asked them to add them to the main menu.
29 Poland St, Soho, London W1F 8QR
www.corazonlondon.co.uk
La Bodega Negra
A restaurant and bar disguised as a Soho sex shop? Our kind of place. Head through the neon-lit, seedy looking front door to find one of London’s most fun bars.
Margarita-wise, there’s something for everyone, from the served straight up with a salt rim to the hibiscus-infused and the chili-cucumber concoction if you can handle it.
La Bodega Negra,9 Old Compton Street, London WID 5JF
www.labodeganegra.com
Del74
Understated, cool and serving up damn good Mexican food and margs, Dalston’s Del74 had to make the cut. The no-fuss fair is super affordable and so keen are the team to share their love of tacos and margaritas they basically have Happy Hour every day, all year long.
Tacos are £2, beers £3.50 and margaritas £6.50. You can’t argue with that.
Del74, 129 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PB
www.tacosdel74.com
