National Margarita Day is February 22 – and we’re celebrating with this list of the best margaritas in Grand Rapids, as recommended by the Experience Grand Rapids team and our social media followers.
Whether you prefer the traditional lime variety or newer and more adventurous flavors, if you like it frozen or on the rocks, you’ll find plenty of satisfying salt-rimmed options in Grand Rapids.
No need to wait until February 22 to indulge your margarita craving. These selections are available right now… and all year round!
Celebrate National Margarita Day, or just any day, with a margarita from one of our social media follower's favorite spots.
Photo by Ashley Wierenga
Donkey Taqueria
Housed in a remodeled 1920s neighborhood service station, Donkey Taqueria dishes up authentic Mexican food like carne asada tacos and hand-cut tortilla chips served with homemade guacamole. Their bar is a can’t-miss, with over 130 varieties of tequila. Donkey’s standard margaritas include a classic lime version and a rotating selection of other flavors, plus options made with mezcal rather than tequila.
Cantina Mexican Grill
A popular destination for Mexican fare since 1976, Cantina Mexican Grill crafts its margaritas with a secret recipe and serves them blended or on the rocks. Their housemade margaritas are available in a variety of flavors and include fresh lime juice and a salt rim for that extra kick. An extensive food menu features a blend of authentic and Americanized South-of-the-border dishes. Cantina Mexican Grill is located just off busy 28th Street in southeast Grand Rapids, about one mile from Woodland Mall.
Luna GR
Just around the corner from downtown GR’s Van Andel Arena, Luna embraces the rich culinary heritage of Latin America and features contemporary Latin foods, so you can always expect delicious food and creative drinks. Their margaritas are handmade daily with fresh citrus like lime and orange – and flavored with prickly pear, mango and grapefruit – then kegged and served from the tap. Can’t decide? Order a Margarita Flight of three flavors. Margarita Mondays offer special pricing all day long, at the original downtown location and Luna Ada, about 20 minutes east.
Pure Mex Tacos & Tequila
Known for its authentic meals, hearty portions and affordable prices, Pure Mex Byron Center and Pure Mex Grandville also offer memorable margaritas. In addition to a delicious classic version, they offer a rotating selection of seasonal specials – like the Honolulu Blue Margarita honoring the Detroit Lions. The food menu is packed with authentic, flavor-forward Mexican dishes made fresh to order.
Lalos Mexican Bar & Grille
Lalos Mexican Bar & Grille in Grandville is a bright and cozy spot with a big margarita menu, ample food portions and a summer patio. The house margarita can be enjoyed on the rocks or frozen, and is available in 10 fruity flavors in addition to the original classic version. Other options include a Coronarita, skinny-rita, a margarita flight and two different margarita towers. The margarita menu at Lalos Mexican Bar & Grille Ada is a bit smaller but features such intriguing variations as a Mezcal Margarita, Sangria Margarita and Spicy Hibiscus Margarita.
Lindo Mexico
The Lindo Mexico menu offers page after page of mouthwateringly authentic south-of-the-border dishes and drinks, including 12 different margaritas – including four spicy selections – and eight ‘ritas, which are smaller versions of their regular-size margaritas. All of them pair perfectly with the burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, tacos, tamales and other Mexican specialties that await you at this woman-owned Wyoming restaurant that has been delighting hungry patrons since 2000.
Experience MeXo's margarita that is shaken tableside.
Photo by MeXo Tequila & Mezcal Bar and Restaurant
MeXo
Downtown GR’s MeXo, led by award-winning Executive Chef Oscar Moreno, prides itself on adding modern touches to the classic pre-Hispanic cuisine of Mexico. Think Caldo de Piedra (seafood stone soup), a goat milk-marinated salmon filet and deconstructed tacos. MeXo’s food is elevated and you can expect the same from their margaritas – from the classic Mexo Margarita to the smoky Oaxacan Margarita to the upscale Palenque Margarita.
Beltline Bar
Less than five miles south of downtown Grand Rapids, the Beltline Bar is a long-time local favorite, in operation since 1953. It’s best known for its “famous” wet burrito – named one of America’s best by Food & Wine Magazine – but its margaritas are also a big draw. You’ll find a great variety of margarita choices here, both frozen and on the rocks. Get the free Flights of Flavor digital pass to earn points toward hats, t-shirts and more when you order the Beltline’s margarita and taco & margarita flights.
Archival Brewing
Best known for recreating historic-style beers, ciders and meads, Archival Brewing in northeast GR also crafts a beloved margarita. Six of them, actually: original, mango, pomegranate, spicy, mint and blood orange, all featuring agave spirit and house triple sec. Enjoy yours indoors or out in the biergarten along with seasonally crafted cuisine.
Barrio Tacos
“Tacos + Tequila + Whiskey” is the promise at downtown GR’s Barrio Tacos, and it’s that second element that makes the margaritas here shine. There are 10 margarita selections on the menu, each offering a distinctly different flavor sensation. Ingredients include agave nectar, ginger sugar, lemonade, lime juice, housemade morita syrup, lychee and more.
Birch Lodge
This down-to-earth Medical Mile neighborhood bar serves reasonably priced pub grub and, according to its fans, some of the city’s best drinks – the Birch Lodge has been included in our lists of locals’ favorite espresso martinis, Bloody Marys, mimosas and happy hours in addition to margaritas.
Blue Dog Tavern
The C.Y.O. (Choose Your Own) Margarita at Blue Dog Tavern lets you customize your drink with one of six flavors and either a salt or sugar rim. They all pair perfectly with Blue Dog all-beef hot dogs, Angus beef burgers, handhelds and entrees. The restaurant is located on the city’s West Side, close to the Bridge Street Entertainment District.
Where Grand Rapids’ charm meets timeless Mexican flavor. Elevate your evening with a handcrafted margarita at Cinco de Mayo.
Photo by Bryan Esler for Experience GR
Cinco De Mayo
Just steps from downtown GR hotels and entertainment venues, Cinco de Mayo serves up great Happy Hour deals on a house margarita, skinny-rita and jalapeno margarita from 2pm-6pm Monday-Friday. Four additional flavors are available – get a flight to try multiple margaritas in one trip, accompanied by some delicious Mexican food.
El Agave Mexican Grill & Bar
El Agave, a second-generation family-owned restaurant on the city’s northeast side, boasts a huge menu of south-of-the-border dishes in addition to full bar service. You’ll find the classic margarita flavors you expect as well as a few surprises, plus a rotating selection of specials: Apple Cider Margarita, Hot Honey Margarita, White Christmas Margarita, Heaven’s Kiss Magarita and ore.
El Centenario Mexican Grill
Enjoy a vast selection of authentic dishes and drinks in a laid-back space on 28th St. at El Centenario, “where every moments tastes like Mexico.” Fans rave about the margarita flavors, specials and 80-oz. towers, perfect for sharing with friends.
El Cerrito Cocina Mexicana
Located in GR’s Uptown neighborhood, El Cerrito Cocina Mexicana prides itself on its authentic Mexican cuisine – including margaritas made with organic Reposado tequila and premium Milagro 100% agave. Choose a lime, mango, guava or strawberry margarita on the rocks, or a lime, pineapple, prickly pear or peach frozen margarita. Margarita Mondays and Pitcher Party Fridays stretch your dollar further.
Roam by San Chez
Across the street from downtown GR’s DeVos Performance Hall, Roam is a casual eatery offering a menu of global street eats, featuring savory selections from Belgium, Canada, China, Greece, Korea and more. Among the Mexican treats on the menu is the Paleta Margarita, a south-of-the-border frozen treat featuring a choice of paletas.
Taco Borracho
A classic house margarita. A choice of eight flavored margaritas. A margarita flight. A margarita tower. Is it any wonder that margarita lovers love Taco Borracho? This Medical Mile neighborhood favorite offers a variety of Mexican and Caribbean dishes alongside its amazing beverages.
Menu items and prices are subject to change, so confirm details on your destination’s website before you visit.
