From one star-studded fiesta to a festive cooking class to can’t-beat dining deals throughout the Valley, here is where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a mouthwatering margarita in hand–of course.
TV star Mario Lopez has chosen Scottsdale as the place to throw the ultimate Cinco de Mayo party: Cinco de Mario. The event, taking place at Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza on May 5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will have a little something for everyone. Party people can enjoy Mexican gourmet goods at the authentic mercado; sip and savor at the Rosé Wine Garden; enjoy a Craft Beer Cantina with cornhole and craft beer; and take in live entertainment, a kid’s zone and even a “Saved by the Bell” lookalike contest (Lopez did rise to fame as the TV show’s character AC Slater, after all). General admission is $15 online in advance, $20 at the gate. The Mansion VIP tickets are $100 online in advance and include five drink tickets, a private bar, upgraded food available for purchase, upgraded restrooms and more. VIP and Mario Meet-and-Greet tickets are $200 online in advance and include a meet-and-greet with Lopez, complimentary drinks and food, upgraded restrooms and more. Kids 12 and under are free.
Stop by the Downtown Phoenix’s Taco Chelo on Saturday, May 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. for tequila tastings, $3 Sesion Cervezas from Full Sail Brewing Co. and a $6 one-day-only specialty cocktail, featuring Jose Cuervo Traditionale. Evening guests can enjoy an additional dose of Mexican music and culture with live mariachi musicians hitting the scene from 6 until 8 p.m.
Ocean Prime on High Street celebrates “Cinco de Derby” on May 5 at 5 p.m. In celebration of Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby both falling on Saturday, May 5, Ocean Prime will offer two theme-appropriate cocktails in the lounge for the special price of $14 each. Toast to Cinco de Mayo with a signature tequila cocktail, featuring Corzo Silver Tequila, freshly squeezed orange and lime juice, and house-infused agave nectar.
CRUjiente Tacos in Phoenix will serve Premier Cru Margaritas all day for just $5 and have special extended hours on Cinco De Mayo (open from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. for lunch, happy hour, dinner and late-night happy hour). Happy hour will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and late-night happy hour will be available from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Old Town Scottsdale’s Brat Haus will host “Cinco de Sausage” on Saturday, May 5, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. All-day food specials will include the al pastor sausage with charred pineapple mint salsa for $12, pork chorizo verde sausage with blackened shrimp for $14 and the Mexican street corn with Haus hot sauce, cotija, cilantro and lime for $6. Celebrate happy hour all day with $7 Mexican mule drinks and New Belgium’s brand new Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza on tap for $6 for a 10-oz. pour. And order the festive Cinco de Sausage Berry Margarita made with triple sec, lemon and lime juice, simple syrup, raspberries and fresh basil leaves to be entered into a drawing for $50 gift card to Brat Haus.
From 3 to 7 p.m., enjoy Cinco de Mayo at Tavern Americana for a variety of food and drink specials, include street corn, Mexican street tacos, taco pizza, house margaritas and much more.
Camp Social will be hosting a “Cinco de Camp” event on Sunday, May 5, featuring drink specials and specialty food items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to spirited libations (like $5 house margaritas), food specials include a variety of Chef Esteban Contreras’ famous tacos. Guests can choose from chicken, shrimp and octopus. The Campo de Mayo fiesta features live music until 8 p.m. when the DJ turns up the heat on Camp at night until closing time.
Revelers can enjoy Cinco de Mayo celebrations all week with Macayo Mexican Restaurant, from May 1 to May 5. Specials include $8.99 Mexican flag chimi, $10.49 Pollo Blanco burro ($1 of every Pollo Blanco burro sold will be donated to the Arvizu Scholarship Foundation) and a variety of drink deals.
Guests are invited to Old Town Gringos for a Cinco de Mayo bash on Saturday, May 5, from 11 a.m. to close. The restaurant will offer $5 Pacifico and Modelo Especial drafts and $6 OTG house margaritas featuring Jose Cuervo Tradicional in addition to onsite giveaways and live music all day long from the Josh Roy Band and DJ Tranzl8r.
Arcadia Tavern is celebrating Cinco De Mayo with a delicious enchilada plate that features three enchiladas, rice and beans for $13.95 (cheese) or $14.95 (chicken or beef). In addition, all Mexican beers in a bottle will be $3 and house margaritas for $5.
Celebrate with Sandbar Chandler and Sandbar Desert Ridge on Cinco de Mayo with tequila, tacos, Mexican beer and margaritas all day on May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.). Sandbar Chandler will feature performances by the Hourglass Cats, the Black Moods and DJ Jeff Metcalf while Sandbar Desert Ridge hosts Sassy & the Sneak Attack, Elvis Before Noon and DJ Pulse. Revelers can pair their fresh Mexican cuisine with a frozen margarita mixed with Sauza Blue 100 percent Agave Tequila, DeKuyper Triple Sec and Sandbar’s award-winning margarita mix or signature cocktails like the Clooney Paloma, a pairing of Casamigo’s Blanco Tequila with agave nectar, fresh lime, grapefruit juice and Barritt’s ginger beer. Both Valley Sandbar Mexican Grill locations will be collecting canned food on Cinco de Mayo to donate to local food banks. For every can donated on Cinco de Mayo, Sandbar will match with a $1 donation to a local food bank. Sandbar Mexican Grill will match all canned food donations on Cinco de Mayo up to $5,000.
To celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5, the newly opened PNPK will offer guests $5 house margaritas as well as free chips and queso with the purchase of any slider flight from open to close.
Sierra Bonita Grill will be offering a special price all day on two of its popular margaritas (the Fresh Squeezed Margarita and Pomegranate Margarita will be $5 each), its weekend brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and extended happy hour from 3 p.m. to close.
Famous 48 offers $12 Carefree Margaritas in honor of Cinco de Mayo, as well as several $3 drink specials, all day.
Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers dishes up Cinco de Derby with all-day drink specials, like $6 Patron shots, $7 Patron margaritas, $5 spicy Micheladas and more.
Old Town’s Wasted Grain will offer all-day drink specials including $8 Patron shots and margaritas and $4 Dos XX. Plus, enjoy live music that will round out the festivities.
Celebrate Otro Café‘s five-year anniversary and Cinco de Mayo with 5 Days, 5 Deals!
- Tuesday, May 1: $2 tacos
- Wednesday, May 2: 20 percent Off To-Go Orders
- Thursday, May 3: All-Day Happy Hour
- Friday, May 4: $4 Margaritas
- Saturday, May 5: $5 Flapjacks, smothered in butter and 100 percent maple syrup
To honor both Cinco de Mayo and the anniversary of Gallo Blanco‘s sister restaurant, Otro Café, this downtown Phoenix favorite will also be offering five days of deals. And to help you refresh and recover from celebrating, enjoy $4 Bloody Marys all day at both Otro Café and Gallo Blanco on Sunday, May 6.
- Tuesday, May 1: $10 La Parillada (family-style tacos) platters
- Wednesday, May 2: Posole Party — $5 bowls of posole
- Thursday, May 3: All-Day Happy Hour
- Friday, May 4: $4 Sangria
- Saturday, May 5: Free churros with every order over $20
Stop by anytime Tuesday, May 1, through Saturday, May 5, to take advantage of Someburros’ multi-day celebration. Cinco de Mayo specials include:
- Tuesday, May 1 – $2 Taco Tuesday (Valid for shredded beef, shredded chicken and ground beef and potato tacos only)
- Wednesday, May 2 – $6 Pollo Fundidos
- Thursday, May 3 – #TBT $2.50 Bean & Cheese Burros
- Friday, May 4 – $2 Margaritas (Limit one per person with purchase)
- Saturday – Cinco De Mayo celebration, one free cookie per person with purchase (While supplies last)
Craving something a little different for Cinco de Mayo? Match Restaurant & Lounge hosts a holiday-themed cooking class with Chef Alex Stratta on May 5 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. The cost is $50 per person, and space is limited. Reservations can be made by calling 602.875.8080.
