While the majority of Cinco de Mayo party-goers wrongfully shake their maracas for Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo actually honors Mexico's victory over the French in the 1862 Battle of Puebla.
In the United States, the Cinco de Mayo holiday has come to honor Mexico's other cultural victories—such as the art of a perfect margarita, the rowdy tequila shot tradition, the culinary legend of carnitas, and of course the innovative style of the sombrero.
Wait, what!? The 1862 Battle of Puebla? Don’t worry your little brain over it. Just grab your biggest and brightest sombrero and go.
San Diego's proximity to Mexico accounts for the abundance of Cinco de Mayo celebrations each year. From tequila-fueled events to family festivals, margarita bars and restaurants, and arts and culture celebrations, San Diego sure knows how to party.
Bar West invites you to embark on mission sensory overload at the Feed the Senses party. Partying on a budget? You’ll definitely be able to afford Sneak Joint’s hosted margarita bar. Embrace traditional Mexican music with Reggae de Mayo at Belly Up. For a more sophisticated celebration, check out the Manny Cepeda Orchestra at Anthology. For serious tequila drinkers, we recommend El Agave, El Vitral and La Puerta, just to name a few…
Discover local tips and trends for 2010 Cinco de Mayo in San Diego.
Don’t see your party listed here? Leave a comment below!
Olé Music Festival for Invisible Children: May 9
¡Olé! 2010 featuring
Lupe Fiaso with
Shiny Toy Guns and
Buddy Akai is an all-ages benefit concert at the University of San Diego’s Jenny Craig Pavilion, supporting Invisible Children. USD is redefining the massive annual college concert by choosing to benefit a charity with its proceeds. ¡Olé! 2010 marks a turning point in the purpose of these shows, suddenly lending them much more importance. Get
details here.
Cinco de Mayo Party at Sneak Joint: May 5
Tequila and tacos at the beach for Cinco de Mayo? How San Diego! Sneak Joint is hosting a margarita-fueled fiesta in honor of Cinco de Mayo, featuring a
hosted margarita bar from 6:30 – 7:30pm (WOW!), plus such drink specials as $3 Corona, $4 El Jimador 100% Agave Margaritas, $4 El Jimador Paloma and Margarita Cans (new product), and $5 Corralejo Shots. Sneak Joint is also hooking you up with a special holiday menu of Mexican food and treats all night long. Sneak Joint is your Mission Beach destination for Cinco de Mayo this year – starting at 3pm, jumping off with free margaritas at 6:30pm, and coming to a finale close at 12midnight. Get
details here.
Feed the Senses at Bar West: May 5
Bar West presents the inaugural Feed the Senses event from 6pm to 12midnight on May 5, featuring art, music, food and more surprise tantalizing treats to send you on sensory overload. This Cinco De Mayo don’t settle for just tacos and tequila, let Bar West gift you with a special evening of local art pop-up galleries from artists Ross McDowell (pictured), Gregg Visintainer, Andy Lowe and more, live music by Satiator, and a delicious Cinco de Mayo inspired menu hand crafted by Chef Kenny Gough. Rather than just indulging your taste buds, why not feed all your senses? Get details here.
Cinco de Mayo Party at Hard Rock Hotel: May 5
Who out there likes free beer and models? Club 207 at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a hosted Dos XX beer bar from 8-9pm, model air brushing, live photo shoot with Eden’s Angels, a live performance by Meluplus and hip hop, Latin house and party rock beats by DJs Nono and Scooter. To drink the hosted Dos XX bar you must be on the guest list. RSVP here.
Sonido de la Frontera Cinco de May at Onyx Room: May 5
San Diego’s O.G. nightclub, The Onyx Room, is throwing one hell of a Cinco de Mayo party this year, featuring live music by Sonido de la Frontera and Tribe of Kings. Alongside the beats will be live art by the Infusion Project, with such artists as Sean Dietrich, Fungus, Micheal Briones, Brian Hebet, Sumo1, and Vincent Gordon. There is no cover and doors open at 9pm. Get details here.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at La Puerta: May 5
If there is anything that makes La Puerta’s guacamole taste even better, it’s live the spicy entertainment combo of mariachi bands and DJ sets. La Puerta is hosting a Cinco de Mayo fiesta with mariachis, DJ sets by Scooter, Craig Smoove, Mike Czech and DJ Who. Why wait ‘til night time? Head in to La Puerta at 10am to get the party started with some TJ Hot Dogs. $1 Mimosas will be served all day, Happy Hour specials – all bar and all appetizers – is honored from 5-7pm and then again late night from 10pm to close. No Cinco de Mayo is complete without tequila shots, so order up some $5 shots of Herradura Antiguo. Get details here.
Saul Q’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at El Dorado: May 5
Can you handle a full night of tequila, tacos, pinatas, chichis and no cover at East Village's favorite neighborhood dive bar? Saul Q’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta will be one wild holiday event, with DJs Saul Q, Kid Wonder, Office Twins and the anticipated debut of Live Cumbia band Azucar. Get details here.
Rubitique Cinco Dago at The Grand Artique: May 5
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at The Grand Artique in Pacific Beach. This fiesta will be equipped with a tequila bar, El Rubicon's famous torta's and an Artique Addict Salon cart photo booth by Mr. Ben Decamp Shark Stylez. Come dressed as your favorite Hispanic Character and partake in the Latin Festivities such as dancing to the sounds of tango, salsa, and mariachi by DJ Juan Carlito and Speedy Shane Gonzales. Get details here.
Cinco de Mayo Industry Night at Side Bar: May 5
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo industry-style with DJs Fresh One and Chris Cutz dueling out on 4 turntables at Side Bar during the always-wild Industry Wednesday party. Side Bar will be hooking you up with drink specials all night, so wear your best sombrero and prepare yourself for a few too many tequila shots. Get details here.
Cinco de Mayo at El Camino: May 5
Super El Camino presents a muy super fiesta for Cinco de Mayo this year, featuring San Diego DJs Gabe Vega and Jalil and such drink specials as $3 tequila shots, $3 Corona beers and $4 Tecate tall boys. You know lowriders are always in style on El Camino’s side of Little Italy, so expect a super-sized serving of lowriders, piñatas, and maybe even a few donkeys if you’re lucky. Local photog “El Turbo” is embracing the holiday and setting up a themed photo booth to capture your wild night. For more details, please visit Super El Camino.
Reggae de Mayo at The Belly Up: May 5
North County’s premier music venue, The Belly Up, is going all out this year with a Reggae de Mayo event featuring Stranger and The Devastators with DJ Mazz and Los Chicharrones Guapos. For more details, please visit The Belly Up.
Manny Cepeda Orchestra at Anthology Supper Club: May 5
Little Italy’s stunning supper club plays host to the ever-festive Manny Cepeda Orchestra for a Cinco de Mayo concert and dance party. For more details, please visit Anthology.
Cabeza de Gallo at Beauty Bar: May 5
With a name that translates to Chicken Head, you know this band is going to throw one hell of a party. Cabeza de Gallo is a country-punk rock-en-espanol band that plays with A Dull Science and White Apple Tree this Cinco de Mayo at Beauty Bar. For more details, please visit Beauty Bar.
Cinco de Mayo Art Show at The TIpsy Crow: May 5
The Tipsy Crow will host a festive Cinco de Mayo Art Show Party from 7-11pm with dos levels of pop-up art galleries, live art, a silent auction, and beats by DJ Sachamo. For more details, please visit The Tipsy Crow.
Old Town’s Fiesta Cinco de Mayo: May 1 & May 2
The historic Old Town San Diego offers a free annual event that attracts up to 250,000 visitors on Cinco de Mayo each year, and features two full days of music and entertainment on five stages, world class food through Old Town restaurants, cultural and historic exhibits and reenactments located in a 22 block area of the Old Town community and Old Town San Diego Historic State Park. For more details, please visit fiestacincodemayo.com.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Solana Beach: May 2
The North County San Diego community of Solana Beach hosts a free fiesta for Cinco de Mayo, which features traditional crafts and activities, mariachi music and folklorio dancers as well as Mexican food and spirits. Discover how North County does Cinco de Mayo. For more details, please visit cityofsolanabeach.org.
Less Tequila, More Teaching: Cinco de Mayo Cultural Celebrations
Los Olividados Mexican Film Screening at MOPA: May 13
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the Museum of Photographic Arts presents a one-time screening of Luis Bunuel’s praised film Los Olividados from 1950. For more details, please visit mopa.org.
Fiesta Poblana at Ballet Folklorico: May 8
The Ballet Folklorico en Aztlan is known for its exquisite style and commitment to preserving the indigenous aspects of Mexican folklore while creating new works complementing traditional forms with contemporary dance movements. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the center presents Fiesta Poblana, featuring indigenous dances and performances from Puebla, Mexico, the region where Mexican forces defeated the French army. For more details, please visit balletfolkloricoenaztlan.org.
Brutal Beauty: Drawings by Hugo Crosthwaite at SDMA: Through July 18
Take an Insider glance into the reality of Mexico’s brutal beauty at this solo exhibit by Tijuana-born artist Hugo Crosthwaite – educated in San Diego, now based in New York – on display now through July 18th at the San Diego Museum of Art. For more details, please visit sdmart.org.
Insider Tip: After all this partying, you’re going to need to sweat out your tequila with a hardcore workout. Exercise in the holiday spirit at the Cinco de Mayo Trail Run at Lake Poway on May 8th. The 4th Annual Cinco de Mayo Trail Run event at Lake Poway is organized by the Valley Elementary Educational Foundation, whose mission is to bring together parents and community members to raise money to enrich the educational experience at Valley Elementary so that every child there can succeed. The Cinco de Mayo Trail Run features a 10K distance and multiple 5K heats including an open heat, a Men's Elite Heat, a Women's Elite Heat and a Heroes' Heat to honor active-duty firefighters. The run starts at 6:30am at Lake Poway. For more details, please visit cincodemayo5k.org.
Margaritas in San Diego: Restaurant and Bar Recommendations
Cinco de Mayo is one annual party that just wouldn't be the same without spicy food and strong tequila. The fifth is a day for margarita lovers and agave connoisseurs; a day that gives rise to a diverse crowd of the young and old looking to exceed the drinking limitations of yesteryear with mass amounts of margaritas with just the right amount of salty kick. No Cinco de Mayo should be spent sober. Take out lead to these muy spicy local hot spots.
Old Town Mexican Café: Located in historic Old Town San Diego, this restaurant celebrates Cinco de Mayo with mariachis, food and beer specials, and a DJ in the garden room. Don't waste valuable drinking time scanning the full-bar's vast menu of margaritas and tequilas, choose the Classic Cointreau Margarita. The simple blend of Margaritaville Tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice makes this cocktail the best option.
El Agave: This Old Town staple is arguably the top San Diego Mexican restaurant for tequila. The large menu of over 400 tequilas leaves some a bit confused, but the staff is helpful in guiding you to the best top shelf concoction. Go Cadillac this Cinco de Mayo, or keep it cool with a blended mango margarita. The glass encased tequila walls will spin around you, and you're guaranteed to get a good buzz, even if your drink does break the bank.
El Vitral: Located on J Street in a refurbished brick building resting at the mouth of Petco Park in East Village, El Vitral’s décor is bathed in cultural colors of blue, purple, orange and yellow amid thriving agave plants that line the foyer. El Vitral offers over 200 brands of Tequila. Of the countless unique margaritas on the menu, Jamaica Me Loco, made with Tequila blanco, Curacao, fresh hibiscus, orange juice, agave nectar, and rimmed with homemade hibiscus salt, is a flowery taste sensation. (pictured)
El Camino Super Cocina: Super El Camino’s interior reflects a sense of pop culture fused with Mexico’s vibrancy and tradition. What its interior offers in its aesthetics, its cuisine equally offers in flavor: Fresh, thoughtful, and traditional Mexican dishes with a comforting sense of familiarity. This Little Italy Super Cocina is known for its generous pitchers of Margaritas – agave wine, sweet and sour mix and freshly squeezed lime juice served over ice – as well as the authentic Micheladas – any beer served in a glass boot with freshly squeezed lime juice, ice and Tajin spiced rim, or clamato style with clamato juice and all that jazz.
La Puerta: This Downtown San Diego staple is a dim saloon-like bar and restaurant known for killer guacamole, undeniably legit TJ Hot Dogs, Sangria and a wide variety of Margaritas. Switch things up with a Sangria Swirl, which is prepared with fresh house-made sangria, (brandy, orange, lemon and cinnamon) spun together with a frosty frozen margarita. Or keep it real with a You Shook Me All Night Long Margarita, with El Jimador Blanco, a splash of Triple Sec, and fresh squeezed sweet and sour mix, served on the rocks.
Las Olas: Dine at Las Olas to experience the ultimate Mexican fiesta in North County. Since 1981, Las Olas has been providing Mexican food fanatics with the freshest dishes and delicious pitchers of flavored margaritas, served with an ocean view. You’re sure to love the Pineapple ‘n’ Chile Margarita, with fresh jalapeño and roasted pineapple infused tequila, shaken with a splash of pineapple juice, Triple Sec, fresh lime juice and a pinch of cane sugar served "up" in a salt rimmed martini glass. But don’t overlook the Mamasita Mango-Rita – A fresh mango margarita made with Sauza Gold tequila and imported Citronage Orange Liqueur by Patron. Check out the Cardiff and Carlsbad locations of Las Olas in North County San Diego.
Baja Betty's: Baja Betty’s is a go-to Hillcrest restaurant for good, old-fashioned MexiCali fare. Located on University Avenue in the heart of the Hillcrest community, Baja Betty's is a fun bar to visit for a diverse atmosphere and strong margarita. This joint is best known for the massive real fruit margaritas and the monthly tequila tasting parties. Betty is sure to convince you wine tasting has nothing on tequila tasting.
Fred's Mexican Café: All three locations will be packed this Cinco de Mayo, and for good reason. From Pacific Beach to Old Town and Gaslamp, Fred serves up extra-large extra-strength margaritas in all flavors and top shelf varieties. Go big this Cinco de Mayo with the Patron Rita Margarita, loaded with Patron Silver and Patron Citronage.
The Lime: Quench your thirst at The Lime in Gaslamp Quarter. This petite tequila bar serves some of the tastiest margaritas this side of the border, and the half price happy hour ritas attract locals from all over the county. Sip on the Blue Margarita, a tasty mixture of tequila, blue curacao, homemade sweet and sour, and a splash of OJ.
More San Diego margarita hot spots include: Barrio Star in Banker’s Hill, Las Hadas in Downtown San Diego, Cantina Mayahuel in University Heights, Gringo’s Cantina in Pacific Beach, En Fuego in Del Mar.
Where’s your favorite San Diego margarita spot? Leave a comment below!
