Best Margaritas in Texas

Texas’ top 10 spots for the tequila-fueled classic.

Texas is tequila territory, so naturally the Margarita holds claim as the state’s unofficial cocktail. We’ve tapped 10 Texas bartenders for their house ‘Ritas, so if your travel plans have you heading to down South anytime soon, here are 10 topnotch spots not to miss.

AUSTIN
Drink.Well. Up in Austin’s North Loop, this neighborhood pub amps up the local love infusing blanco tequila and fresh lime with the locally made Paula’s Texas Orange.
207 E. 53rd St., Austin; 512-614-6683; drinkwellaustin.com

La Condesa. Tacos and tequila go hand in hand, and Austin’s La Condesa (picture above) is a Texas favorite for both. With two house Margaritas on the menu you can’t go wrong—one sticks close to the classic formula while the other infuses pineapple and damiana into the glass.
400 W. 2nd St., Austin; 512-499-0300; lacondesa.com

Takoba. Austin’s Takoba taco shop heats things up with its mango- and habanero-infused house ‘Rita—it’s perfect alongside a heaping plate of slow-braised pork tacos and a side of queso.
1610 E. 7th St., Austin; 512-628-4466; takobarestaurant.com

DALLAS
Tate’s. Squeezing 150 pounds of citrus daily, freshness is a key ingredient in every cocktail at this Dallas drinks hub, and its Eternal Flame Margarita variation in no exception with fresh muddled strawberries and jalapeño and a splash of ginger beer.
2723 McKinney Ave., Dallas; 214-954-4141; tatesdallas.com

The Chesterfield. Stepping into this downtown Dallas bar is like stepping back into a golden age of cocktails. Their novella-length cocktail menu weights heavy with classics and includes four Daisy variations (“margarita” translates to “daisy”), including one with blanco tequila and yellow Chartreuse.
1404 Main St., Dallas; 214-741-2811; thechesterfielddallas.com

The Standard Pour. Fizzy Margaritas? Yes, please! At The Standard Pour in Dallas, bartenders serve up spritzy, siphon-charged versions of the classic—just the thing to help beat a little Texas heat.
2900 McKinney Ave., Dallas; 214-935-1370; tspdallas.com

Village Marquee Texas Grill. For a seasonal slant, the Village Marquee Texas Grill in Dallas’ Highland Park adds fresh fruit of the day to its Texas honey-sweetened Trial Margarita.
33 Highland Park Village, Dallas; 214-522-6035; marqueegrill.com

HOUSTON
Anvil. Anvil has been making some of the best cocktail in Texas since 2009, and today, it continues to mix up house creations and classics—including a top-notch traditional Margarita—with perfect execution and detail.
1424 Westheimer Rd., Houston; 713-523-1622; anvilhouston.com

El Gran Malo. Head to Houston’s El Gran Malo for not one, not two, but eight riffs on the classic Margarita, including its cool-as-a-cucumber Cucumber-Mint Margarita and Texan Margarita with a single-barrel añejo, dry Curaçao and fresh citrus.
2307 Ella Blvd., Houston; 832-767-3405; elgranmalo.com

SAN ANTONIO
Esquire Tavern. San Antonio’s Riverwalk is a must-visit for anyone in town, and this busy bar is the spot to take in all the action. Order a Nuestra Margarita (which swaps in smoky mezcal for tequila and further amplifies the flavor with a botanical boost of Chartreuse) and take a sip of San Antonio’s cocktail scene at its best.
155 E. Commerce St., San Antonio; 210-222-2521; esquiretavern-sa.com