These Are Cincinnati's 18 Top Spots to Sip on a Margarita

La Ofrenda

30 Findlay St., Over-the-Rhine
Spanish for “offering,” La Ofrenda is a dimly lit and cinematic tequila establishment near Findlay Market. With a colorful altar at its center, the bar invites guests to experience Mexican heritage while celebrating their own story and where they came from. La Ofrenda serves unique margaritas — like the Zócalo Cafe, made with Cantera Negra Coffee tequila, cold-pressed coffee and orange-infused condensed milk, and the Grapefruit Basil, which incorporates a grapefruit foam through a molecular technique. With a carefully curated drink selection including 130 varieties of tequila, mezcal and sotol, La Ofrenda is celebrating the spirits of Mexico with a new generation.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Cactus Pear

3215 Jefferson Ave., Clifton
As the 2019 Best of Cincinnati winner for Best Margarita, Cactus Pear is the top reigning community-voted spot to grab a marg in the city. Accentuated by a cute back patio and menu chock full of fajitas, tacos and plenty of additional Mexican specialties, this eatery is just a hop, skip and a jump from the University of Cincinnati is a surefire way to get your tequila fix Taco Tuesday or anytime the mood strikes. From the standard house margarita to peach, cucumber, strawberry and melon, Cactus Pear has a whopping 17 flavors to choose from. Get them frozen, on the rocks or half and half.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Mesa Loca

2645 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
Stepping into a spot left vacant by Cock & Bull Hyde Park, Mesa Loca is a standout new addition to Hyde Park Square. Serving expertly prepared Mexican fare in a cool, contemporary setting, they also don’t skimp on the cocktail list. Instead of the standard salt rim, Mesa Loca accents margarita glasses with Tajin, a mild chili/lime/salt mix. Flavors include the classic ‘rita, blood orange, mango and pomegranate.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Condado Tacos

195 E. Freedom Way, Downtown; 3329 Vandercar Way, Oakley
Condado’s build-your-own taco concept first took Columbus by storm in 2014 before opening their first Cincinnati location on The Banks in April 2019 and expanding with an Oakley eatery in November. Their delicious housemade margaritas have also gotten the stamp of approval from the taco and tequila loving masses of the Queen City. Go for the standard house margarita or choose one of nine other flavors, from prickly pear and muddled jalapeño to pomegranate and blood orange. Get any of their signature margaritas half-price during happy hour from 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Gomez Salsa Cantina

2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills; 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
What once began as a humble walk-up window for fueling Washington Park lunch dates and satisfying the post-last call cravings has blossomed into a haven for all salsa-adjacent fare in both Over-the-Rhine and Walnut Hills. Gomez’s housemade margaritas and cocktails are the best way to wash down a Turtle — a Frankenstined burrito wrapped around rice and beans, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, veggies, cheese and a crunchy tostada and sealed with a layer of crispy cheese.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Nada

600 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine
This Downtown mainstay is a colorful tribute to cocktails and tacos both on the walls and on your table. Start off with a classic Nadarita aka their house marg, or kick it up a notch with one of their creatively flavored craft margaritas. The La Bomb-A mingles reposado tequila with fresh lime, blood orange and habanero syrup, and the Summertime Sabbatical pairs blanco tequila with fresh lime, cucumber and watermelon. Spice seekers can opt to heat up the libations with a jalapeño-infused tequila. Last spring, Nada upgraded its menu with herbaceous twists and revamped tacos, like the caramelized cauliflower taco with garlic-whipped goat cheese, scallion, marcona almond and fresno pepper. Pair a few tacos with a margarita and some good company, and try your best to save room for dessert.
Photo via Facebook.com/Nada

Mita’s

501 Race St., Downtown
Chef Jose Salazar is a continent away from his mamita and the hand-cranked mill she used to grind corn for arepas and empanadas, but his restaurant, Mita’s, is a tribute to her spirit and to Spanish and Latin American food. Their bar also happens to make some of the best margaritas in town. A simple concoction of tequila, citrus cordial and fresh lime, it’s a timeless tribute to the well-loved refreshment. The El Luchador adds in ginger and jalapeño for a spicy twist, or try the zero-proof pineapple margarita for a fruity, booze-less libation.
Photo via Facebook.com/MitasCincinnati

Bakersfield OTR

1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Bakersfield OTR has been a hot spot for tacos, tequila, whiskey, PBR served in a glass boot and old-school Western ambiance since 2012. Frequently touted as having some of Cincinnati’s favorite margaritas, Bakersfield serves them the old fashioned way with fresh-squeezed lemon and lime. Stick with the classic house margarita, try flavors like pineapple and orange hibiscus or swap out tequila for mezcal for a smoky twist on this crowd favorite.
Photo via Facebook.com/BakersfieldOTR

Casa Figueroa

6112 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
Casa Figueroa has been serving Latin-inspired fare to its Pleasant Ridge neighbors since 2017. Grounded by a menu of local and sustainably sourced ingredients, their fresh-squeezed margaritas are a delicate balance of sweet and sour. Regular house margs and spicy versions are always available, while fruity flavors like blueberry, pineapple, mango and blackberry come and go with the seasons.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Frida 602

602 Main St., Covington
Tequila and mezcal come first at this Latin-leaning MainStrasse spot. Served in cute, salt-rimmed cactus glasses, their margaritas start with Frida Kahlo Tequila and fresh-squeezed citrus; flavor options include Passionfruit Punch and Smokey Prickly Pear. Named for the legendary Mexican painter herself, expect to enjoy rounds of cocktails and tacos a-la-carte surrounded by vibrant flare and colorful touches.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The exterior of La Ofrenda

La Mexicana

642 Monmouth St., Newport
A short trek across the Ohio River into Newport will land you at La Mexicana, possibly the most dependable one stop shop for a wide-ranging menu of inexpensive Mexican eats and truly enormous margaritas. Whether you like ‘em frozen, on the rocks and with or without salt, a large marg takes two careful hands to hold and will only set you back $12.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Drunken Tacos

200 W. McMillan St., Corryville
Situated on the edge of the University of Cincinnati’s main campus, Drunken Tacos is a monument to what you get when a late-night eatery meets a college town. A-la-carte tacos combine Latin and Asian inspiration and are best matched with signature cocktails and seven types of house margaritas. The traditional margarita is more tart than sweet, which may surprise a few ’rita rookies who are accustomed to overly sweet drinks.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Taqueria Mercado

100 E. Eighth St., Downtown; 6507 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield
After being in the game for 30 years, you’d be right to think Taqueria Mercado knows a thing or two about Mexican food: they’ve been gracing customers with classic family recipes, housemade desserts and specialty drinks since 1990. Margaritas start at just $6: Try fun flavors like jalapeño, peach and pineapple or choose a classic house version, frozen or on the rocks.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Fairfield Market

700 Fairfield Ave, Bellevue
The Fairfield Market has all the things: morning’ things, deli things, lunch things, evenin’ things…you get the idea. Opened in summer of 2019, the market is a happy blend of coffeehouse, cocktail bar, brunch spot and everything in between. On monthly Taco Tuesdays, they also have the taco things and the margarita things. The menu’s different every time, but count on specialty tacos, fresh salsas and guacamole and just-squeezed margaritas, like the decadent blood orange marg.
Photo via Facebook.com/FairfieldMrkt

Tostados Grill

3500 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum
This Columbia Tusculum dive is a casual spot for Mexian and American eats, neighborhood hangs and big ass margaritas. Get a round of liquid courage in before their ever-popular karaoke starts.
Photo via Facebook.com/TostadosGrill4Real

Veracruz Mexican Grill

3108 Price Ave., Price Hill
Family-owned and operated since 2010, this informal spot in the Incline District recently underwent an expansion — including the addition of a full bar — adding space for even more customers to be treated to housemade ingredients and Mexican and Guatemalan specialties. An ice cold cerveza could suit you just fine, but just as refreshing are their massive margaritas, poured in cute glasses dressed with salt rims, limes and paper umbrellas.
Photo via Facebook.com/VeracruzMexicanGrill

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

165 W. McMillan St., Suite 100, Clifton
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop serves up Mexican dishes and Baja-style eats in a quick, convenient counter-service storefront near the University of Cincinnati. For National Margarita Day, they’re pouring $3 Fuzzyritas.
Photo via Facebook.com/FuzzysTacoShop

Amigos Bar & Patio

950 Pavilion St., Mount Adams
Amigos Bar & Patio holds firm to the belief that a balanced diet is a taco in each hand — or maybe a taco in one and a margarita in the other. Amigos stays busy with events, bar crawls and DJs and slinging $3 tacos to the masses. Wash it all down with a classic margarita or one of their special flavors, like prickly pear.
Photo via Facebook.com/AmigosBarAndPatio