The 19 Best Tequila Bars in America
There are a plethora of ways any bar patron can enjoy tequila. Typically, the famous Mexican liquor is most often found in margaritas. For drinkers who consider themselves brave enough they opt into shots right from the bottle. No matter how you consume it, tequila is a more than formidable opponent on any given night. In recent years tequila sales have risen in the United States. There’s no shortage of bars and restaurants that have made it a point to provide a huge selection of liquor with the worm in it. Let’s take a look at the top ten best tequila bars America has to offer.
400 Rabbits
5701 W Slaughter Ln, Austin, TX 78739
(512) 476-1320
400 Rabbits was invented by a grandaddy of the Austin cocktail scene and is attached to an Alamo Drafthouse cinema, so the next-level tequila complements everything from first-run films to barely known B-rated selections. Agave flights delve into the various regions and groups of spirit. At the same time, infusions and inventive flavors, such as mole bitters, elevate the signature cocktails. Mexican street treats, such as fried corn, mean that you do not go hungry.
Mosto
741 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 649-6077
Upon entering this tequila bar, the first thing you’ll notice is the Mason-jar-filled ceiling. This unique decoration was put in place by various celebrities and big names that have visited the establishment over the years. The last time we counted, there were over 300 of them. This doesn’t just have one of the most expansive tequila menus in San Francisco. It boasts one of the biggest in the United States. The coolest part about the Mason-jars is asking the bartender to take a look at them. They’ll be more than happy to oblige. What puts this bar over the top, you ask? The taco menu goes with the tequila. Is there really anything better than tequila and tacos?
Barrio
925 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612)-333-9953
This Minneapolis tequila bar has a very dark ambiance to it. Some would say it’s almost gothic. The dark wood that accents the bar goes perfectly with the dim lighting in the place. The back wall is lined with over 150 different tequila bottles. The band Evanescence recorded an album here lends even more to the dark and gothic lore of this bar. There’s various special margaritas served up here to go with their $10 taco lunch plates. The sweet & spicy Macho Camacho (blood orange with ancho-infused tequila) and the fruity Mama Cita (hibiscus with orange and pineapple juices) are two of the more popular selections.
Oyamel Cocina Mexicana
401 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 628-1005
When you walk into this restaurant, you might be overwhelmed with the butterflies that decorate the place from ceiling to floor. The name of the restaurant actually references the mass migration of the species to the Michoacán mountains. Owned by Jose Andres, the tequila flights here showcase everything from the butterflies to the history and culture of mezcal. They celebrate tequila here so much there’s even a yearly mezcal festival you can catch if you’re in town at the right time. The Blood Orange Chile Pequin and the Jamaica Margarita are a couple of the crazy selections available on the menu. The latter is made with homemade hibiscus and ginger tonic. The food on the menu here is just as eclectic as the drinks. If you find yourself here, try one of the Oaxacan tacos. The meat selection on this taco is sauteed grasshoppers.
Agave
140 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014
(212) 989-2100
World-famous tequila expert Jay Silverman is the beverage director here. With one of the biggest names in the tequila world at the helm, you’re sure to have something special on your hands. Jay’s specialty drinks are some of the finest in the business, with combos like the Electric Feel (tequila reposado, fresh pineapple, lavender sugar), tequila rum punch (orange, pineapple, lime, passion fruit), and El Magico (tequila reposado, fresh pineapple, lavender sugar) (tequila Anejo, mint, ginger beer). If you’re not into the crazier drink combinations, perhaps you’d like the two-hour bottomless brunch. When you order this, you get unlimited margaritas for two hours, plus a selection from the brunch menu that includes Southwestern Eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros, and other great Mexican pieces.
Cantina Dos Segundos
931 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 629-0500
Located in Northern Liberties, this tequila bar offers over 100 different tequilas and several different flights. Intros to tequila and mezcal and smokey-flavor lovers are two of the favorite flights here. What really makes this tequila bar unique are the flavor-infused cocktails they offer on the drink menu. If you’re into lots of flavors, then this Philadelphia tequila bar is for you. Chile oil, maple bitters, ginger beer, and pomegranate liquor are all great options for cocktails here. Their margaritas are even better. Choose from options like prickly pear, passion fruit, pineapple, and guava. The food here is enough for anyone to visit, even if you’re not a tequila drinker. The mahi-mahi tacos never disappoint. If you’re a fan of chorizo, it’s one of the specialties here. It’s absolutely not to be missed.
El Agave
2304 San Diego Ave # B, San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 220-0692
Not to be confused with Agave in New York, this tequila bar brings a much different setting than its New York counterpart. This whopping tequila bar is located inside of San Diego’s tequila museum. The museum houses the most extensive tequila bottle collection in the country. That means this restaurant has access to over 2,000 different bottles of liquor. You could spend a lifetime and still not finish sampling their tequila menu. This place absolutely knows how to do tequila the right way, but amazingly, that isn’t all their known for. The Mexican flavors coming from the kitchen draw a massive crowd of non-tequila drinkers daily. Homemade mole and salsas are whipped up daily. Fresh ground spices pepper all of their fantastic menu selections. There’s no shortage of flavor here. Whether you’re a tequila fan or a Mexican food fanatic, you have to check this San Diego favorite out.
TeQuiztlan Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar
1884 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 397-8442
The name of this restaurant translates to “land of tequila.” It definitely lives up to the title. This Miami favorite has more than 100 different tequilas served with a unique theme. The menus are printed on old movie flyers that are set on tables with out-of-circulation pesos attached to them. This casual restaurant also specializes in tacos al pastor and guacamole made right there at your table. How’s that for service?
La Cava del Tequila
2101 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Orlando, FL 32830
(407)-842-1132
We bet you would have never guessed one of the best tequila bars America has to offer is located on Disney property. Located in Disney World’s Epcot Center is none other than the Mexican Pavillion. This bar is designed to look like an old hacienda. It’s littered with ancient Mexican artifacts that are only matched by their 100 different bottles of tequila. There’s a pretty nice selection of mezcals here too. Next time you’re at Disney World in Orlando, don’t miss out on their spicy jalapeno with cucumber margarita.
Las Perlas
107 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 988-8355
This Los Angeles bar has a very unique name. The bar is named after the foam that is created when testing mezcal for purity. Inside the brightly colored bar, you can sample favorites like Spiced Daisy (orange Curacao, juiced cucumber, cilantro, jalapeño), the Poblano Escobar (cumin, muddled poblano chile, pineapple, lime). Las Perlas has one of LA’s best tequila and mezcal selections.
Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar
271 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 369-5609
This Back Bay treasure is another dark and gothic tequila bar selection. Their 50 bottle selection falls into categories like “The Good Stuff” and “Crazy Expensive.” Choose from favorites like spicy cucumber (serrano chilies, muddled cucumber) and spiced apple (fresh green apples, cinnamon, peach, lime). The food here really shines too. Staying true to Boston’s roots, they have a lobster enchilada on the menu.
Bone Garden Cantina
1425 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 418-9072
Littered with Day of the Dead memorabilia everywhere you look, this Atlanta tequila bar has over 60 tequila selections. The most unique part about this particular establishment is its tequila club. They give members a chance to learn about and sample over 50 types of tequilas and mezcals during their membership. The beef tongue tacos aren’t too bad either.
Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant
5929 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 387-4747
The owner of Tommy’s is Julio Bermejo, otherwise known as the “Ambassador of Tequila to the United States”. Tommy’s carries only 100% pure agave tequila. While they don’t carry every 100% option known to man, they come pretty close. This bar has an astonishing 325 bottles available on the menu. You can join the Blue Agave Club here, but only if you’re serious. It requires applicants to pass an exam to become a member.
El Carmen
8138 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 852-1552
This Los Angeles favorite has all the makings of a gem-quality dive as soon as you walk in. El Carmen is decorated with vintage movie and wrestling posters, giving it that nostalgic feel immediately. The shrimp tacos and nachos on the menu go well with the one hundred plus bottles of tequila available to order. The cucumber mint margaritas are a must-try at this restaurant.
Big Star
1531 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 235-4039
Although this Chicago restaurant doesn’t have the most extensive tequila selection, they have over 20 different mezcal selections. This is enough to put them on the map. Chef Paul Kahan operates the kitchen at this honky-tonk themed tequila bar. Their outdoor seating area is just as impressive as their list of margaritas. As a plus, their whiskey menu is pretty extensive as well. If you find yourself in Chicago, you have to check out their roasted pork shoulder with pineapple.
Cantina Mayahuel
2934 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 283-6292
This tequila bar is named after the goddess of the agave. You’ll find over 200 different types of tequila on the menu here. Their margaritas are some of the best in San Diego, and you may want to check out their “herbal shots” as well. Fortitude with Fortaleza Tequila Blanco, maca root, and cocoa bean is one of the favorites here.
