Introduction to Nashville's Top Margarita Spots
Nashville has become well-known for its vibrant food and drink scene, with hot chicken, BBQ, and southern fare taking center stage. However, the city also boasts a thriving selection of Mexican restaurants, cantinas, and bars shaking up stellar margaritas.
Margaritas have grown into a beloved staple drink across Nashville neighborhoods like Downtown, Midtown, East Nashville, The Gulch, and more. From classic lime margaritas to new twists featuring fresh fruit purees or small-batch tequilas, there are countless spots slinging perfect margs.
In this guide, we'll cover the essential places to sip margaritas across Nashville's top neighborhoods. Whether you want an ice-cold frozen margarita or a craft margarita made with artisanal ingredients, we've got you covered.
Here's a preview of what we'll cover:
- Downtown Nashville's iconic honky-tonks, Printer's Alley bars, and upscale Mexican restaurants
- Midtown and Vanderbilt's laidback cantinas and margarita happy hours
- East Nashville's funky margarita joints with fresh fruit flavors and live music
- Trendy new margarita bars in The Gulch and 12South
- Classic margaritas in Germantown and dive bar margs near Five Points
From happy hour specials to massive margarita flights, read on for the ultimate guide to Nashville's top margarita spots. Grab some chips and guac and get ready to explore Music City's vibrant margarita scene.
Best Margaritas in Downtown Nashville
Downtown Nashville is home to some of the most iconic margarita spots in the city. From honky-tonks on Broadway to upscale Mexican restaurants, downtown has it all.
- Broadway honky-tonks like Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Kid Rock's, and Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar are always mixing up margs for the crowds. The huge variety gives you lots of options for frozen or on the rocks margaritas on Broadway.
- Historic Printer's Alley features dive bars and piano bars serving margaritas in the city's legendary entertainment district. Stop by Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar for their famous blue margaritas.
- Mexican restaurants like Cantina Laredo, Downtown Sporting Club, and Bakersfield whip up classic margaritas alongside tacos, enchiladas, and more authentic fare. Their scratch-made margaritas shine.
- Trendy downtown rooftop bars like L27 Rooftop Bar, Rebar, and Up Rooftop Lounge offer happy hour margarita specials with skyline views.
Downtown Nashville definitely brings the fiesta with margaritas galore. Sip your way through Printer's Alley or grab a frozen mango marg at a Broadway honky-tonk for the quintessential Nashville experience.
Top Margaritas in Midtown, Vanderbilt and West End
Midtown, Vanderbilt, and the West End area feature popular college spots, upscale restaurants, and laidback cantinas serving up stellar margaritas.
- Midtown favorites like Cabo Cantina, Local Taco, and Chuy's whip up classic margaritas alongside Tex-Mex plates perfect for a casual night out. Their huge margarita menus offer lots of flavors and styles.
- Trendy new restaurants like Tavern Midtown add local Nashville flair to their margaritas with ingredients like hot chicken seasoning and local spirits.
- Vanderbilt hangouts like San Antonio Taco Company and El Tapatio Tex-Mex Cantina serve students and locals with their cheap margarita pitchers and happy hour specials.
- Upscale West End restaurants like Sole Mio and Valentino's Ristorante offer craft margaritas made with premium tequilas and fresh juices.
Whether you're looking for a classic margarita on a budget or a gourmet marg made with artisanal tequilas, Midtown, Vandy, and the West End deliver lots of options.
Trendy East Nashville Margarita Joints
East Nashville is home to some of the trendiest margarita bars and cantinas in Music City. The laidback vibe and funky flavors make it a top area for margs.
- Cantinas like Rosepepper Cantina and Mas Tacos Por Favor serve up classic margaritas alongside tacos and other Mexican plates. Their happy hour specials are popular with locals.
- Bars like The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden and 3 Crow Bar offer extensive margarita menus with lots of fruit flavors like mango, strawberry, peach, and prickly pear.
- Margarita flights let you sample a variety of flavors in one sitting. Try a flight at The Wild Cow or Urban Cowboy Public House.
- Dive bars like The Cobra and The 5 Spot keep it casual with cheap margarita pitchers and live music most nights.
The laidback vibe and funky margarita flavors make East Nashville a go-to area. Sip a blood orange margarita on a patio or catch happy hour at a local cantina.
Overview of Margaritas in Nashville
Margaritas have become a classic cocktail across Nashville's vibrant dining scene. From frozen margaritas to craft margaritas made with premium tequilas, you'll find stellar versions all over Music City.
Some key things to know about Nashville's margarita spots:
- Find classic lime or flavored margaritas at Mexican restaurants and cantinas
- Bars and restaurants offer margarita flights and pitchers for sharing
- Many places offer happy hour or daily margarita specials
- Popular flavors include mango, strawberry, peach, jalapeño, and prickly pear
- New bars use small-batch tequilas and fresh juices for unique craft margaritas
- Fun margarita joints often have live music or a festive party vibe
Nashville has margarita options for every taste - from honky-tonk frozen margs on Broadway to artisanal margaritas in trendy new cocktail lounges. Sip your way through different neighborhoods to experience Nashville's diverse margarita culture.
12South and The Gulch's Hottest Margarita Spots
The trendy neighborhoods of 12South and The Gulch boast some of the hottest new margarita bars and cantinas in Nashville.
- 12South staples like Mafiaoza's and Burrito Parlor & Cantina serve classic margaritas and Mexican plates in a lively setting. Mafiaoza's has 100+ tequilas perfect for crafting unique margaritas.
- In The Gulch, speakeasies like Bar Sovereign and Bourbon Steak craft premium margaritas with small-batch tequilas and fresh ingredients.
- Cinco de Mayo is hugely popular in both neighborhoods. Restaurants and bars offer margarita pitchers, flights, and other drink specials to celebrate.
- New hot spots like San Matias Cantina & Grill in The Gulch use fresh-squeezed juices and Mexican ingredients to make authentic margaritas.
To experience Nashville's craft cocktail scene, head to The Gulch or 12South for artisanal margaritas made by expert mixologists. The festive vibes and drink specials make these areas a blast.
Best Margaritas Near Five Points, Germantown and SoBro
In addition to the trendier neighborhoods, you can also find excellent margaritas in laidback spots near Five Points, Germantown, and SoBro.
- Germantown favorites like Cantina Laredo, Rolf & Daughters, and Silky O'Sullivan's serve up solid margaritas in a casual setting. Rolf & Daughters offers a prickly pear margarita with local ingredients.
- Dive bars and pubs near Five Points such as The Crow Bar and The Wheel keep things simple with cheap margarita pitchers and happy hour specials.
- In SoBro, new cocktail bars like Bobby Hotel Bar are shaking up craft margaritas with premium tequilas and fresh citrus.
- Late night spots like Santa's Pub and The Patterson House offer margaritas into the early morning hours on weekends.
While these areas lack the trendiness of 12South or East Nashville, you can still find delicious margaritas without the hype or crowds. Plus, the dive bars and late night options can't be beat.
Overview of Nashville's Top Margarita Spots
Nashville has a vibrant margarita scene with options across different neighborhoods and bar/restaurant styles. Here's a quick overview:
- Find classic and flavored margaritas at Mexican restaurants and cantinas
- Bars and lounges offer craft margaritas made with premium tequilas and fresh ingredients
- Many places have margarita flights, pitchers, and daily specials
Popular neighborhoods for margs include:
- Downtown Broadway
- Midtown
- East Nashville
- 12South
- The Gulch
Fun spots feature live music, festive vibes, and late night options
Whether you want a frozen margarita at a laidback cantina or a gourmet margarita made with artisanal tequilas, Nashville has spots to suit every taste. Sip your way through different neighborhoods and find your new go-to margarita joint. With so many restaurants and bars shaking up stellar margs, Nashville is a margarita lover's paradise.