Where to Eat and Drink for Cinco de Mayo in Austin

Cinco de Mayo — the day that observes the Mexican army’s win over France in the Battle of Puebla in 1862 during the Franco-Mexican War, and has grown into a huge American holiday — rolls around soon. In Austin, this means plenty of celebrations with drinks and food.

Everything below is listed in alphabetical order and takes place on Thursday, May 5, unless otherwise noted. For those looking for more, check out the city’s best margaritas and best tacos.

• Sour beer brewery Blue Owl is hosting a Cinco party full of micheladas, slushie palomas and beer-based margaritas, plus a free game of lotería. It runs from 3 to 10 p.m. (2400 East Cesar Chavez Street, Holly)
• Austin-born Tex-Mex chain Chuy’s is offering all-day happy hour during the day, as well as five-dollar queso-based appetizers and one-dollar tequila floaters for margaritas. (multiple locations)
• Food truck Cuantos Tacos is giving away free tacos for the day courtesy of prebiotics soda company Mayawell, plus there will be ice pops from GoodPop and drinks from Dulce Vida Tequila. The first 100 attendees will get free tacos. It runs from 6 to 9 p.m. (1108 East 12th Street, Central East Austin)
• South Austin Mexican restaurant Curra’s Grill is celebrating with a party full of drinks, a DJ, and food from 6 to 9 p.m. (614 East Oltorf Street, Travis Heights)
• Fiesta Austin is hosting its Cinco de Mayo festivity on Saturday, May 7, with music, food, dancing, and kid-friendly activities. It begins at 10 a.m., with a cover charge of $7 starting at noon (or, for those who want to purchase these in advance for later entry, it’s $5 right now). It’s free for children the age of 12 and younger. (Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia Street, East Cesar Chavez)
• Mexican restaurant Gabrielas Downtown is offering $5 margarita specials, $3 shot specials, and a DJ all day long. (900 East Seventh Street, East Austin)
• Downtown Mexican restaurant La Condesa is offering a special menu for the day, with dishes like queso, nachos, an array of tostadas (chorizo-potato to crab), and tacos (ribeye with manchego to grilled shrimp), plus desserts. Then there are margarita and beer specials available by the glass, pitcher, or bucket form. (400 West Second Street, Downtown)
• New Jonestown bar and venue Lucky Rabbit is celebrating its first Cinco de Mayo with a performance by Audic Empire, free tequila tastings from Codigo, and five-dollar queso, nachos, and frozen margaritas. It begins at 6 p.m. with music at 6:30 p.m. (18626 Ranch Road 1431, Jonestown)
• Southeast Austin brewery Meanwhile Brewing Co. will release three new beers for the day: the Cerveza Fresca (a pilsner made with Jamaica agua fresca), the El Mero Mero (a horchata rice lager), and the La Araña Discoteca (a lager with sea salt and lime zest). (3901 Promontory Point Drive, McKinney)
• Central East Austin bar Nickel City’s Cinco party includes crispy tacos and margarita specials with Tequila Tromba and Producer Mezcal, plus a whole spicy taco challenge. (1133 East 11th Street, Central East Austin)
• Austin bakery mini-chain Tiny Pies is baking up a little margarita pie with local distillery Tequila 512 for the day. It’s available for in-person or online orders. (multiple locations)
• The East Austin location of Veracruz All Natural is hosting a huge party with flautas and aguas frescas, plus raspas from Fruta Freeze, empanadas from the Doughminican, barbecue kolaches from Kerlaches, as well as a live salsa band plus dancing. It’s $12 to enter, and it runs from 6 to 10 p.m. (2505 Webberville Road, East Austin)

Are there any Cinco de Mayo parties or specials missing? Let Eater know through the tipline.

Update, May 4, 3:48 p.m.: This guide, originally published on April 29, has been updated to include additional events.