We Found the 12 Best Margaritas in Houston (Purely for Scientific Purposes, Of Course)
Let’s be real—nothing fixes a long day quite like a good margarita. I found this out the hard way after getting stuck in Houston traffic for what felt like three years.
I stumbled into a local spot, ordered a margarita out of desperation, and boom—instant happiness in a salt-rimmed glass.
So if you’re on the hunt for the best margaritas in Houston, buckle up (and maybe call a rideshare)—this guide is your new drinking buddy!
1. El Tiempo Cantina
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Website: https://www.eltiempocantina.com/
Address: 322 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-807-8101
Price Range: $$
If you’re looking for a great margarita in Houston, El Tiempo Cantina is the place to go. This busy, fun Mexican spot is a local favorite and is known for serving some of the best margaritas in the city.
They don’t hold back with the drinks—the El Tiempo Margaritas are strong, in a good way! They use their own 100% agave tequila, and you can really taste the quality–no strange flavors or too much sugar!
We tried them on the rocks and frozen (for research purposes, of course). Both were great, but the frozen ones are perfect with the Houston heat. There were also flavored options and skinny options for anyone pretending to be healthy!
Pro Tip:
If you’re hanging out with friends, go ahead and order a pitcher. It’s a solid deal, making sharing super easy. Plus, there’s just something about passing around a pitcher that makes the experience feel more fun!
2. The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation
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Website: https://ninfas.com/
Address: 2704 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 7
Contact Details: +1 713-228-1175
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM;
- Friday – 11 AM to 11 PM;
- Saturday 10 AM to 11 PM;
- Sunday – 10 AM to 10 PM
Price Range: $$
For those looking for the best margarita in Houston, consider starting where Tex-Mex itself began—at The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation.
The place feels full of history and good times. Founded in 1973 by the beloved “Mama” Ninfa Laurenzo, this restaurant isn’t just a local favorite—it’s a historic, culinary landmark!
The patio has mist fans, which saved us from melting, and the service was fast and friendly.
When it comes to margaritas, the Original Ninfarita is as good as everyone says. It’s smooth, strong, and really hits the spot!
We also had the Mango Habanero–super spicy and woke us right up–and the Cucumber Mint, which was cool and refreshing, like something you’d get at a spa but with tequila.
Pro Tip:
Be sure to order the tacos al carbon–it’s the meal that started it all way back in 1973! To this day, it’s still one of the most popular things on the menu.
3. Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen
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Website: https://www.cycloneanaya.com/
Address: 3736 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 346-613-1360
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM;
- Friday – 11 AM to 11 PM;
- Saturday – 10 AM to 11 PM;
- Sunday – 10 AM to 10 PM
Price Range: $$
We stopped by Cyclone Anaya’s Tex-Mex Kitchen thinking we’d grab a quick bite and maybe a drink or two. We ended up staying way longer than planned—because, honestly, those margaritas had us hooked.
This place has been around for over 50 years, started by an actual Mexican wrestling champ (yes, really), so the margaritas don’t pull any punches!
(They even sell them by the half-gallon or gallon to-go–we may or may not have taken one home “for later.”)
The Spicy Strawberry was surprisingly good, and the Ocean Blue is like a beach vacation in a glass. We tried the Ultimate Rita too, and we’re still thinking about it!
Pro Tip:
Really hungry? Skip the lunch menu and order from the regular one. The portions are bigger and totally worth it (and pair perfectly with the margaritas).
4. Hugo’s
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Website: https://www.hugosrestaurant.net/
Address: 1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-524-7744
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Wednesday – 3 to 9 PM;
- Thursday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM;
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 11 PM;
- Saturday – 11 AM to 11 PM;
- Sunday – 10 AM to 9 PM;
- Monday – Closed
Price Range: $$$
When we went searching for the best margaritas in Houston, Hugo’s in Montrose came highly recommended. This restaurant opened way back in 2002 and brought authentic Mexican recipes and flavors right to our table.
The food is great but it isn’t the only star here—the margaritas really steal the show! Hugo’s has margaritas for every taste. We started with the Malinche Margarita, which was sweet, tasty, and went down easy (maybe too easy!).
Next, we tried the Gran Reposado Margarita, mixed right in front of us at the table. This one packed a punch—in a good way!
For food, we paired our drinks with fresh ceviche, mouth-watering barbacoa, and perfectly grilled octopus. And let’s not forget the carnitas—they vanished fast from our plates.
Pro Tip:
Parking can get tricky, so choose valet parking or find a street spot—but don’t park across the street, or your car might get towed!
5. Xochi
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Website: https://www.xochihouston.com/
Address: 1777 Walker St, Houston, TX (in Marriott Marquis Houston)
Contact Details: +1 713-400-3330
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM;
- Friday to Saturday – 11:30 AM to 11 PM;
- Sunday – 11 AM to 3 PM
Price Range: $$$
Xochi in downtown Houston brings the traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico straight to the heart of the city, and we quickly realized it wasn’t the everyday margarita spot.
Oaxaca is famous for mole, mezcal, chocolate, and apparently, margaritas (according to us, anyway).
The margaritas here are the bomb. We tried The Greatest Margarita and it lived up to its name. The server even shook our drinks tableside! We’re not easily impressed, but preparing six margaritas at once definitely deserves some applause!
Food-wise, everything is fresh and handmade. We couldn’t stop talking about the Cachetes De Res—tender beef cheeks that melt like butter—and the duck mole! (Honestly, the hardest part of the meal was sharing politely.)
Pro Tip:
Did you know that you can order off-menu? Just ask the bartender for special drinks like mocktails—they can make them!
6. Ambriza
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Website: https://www.ambriza.com/
Address: 10115 Louetta Rd #400, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 281-205-1240
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM;
- Friday – 11 AM to 11 PM;
- Saturday – 10 AM to 11 PM;
- Sunday – 10 AM to 10 PM
Price Range: $$
Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen is one of our favorite spots for a tasty margarita in Houston.
We love the Cucumber Serrano–refreshing, tasty, and with a sneaky spicy kick. For those feeling brave, the Passion Fruit Habanero margarita combined heat and sweet, and the Hibiscus margarita is smooth enough to impress even picky drinkers.
Ambriza’s appetizers make us just as happy as the drinks. The table-side guacamole is made fresh right in front of us, with tasty add-ons like roasted pineapple or crispy bacon bits—because who doesn’t want bacon in their guac?
Pro Tip:
Catch their happy hour! Visit Monday for great deals all day, Tuesday from 2 PM to 7 PM, and Sunday evening from 7 PM to close. Your wallet will thank you!
7. Velvet Taco
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Website: https://www.velvettaco.com/location/houston-washington-ave/
Address: 4819 Washington Ave, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 832-834-5908
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday – 11 AM to 11 PM;
- Thursday – 11 AM to 12 AM;
- Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 4 AM
We went searching for the best margaritas in Houston, and Velvet Taco quickly won our hearts. This isn’t your usual taco spot—it takes flavors from around the world and eating here made us feel like we traveled far without leaving the city!
Our favorite was the Crisp Tikka Chicken taco–we never thought Indian and Mexican fusion would work but it did! The Korean pork taco was also tasty and cooked just right. We even tried the Buffalo Taco, which was spicy but totally worth it.
Now, about the margaritas. Velvet Taco makes them nice and strong, exactly how we like them (they’re totally Kick Ass–so well-deserving of the name). We had it frozen, and it made our patio dining experience so much more perfect!
Pro Tip:
Save room for dessert—the Red Velvet Cake with caramel sauce is a sweet treat you don’t want to miss!
8. Pappasito’s Cantina
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Website: https://pappasitos.com/home/
Address: Hilton Americas, 1600 Lamar St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-353-4400
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11 AM to 9 PM;
- Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 10 PM
Price Range: $$
Looking for Houston’s best margaritas brought us straight to Pappasito’s Cantina—and we’re glad it did. This lively Tex-Mex spot has been a Houston favorite for over 30 years, and after one visit, it’s easy to see why!
The margaritas were the highlight of our visit. Our server even shook the Reserva Margarita at our table, with barrel-aged tequila, Grand Marnier—pretty fancy stuff.
The fruity margaritas–strawberry and watermelon–were great too! We requested a sugar rim, and it made these tasty drinks even better.
Of course, we didn’t come just for drinks. The sizzling fajitas came out hot and grabbed everyone’s attention–the portions were big enough to feed a small village. Seafood enchiladas with shrimp and scallops tasted great too!
Pro Tip:
The portions here are huge—bring a friend and share drinks and dishes, so you have room for dessert (the Tres Leches are a must).
9. Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen
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Website: https://www.gringostexmex.com/
Address: 12348 Gulf Fwy, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-910-5565
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11 AM to 9 PM;
- Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 10 PM
Price Range: $
When we think about tasty Tex-Mex and strong margaritas, we think of Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen. This place has made Houstonians happy since 1993 with great food, and margaritas that mean business.
The restaurant decor is fun! We liked looking at the cool old stuff on the walls while we waited. And yes, the food and drinks were worth the wait!
The margaritas here are no joke–one sip, and we knew driving home was off the table. The Cadillac Margarita alone could knock your socks off. And for those nights we feel particularly health-conscious, the fresh margaritas are the way to go.
The food matches the drinks perfectly. We dug into the Burrito Con Queso and the Seafood Enchiladas—both were delicious. The Pollo Marisco is another crowd favorite. Plus, who says no to free soft serve ice cream? Definitely not us.
Pro Tip:
Order the Pollo Marisco. It’s packed with flavor, served in generous portions, and big enough to easily share between two hungry people.
10. Chuy’s
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Website: https://www.chuys.com/
Address: 2706 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-524-1700
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11 AM to 9 PM;
- Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 10 PM
Price Range: $
Our hunt for Houston’s best margaritas brought us to Chuy’s Tex-Mex Restaurant, and we didn’t leave disappointed!
Originally from Austin and going strong since 1982, Chuy’s is famous for its delicious Tex-Mex classic, enormous portions, and a quirky, Elvis-inspired decor that sticks in your memory—even after a margarita or three.
The margaritas were the main event. Chuy’s Famous Rita was the clear standout. And when one of us decided to “be good,” the bartender delivered a surprisingly tasty skinny margarita.
We didn’t just sip our way through the evening. The Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom enchiladas were as fun to eat as they were to say!
Pro Tip:
Come with a big appetite—seriously. The steak burrito is massive! If you’ve got stretchy pants, now’s the time to wear them.
11. Escalante’s Fine Tex-Mex & Tequila
Media Credit: escalantestxmex
Website: https://www.escalantes.net/
Address: 6582 Woodway Dr, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-461-5400
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM;
- Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 11 PM;
- Sunday – 10 AM to 9 PM
Price Range: $$
Houston has no shortage of Tex-Mex spots, but Escalante’s Fine Tex-Mex & Tequila still stands out!. We stopped by for margaritas and ended up falling for just about everything.
The place is colorful, loud in a fun way, and full of energy. We sat on the patio, which felt like the right call—less noise, more breeze! People sip margaritas like it’s a competitive sport, so we couldn’t help but join in!
The Wild Strawberry is our favorite–light, crisp, and smooth. We also tried the Mango Delight margarita (fruity, fun, a little fancy) and the Spicy Margarita (we were curious) and they didn’t disappoint!
Pro Tip:
Definitely get the tableside guacamole!. You can even tell them exactly how you like it—spicy, mild, extra lime, No onions, whatever. It’s fun to watch, smells amazing, and tastes even better.
12. Maria Rita’s Tex-Mex
Media Credit: mariaritas_txmx
Website: https://www.mariaritastexmex.com/
Address: 8445 Gulf Fwy, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 281-888-1909
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM;
- Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 11 PM
Price Range: $
We didn’t mean to fall in love with Maria Rita’s Tex-Mex—but after a few margaritas, it just sort of happened. The place has that easygoing, everyone’s-welcome energy. We went in hungry and left very full and very happy.
The bartenders don’t play around because the margaritas are so good! These aren’t the watery ones you sip and forget. These are the ones you text your friends about.
The Watermelon Rita showed up with real chunks of fruit and the Original Maria Ritaa was strong and smooth. We also tried the Mexican Shark Bite, which came with little gummy sharks and made us feel young again when we gobbled them all up!
Pro Tip:
Start with the nachos—they’re the perfect snack to kick things off! The chicken fajita enchiladas are always a win, and the seafood enchiladas are messy but so good. You can’t go wrong with the burritos or sizzling fajitas either.
