You don’t have to wait until Cinco de Mayo to enjoy the sweet, sour, salty, boozy taste of a well-made margarita.
Often hailed as the quintessential Mexican cocktail, the origins of the margarita remain debated — some claim it was invented in Tijuana in the 1930s while others say the first margarita was concocted by a Dallas socialite at her Acapulco vacation home in 1948.
No matter where it came from or how you like yours — frozen or on the rocks, with or without salt, flavor-infused or classic — Sonoma County serves up some marvelous margaritas. Here are our top picks.
Santa Rosa
La Rosa Tequileria & Grille: La Rosa’s La Diabla is a favorite margarita made with lime, strawberry (or other fruits, your choice) and muddled serrano chiles, served on the rocks. A little spicy, a little naughty. If heat isn’t your thing, try one of their many other margaritas, or keep it simple with a shot of tequila from the expansive bar, which features over 180 artisan tequilas and mezcals. 500 Fourth St., 707-523-3663, larosasantarosa.com
Lazeaway Club at the Flamingo Resort: Grab a poolside table and a fresh margarita and enjoy the “ode to idleness” vibe at the resort restaurant. 2777 Fourth St., 707-510-4533, lazeawayclub.com
Windsor
Sweet T’s: The secret to the Texas Margarita? Pineapple and a kick of cayenne pepper. But oh, how sweet it is. 9098 Brooks Road S., 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com
El Gallo Negro: This Windsor restaurant and mezcaleria serves up Oaxacan-influenced dishes and a margarita for everyone with over a dozen festive options, including their tropical house margarita and the Mucho Caliente made with jalapeño-infused Herradura tequila. 8465 Old Redwood Highway, 707-838-9511, elgallonegro.net
Healdsburg
Agave: Agave offers one of the largest tequila selections in the county and hosts regular tastings. Order a house margarita to enjoy al fresco with a traditional Oaxacan molé. 1063 Vine St., 707-433-2411, agavehealdsburg.com
Roof 106: The Modern Margarita is a wonder of modern alchemy. This classic cocktail is crystal-clear, making for a sneaky drink that’s every bit as good as the original. Maybe better. 106 Matheson St., 707-723-1106, thematheson.com
Sonoma
La Casa Restaurant: One of the oldest restaurants in Sonoma knows how to throw down the margaritas — they offer six types — many use recipes that date back to the restaurant’s 1967 opening. Try the Coat Rack, which uses reposado tequila, Cointreau and fresh-squeezed lime; or order a house margarita during happy hour. 121 E. Spain St., 707-996-3406, lacasarestaurants.com
Taqueria La Hacienda: Sonoma locals flock to La Hacienda, not just for the best homemade molé in town, but also for their gigantic margaritas. Skip the house margarita and go top shelf with a blend of their famous margarita mix and El Jimador Tequila Blanco Triple Sec, topped with floats of Grand Marnier and Cointreau. 17960 Sonoma Highway, 707-939-8226, lahaciendasonomabarandgrill.com
Oso Sonoma: Oso’s food is great and so are the cocktails. Pair Oso’s shrimp tacos with a blood orange margarita, which uses tequila, blood orange puree, lime, agave and salt. 9 E. Spain St., 707-931-6926, ososonoma.com
Petaluma
Mi Pueblo: Mi Pueblo hosts a popular happy hour with specialty margaritas, such as the jalapeño margarita. Local fans describe Mi Pueblo’s margaritas as being “the size of a mixing bowl” and therefore shareable for two — but would you really want to share your margarita? 108 Kentucky St., 707-769-9066, eatmipuebloelcentro.com; 800 Petaluma Blvd. N., 707-762-8192, eatmipueblonovato.com/petaluma
Plaza Tequila: Popular with happy hour enthusiasts, Plaza Tequila offers margarita lovers plenty of options to pair with their expansive menu. Treat yourself to a top shelf margarita, topped off with a float of Cointreau, and sit back and relax on the shaded patio. 600 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-776-4949, plazatequila.com
Cotati
Mi Ranchito: Mi Ranchito loves tequila so much they have their own tequila club. Their specialty margaritas run the gamut of colors, tastes and sizes. Try the top shelf margarita or a fruity marg, like the strawberry or watermelon. 7600 Commerce Blvd., 707-795-7600, miranchitocotati.com
West County
El Barrio: One of the hottest spots in Guerneville, El Barrio pairs tequila and mezcal craft cocktails with small Mexican plates. USA Today once called their La Adelita margarita — made with blanco tequila, triple sec, housemade jamaica and lime — “sultry.” They also offer mezcal margaritas, like the simple El Barrio and the prickly pear-laced El Nopal. 16230 Main St., Guerneville, 707-604-7601, elbarriobar.com
Underwood Bar and Grill: A popular hangout for locals, including winemakers and artists, Underwood offers a top-notch craft cocktail program, which of course includes a margarita. Their Mercury Margarita uses Herradura Blanco tequila, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, housemade sweet and sour, and fresh orange juice. It’s a perfect match with their signature grilled hamburger. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com
El Coronel Mexican Restaurant: This family-friendly establishment, with an outdoor patio, makes for a great spot to enjoy one of nine specialty margaritas — especially if you love a more fruity twist. Their Pink Cadillac margarita stars Chambord, giving it a distinct raspberry flavor, and the signature El Coronel Elegante features Don Julio Añejo and Cointreau. 1015 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-829-7010, elcoronelrestaurant.com
Rocker’s Roadhouse: This Valley Ford saloon offers contemporary twists on classics, including the house margarita, which comprises fresh lime, tequila-infused soju and simple syrup. Make it spicy with added serrano and jalapeño peppers. Enjoy with the beer-battered fish tacos, served with apple-fennel slaw and a spicy remoulade sauce. Too many margaritas? Sleep it off at their onsite hotel. 14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-1983, rockeroysterfellers.com
Heather Irwin and Sarah Stierch contributed to this article.
