Alley Twenty-Six
Chase a game at Durham Bulls Athletic Park or pregame for a show at Motorco Music Hall with your choice of spirits, cocktails and tasty small plates at Alley Twenty-Six in downtown Durham. Explore a variety of flavor profiles, from earthy and sweet to smooth and citrusy. Not sure what to order? The expert mixologists will help you find your new fave.
Aye Toro Tacos & Tequila
What better way to enjoy this national holiday than by pairing a smoky beverage with a taco salad or an ACP burrito? Aye! Toro Tacos & Tequila in Sanford, Holly Springs or Pittsboro is the perfect place to celebrate with friends and savor a classic margarita – available in mango, peach strawberry, blackberry or watermelon. Or, try one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails, like the Mexican Candy, a refreshing blend of Espolon tequila, fresh watermelon and lime topped with Tajin.
Bartaco
Step into an ornate South American-inspired dining room featuring decor as bright and flavorful as the menu at Bartaco. Grab a seat in Chapel Hill’s University Place or in Raleigh’s North Hills and order your favorite tacos, quesadillas or rice bowls, then pair it with the Bartaco margarita. Or, enjoy both to-go with Bartaco’s take home marg, made with Libélula Joven tequila and triple sec.
Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Gonza Tacos y Tequila’s “taco therapy” menu in North Raleigh, Cary or Wake Forest is a must on any Triangle summer to-do list, and your visit wouldn’t be complete without ordering from its list of more than 80 tequila and mezcal options.
JB Duke Hotel
Enjoy a delicate balance of heat and harmony with a spicy margarita near Duke University in JB Duke Hotel’s Lobby Lounge. The Durham destination is known for its immersive ambience, curated seasonal menus and thoughtful beverage program – the perfect place to sip a classic cocktail featuring jalapeno simple syrup, fresh citrus and a Tajin rim.
Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill
Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill is known throughout the Triangle for its authentic Mexican dishes served hot off the grill, house-made salsas and margaritas that are “worth the drive.” Treat yourself to lunch or dinner at its Durham, Cary or Chapel Hill locations – we recommend the street corn or the Tex-Mex fajita, featuring steak, chicken, shrimp with a homemade dry rub marinade, grilled peppers and onions.
La Mala Mexican Inspired Cocktails
Planning a night of bar or cocktail lounge hopping? Head to downtown Durham or Raleigh’s Glenwood South district for tapas, tacos and a wide selection of tequila, mezcal, margaritas and mocktails at La Mala Mexican Inspired Cocktails Tuesday through Sunday. The Vieja Mula – a blend of Hornitos plata tequila, fresh lime juice, tamarind syrup, organic agave nectar and ginger beer – is one of our faves.
Want to start with a substantial sit-down meal? Reserve a table next door at La Mala’s sister restaurant in Glenwood South, La Santa Modern Mexican Food, for hearty lunch or dinner specials. The una asada is a fan favorite, made with skirt steak, beans, fresh guacamole, pico, queso fresco, jalapenos and onions served with corn tortillas.
Lobera Tacos & Tequila
Need to cool off after a stroll through NC State’s campus? Celebrate National Tequila Day at Lobera Tacos & Tequila, located just across Hillsborough Street from the NC State Bell Tower. Order a round or two of chips and chori-queso dip for the table and taste test Lobera’s drink options with a margarita flight.
Mezcalito
Experience “a unique take on Mexican cuisine with a Tex-Mex heart” at Mezcalito in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Rolesville, Clayton or Durham. The culinary creatives behind Mezcalito are dedicated to providing some of the most bold, fresh and authentic Mexican cuisine in the Triangle. Explore classic staples like chimichangas, enchiladas, tacos and quesadillas alongside the restaurant’s robust menu of tequila-based cocktails and margaritas.
Mi Cancun
Each Mi Cancun location’s vibrant atmosphere and bombastic menu meet to create the ideal Friday night get-together. Turn your Tequila Day celebration into a party in Pittsboro, Morrisville, Durham, Holly Springs, Apex, Cary or Fuquay-Varina with the July 24 special from 4-6 p.m., which includes a traditional margarita for just $5.99!
Pizzeria Toro
This popular downtown Durham restaurant isn’t just a preferred place to grab a slice. It’s also a stellar spot to kick back and lounge with a glass of wine or a curated cocktail. Pizzeria Toro’s wood-fired pizza is tried-and-true, but many Bull City residents consider the restaurant’s Aperol margarita to be among the best in town.
TaTaco
Downtown Durham’s TaTaco is a local favorite, with regular weekly specials like Taco Tuesday, $2 oyster happy hour Monday through Thursday and classic Mexican brunch every day. National Tequila Day features two one-night-only offers: jumbo margaritas for $6 and half-off top shelf margaritas with premium tequila.
The Crunkleton
Celebrate in style at The Crunkleton. Sip on your favorite tequila cocktail, like the Dusty Cactus or La Maricela, at the bar’s iconic Franklin Street location in Chapel Hill, or pair your drink with an equally decadent meal any night of the week at its downtown Raleigh location on West Johnson Street.
Weldon Mills Distillery
Weldon Mills Distillery’s Main Street location in Durham is the ideal weekend hangout spot – a speakeasy-style cocktail bar and bourbon lounge complete with a hidden backdoor entrance. Catch up with friends over small-batch tequila tastings and craft cocktails made with its Rey Coyote or Sabrosa tequilas, or bring the flavor home with a bottle to go.
Looking for more weekend watering holes? Check out our roundup of the best bars and bites in Wake and Durham counties!
