Sure, we all wish we were out at our favorite neighborhood bars celebrating Cinco de Mayo with the best of them this year. But thankfully, even during a statewide lockdown, local cantinas aren’t leaving us hanging. From full-fledged Mexican restaurants to trendy tequila bars, plenty of Charm City spots are featuring carryout specials to spice up virtual celebrations at home. Here are a few to choose from:

Bandito’s Bar + Kitchen: Cinco de Mayo, the anniversary of the Mexicans’ unlikely victory over France in the Battle of Puebla in 1862, just so happens to fall on Taco Tuesday this year—and this Federal Hill staple is celebrating accordingly. Bandito’s will be open from 12-9 p.m. with takeout specials such as 16 or 32-oz. cocktails and margaritas, canned beers, orders of three tacos, and DIY taco kits. Orders can be placed online, in-person, or by phone.

Blue Agave: Just around the corner on Light Street, this neighborhood favorite will be open from 12-10 p.m., packing up orders of guacamole fresco, chips and salsa, fajitas, and tacos. To-go margaritas are available in traditional house or Spicy Guavarita flavors. Customers can call ahead for pickup or order delivery via Grubhub and Doordash.

Cane Collective Kits Benefiting CFF Maryland: The bar veterans behind craft spirit company Cane Collective have teamed up with Mr. Nice Guy Cocktails to distribute a special passionfruit margarita kit on Cinco de Mayo—with all proceeds benefiting the Maryland chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The $75 kit includes one bottle of Patron Reposado, one bottle of Cane’s passionfruit-jalapeno mix, and one Patron cocktail shaker. Orders can be placed onlinefor pickup and delivery.

Clavel: The team at this Remington gem is encouraging patrons to decorate their homes with homemade papel picado (Mexican folk art made by cutting designs into tissue paper) and tag the restaurant in their photos. To complete the festivities, Clavel’s new carryout operation, Pisa y Corre, is featuring tamales, michelada kits, special mezcal flights, and frozen empanadas to fry at home. Order online here.

El Bufalo Tequila Bar and Kitchen: Naturally, the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at this Canton stalwart began a few days early. But they will continue throughout the day on Tuesday with 64-oz. Altos margarita pouches for $14, Casamigos premium margarita pouches for $10, and $65 build-your-own taco party kits. Place carryout orders by calling 410-814-0594.

La Food Marketa: Call this Pikesville spot to order a turkey chorizo, Peruvian chicken, and beef barbacoa taco kit that serves four. It comes will all the fixins, but you can also add on guacamole, churros, a pint of margaritas, or even a six-pack of the Mexican beer that shall not be named.

La Palapa Grill & Cantina: La Palapa is a fiesta headquarters in Ellicott City. Though the bar’s holiday celebrations will look a bit different this year, it’s still offering massive margaritas—made with Jose Cuervo or 1800 tequila—for curbside pickup. Additionally, guests can order chips and salsa, as well as 12 pork carnitas tacos topped with grilled pineapple, red onion, and cilantro. Orders can be placed online or by calling the restaurant.

Mezcal Mexican Restaurant and Bar: Celebrate with the full food menu recently made available for carryout at this Baltimore County cantina, which operates locations in Owings Mills and Timonium. In addition to the standout fajitas, burritos, and tacos, Mezcal offers bottled sangria, margaritas, and mojitos.

Papi’s Tacos: Not only is Papi’s offering special fiesta packages from its Hampden location (a bundle for four includes tequila, a mixer, an appetizer, tacos, and two sides), but it’s also hosting a virtual fiesta on Facebook Live. Throw on a sombrero and tune in from home to enjoy mariachi music, raffle drawings, live comedy with Mike Quindlen, trivia with owner Charlie Gjerde, and maybe even a piñata to whack open for good measure. The team is also giving away a $50 gift card to Papi’s and its sister-spots, as well as a Yeti cooler filled with $500 worth of booze. Any to-go order of $25 or more from either Papi’s location in Hampden or Fells Point will come with a raffle ticket to enter to win the prizes.

Taco Bravo: This Timonium newbie is open from 12-9 p.m. for curbside pickup and delivery. In addition to its regular menu, the spot is offering a deal on five chicken or steak tacos for $10. To-go cocktails include $5 margaritas, $10 grande sangrias and mojitos, and $25 64-oz. margaritas.

The Urban Oyster: Typically closed for carryout on Tuesdays, this Locust Point oyster bar is opening up for the occasion with a special menu of surf and turf tacos, guacamole, pico de gallo, elote, tequila lime pie, and seafood nachos smothered in beer cheese. Throw in a spicy grilled pineapple margarita and you’re in for a full-blown fiesta.

Vida Taco Bar: The Severna Park location of this strictly tacos-and-tequila bar is open from 12-8 p.m. for takeout tacos, nachos, guacamole, and cocktails. You can also catch Vida’s mobile margarita vans roaming in the communities surrounding all three of its locations. Upcoming routes are announced daily and orders can be placed online here.

Although National Margarita Day falls at the end of February, it’s never too cold to enjoy a cocktail. There’s no easier way to celebrate on Saturday, February 22 than by enjoying one frozen, flavored, or on the rocks. Baltimore bars ranging from popular hangouts to hidden gems are getting creative with new margarita menu items, and they are offering tons of specials to celebrate. Whether you identify as a tequila connoisseur or a newbie, hit the town on Saturday and indulge in the discounted offerings.

Banditos Bar and Kitchen: This Federal Hill go-to will be featuring happy hour pricing from 12-6 p.m. on Saturday, offering $6 margaritas. With flavors including the “Dita Rita,” “Mezcalita,” pineapple, strawberry, and spicy, there are plenty of options to enjoy the tequila-filled day. 1118 S Charles St.

Barcocina: This popular Fells Point hangout will be serving $5 margaritas all week, and highlighting a different daily flavor to celebrate the boozy holiday. Take in the harbor views and enjoy standard sips like the house margarita, spiced-orange, smoky, or “Margarita en Fuego” topped with a jalapeño-infused foam. Friday’s special will be the “Barcopiña,” made with Espolon reposado tequila muddled in pineapple and basil. Saturday will feature the “Bianca in Oaxaca” with Illegal mezcal and aperol, and the week will end with “Mia’s Tropical Margarita” made with pineapple Don Julio tequila, peach schnapps, malibu, and pineapple juice. that will That last one will take you straight to the beach. 1629 Thames St.

Blue Agave: Federal Hill’s Blue Agave is a favorite for happy hours, girls-night out, day drinking, or grabbing tacos. This Saturday, enjoy $2 off all of the tequila drinks—ranging from pomegranate to red pepper—all day long. Pro tip: If you’re feeling adventurous, split the “Agave Shipwreck,” a 42-oz. frozen house margarita with blue curaçao in one giant glass, between your group. 1032 Light St.

Clavel: Highlighting cuisine inspired by Oaxaca, Mexico, this Remington favorite boasts strung lights, handmade corn and flour tortillas, house-grown ingredients, and tons of margaritas. This National Margarita Day, enjoy $4 off all margaritas during happy hour and see if spicy or bitter fits your palette. 225 W 23rd St.

Holy Frijoles: All day on Saturday Holy Frijoles on the Avenue in Hampden will be serving $5 house and $6 flavored margaritas including the “Velvet Hammer,” “Cucumber,” “Multiball,” and “Jalapeño” varieties. The “Dos Amigos Margarita,” a mini house margarita pitcher with a Coronita bottle added, will be discounted at $10. 908 W 36th St.

La Calle: Modern Mexican cantina La Calle will be serving its famous house and tamarind margaritas for $5 from 4-11 p.m. on Saturday. If you haven’t tried out this downtown spot yet, La Calle boasts cuisine that uses local Maryland and indigenous Mexican ingredients. 10 S St.

Lee’s Pint and Shell: National Margarita Day isn’t only being celebrated at cantinas on Saturday—Lee’s Pint and Shell in Canton is also getting in on the festivities. Known for its American and seafood menu, Lee’s encourages you to drink the day away with $4 margaritas all day long. 2844 Hudson St.

Nacho Mama’s: Both the Canton and Towson locations of this Mexican cantina will be featuring major food and drink specials all day on Saturday. Don’t miss the house “Graceland” margarita for $5 and the famous hubcap margs for $15. If premium is more your style, the spot will be taking $2 off premium margaritas and $5 off premium hubcaps, as well as serving $10 top shelf margaritas. Try something new with the mango-habanero for $8 or the watermelon margarita for $9. Pair all of the drinks with $6 happy hour nachos or a $8 fiesta dip. Two locations including 2907 O’Donnell St.

Papi’s Tacos: Papi’s Tacos in Fells Point and Hampden will be featuring its “Dos Manos House Margarita” for $10 all day on Saturday. This 20-oz. margarita is made with house tequila, Olmeca Altos Blanco, and organic margarita mix. It is available on the rocks or frozen, and with flavors and floaters for an additional charge. Two locations including 1703 Aliceanna St.

Woody’s Cantina: Woody’s Cantina in Fells Point will be doing beat-the-clock house margaritas starting at $4 at 10 a.m. The price increases by $1 each hour, so be sure to get there early to make the most of the deal. Margarita Jell-O Shots will also be available, as well as standard menu items. 821 S Broadway.

As the sun beats down on Baltimore in these dog days of summer, everyone could use an excuse to cool off. And spots all across Charm City are offering unbeatable drink specials on Wednesday, July 24 in honor of one of our country’s most arbitrary holidays: National Tequila Day.

Taking the cake for, perhaps, the most creative drink we’ve seen in tequila’s honor is one that seems to intoxicate and re-hydrate you at the same time: a frozen Patron Pedialyte margarita (Patron Silver, strawberry or blue raspberry pedialyte, lime, and agave) created by bar manager Liz Jankiewicz of Ouzo Bay and Ouzo Beach.

“Not only is it good to throw some electrolytes at the guest while it’s hot out,” Jankiewicz says, “but it actually pairs really well with the tequila because of the level of salinity in it. Just like if you’re having your margarita with salt on the rim.”

And this holiday will be a chance for those who haven’t made it out of town this summer to get a taste of an island vacation: “Having a margarita taps into the idea of a destination,” Jankiewicz says. “It turns your normal watering hole turns into a getaway.”

Whether you want to sip on a frozen margarita, or throw back shots like it’s your day job, there are plenty of places to partake. So get your sliced limes and salted rims ready, and check out some of the best spots to spend the holiday.

Blue Agave: Named after tequila’s essential ingredient, this Federal Hill destination is certainly ringing in the holiday with cheer. The bar will feature $2 discounts on all-things tequila-related, including margaritas, flights, and shots, as well as discounted bottle club membership offers. And with their featured tequila of the month being Casamigos, no one will leave unsatisfied.

Canton Crossing Wine & Spirits: If you’re looking for a bargain, this Canton spirits shop will offer free—yes, we said free—samples of various Rooster Rojo tequilas, which are made from 100 percent Blue Weber agave. Make sure to swing by between 4 and 6 p.m. to try blanco, reposado, and anejo varieties.

El Bufalo Tequila Bar & Kitchen: Wondering why this Canton spot is a rightful place to celebrate the Mexican spirit? The name speaks for itself. El Bufalo’s specials include $6 shots and $8 margaritas that make use of the restaurant’s catalog of more than 50 tequila brands. Any purchase of a Casamigos, Don Julio, or Olmeca Altos drinks will get you a raffle ticket for a Bottle Club giveaway.

Lee’s Pint & Shell: This Canton haunt is the place to be for Don Julio fans. Lee’s is offering a $10 deal that includes two 5-oz. margaritas, a shot of anejo, and a shot of blanco—all of the Don Julio variety.

Nacho Mama’s: Both the Towson and Canton locations of this Elvis-themed cantina will feature all-day specials for tequila lovers. Flights of Casamigos, Patron, and Herradura will be served along with presentation mats and tasting notes. If you’re not up for that, try a special shot in one of the bar’s renowned hubcap margaritas. We recommend the “Pama Sunset” (Pomegranate liqueur, house tequila, and homemade lime mix), the “Blue Suede Shoes” (El Jimador, Blue Curacao, and homemade lime mix), or the “King” (Don Julio Reposado, Limeade, and Grand Marnier float).

Ouzo Bay: Harbor East’s Mediterranean mainstay is offering a lineup of can’t-miss cocktails for the holiday. Mention this very write-up for $9 drinks like the “Aleppo Pines” made with Patron Roca Silver, yellow chartreuse, retsina reduction, oregano honey, and lemon. Or, head across the street to it’s outdoor sister bar Ouzo Beach for the frozen Pedialyte margarita or a “Paloma Collins” (Patron Roca Silver, pamplemousse, honey, lime, club soda, and salt and a tri-peppercorn rim). All frozen Patron drinks at Ouzo Beach are blended using a stationary bike, so be prepared to bike your own drink if you choose.

Vida Taco Bar: Casamigos is the tequila of choice at this fan-favorite taco joint. Locations in Annapolis, Severna Park, and Harbor Point will serve $10 Casamigos cocktails all day long. Specials include the “Basic” (Casamigos Reposado, Fever-Tree citrus tonic, and fresh lime), the “Mexican Spa Day” (Casamigos Blanco, Fever-Tree cucumber tonic, and fresh mint), and the “Smokey Ginger” (Casamigos Mezcal and Fever-Tree smokey ginger ale).

Though Blue Agave Restaurante y Tequileria has been a Federal Hill fixture since 2000, most might be surprised to hear that the cantina didn’t serve tacos until Brian Acquavella took over in 2012.

“It was a Mexican restaurant that didn’t think tacos were authentic,” he says. “So our number one goal was putting them on the menu. The previous owners weren’t really hitting the mark of Federal Hill. It’s a high-energy place, and Mexican restaurants are supposed to be fun.”

Acquavella has certainly brought plenty of good times in the six years since he took over the Light Street staple. Aside from revamping the menu and building up a bar program with a lengthy list of tequilas and mezcals, he introduced one of the neighborhood’s most popular happy hours.

“From college all the way on, I remember the Mexican restaurants as the places where you would get the best happy hour,” he says. “You get some tacos and margaritas—maybe do a couple of shots. We wanted to be that destination place.” 

To celebrate the six-year anniversary of Acquavella’s ownership, the restaurant is throwing an all-out bash this week complete with nightly specials, karaoke, tequila tastings, and hangover brunches. Though the restaurant’s official birthday falls in March, the team held off on a celebration so that it could overlap with Cinco de Mayo this year.

“This is the biggest we’ve ever gone,” Acquavella says. “Having Cinco de Mayo fall on a Saturday this year has made us realize that we can do so many fun things the week leading up to it.”

Leading up to the big day, Blue Agave will offer a $25 discount for bottle club members on Wednesday, May 2, live mariachi music and special tequila pairings on Thursday, May 3, and authentic food specials by chef Fidel Arias on Friday, May 4. The bar’s official Cinco de Mayo bash on Saturday, May 5 will occur in conjunction with the annual Federal Hill Fiesta block party, which has moved from Cross Street to the new Stadium Square parking lot on West Ostend Street this year. On Sunday, May 6, the restaurant is offering 15 percent off all brunch checks to diners who bring a receipt from Blue Agave’s Saturday fiesta.

“We’re trying to do something to hit as many different people as possible,” Acquavella says of the week’s festivities. “It’s also a great opportunity for us to play around with new dishes and celebrate the culture of Mexico. I’ve been there 11 times now and I love it.”

In particular, Acquavella says his trips to Mexico have sparked an affection for authentic tequilas and mezcals.

“The first time I had mezcal in Oaxaca, I didn’t even realize what I was drinking, but I knew I loved it,” he says. “Two years ago, you couldn’t find anyone who was drinking mezcal here. But now it’s finally something that people are starting to understand. We’re up to 20 behind the bar, and it’s always exciting when people hear we have a new one and come in specifically to try it.”

Among the many Mexican-inspired cocktails at Blue Agave is the pineapple-raspberry margarita, which features an Añejo tequila infused with pineapple and vanilla bean that Acquavella created alongside head bartender Pabis Reyes.

“The infuse is something that we came up with a year ago, and we’ve found that people love it by itself or in the margarita,” Reyes says. “It’s really refreshing for the season and has a great combination of flavors.”

If you can’t make it to Blue Agave’s festivities this week, here’s the pineapple-raspberry margarita recipe:

– 2 oz. Añejo tequila pineapple/vanilla bean infuse
– 1 oz. Blue Agave house margarita mix
– .5 oz. raspberry liqueur
– fresh raspberries

Combine tequila pineapple/vanilla bean infuse, margarita mix, and raspberry liquor in a shaker with ice and shake well until chilled. Pour into glass with fresh ice and top with raspberries.