Tallula's
It’s obvious that Cinco de Mayo is May 5, but in Los Angeles, festivities go all month long. See below for everything happening in the city for the beloved holiday.
Website/ 2270 Venice Boulevard 90006
Begin festivities early with 1800 Tequila. Starting May 3 at 7 p.m., the 1800 Taste Tiendita will pop up at Start Los Angeles with a tequila-froward experience of live music, Instagram-worthy photos, cocktails and more. It also will be selling limited edition merchandise curated by the likes of Jazmin & Luis Garcia, Richie Velazquez, Rick Montaño, Sofia Elias, Sofia Enriquez, and Spanto from BornxRaised. A portion of the proceeds from merch sales will go toward supporting Art Share LA. Sign-up for more details on the pop-up website.
Website/ 6400 E Pacific Coast Hwy 90803
The Long Beach outdoor shopping center will host clubhouse characters and live performances from 5 to 7 p.m. for a family-friendly Cinco de Mayo celebration. The evening will feature meet and greets, traditional ballet folklórico dancing, rope tricks, free balloons and face painting and live mariachi music.
Website/ 189 The Grove Dr 90036
Alma at The Grove is celebrating Cinco Mayo all day long with specials like $11 margaritas and $25 large margaritas from noon to 7 p.m. What’s more, there will be a live mariachi band starting at 7 p.m.
Website/ 8905 Melrose Ave 90069
From 3 to 9 p.m., Gracias Madre will host an outdoor pop-up margaritas garden that will feature an array of margaritas, plant-based bites, live mariachi band performances, beats by DJ Vick Jagger, raffle prizes, photo opportunities and more. There will also be spirit-free cocktails by Cut Above and Herradura, La Tierra De Acre and Mezcal Mal Bien will be hosting margarita and mezcal bars at the event. Be sure to snag tickets before Friday!
Website/ 1910 Ocean Way 90405
The Santa Monica hotel welcomes guests and locals for a special Dos Hombres Cinco de Mayo. Opt for a handcrafted cocktail or go all out with a package, like the Dos Hombres Bottle Service Package, which includes a semi-private cabana for up to eight guests or a table for up to six guests; a bottle of Dos Hombres mezcal with mixers and garnishes; musical entertainment; light bites and a collector’s bottle signed by founders Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. Cabana reservations begin at 6 p.m. on May 5 and reservation availability is limited.
Website/ Various
From May 5 to June 8, Holey Grail Donuts will offer the Horchata Donut (fresh rhubarb, local strawberries and a housemade horchata drizzle). A portion of proceeds will benefit The Ali Forney Center, a non-profit organization that fights homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth around the country.
Website/Various
Sant’olina (5 to 11 p.m.), Harriet’s (5 to 11 p.m.) and Shorebar (8 to 11 p.m.) will be serving up $10 Spicy Sienas on Cinco de Mayo. Named for H.wood Group co-founder and co-president Brian Toll’s wife, the spicy margaritas is made with 818 Blanco Tequila, lime, fresno, agave and Cointreau. In addition, Slab will offer two for $5 brisket and pork tacos.
Website/ 1400 Cahuenga Blvd 90028
Head up to The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood rooftop lounge for a celebration full of city views, street tacos, specialty cocktails and a live DJ. Then after filling up, dance the night away from 5 p.m. to close.
Website/ Various
Mezcal lovers should flock to their nearest Madre on Cinco de Mayo. The Oaxacan restaurant and mezcaleria will offer a $25 flight, which will feature Agua del Sol, Mal Bien and Lopez Real. What’s more, happy hour will be offered from 3 to 6 p.m. and we highly recommend an order of Madre’s special tlayudas con mole with carne asada. And if head to the Torrance location, there will be live music from 5 to 10 p.m.
Website/1001 Rose Bowl Dr 91103
Opt for a full-day Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 6 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Rose Bowl. The second annual family-friendly event welcomes Angelenos to come together for a day of traditions through music, sports, art and film.
Website/ 8440 Sunset Blvd 90069
Kick off the weekend early at Skybar. It will begin Cinco de Mayo festivities with a Dance Yourself Clean pool party hosted by DJ Aaron Colbert from 1 to 6 p.m., which will include live DJ sets, 818 Tequila drink specials and outdoor games like cornhole and giant Jenga. The party will continue from 9 p.m. to midnight with more music and 818 cocktails. Bookings are recommended.
Website/ 1920 Santa Monica Blvd 90404
All day long, the seasonal SoCal-Mexican restaurant by chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken will be serving up $5 tacos, $5 beer and $8 cocktails. Come later for live music by Mariachi mi Tierra from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Website/ 118 Entrada Dr 90402
In addition to its usual excellent lineup of cocktails and farmer’s market-driven fare, Tallula’s will have a plethora of stations set up to make sure this party is fun and functional. There will be a satellite bar with hibiscus, spicy and classic margaritas and a taco cart whipping up carnitas tacos and chicharrónes and Mexican street fruit cups. Also, there will be a DJ from 6 to 9 p.m. and reservations are encouraged. You can also opt to take your order to go and, if you’re really going all out at home, you can go for the Cinco de Mayo Fiest Pack ($155). Made to feed 6, it includes a 12-piece Taco Bar with carne asada, chicken, shrimp, veggies and all the fixings; an eight-piece cheese quesadilla; DIY Nachos “Sencillo” and churros. You can also add on jars of margaritas, palomas or seasonal aguas frescas or mixed cerveza packs. For pickup or delivery on May 5, orders must be placed by May 4 at 8 p.m.
Website/ 326 Lincoln Blvd 90291
Taking over Prince Street Pizza in Venice, Off The Menu and Topo Chico will host a feat extravaganza from 6 to 10 p.m. Guests will be treated to unlimited tacos from Tacos 1986, unlimited pizza from Prince Street Pizza and a special collaboration dish from the two restaurants: an Adobada Pizza with Adobada, onions, cilantro, Morita salsa, marinara sauce mozzarella-Monterey Jack mix and a Serrano crema. There will also be DJs, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer and churros from The Churro Man. Tickets are $40.
Website/ 9850 Wilshire Blvd 90210
On May 5 and 6, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal are teaming up for the ultimate Cinco de Mayo experience. On May 5, the collaboration begins with a four-course, family-style dinner featuring traditional Mexican flavors with a contemporary California flare. The next day, May 6, Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal’s bar director, David Hernandez, will host A Taste of Mexico. The spirits tasting will showcase tequila, mezcal and agave varieties that will be paired with seasonal bar bites. Later that evening, the Travesía culinary voyage will transport diners to Mexico by way of a six-course tasting menu and cocktail pairing. All experience reservations are open on Opentable.
Website/ 813 Flower St 90017
Tequila fans won’t want to miss this one. Available throughout May, The Wayfarer DTLA will let guests try its single-barrel Mundial Tequila from El Tesoro, which is one of only 50 barrels in existence. The limited edition spirit was aged in a 10-year-old scotch barrel and you can try it as a pour or as part of a Sonoma Paloma.
From margarita and mezcal specials to tacos galore, Cinco de Mayo celebrations truly enliven Los Angeles.
See also: See All Of The Can't-Miss Events Happening In L.A. This May
Photography by: Photo by Lindsey Huttrer for Tallula's
