Somebody sound the alarm – Cinco de Mayo is on a Taco Tuesday this year!
Of course, no self-respecting party city – especially one so close to the border – would wait until then to put on the sombreros and down teqila, and that is certainly the case with San Diego. The celebration starts on the weekend. So keep reading for the best of Cinco de Mayo in San Diego, complete with pub crawls and margaritas.
By the way, do you know what Cinco de Mayo is and why it is celebrated?
San Diego Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawls
• Pub crawl veterans Levinson Group, has a Gaslamp Cinco de Mayo pub crawl starting at Good Night John Boy (the disco bar!) on Saturday, May 3. You get a wristband to visit enough bars in the Gaslamp to get you in the fiest mood (Toro, Double Deuce where you can ride a mechanical bull, Whiskey Girl and Gaslamp Lamplighter are on the schedule) and you can go on your own or go as a group. Tickets start at $10.
• The Pacific Beach Cinco de Mayo pub crawl is Saturday, May 2 and involves margaritas, tequila and food specials at participating bars. The check-in bar is Pueblo (877 Hornblower Street) from 5-7 p.m. There is a cost to it but we’ll let you try and figure it out on its Eventbrite page.
San Diego Bars & Restaurants For Cinco de Mayo
As previously mentioned, this year’s Cinco de Mayo collides with Taco Tuesday so nearly every bar and cantina in town already has margarita, cerveza and taco specials. Duck Dive in PB, for instance, has a pretty good and potent margarita for $7 while down the ocean a bit in Mission Beach, Guava Beach has a really good margarita for $8 until 10. So PubClub.com’s advice is to go out somewhere and take advantage of this two-for-one opportunity.
Additionally, here are other Cinco de Mayo specials at San Diego bars & Restaurants.
In the Gaslamp Quarter, El Chingon has a Mariachi Brunch on Sunday, May 3 with a mariachi band, the Padres on the big screen and Mexican-inspired offerings. Reservations start at $10 per person, and include one brunch item and one mimosa, available on the Eventbrite website.
Hasta Mañana Cantina is be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with all–you-can-eat tacos for $22 from 11- a.m.-11 p.m. From 5- close, there will be $5 Jimador margaritas and $5 specials on Don Julio, Corralejo, Codigo, Del Maguey Vida and Patron 100 Silver. Hasta Manana is also be hosting a jewelry pop-up from Bijut Collection (prices vary).
At barleymash, the Pepino margarita with Cazadores Blanco, cucumber, jalapenos, lime, and agave; the Coco with Cazadores Blanco, coconut and lime; and the Sandia with Cazadores Blanco, watermelon, lime and agave are each $15.Food specials include the Surf & Turf Quesadilla ($18), with grilled shrimp and carne asada, salsa fresca, pepper jack cheese, saffron lime crema, and Spanish rice, and Enchiladas ($17) made with Michelada-braised chicken, pepper jack and three cheese blend rolled in corn tortillas, finished with lime crema and guacamole, and served with a side of Spanish rice. There is also free swag throughout the day.
Around the corner, The Smoking Gun has Teremana Tequila margaritas and Mexican Beer Buckets (Modelo Oro, Dos XX, Coronitas), along with boilermaker specials. For food, there’s the Dopewrap, Street Corn Skillet with grilled sweet corn, roasted garlic aioli, cotija cheese, Valentina Hot Sauce and micro cilantro, or the Brisket Flautas served with salsa fresca, avocado cream, and cotija cheese. PubClub.com does not have prices for these items.
Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails on the ninth floor of Hotel Indigo San Diego – Gaslamp Quarter, has $10 margaritas in various flavors (classic, spicy, strawberry, mango and peach). It also has $5 tacos, including carne asada with onion, cilantro and roasted green salsa; fish with locally sourced fish, mango slaw and avocado crema; and chicken taco with onion, cilantro and roasted green salsa.
City Tacos has a beer and taco combo special. Cinco de May is also its 12th anniversary and you can get any two tacos and a bottled Mexican beer for $12. City Tacos has nearly 20 tacos on its menu.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company is having Happy Hour on its Karlitos Mexican Lager all day on Cinco de Mayo which is $6. A good pairing is with the brewery’s new seasonal menu item, Shrimp Tostadas, featuring Chef Angie’s killer habanero salsa.
In Encinatis, Temaki Bar is featuring two cocktails. One is a pineapple shiso margarita made with Don Julio Blanco tequila, fresh pineapple and lime juice, agave and a Tajín rim. The other is a cucumber mezcal highball featuring Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, lime juice, fresh cucumber and club soda, Both are just $7. Temaki also has a complimentary draft cerveza with ny tequila shot. The beers are quality ones, too: Harland Brewing Co.’s “Japanese Lager,” Sapporo, “Space Dust” IPA by Elysian Brewing and “Penitent Man” IPA by Viewpoint Brewing Co.
San Diego Cinco de Mayo Festivals
There are two main festivals happening in San Diego for Cinco de Mayo, both taking place on the previous weekend.
In Old Town there is Fiesta Old Town (Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 10-6) that features a block party with bands and other entertainment. In Fiesta del Reys, the cool little section off the Old Town Historic Park, there are mariachi bands and folklórico dancers. Of course, there are countless places to have Mexican food and margaritas, tho watch your bill if you go to Cafe Coyte.
On Sunday, Seaport Village has a celebration with music from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., in its Carousel District (Food Court). If you go, have some good and not-expensive tacos at Quiero Tacos at Mike Hess Brewing where you can get a seat overlooking San Diego Bay (no margaritas, tho).
It must be pointed out thatt at both of these events, the number of kids and strollers far outnumber the single people.
San Diego Padres Cinco de Mayo Schedule
The Padres are home on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 1-3, against the Chicago White Sox. Game times are 6:40, 5:40 and 1:10. On Tuesday, May 5, the will be in San Francisco to play the Giants with the game starting at 6:45 p.m.
Legendary San Diego Dive Bar The Kracken Turns 50
Here’s something else of significance happening in San Diego on Cinco de Mayo weekend that has nothing to do with the Mexican holiday. One of San Diego’s legendary dive bars, the Kraken in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, turns 50 and is is having an anniversary party on Sunday, May 3. Live music starts at 2 and Mexico City Cuisine will be serving tacos until 7.
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