Where To Sip On The Best Margaritas In Sydney
Eloise Luke
Contributor | Urban List
With zest, sweetness, and a little kick from old mate tequila, the margarita is the ultimate party drink. It's one of Sydney's most beloved sips, pairing perfectly with the warm weather and beachside vibes.
Whether you're a fiend or an aficionado, here's where to find the best margaritas in Sydney, according to Urban List Sydney's Instagram crowd.
Las Palmas
West Esplanade, Manly
Image credit: Las Palmas | Instagram
If West Esplanade is becoming one of Sydney’s most compelling waterfront strips, Las Palmas is its latest drawcard. Opened by The Boathouse Group, the team behind Manly Pavilion and The Espy, the garden bar and taqueria brings coastal Mexico to Manly, just steps from the wharf and an easy ferry ride from the CBD.
Tequila and mezcal lead the bar, with pours from Olmeca Altos, Código and Del Maguey, alongside a bespoke Las Palmas x Balter Brewing Company beer.
Insider Intel
- Margaritas span classic, coconut, mango and passionfruit, and the $50 Margarita Flight (five flavours in one hit) is available to pre-order when booking.
Cantina OK!
Council Place, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Cantina OK! | Instagram
Definitely the smallest bar on this list, Cantina OK! is a cool and quirky spot hidden down an alleyway off Clarence Street that specialises in mezcal. The Tio’s boys followed up the success of their cerveceria with this one inspired by a Mexican road trip that pays homage to the tiny places you find in that part of the world.
Insider Intel
- There's always a new special to try, and the bar staff are constantly experimenting—so you'll never be bored.
Arms Length Bar
7 Kellett Street, Potts Point
Image credit: Arms Length | Instagram
Operated by a team with serious hospo pedigree (Rockpool, Monopole, Margaret, Ormeggio), Arms Length is the Potts Point all-rounder you wish was on your street—a restaurant, bar and late-night local.
If you’re wandering in after 9pm, the $15 late-night margarita menu is a must—expect flavours like Blue Yuzu, Kiwi + Papaya, a Watermelon–Rhubi number, and a rotating Mystery Marg you’ll have to order blind.
Insider Intel
- There’s also steak frites with a rich brandy-peppercorn sauce, and jaffles running until late.
Chica Bonita
9 The Corso, Manly
Image credit: Chica Bonita | Instagram
Across from The Corso lies Sydney Mexican restaurant, Chica Bonita, a delicious taqueria offering zesty, simple food inspired by Mexico and Baja California. By day, it'll be burritos and bowls and canned margs to go. By night, tostada's and tacos take over alongside their extensive marg menu—from classics to fruity picks—we love the mango and habanero.
Insider Intel
- The weekend sees happy hour margs from 4pm to 5pm, with a special late night offer on Thursdays from 8pm to 9pm.
Centro 86
86-88 Pitt Street, Sydney
Image credit: Centro 86 | Instagram
Yet another Mucho special (these guys are the backbone of margs and martinis in Sydney), Centro 86 is a hidden basement venue in the heart of the CBD. Everything here is executed with a little bit more effort—the margs focus on clean and fruity flavours with an elevated special making the rounds each month.
Insider Intel
- The Grande Spicy Marg serves two people for $39—grab a straw and get sipping.
Bar Patron
2 Phillip Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Bar Patron | Instagram
It's a fact that margs taste even better with Sydney Harbour views, so Bar Patron is a must for die-hard fans of the timeless cocktail. The cocktail menu offers eight margaritas, spotlighting the very best tequila that Patron has to offer.
Insider Intel
- Don't skip the 1712 Margarita if you are ready to ball out: for $70 it's served tableside, with nitro-chilled Patrón El Alto, nixta corn liqueur, freshly squeezed lime, and agave.
La Farmacia
81 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst
Image credit: La Farmacia | Instagram
La Farmacia is the latest offering from the Wings and Tins duo Anthony Macfarlane and Alfredo Perez. “The most important thing is your rims and your salts. We use Maldon sea salt flakes on our rims because that’s the first thing that hits your lips”, Macfarlane tells us. They don’t stop there—dipping their rims in hand-charred corn husk salt or even powdered crickets imported from Mexico.
Insider Intel
- Ask for any of their drinks to be made with mezcal for an extra smokey hit.
Tio’s
4/14 Foster Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Tio's | Instagram
You wouldn’t think Surry Hills would be the epicentre of Margaritaville in Sydney, but it's certainly shaping up that way. Officially a cerveceria with an extensive beer selection, Tio’s began life as a rough-and-ready, anything-goes-type place, with no drinks list, no food, and free popcorn for all.
Insider Intel
- Head in for daily happy hour from 4pm to 6pm, and you can score $12 classic margs.
El Loco
64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills | 111 Sussex St, Sydney CBD
Image credit: El Loco | Instagram
You can’t write a list of Sydney’s best Mexican sippin’ spots without talking about the legendary El Loco in Surry Hills, which started as a pop-up in the backroom of the Excelsior pub and quickly became permanent due to popular demand, and its second outpost at the CBD's Slip Inn.
Insider Intel
- We'd go for the jalapeńo margarita with Olmeca Altos Plata, Ilegal Joven mezcal, jalapeño and citrus served with a crushed jalapeño salt rim—which is available by the jug, FYI.
Tequila Mockingbird
6 Heeley Street, Paddington
Image credit: Tequila Mockingbird | Instagram
It's all in the name—Tequila Mockingbird's build your own margarita puts the choice back into your hands, so you can pick your fave tequila and serving style. If that's too much admin, you can that pairs perfectly with the venue's pan-Latin American cuisine.
Insider Intel
- Drop in Tuesday–Sunday, 4pm–6pm for $12 happy hour margs.
Titus Jones
337 Illawarra Road, Marrickville
Image credit: Titus Jones | Instagram
A cosy bar and taco joint on Illawarra Road, Titus Jones is doing some of the best margs in the West. They whip up a mean version of the classic, or get fruity with a refreshing watermelon margarita (salt rim required, trust us).
Insider Intel
- This spot does $5 tacos on Tuesdays—winner.
Mejico
355 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Mejico is a mod Mexican joint showcases flavours from Mexico City to the depths of the Yucatan, with a margarita menu offering all the classics as well as some signatures, plus some options to make it your own. You can also pivot into slushy-style drinks, or even move off the tequila if you are catering for different tastes.
Insider Intel
- Happy hour is everyday, 3pm–5pm, with $12 margs and $10 snack plates.
The Dolphin
412 Crown St, Surry Hills
Image credit: The Dolphin | Instagram
The Dolphin is a huge beautiful mess of an establishment and another Surry Hills staple. They have a couple of takes on the margarita, but we rate the Sicilian—which is made with limoncello and chilli and is essentially a holiday in a glass.
Insider Intel
- Enjoy one (or several) on their upstairs courtyard which is excellent for people-watching and soaking up some inner-city sun.
Image credit: Arms Length Bar | Instagram
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