Australia may be a long way from Mexico, but Flinders Lane isn't letting geography get in the way of a perfectly good drinking holiday, throwing what looks to be the day's most star-studded affair. On Cinco de Mayo, Tequila Cabeza is taking over the usual Taco Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m. (and going until 2 a.m.!) with some of the city's best bartenders - Pamela Wiznitzer of Seamstress (9-10:30 p.m.), the duo behind newcomer herbal cocktail bar Mace (10:30-midnight) - each with their own Tequila Cabeza cocktail (all $9). Flinders Lane isn't slacking either with a special street food menu of tacos, moles, ceviches and more.
Everything is better on a rooftop now that the weather is warm and dry. So toast the holiday and the official opening of Cantina Rooftop (605 W. 48th St.) in Hell's Kitchen. Pedro Zamora, the man behind Latin dance club La Boom, known for its food as much as its scene, is behind the new rooftop space on Stage 48 by the Hudson River. The menu is modern Mexican (and today, it's just $7 for three tacos) and there's a tequila expert behind the bar, though he'll still serve you $5 beer and tequila shots and $6 margaritas. Those are happy hour prices the rest of the time, so mark that down on your calendars well past Cinco.
If you planned ahead and got the day off the to party, the all-day food and drink specials begin at 11 a.m. at Stephen Starr's El Vez. But you'll want to be there (and early enough to grab a seat on the outdoor patio) for the 5-8 p.m. performance by the 10-member all-female mariachi band Flor de Toloache.
For a take on Cinco de Mayo from the other side of the Mexican-French conflict in 1862, chef Jason Marcus at Williamsburg's Xixa created special five-course tasting menu ($55) for just 26 guests that fuses French food with Mexican touches, like a foie gras tostada and steak tartare with horseradish crema. If you're not among the lucky few to try it, a family-style option is also available, with dishes like slow-roasted cote de boeuf with blue cheese fundito and crispy goat neck confit with pickled rhubarb, red wine and macha cherries. For reservations, call 718-388-8860.
Dos Caminos doesn't know what you've been waiting for, since chef Ivy Stark started the party over there on May 2, with drink specials and unique cocktails. On the day, a special menu will include chalupas poblanas ($10) with chorizo and roasted poblano chiles, soft shell crab cemita ($26) battered in Negra Modelo and for dessert, crepas de chocolate ($9) with chiapas coffee ice cream and raspberry salsita.
If you need to be more business friendly rather than business hungover tomorrow, Dos Toros is opening its seventh location in Midtown East next to Grand Central (465 Lexington Ave.) with $1 burritos, platos, quesadillas and tacos from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.
If, on the other hand, you do want to drink but don't have the scratch, Chelsea's No.8 kicks off its fiesta with a specialty cocktail open bar from 7-8 p.m., courtesy of Casamigos and Cointreau. Music by DJ ERock and good times continue until midnight, at which point you'll be a tequila-soaked pumpkin anyway. Must RSVP via email for open bar.
The West Village's Louro is bringing back last year's hit pop-up taquería, with a selection of tacos ($2.50 each), tequila (shots $5-$6) and margaritas (glass $8, pitcher $28) from 5 p.m. until midnight.
Everything's coming up cinco at Horchata, where beginning at 5 p.m., menu items like nachos, flan, guac and more are $5, as are shots of Tequila Corralejo, frozen margaritas, sangria and other drinks. For a fiesta, the classic margarita pitcher and a bucket (6) or Corona are both $25.
Tuesday is the grand opening of Mexicue Kitchen & Bar's NoMad location (225 Fifth Ave.) Get some of the cult-favorite Mexican food made with slow-smoked barbecue honed for five years in a food truck, and toast with something you won't find on just any street: $3 margaritas all day at the 25-foot bourbon and tequila bar. Try a Spicy Margarita with Fireball tequila or a Smoky Margarita with blanco, mezcal, mole bitters and chili-infused simple syrup.
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