Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican victory over French forces in 1862.   But  you knew that….   

Cinco de Mayo isn’t widely observed in Mexico but that shouldn’t stop you from hoisting a glass to celebrate the triumph of tequila and mezcal over champagne.  Here are a handful of barras y restaurantes where you’ll have the least chance of getting an embarrassing picture taken of you wearing a giant sombrero while soused on Sauza.  

The Edison downtown may be more grand than guerilla but drink like a wage worker with $1  shots (1 per person) of Casa Noble tequila from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  Willie Martinez y Mombo Loco will perform at 7:00PM with DJ Tatiana accompanying.   Plot your next uprising amidst the underground artifacts of the city’s first power plant.    

The doors at Las Perlas open at 4PM to give you an early start on the $4 Tecates,  $5 shots of El Jimador Blanco Tequila, $6 shots of Herradura Antiquo, and $7 margueritas and shots of Herradura Blanco.  There’s no $8 special but at 9:30PM,  DJ Jose Galvan (of 103.1 FM) helps you count down the night with Latin and Mexican beats in the Oaxacan inspired charm of  downtown’s temple of tequila and mezcal.   

If you’re a reality T.V.  junkie, you probably already know that Ciudad‘s Susan Feniger, one of the Too Hot Tamales, has been competing on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters.  Ciudad will host a TCM viewing party on Cinco de Mayo with $3 tacos, 1/2 off Mojitos and Margueritas, and “special surprise tastes” of one of Ms. Feniger’s TCM dishes.  RSVP by TODAY, May 4th if you’re craving a gourmet, Cinco de Mayo experience with your Wednesday night T.V. fix.  

If you couldn’t get tickets to Lucha Va Voom’s sold out “Cinco de Mayan” extravaganza, head over to “modern Mexican” Provecho Restaurant.  In addition to $2 mezcal shots, $3 Dos Equis, and $5 Cazadores margueritas, the sleekly beautiful bar and restaurant will host one of the wildest nights in town with burlesque, luchadores, and mariachis.  Ay, ay, ay, ay!  

Lula Cocina Mexicana was voted one of North America’s best tequila bars – they only serve 100% Blue Agave tequilas and mezcals and have over 300 varieties – so you know they know how to throw a party.  On Cinco de Mayo, you can roll out of bed and start toasting la revolucion at 10:00AM with special tequila and liqueur promotions; David Duque will perform with Mariachi Mexican Colonial.  Don’t turn into un nasty borracho though;  roaming magician David Groves might turn you into un canejo  and pull you out of a hat.  And the whole point of the evening is to avoid the sombreros, remember?  

Get your caliente on at Border Grill from 11:30AM to 10:00PM in the bar.  In addition to $3 Border tacos and $5 bites, desserts and drinks  (except for the Bacardi mojitos, which are $5.50), the Two Hot Tamales offer a chili challenge: if you can finish a Fresno Chili Popper, a Jalapeno Popper, and a Serrano Popper, they’ll give you a Habanero Popper free!   Ms. Go Go assumes this is a reward for a job well done but it’s really a good thing those drinks are so cheap….  

Ready?  U Know U Want 2 Go Go….  

   

  

The Edison  

108 W 2nd Street  

Los Angeles 90012  

213.613.0000  

   

   

Las Perlas  

107 East 6th Street  

Los Angeles, 90014  

213.988.8355  

   

   

Ciudad  

445 South Figueroa Street  

Los Angeles 90071  

213.486.5171  

Provecho  

800 Wilshire Boulevard (at Flower)  

Ground Floor  

Los Angeles 90017  

213.489.1406  

   

   

Lula Cocina Mexicana  

2720 Main Street  

Santa Monica 90405  

310.392.5711  

Border Grill  

1445 4th Street  

Santa Monica 90401  

310.451.1655