In Austin, the margarita is less a cocktail than a civic institution — and 2026 proved the competition is fiercer than ever, from new-school cantinas to Tex-Mex temples that have been salting rims since before half this town was born. The Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin 2026 readers crowned De Nada Cantina at the top, with a finalist bench that reads like a love letter to the city's enchilada-and-rocks-salt heritage. What ties them together is a refusal to phone it in: fresh lime over sour mix, real tequila, and a sense that the perfect 'rita is worth arguing about. Here's our take on who earned a spot on the list and why.
← From our complete Best of Austin 2026 guide (all 246 winners)
De Nada Cantina Multiple Locations
The 2026 winner, and honestly a coronation that felt overdue — De Nada has built a reputation on margaritas that taste like someone actually cared, balanced and bright instead of sugary slush. With multiple locations now, it's gone from buzzy newcomer to the spot you send out-of-towners to when you want them to understand what Austin means by 'a good margarita.' Order one on the patio and you'll get the appeal immediately.
Curra’s
A South Austin institution whose avocado margarita has launched a thousand 'wait, that works?' conversations — and yes, it absolutely does.
Eldorado Cafe
This neighborhood Tex-Mex favorite punches way above its strip-mall address, and the margaritas are exactly the unfussy, well-made kind that keep regulars regular.
Fonda San Miguel
The grande dame of Austin's interior-Mexican dining, where the margarita arrives with the same polish as everything else — elegant, balanced, and worth dressing up for.
Matt’s el Rancho
A genuine Austin landmark since the Lyndon Johnson era, Matt's serves margaritas the way your favorite uncle would want them: generous, classic, and best enjoyed next to a plate of Bob Armstrong dip.
See the whole thing — all 246 Best of Austin 2026 winners with our take on every one. Plus Austin CoffeeAustin FestivalsAustin Pads