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El Techo’s margaritas are available to go, or on its rooftop patio
El Techo/Instagram

12 Excellent Margaritas in San Francisco

Because nothing says patio weather like tequila

by Eater Staff Updated
1 comment / new
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El Techo’s margaritas are available to go, or on its rooftop patio
| El Techo/Instagram
by Eater Staff Updated
1 comment / new

Margaritas are one of the most universally loved drinks, with good reason. They're celebratory, easy to drink, and perfect on a hot summer day...or, as is just as often the case in San Francsico, a cold, foggy night. There’s something about a margarita that makes it feel especially suited for outdoor drinking, which in these days of darkened dining rooms is especially apt. Better yet, most of these 12 margaritas aren’t just some of the best in San Francisco, but many are still available for takeout and delivery.

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Celia's by the Beach

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The Outer Sunset original is serving margaritas and meals from its front window, including batched drinks that show the 60-year-old restaurant’s co-founder, Celia Lopez-Rodriguez, clad in a COVID-blocking mask. Walk-up ordering works, delivery is via all the usual apps; indoor and outdoor is now also an option.

4019 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 759-8741
(415) 759-8741

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Underdogs Too

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This surf Mexican spot has another location on Irving Street near 19th, but the Parkside location is where one can guzzle their broad selections of margaritas while seated outside. Happy Hour is from 4:30-6 on weekdays, with generously-sized $4 house margs. All drinks are available for to go with a food order, delivery is via Caviar, DoorDash, or Uber Eats, while pickup is available online or for walk up.

3600 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 759-8112
(415) 759-8112

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Tommy's Mexican Restaurant

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If you only drink one margarita from this list, make it a Tommy's margarita. Not only does Tommy's have what's probably the most extensive and well-curated tequila selection in San Francisco, the bartenders have been making the city's best margaritas for over 50 years. Choose from over 30 of their 100-percent agave tequilas for the standard margarita pitchers, all of which have 8 ounces of tequila and fresh, hand-squeezed lime juice. Takeout margs are available for walk-in or phone customers, but an order of food (chips and guac works) is required.

5929 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 387-4747
(415) 387-4747

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Tia Margarita

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Tia Margarita Mexican Dinners has been serving cartoonish margaritas in classic glasses (including the kind with stems made too look like cacti) since 1963. Large portions — for food and drinks — are a signature aspect of this Outer Richmond old-timer, which is open for outdoor dining and takeout, check the menu out here and call in your to-go order at 415-752-9274.

300 19th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 752-9274
(415) 752-9274

Padrecito

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This Cole Valley restaurant is a neighborhood Mexican institution, as are its tequila and mezcal margaritas. Split the difference and order a padrecito (blanco tequila, mezcal, lime, agave) for both, and quaff it at one of its outdoor tables, for delivery via Caviar, or for takeout.

901 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 742-5505
(415) 742-5505

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Nopalito

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The Latin offshoot of Nopa serves up strong pueblo viejo blanco margaritas by the double or quadruple batch for delivery (Doordash) and pickup, order online here.

306 Broderick St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 437-0303
(415) 437-0303

Also featured in:

The Snug

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The Snug’s nitro margaritas are divisive topic: people either love or hate the creamy, almost shake-like cocktail, but in either case, they can’t stop talking about them. They’re sold to go in batched of two or five (they’re stable for a couple days, so go for the biggie). Outdoor drinking and dining is also available from their menu of burgers, salads, and sandwiches, to-go orders can be walked up or placed online.

2301 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

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Flores

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These margaritas are simple and to the point, with two choices: the Clasica, with lime and agave, and de Flores, made with mezcal, dry curacao, lime, and orange. Both are available for pickup, delivery via Caviar, or on their Union Street patio or parklet.

2030 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 550-8626
(415) 550-8626

Also featured in:

Puerto Alegre

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Puerto Alegre is one of the first Mexican spots many San Franciscans go to when they turn 21 because it's the perfect spot to share a couple of affordable pitchers with a group of friends. The good news is that the margaritas stay just as delicious even as you get older. Skip the frozen versions with strawberry and peach and go for the house version on the rocks. You can order all these concoctions at one of their tables along Valencia street, or to go.

546 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 255-8201
(415) 255-8201

Also featured in:

Loló

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The dining room of this cute, colorful restaurant, is closed for now, but they’re still serving up some of the best margaritas (choose from mezcal or tequila) in town for takeout and delivery, order online here.

974 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 643-5656
(415) 643-5656

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El Techo

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This rooftop is ideal on a sunny day in SF, even in these days of copious outdoor dining. The classic margarita is a winner, but if you're looking for something a bit more exciting, order the margarita del techo (cabeza tequila, fidencio mezcal, napoleon mandarin, and lime). Takeout and delivery is also an option, both via Caviar.

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-6970
(415) 550-6970

Also featured in:

Tropisueño

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Tropisueño is back for indoor and patio dining, with its full menu of potent margaritas in tow. The classic margarita with its chile salt rim is the favorite here, but the Tropisueño margarita with ginger liquer, lemon, and grapefruit is a citrusy pick-me-up on a warm afternoon, particularly when paired with a plate of grilled shrimp tacos.

75 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 985-2264
(415) 985-2264

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Celia's by the Beach

4019 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

The Outer Sunset original is serving margaritas and meals from its front window, including batched drinks that show the 60-year-old restaurant’s co-founder, Celia Lopez-Rodriguez, clad in a COVID-blocking mask. Walk-up ordering works, delivery is via all the usual apps; indoor and outdoor is now also an option.

4019 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 759-8741
(415) 759-8741

Underdogs Too

3600 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116

This surf Mexican spot has another location on Irving Street near 19th, but the Parkside location is where one can guzzle their broad selections of margaritas while seated outside. Happy Hour is from 4:30-6 on weekdays, with generously-sized $4 house margs. All drinks are available for to go with a food order, delivery is via Caviar, DoorDash, or Uber Eats, while pickup is available online or for walk up.

3600 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 759-8112
(415) 759-8112

Tommy's Mexican Restaurant

5929 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

If you only drink one margarita from this list, make it a Tommy's margarita. Not only does Tommy's have what's probably the most extensive and well-curated tequila selection in San Francisco, the bartenders have been making the city's best margaritas for over 50 years. Choose from over 30 of their 100-percent agave tequilas for the standard margarita pitchers, all of which have 8 ounces of tequila and fresh, hand-squeezed lime juice. Takeout margs are available for walk-in or phone customers, but an order of food (chips and guac works) is required.

5929 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 387-4747
(415) 387-4747

Tia Margarita

300 19th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121

Tia Margarita Mexican Dinners has been serving cartoonish margaritas in classic glasses (including the kind with stems made too look like cacti) since 1963. Large portions — for food and drinks — are a signature aspect of this Outer Richmond old-timer, which is open for outdoor dining and takeout, check the menu out here and call in your to-go order at 415-752-9274.

300 19th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 752-9274
(415) 752-9274

Padrecito

901 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117

This Cole Valley restaurant is a neighborhood Mexican institution, as are its tequila and mezcal margaritas. Split the difference and order a padrecito (blanco tequila, mezcal, lime, agave) for both, and quaff it at one of its outdoor tables, for delivery via Caviar, or for takeout.

901 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 742-5505
(415) 742-5505

Nopalito

306 Broderick St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The Latin offshoot of Nopa serves up strong pueblo viejo blanco margaritas by the double or quadruple batch for delivery (Doordash) and pickup, order online here.

306 Broderick St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 437-0303
(415) 437-0303

The Snug

2301 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

The Snug’s nitro margaritas are divisive topic: people either love or hate the creamy, almost shake-like cocktail, but in either case, they can’t stop talking about them. They’re sold to go in batched of two or five (they’re stable for a couple days, so go for the biggie). Outdoor drinking and dining is also available from their menu of burgers, salads, and sandwiches, to-go orders can be walked up or placed online.

2301 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Flores

2030 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123

These margaritas are simple and to the point, with two choices: the Clasica, with lime and agave, and de Flores, made with mezcal, dry curacao, lime, and orange. Both are available for pickup, delivery via Caviar, or on their Union Street patio or parklet.

2030 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 550-8626
(415) 550-8626

Puerto Alegre

546 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Puerto Alegre is one of the first Mexican spots many San Franciscans go to when they turn 21 because it's the perfect spot to share a couple of affordable pitchers with a group of friends. The good news is that the margaritas stay just as delicious even as you get older. Skip the frozen versions with strawberry and peach and go for the house version on the rocks. You can order all these concoctions at one of their tables along Valencia street, or to go.

546 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 255-8201
(415) 255-8201

Loló

974 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

The dining room of this cute, colorful restaurant, is closed for now, but they’re still serving up some of the best margaritas (choose from mezcal or tequila) in town for takeout and delivery, order online here.

974 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 643-5656
(415) 643-5656

El Techo

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

This rooftop is ideal on a sunny day in SF, even in these days of copious outdoor dining. The classic margarita is a winner, but if you're looking for something a bit more exciting, order the margarita del techo (cabeza tequila, fidencio mezcal, napoleon mandarin, and lime). Takeout and delivery is also an option, both via Caviar.

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-6970
(415) 550-6970

Tropisueño

75 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103

Tropisueño is back for indoor and patio dining, with its full menu of potent margaritas in tow. The classic margarita with its chile salt rim is the favorite here, but the Tropisueño margarita with ginger liquer, lemon, and grapefruit is a citrusy pick-me-up on a warm afternoon, particularly when paired with a plate of grilled shrimp tacos.

75 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 985-2264
(415) 985-2264

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