A Margarita Tour of Boulder

Being from Texas, there’s a special place in my heart for the margarita. Thankfully,Boulder restaurants keep my margarita cravings appropriately appeased. As we’re prepping for a three-day holiday weekend, why don’t you come on a stroll with me and sample some of my favorite ‘ritas about town? Maybe you’d think you can’t get a decent marg in Boulder county, but there’s where I’d be telling you — son, you’re dead wrong.

So pull up a barstool. You’re going to need one by the time we’re done with this tour.

Zolo – While this little gem might be tucked away in a shopping center off Arapahoe and Folsom and away from the hustle and bustle of Pearl Street, it’s a Boulder favorite. Delicious Southwestern fare coupled with a fantastic margarita selection only makes it more appealing. Check out their tequila bar, their coin-style ‘ritas and, of course, my favorite margarita on the menu: Herra the Dog (oof).

The Rio – Good for but great margaritas. The Rio is well known for their potent margs and has a 3 margarita limit for every patron. Seems that even they know the oomph behind their salt-rimmed glasses. If you’re just looking for a good time, you might want to check out their Mini Margs, which still pack a punch and will likely not leave you crawling out the door.

Tahona Tequila Bistro – If you’re walking down Pearl Street and need a Boulder margarita fix, stumble on it to Tahona — and then stumble out a few hours later. They have a full tequila bar like Zolo (double oof) and have one of the best margarita-flavored happy hours in town. As far as their margaritas go, the house marg is perfectly serviceable, but I’m a fan of the Prickly Pear. They also offer a variety of infusion-style margaritas made with whatever the house infusion is that day. Check out the menu here.

T|aco – Last but not least, it’s T|aco on Walnut. Happy hour runs from 2-6PM daily boasting a $4 house margarita (delicious, says my liver). Personally, I’m a fan of the pineapple habernero margarita, though. A word of warning: the pineapple habernero marg packs a punch and frankly, I can’t abide by more than one. Maybe you’re a better man/woman than I am, but even if you stop with one, you’re well taken care of on the tequila front. They also have a Smoky Marg that’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of the chipotle flavor. See the menu here.

By Erika Napoletano