12 Places to Celebrate National Margarita Day in Downtown Des Moines

Whether you’re looking for a margarita that’s shaken, stirred or frozen — Downtown Des Moines (DSM) is the place to be for National Margarita Day on Wednesday, Feb. 22! These downtown restaurants and nightlife venues have a broad range of tequilas and flavors to make your margarita dreams come true.

Americana

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Western Gateway
Try the “Citronella Margarita: El Jimador Blanco” tequila with charred lemongrass syrup, yellow Chartreuse, lemon juice and a Mezcal rinse. Additionally, Americana has several signature tequila drinks to suit your craving. Order up a couple of shared plates like the truffle fries, glazed Brussels or Asian lettuce wraps, and you’ll have yourself a party!
DRINKS AT AMERICANA

Bar Nico

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic East Village
This new-to-the-scene Mexican joint by local food connoisseur, Jason Simon, serves up modern fare with Mezcal and tequila drinks and late-night tacos, too. Choose from “Nico’s Margarita” or the seasonal flavor which features Reposado and tamarind along with lime and agave nectar.
BAR NICO’S DRINK MENU

Bellhop Tiki

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic East Village
This place is a vibe. Their drinks menu spans poolside cocktails and slushies, tiki classics and cocktails, several mocktail options plus sharable bowl drinks, beer and more. Their margarita is a mixture of Exotico Blanco tequila, lime and orange liqueur — salt on the rim, optional!
DRINKS AT BELLHOP TIKI

Black Sheep

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic East Village
If dark, dungeony places is your thing and you like tequila … enter if you dare! Black Sheep is known for its red neon and dadaist aesthetic, gothic vinyl playlists, hidden location (can you even find it? Hint: It's located behind Ceviche Bar.) and expansive selection of Mezcal and tequila drinks including margaritas.
CHECK OUT BLACK SHEEP

Coa Cantina

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic East Village
So many margarita choices, it would be a shame not to try them all! The “Coa Mezcal Margarita” comes with a heat kick from both the habanero honey and house-made spicy salted rim. Other flavors include blackberry, cucumber jalapeño, peach, pineapple, strawberry and mango (with tajin around the rim!). Several frozen margarita flavors will have you dreaming of sunny days at the beach. Non-alcoholic versions of their margaritas are available, as well.
COA CANTINA’S DRINK MENU

The Copper Cup

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic Court District
Love margaritas, but really craving a Moscow mule? Here, you can have it both ways! The Copper Cup’s signature drinks menu is all about the mule, and their “Mexican Mule” has all your fave margarita fixins but with ginger beer, too.
COPPER CUP DRINKS

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Near Principal Park
This Wednesday, Fuzzy’s is the place to be for $5 margs in celebration of National Margarita Day! Or try something a little funkier like their monthly FOMO feature, the “Marjarrita” or the “Beerita.” (Yep, you guessed it: It’s a margarita with a bottle of beer dunked right in!) Snag a bowl of chips with queso, while you’re at it.
FUZZY’S DRINKS

Malo

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Western Gateway
Oh yes, if you’re looking for your perfect margarita — you’re gonna find it here! Take your pick of agua fresca (i.e., a mixture of fruit, water, lime juice and something to sweeten it) with flavors including lime, raspberry, mango, blueberry, strawberry, passionfruit, hibiscus, tamarind or jalapeño. Malo has a robust list of other tequila and Mezcal drinks to choose from, if you’re looking for something with a slightly different spin. And if it’s a pitcher kind of day — no sweat! Order up a 48 oz.-er of your favorite margarita flavor for you and a few friends. It’s five o’clock somewhere, right?
MALO’S DRINK LIST

RoCA DSM

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic Court District
For something a little bolder and extra special, stop in for a cocktail at RoCA on Court Avenue and try the smoked margarita: Don Julio Blanco tequila, Cointreau, lime, agave and applewood smoke.
DRINKS AT ROCA

Secret Admirer

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic Court District
With a tagline, “Simple but nice” you can’t go wrong here! Their house margarita is made with Mi Campo Blanco tequila and 400 Conejos Mezcal mixed with apricot and agave with a lime finish. Cheers!
SA’S DRINK MENU

The Stuffed Olive

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic Court District
Known for their martinis, you’ll discover a unique twist on an old classic here: the “Margatini!” A mixture of Exotico Blanco, Triple Sec, lime juice and sour shaken and poured into a martini glass, garnished with a salted rim and slice of lime.
STUFFED OLIVE DRINKS

Tonic on Court

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic Court District
This Downtown DSM nightlife venue in the middle of Court Avenue is a great destination for a night out! Order the “Grand Margarita” for something both sweet and sour, made with Don Julio Blanco tequila. Better yet, grab a group and buy a round of tequila shots or two (but don’t forget the salt and lime). Happy National Margarita Day!
TONIC’S DRINK MENU

Plan your visit to Downtown Des Moines (DSM) with these tips for parking and navigation and discover additional restaurants and nightlife, too! And follow @downtownDSMUSA on Instagram for more epic, things-you-just-can’t-miss happening around Downtown.