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Best Margaritas In East Bay

It is no surprise that Cinco de Mayo is the largest day for tequila consumption in the United States. There is nothing like a margarita to put you in the mood for a fiesta. Here are five spots in the East Bay that offer great margaritas that can be enjoyed any day of the year, but taste best on the 5th of May.

Blue Agave Club
625 Main St.
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 417-1224
www.blueagaveclub.com

Lunch Hours: 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Daily
Dinner Hours: Mon to Thurs - 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Fri to Sat - 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sun - 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

With over 200 different tequilas, it is no surprise that Blue Agave Club in Pleasanton has gained notoriety for its margaritas. Established in 1991, the restaurant offers over 50 different types of margaritas, which are all are made with fresh lime juice, and its special homemade sweet and sour. If you are looking for something a little outside the box, try one of the fruit flavors, which include coconut, mango, peach, raspberry or strawberry. With this many choices, there is sure to be something to suit even the most finicky palate.

Cocina Poblana
1320 65th St.
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 923-0497
www.cocinapoblana.com

Hours: Mon, Wed to Fri - 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., Tues - 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., Sun - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Chef Lito Saldaña of Cocina Poblana has been making fine Mexican cuisine in the Bay Area for 15 years. During that time, the restaurant has also made waves with its hand-shaken margaritas made with agave nectar, fresh lime juice and 100 percent blue agave tequilas. It offers creative twists on the traditional margarita including the Poblana Margarita (Cabrito blanco, lime juice, agave nectar with salt rim) and the Tamarindo Margarita (tamarind puree, Hornitos reposado, lime juice, agave nectar and a salt rim). Cocina Poblana's margaritas are a great option for the more adventurous palate.

La Penca Azul
1440 Park St.
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 769-9110
www.lapencaazul.com

Hours: Mon to Sun - 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.

La Penca Azul has been a staple in the Alameda community for over 25 years, serving up Mexican food and its now famous margaritas. The restaurant prides itself on using quality ingredients and offers over 300 different types of tequilas that are all 100 percent Blue Agave. It also has its own margarita mix that is made with tree-ripened limes and lemons and sweetened with natural agave nectar. To give the mix an additional burst of flavor and texture it incorporates citrus pulp. Diners can sip on the house margarita or one of the flavored ones, like the strawberry variation, while enjoying the festive atmosphere.

Picante Cocina Mexicana
1328 6th St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 525-3121
www.picanteberkeley.com

Hours: Mon to Fri - 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat to Sun - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Picante Cocina Mexicana's margaritas are known for not skimping on the tequila and packing a lot of punch. In 2011, Zagat recognized the restaurant calling out its "killer top shelf margarita." Picante offers patrons tequila in plata, reposado and anejo varieties of Don Julio, Herradura, Patron and Tres Generaciones. When it comes to variations of the drink it sticks to the basics and offers a regular, silver, gold and super gold margarita (choice of: don julio reposado, don juliio anejo, herradura anejo).

Restaurante Doña Tomás
5004 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 450-0522
www.donatomas.com

Hours: Tues to Thurs - 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fri - 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sat - 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sun - 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Doña Tomás prides itself on offering an authentic Mexican ambiance with regional cuisine. Restaurant goers can sip on fresh squeezed lime margaritas on its patio or in the crimson red bar room. It offers patrons over 30 different types of tequila to sip on. That said, Doña Tomás may not offer as many variations of the margaritas as some other restaurants out there, but it focuses on making a couple options really well. It offers the Margarita Especial, which is a combination of El Cabrito Blanco tequila, Citrónge and fresh lime on the rocks and the Margarita de la Reyna, a mixture of El Tesoro Silver tequila, Cointreau and fresh lime.

Related: Top 8 Mexican Spots in San Francisco

Head to CBS San Francisco's Best Of page for more local tips on family fun, shopping, nightlife, food, culture and more!

Jenna Broughton can frequently be found exploring the streets of San Francisco looking for her next adventure and gastronomic delight. She has traveled far and wide, from Paris to Savannah, GA, to satisfy her adventurous palate. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.


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