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NYC's 5 Best Cinco De Mayo Parties

The best bars and restaurants offering Cinco de Mayo specials in NYC.

See Also: NYC's 5 Best Cinco de Mayo Dining Deals | NYC's 9 Best Margaritas

Food Truck Line
(credit: Donald Bowers/Getty Images)

Cinco de Mayo Mex Fest on the Seaport
South Street Seaport - Pier 16
New York, New York
(212) 724-3900

This Mexican-themed food truck festival takes place at Pier 16 at the South Street Seaport on Saturday, May 5th from 12pm-7pm. Trucks will be pay as you go, and each vendor will showcase their skills by infusing Mexican flavor into one of their regular menu items. Trucks scheduled to attend are Luke's Lobster, Treats Truck, Kimchi Taco, Coolhaus, Frites'n'Meats, Gorilla Cheese, Schnitzel & Things, Wafels & Dinges, Taim Mobile, Milk Truck, Kelvin Slush, Souvlaki GR, Mexico Blvd, Eddie's Pizza and Big D's Grub Truck. A regular ticket for $5 gets you a sombrero and a ticket voucher that can be redeemed for 1 Beer, 1 Margarita, 1 Shot of Tequila, 1 Michelada or 2 Tacos. (Vouchers will cost $8 at the event and are not redeemable for food truck items.)

Nightlife & Music Cinco de Mayo, Tequilla
Photo Credit: Thinkstock.com

Rosa Mexicano
9 East 18th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 533-3350
www.rosamexicano.com

Famous "Top Chef Masters" contestant Jonathan Waxman is the chef at the helm of this delicious Mexican-inspired restaurant in Union Square. The food is delicious, but the Cinco de Mayo beverages are out of this world.  Belly up the bar and treat yourself to a Don Julio 1942 Añejo, arguably one of the best tequilas in existence. The restaurant's spacious interior and chic, upscale atmosphere makes this a great location to grab dinner before heading out for fiestas of the rowdy variety. Savor the flavors of roasted agave, vanilla, and sun-ripened fruits to give your Cinco de Mayo celebrations a great start.

Nightlife & Music Cinco de Mayo, Margarita's
Photo Credit: Thinkstock.com

Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl New York
Various Locations
New York, New York
www.pubcrawls.comPrice: $10 for a 2 day access pass
Hours: Registration from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

New Yorkers always want a reason to go on a pub crawl, and this Cinco de Mayo is no exception. PubCrawls.com is sponsoring the Madre of all Cinco de Mayo pub crawls, with stops at famous places like Side Bar and Van Diemens on 3rd Avenue.  Advance tickets can be purchased through the website, and this includes a wristband and drink specials. Score a $3 Dos Equis or Domestic Draft, $4 Domestic Bottle, and $5 margaritas or tequila as you crawl your way through Cinco de Mayo fun.

Nightlife & Music Cinco de Mayo, El Cantinero
Photo Credit: El Cantinero via Facebook

El Cantinero
86 University Pl
New York, NY 10003
(212) 255-9378 ‎
www.elcantineronyc.com

El Cantinero is a NYU area staple, with a free buffet food (chicken wings and other delights) during happy hour upstairs at the cozy bar area. There's also an outside patio that gets decorated for Cinco de Mayo festivities.  The margaritas are served strong and the free chips and salsa taste great with a cold drink in your hand.  Savor the May sunshine and camp out on the patio area for some great fun with friends.  Just remember to head inside when the dancing kicks up, and you're bound to have fun at this fiesta.

Nightlife & Music Cinco de Mayo, MEXICO LINDO NYC
Photo Credit: MEXICO LINDO NYC via Facebook

Mexico Lindo
459 2nd Ave.
New York, New York 10016
(212) 679-3665
www.mexicolindonyc.com

This authentic Mexican restaurant and bar has been around since 1972, proudly serving the Kips Bay community. Mexico Lindo features cozy booths and bright decorations, with strong margaritas and friendly servers.  This is the perfect place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, with a mariachi band slated to play for all the drinkers and diners that night. Order the piping hot enchiladas with house-made red sauce, a sure way to start your Cinco de Mayo celebrations off right.

Related: New York's 9 Best Mexican Restaurants

Jessica Costello is a freelance writer and a wide-eyed New Yorker. She has a degree in Journalism and can't wait to see what New York City will dish up next. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
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