Cinco de Mayo Fun

The Procrastinator's Guide to Cinco de Mayo: Where to go for serious Fiesta-ing

The Mexican victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla still gives us reason to shamelessly indulge in mass amounts of discounted margaritas and tacos instead of foie gras and champagne at least once every year. Be grateful and imbibe, but do so selectively.

Since Houston’s culinary scene is teeming with the nation’s best Mexican dishes, parties and cocktails, you can afford to be choosy when it comes to this holiday. Below I’ve compiled a list of the best cocktail-ready parties, celebratory banquets and cultural shows for Cinco de Mayo.

El Gran Malo

With award-winning margaritas, this Heights-area bar and taqueria packs serious Cinco party pedigree. The only thing better than the tasty, palate-shocking drink creations here (think habanero-infused tequila with vanilla and blueberries)—might be the names they choose for events.

This Sunday is all about Malo Cinco de Mayo Part Deux: Welcome to the Thunderdome with Randy Rucker putting a Cinco spin on crawfish, Karbach Brewing Co. pouring their beer onsite and liquid nitrogen frozen margaritas to quell the heat from Bravado Spice’s kick-filled bites. The party starts at 11 a.m. and continues until closing time.

Hugo’s

Mindful celebrants are welcome to take a preemptive strike at Monday morning hangovers with the best holiday food spread in town. The usual buffet at this Montrose institution is always impressive, but this Sunday will be more festive than usual. Stop by and enjoy one of the best brunch menus in the city with live music and a family-friendly start to the day.

Anvil

This might be the only time to find $3 gin-spiked micheladas and frozen mezcal margaritas at this upscale Montrose cocktail staple, so get there when the doors open at 4 p.m. In addition to Anvil’s top secret margarita recipe, the nationally acclaimed bar will also offer a one-day-only special menu featuring drinks The Rosita, The Mafioso and The Tepito.

Anvil owner Bobby Heugel warns that anyone who asks for salt and lime with their mezcal will be required to pay double.

Owner Bobby Heugel warns that anyone who asks for salt and lime with their mezcal will be required to pay double. Rightfully so, anyone chasing the premium tequila at this bar with anything has a lot to learn about Mexican libations.

El Pueblito

Cinco de Mayo is a year-round celebration here, but the colorful, lively cabana-filled patio on Richmond Avenue will be especially fiesta-ready. Popular local band Mango Punch will entertain diners on Saturday, and Los Otros will make you dance your margarita buzz off on Cinco de Mayo. The cabanas are up for reservation with a $25 minimum bill per guest.

Miller Outdoor Theatre

Believe it or not, Cinco de Mayo isn’t all about tequila-filled cocktails and spicy food. Celebrate Mexico’s rich, vibrant culture with a stunning performance by Leyenda Dance Company presenting ballet folklorico from different regions of our neighboring country. You’ll learn the difference between a traditional dance from Veracruz up to Nuevo Leon’s more contemporary style.

This family-friendly event is free but ticketed for those who prefer covered seating, so get your tickets in advance or prepare to sit on the hill for the show.

The Brewery Incubator

For beer nerds who want in on the Cinco de Mayo parties but refuse to put down their pints, Brewery Incubator is hosting a hoppy good fiesta with plenty of cerveza, Mexican bites, Brew Ritas and probably the only beer piñata in town.

Chef Joel Benavidez from Adela’s Mexican Kitchen will be on hand to pair authentic food with in-house brewed beer that you can only find at this downtown spot. Try the Café de Olla porter if it’s the only beer you have. The party starts at 11 a.m. Sunday and continues until closing time.

Bodegas Taco Shop

Last but not least, there’s no better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a block party—the typical Mexican lifestyle practically lends itself to any community-driven event. This party by the Museum District will be hosting a mariachi band, mechanical bull and plenty of food from this esteemed little taco shop. The party “launches” on Friday and continues through Sunday, where it culminates in Cinco festivities.

Bocados

Owners Terry Flores and Lily Hernandez are shuttering their beloved Montrose restaurant after 15 years and they're going out in a memorable way — with a big Cinco de Mayo closing party Sunday from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. It includes an all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet ($11.95) and $4 margaritas.

A celebrar, queridos! Viva Mexico en Houston!

The usual buffet at Hugo's is always impressive, but this Sunday will be more festive than usual.

Hugo's Houston Mexican restaurant Sunday brunch

Hugo'sRestaurant.net

The usual buffet at Hugo's is always impressive, but this Sunday will be more festive than usual.

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Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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