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Frozen in Time
Cafe Herrera
Exploring Dallas along the Margarita Mile
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Dallas staked its claim as the “Ocial Home of the Frozen Margarita” by launching the Margarita Mile—a curated collection of the best and most brazen margaritas across Dallas’ unique neighborhoods, all collected in a colorful mobile app.
Dallas’ history with the frosty concoction dates back to 1971 when the first frozen margarita machine was invented by local restaurateur and living legend Mariano Martinez. That original frozen margarita machine now lives in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Nearly 50 years later Mariano’s Hacienda in East Dallas is still dishing out these sweet
and tart frozen cocktails.
The margarita has become so imbedded in Dallas culture you can nd them just about anywhere—from traditional Tex-Mex spots to upscale Japanese restaurants, swanky cocktail bars and beyond, in a dizzying array of avors and preparations. The Margarita Mile includes delectable variations with infused tequilas, liquid nitrogen, house-made syrups, fresh herbs and even popsicles dunked right in. The Margarita Mile App takes users on a curated tour of Dallas’ unique margaritas. Beyond delicious drinks, the Margarita Mile serves as a refreshing way to explore the city’s unique neighborhoods and culture. As users taste their way along, using the app to check in at each location, they rack up points that help them earn fun gifts.
Since launching in 2018, the Margarita Mile has changed how visitors experience Dallas. One couple from Colorado City, Texas, discovered the Margarita Mile in an issue of Texas Monthly magazine and planned an entire getaway around the self-guided tour, checking in at museums, restaurants and other iconic Dallas stops along the way. Another group, girlfriends from Chicago, read about the Margarita Mile and hopped on a plane to experience it for themselves. For them, it was more than a weekend of drinking cocktails— it was a unique way to see a dierent side of Dallas.
This colorful and user-friendly app is a jumping o point to discover neighborhoods all over Dallas, from East Dallas to Deep Ellum, Uptown to Downtown. The app encourages locals and visitors to step outside the norm to discover only-in-Dallas restaurants, bars, and neighborhoods.
margaritamiledallas.com
The Rustic—Rimy Rita
Tipsy Alchemist—The Loca Rita
Trolley Time
Seven Margarita Mile stops on the McKinney Avenue Trolley
The historic McKinney Avenue Trolley runs through the heart of Margarita Mile territory. The trolley, or M-Line, starts in the core of Uptown and travels through Klyde Warren Park and into Downtown, making a full loop.
Grab your phone, catch a ride on the free trolley and enjoy a safe, car-free day along the Margarita Mile with these eight stops.
STOP 1: The Rustic (on the M-Line)
The ultimate patio experience under the Texas sky, the Rustic also brings one of the most unusual frosty drinks to the Margarita Mile. The Rimy Rita combines Dulce Vida Lime, raspberry liqueur, Cointreau, a sangria popsicle and a frozen margarita. The Instagram-worthy drink pairs perfectly with the Rustic’s famous live music. therustic.com
STOP 2: Tipsy Alchemist (less than a ten-minute walk from the M-Line)
This swanky lounge elevates the average cocktail experience, mixing together science, art and technique. Don’t be surprised to see drinks served in repurposed lightbulbs or smoke coming from your glass—like in the exclusive Roca ’Rita. An o-menu drink created especially for the Margarita Mile combines Piña Loca tequila, triple sec, jalapeño reduction, nitrogen, cilantro, fresh lime juice and Peychaud’s bitters. thetipseyalchemist.com
STOP 3: Fearing’s & The Rattlesnake Bar (on the M-Line)
Chef Dean Fearing is synonymous with Texas and his cocktails never disappoint. Dean’s Margarita is the denitive classic. With ingredients hand-picked by Chef Fearing, it features Patrón Añejo tequila, which contains a blend from two dierent barrels exclusive to Fearing’s. Damiana, a owering shrub native to Texas, gives the cocktail herbal and oral notes, while also giving the drinker a boost of vitality, and nally, the margarita is sweetened with agave nectar and shaken with housemade sweet and sour. fearingsrestaurant.com
STOP 4: El Fenix (less than a ve-minute walk from the M-Line)
El Fenix is a tried-and-true Tex-Mex star in Dallas. In its 102 nd year, El Fenix pairs fan favorites, like their cheese enchiladas, with margaritas as rich as their history. You can’t leave Dallas without sipping their “Original” El Fe- nix Margarita. You pick—frozen or on the rocks—there’s no wrong answer. elfenix.com
STOP 5: Meso Maya (less than a ve-minute walk from the M-Line)
This Uptown oasis boasts a food and drink menu inspired by all the states of Mexico, using only the freshest ingre- dients. The margarita menu features unexpected avors, from the refreshing avocado margarita to the classic De La Casa margarita, which can be served on the rocks or frozen. Best part—it is topped with Oaxacan sea salt. mesomaya.com
STOP 6: Taqueria La Ventana (less than a ve-minute walk from the M-Line)
This funky, casual taqueria is an open-air concept oering authentic Mexico City street food from small tacos to elotes (Mexican grilled corn), and a margarita so good it is the only one on the menu. Served frozen or las rocas (on the rocks), it is a classic that pairs perfectly with patio weather and friends. taquerialaventana.com
STOP 7: Wild Salsa (less than a ten-minute walk from M-Line)
This Downtown spot serves authentic Mexican cuisine and handcrafted cock- tails, and has more than 100 tequilas to choose from. The fan-favorite Wild-Rita combines roasted pineapple and jalapeño infused tequila with hand-pressed lime juice and agave nectar, making it one of the most unusual on the Mile. wildsalsarestaurant.com El Fenix—the “Original” El Fenix Margarita
Taqueria La Ventana— La Ventana Margarita
