Where to eat and drink for Cinco de Mayo 2026 in London

Cinco de Mayo – marking Mexico’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on 5^th May 1862 – has become one of the calendar’s more enthusiastically adopted occasions in London’s restaurant scene. This year, with the date falling on a Tuesday and coinciding with the end bank holiday weekend, venues across the capital are leaning in with special menus, takeovers, and events that range from neighbourhood taquerias to hotel dining rooms. To enjoy a delicious feast for the occasion, we have selected options spanning Chelsea, Covent Garden, Dalston, the West End, and beyond – reflecting a range of budgets, formats, and approaches to Mexican food and drink, from longstanding cult favourites to notable one-off collaborations.

Ixchel, King’s Road

The King’s Road Mexican restaurant Ixchel marks Cinco de Mayo on 5^th May with live music, a short-form agave tasting flight and a special menu from chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez. The Cinco Trio flight – priced at £9 – presents three drinks in the colours of the Mexican flag: a spicy peach margarita, a mezcal-spiked horchata and a cucumber jalapeño margarita. In the kitchen, Gayosso Gonzalez is preparing a Short Rib Mole served with tortillas fresh from the comal, alongside existing dishes including Hibiscus and Coconut Tiradito with stone bass and Aguachile with tiger prawns and charred avocado. A Latin music trio performs throughout the evening.

Ixchel, 33H King’s Road, London SW3 4LX. For reservations, visit the website here.

Madera at Treehouse London, Fitzrovia

For a Cinco de Mayo with a view, Madera at Treehouse London offers unlimited tacos on the 15^th floor at £38 per person, with London’s skyline as backdrop. The evening includes drinks specials, live DJ sets, and ritual dancers. Madera operates as the London sibling of Los Angeles restaurant Toca Madera, and its approach – ingredient-led Mexican cooking that shifts in register from lunch through to late-night – suits the occasion well. The format is unfussy and the price point accessible, making it a practical choice for groups looking for a lively but relatively contained celebration.

Madera at Treehouse London, 14–15 Langham Place, London W1B 1JQ. For reservations, visit the website here.

Side Hustle, Covent Garden

Side Hustle is marking the occasion with a one day only Taco and Margarita pairing flight on Tuesday 5^th May. Set within the building’s former police station, Side Hustle blends a Latin American influenced menu with a seriously good agave led cocktail programme, recently earning the title of World’s Best International Hotel Bar at the Spirited Awards. Available for one day only, the Taco and Margarita pairing flight comprises: Rhubarb Margarita paired with the Carne Asada Taco, Cantarito Al Pastor accompanied by the Chicken Tikka Taco, Cantaloupe Margarita served with a Surprise Guest Taco.

Side Hustle at NoMad London, 28 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AW. For reservations, visit the website here.

Sonora Taquería at The Hoxton, Holborn

Marking Cinco de Mayo, Sonora Taquería – the north Mexican spot in Stoke Newington – has taken up residency at The Hoxton, Holborn’s lobby as part of the hotel’s ongoing Hox Sarnie Special series. Available daily throughout May, Sonora’s Barbacoa Torta (£15) layers slow-cooked beef barbacoa with refried beans, avocado, red onion, escabeche, salsa roja, and a grilled cheese crust. A bespoke Sonora Paloma (£12), made with Patrón Silver, taco spice, lime, agave, and London Essence pink grapefruit soda, accompanies it. Friday Lobby Sessions with DJ Damali Tyson run weekly from 7pm to 11pm throughout the month.

Sonora Taquería in the Lobby at The Hoxton, 199-206 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BD, visit the dedicated webpage here.

Corrochio’s, Dalston

Cinco de Mayo marks the second anniversary of the cult Dalston Mexican spot Corrochio’s transferring to its new space. The 120-cover street-level bar and restaurant offers all-day Mexican hospitality from brunch through to late night. The food menu spans regional specialities and contemporary bar food, while the drinks list goes beyond tequila and mezcal to include lesser-known Mexican spirits – Sotol, Raicilla, and Bacanora. The original basement space has turned into a dedicated agave bar, Cinco, focused on a concise cocktail list and small plates. 

Corrochio’s, 76 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, London N16 7XB. For reservations, visit the website here.

Mezcalito, Chelsea

 

Sydney Street’s Mezcalito makes a strong case for one of London’s more committed celebrations of Mexican drinking culture. Boasting a collection of over 600 tequilas and mezcals – among the largest in Europe – the restaurant and cocktail bar will be in its element for Cinco de Mayo. The menu runs from Guacamole with Chicharrón and street corn salad through to Carnitas Michoacán and Beef Birria with spicy dipping broth. Cocktails take in the Paloma and Picante alongside a Tour Around Mexico menu featuring the Oaxaca, a mezcal Negroni riff, and the Puebla, an Aperol Spritz sharpened with blanco tequila.

Mezcalito, Sydney Street, Chelsea, London. For reservations, visit the website here.

Food Desk