8 ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in London this month

iAle, London! Cinco de Mayo is back for another year. If you weren’t aware, May 5 commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over France at the 1862 Battle of Puebla (not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day on September 16). More than 160 years later, it remains a major day in the Mexican calendar and is the ultimate opportunity to relish in the best of the country’s culture and heritage, in case you needed an excuse. 

So, this early May bank holiday, be prepared for more tacos and tequila than you can shake a maraca at, and then some. These are some of the best Cinco de Mayo events happening across the city this month. Keep an eye out for special May 5 deals at our favourite Mexican restaurants, too. 

RECOMMENDED

🌵 The best mezcal bars in London

Cinco de Mayo at the Standard

Ascend to the 10th floor of the Standard for a 48-hour fiesta. Sweeties will be hosting a Cinco de Mayo soiree in collaboration with famous Parisian taqueria Candelaria, promising DJs and ‘bar classics with a twist’, then celebrations will continue into next day at Decimo’s boozy brunch with an offering of the tequila-based ‘Bloody Maria’ to soothe the hangover. Once that banging headache has passed, head back across the corridor to Sweeties to do it all over again. 

10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG. May 2-3. Book online here.   

Hackney Church Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

Sounds of salsa, bachata and reggaeton will be floating out of the arches of Hackney Church Brewery from noon till midnight for Mexico’s big day. The east London taproom will be serving up spicy birria tacos from its resident kitchen Lagom and two for one frozen margs from 8pm ’til 10pm. 

16-17 Bohemia Place, E8 1DU. May 3. Tickets available here. 

Mexico Vivo Festival at Hackney Bridge 

Latin American party orchestrators Movimentos are bringing an huge celebration of all things Mexicano to Hackney Bridge. We’re talking Mexican street food from some of London’s top Latino food vendors, live mariachi music from Mariachi el Mexicano, traditional Mexican dance performances from This Is Mexico and a market of handmade goods from Mexican artisans. On Sunday night, a collection of Latin American DJs will round off the fiesta with sets of psychedelic cumbia, retro tropical rhythms, guaracho and more. 

Units 1-28, Echo Building, E15 2SJ. May 4-5. Find out more info here. 

Cinco De Mayo at Corrochio’s

Dalston cocktail bar and taquería Corrochio’s is celebrating 1 year in its new home over the bank holiday weekend with a Cinco de Mayo (technically a Quatro de Mayo!) party featuring a Mexican-inpired barbecue, plenty of piñatas and a Mariachi band serenading guests at 4pm. Book a spot for lunch or dinner to enjoy ‘volcanes’, crispy grilled tortillas with cheese and a range of traditional toppings including beef picanha and prawns zarandeados, and margarita slushies made with Ocho tequila. 

70-74 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XB. May 4. Book here.

Cinco De Mayo Party Brunch at Madera

What better way to mark Mexico’s historic victory over France than sinking into a Latin-themed brekkie at Madera, eh? The Cali-Mexican restaurant on the fifteenth floor of The Treehouse Hotel will be bringing live DJs, flowing margaritas and tacos galore to celebrate May 5 from £45 per person.

14-15 Langham Place, W1B 2QS. May 5. Book here. 

Cinco De Mayo Fiesta at Oriole

Latin American-themed subterranean cocktail bar Oriole has a host of food specials on the menu for its Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Guests can enjoy live Latin music from 3-6pm courtesy of Colombian band Zona Vallenata, while tucking into tacos al pastor and crab chilaquilas followed by churros with dulce de leche and chocolate dip for dessert. And there’s also a trio of Cinco de Mayo cocktail specials on. We especially like the sound of the Toreador, a heady blend of Volcan Blanco Tequila, Gunpowder rum, apricot brandy, lime juice and fig leaf soda. Que empiece la fiesta!

7-9 Slingsby Place, WC2E 9AB. May 5. Book here.

Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl

Beginning at the Munster Tavern in Leicester Square, for the fifth of the fifth, London Party Pub Crawl has curated a Mexican-themed crawl across five bars. Punters will get to spend around 50 minutes in each drinking hole (with free tequila shots) and enter the final club at midnight, where you can stay until the early hours of the morning. 

18 Bear Street, WC2H 7AX. May 5. Get your ticket here. 

Tequila Tasting at Jeroboams

Get better acquainted with one of Cinco de Mayo’s main characters at Jeroboam’s tequila tasting event. Agave aficionados will introduce you to different varieties of the liquor, from blanco to añejo, and its smokier sister spirit, mezcal. As you sip, they’ll clue you in on how the drinks are made, their historic significance and how to spot their distinct characteristics. 

336 King’s Road, SW3 5UR. May 7. Book your place here. 

Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.