5 places to celebrate Mexican Independence Day in Shanghai
flickr: Jorge Gonzales
Bust out your banderas! This Friday and Saturday, hedonists and patriots alike will be firing up the fiestas for Mexican Independence Day (Sep 16), with tacos, mariachis, and more margaritas than you’d care to remember.
Also known as the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores), the national holiday dates back to 1810, when in the early hours of the morning catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo rang the bell of his church and gave the call to arms that led to the Mexican War of Independence. Today, the grito is just as loud, and in Shanghai there are a number of places to join the fiesta. Here's our list of top picks to tap out the tequila this holiday weekend.
La Coyota
Mexico wouldn’t be Mexico without everyones favourite little bitesized bit and luckily the guys at Coyota know how to put together a tasty taco. Take a bite out of the festivities and celebrate an independent Mexico with 15RMB on selected tacos. Also on the menu are yard-long Margaritas, piñatas for kids and adults, local music, a Mexican market and more.
La Coyota Second Floor, Plaza 1088, Pudong Nan Lu. Fri 15. Midday. Free.
La Pistolera
You can never have too much of a good thing, which is why La Pistolera is throwing not one, but two Independence Day celebrations. The carnival kicks off on Friday night with their own countdown to the grito de dolores – spoiler alert: it’s gonna get loud. Doors open at 9pm with a free Margarita included with the 50RMB entrance fee. Sunday, the cantina is back with an all day fiesta, including special drink deals, live music, and a 25RMB food menu.
La Pistolera 838 Hengshan Lu, near Tianping Lu. Fri 15 and Sat 16. 9pm Fri; 11am Sat. 50RMB (Fri).
El Santo
As part of their Mexican Independence Day celebrations, El Santo will be calling out their own grito at 9.30pm. Stoke up that national pride with Coronas, frozen margaritas and palomas for only 30RMB. They will also be running special deals on tacos, guac and more.
El Santo Found 158, 158 Julu Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu. Fri 15. Midday. Free.
Mayita
Head over to the Mayita rooftop for a sundowner you could drown in. Dive in to a bottomless margarita menu for only 165RMB and toast the revolución from a yawning, palm tree-lined terrace.
Mayita Sixth Floor, 98 Shouning Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu. Fri 15. Free.
Zapata's
Zapata's will be turning on the taps and breaking off the knobs with free-flow Carlsberg and frozen margaritas from 6 to 10pm. Tuck in to an all-you-can-gorge taco buffet (158RMB), take a whack at the piñata, and hit the dancefloor and turn it out to the latest Latin hits. They’ll be also dishing out free tequila on the hour, every hour (if you think you can handle it).
Zapata's 11 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu. Sat 16. 6pm. 135RMB.