Best Margarita in Fort Lauderdale: Meet The Garden Witch (and 3 More Worth the Drive)
Everybody has typed “margarita near me” into their phone at least once. It usually happens at 4:45 on a Thursday. What comes back is a map full of pins and not much to tell them apart.
So we did the legwork. Here’s where to find the best margarita near me if “me” is anywhere between Las Olas and the north end of Broward County. That’s four stops, one new drink we’re very proud of, and the margarita happy hours worth planning around.
Meet The Garden Witch: A Margarita That Doesn’t Play It Safe
Most margaritas taste like lime and sugar. The Garden Witch tastes like somebody actually thought about it.
Here’s what’s in the glass:
- Don Fulano tequila, a family-made highland tequila with real agave backbone
- Yellow bell pepper juice, pressed fresh, which brings a sweet, savory, almost garden-fresh body
- Fresh lime
- Agave to round it all out
- Jalapeño for heat that shows up and then steps aside
Why yellow bell pepper? Because it does what sugary mixers can’t. It adds a natural sweetness and a silky texture, so the drink doesn’t need a pile of syrup to taste balanced. The jalapeño heat lands clean, and the tequila still gets the spotlight.
It’s bright yellow, a little vegetal, a little spicy, and it’s the drink our bartenders reach for when someone says “I usually just get a margarita.” It’ll change your mind about what a spicy margarita is supposed to taste like.
Not drinking? The Garden Witch is also available with Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirit, built with the same care. Nobody at the table gets stuck with a soda.
Where to Get It
The Garden Witch lives at Revelry, a craft cocktail lounge and kitchen at 227 S Federal Hwy, about 25 minutes north of downtown Fort Lauderdale with free on-site parking. It’s $13 on the regular menu and $9 on Happy Hour
Margarita Happy Hour Near Me: Revelry’s Hours
If you’re searching for a margarita happy hour near me, this is the part to screenshot:
- Wednesday–Saturday: 4–6 PM
- Sunday: 11:30 AM–6 PM (all day)
- $9 signature cocktails · $7 wines · $5 craft drafts
Pair it with the Jalapeño Popper Deviled Eggs or The Mayor burger and you’ve got dinner handled before the sun goes down.
3 More Great Margaritas Between Downtown Fort Lauderdale and Pompano
We’d love to see you at Revelry, but a good margarita crawl deserves options. These three are local favorites, listed south to north.
1. Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar — Las Olas Boulevard
1313 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale
The downtown classic. Rocco’s carries a tequila list that runs into the hundreds, and the house Rocco Rita is the one most people order first. If you’re with a group, the liter-sized “Margaliters” do the math for you.
Margarita happy hour: Daily, 4–7 PM, at the bar and high-tops, with discounted house, watermelon, jalapeño and skinny margaritas.
Best for: A loud, lively Las Olas night and a tequila list you could study for a semester.
2. Tulio’s Tacos & Tequila Bar — Wilton Manors
2150 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors
Right on the Drive, Tulio’s is a neighborhood favorite with a strong mezcal game. The El Diablo mixes 400 Conejos mezcal with spicy honey and serrano. It’s a smoky cousin to the Garden Witch if you like your heat with a little campfire.
Margarita happy hour: “Fiesta Hour” runs Monday–Friday, 5–6 PM, and Margarita Mondays bring house margaritas on the rocks or frozen all night.
Best for: Pre-gaming a night on Wilton Drive, or a weekend brunch that turns into dinner.
3. Tequila Sunrise Mexican Grill — Oakland Park
4711 N Dixie Hwy, Oakland Park
Family-owned since 1995, Tequila Sunrise is the no-frills, been-here-forever pick. They squeeze their margaritas fresh, stock 75-plus tequilas, and are famous for fishbowl margaritas built for sharing. Flavors run from prickly pear to watermelon to raspberry.
Margarita happy hour: 3–7 PM, seven days a week, with all-day happy hour on Mondays and rotating fishbowl deals later in the week.
Best for: A big group, a big bowl, and zero pretense. From here, Revelry is about 15 minutes up the road.
Fort Lauderdale Margarita Festival 2026: Date, Tickets and What to Expect
Want to try a dozen margaritas in one afternoon? Mark your calendar. The Fort Lauderdale Margarita Festival returns to the beach this fall, and it’s the biggest margarita event of the year in Broward County.
Festival Details at a Glance
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Time: 12:00 PM–6:00 PM
- Venue: Las Olas Oceanside Park (The LOOP), 3000 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Organizer: International Margarita Organization
- Ages: 21+ only | Tickets: Eventbrite
What’s Included
Sampling tickets include ten 3.5 oz margarita samples poured by local bars and restaurants. You also get a vote in the festival’s tasting competition, where the winning bar takes home the title of “Best Margarita in the City,” a $1,000 prize and a plaque.
Beyond the margaritas, expect a live DJ, tacos and other food vendors, a beer garden, local arts and crafts vendors, and a raffle for a trip to Mexico. A portion of proceeds supports children’s charities.
Ticket Types
The festival has usually offered three tiers:
- VIP sampling: early entry, ten samples, a voting chip, and extra raffle entries
- General sampling: later entry, ten samples, a voting chip, and one raffle entry
- Non-sampling: festival access for designated drivers and friends who aren’t drinking
Last year, VIP guests got in at noon and general admission opened at 3:00 PM. Check Eventbrite for 2026 pricing and entry times. All sales are final, and popular tiers tend to sell out as the date gets close.
Tips for Festival Day
- Skip the car. Organizers recommend rideshare. Street parking and valet near the beach fill up fast on a Saturday.
- Pace yourself. Ten samples add up to more than 35 ounces of margarita. Eat early and drink water between tastings.
- Bring sun protection. The park is right on the ocean, and October afternoons are still hot.
- Leave outside food and drinks at home. They aren’t allowed.
After the Festival
The festival wraps at 6. If you’re heading home to the north end of Broward, Revelry is open Saturday until 12:30 AM. Come by for dinner and a Garden Witch, and tell us which margarita won your vote.
How to Pick the Best Margarita Near You
Not every margarita craving is the same. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
- Want something you’ve never had? The Garden Witch at Revelry.
- Want a huge tequila list? Rocco’s on Las Olas.
- Into mezcal and smoke? Tulio’s in Wilton Manors.
- Sharing with six friends? A fishbowl at Tequila Sunrise.
- Want to try ten in one day? The Fort Lauderdale Margarita Festival on October 3.
And if one margarita turns into “what else is good around here,” our guide to the best cocktails near me picks up where this one leaves off.
Make Revelry Your Last Stop
Here’s the case for ending the crawl with us. Happy hour runs until 6. The kitchen goes way past bar food. Most weeks we’ve got live music, karaoke, or a brunch show on the calendar. And the Garden Witch is waiting.
Hours: Wed–Thu 4 PM–11 PM · Fri–Sat 11:30 AM–12:30 AM · Sun 11:30 AM–9 PM Happy Hour: Wed–Sat 4–6 PM · Sun 11:30 AM–6 PM Address: 227 S Federal Hwy (free parking) Reservations: Book online for parties of 1–5, or call 954-295-6662 for 6 or more.
Next time you type “margarita near me,” you’ll know exactly where to go. Reserve your table and come meet the Witch.