Cinco de Mayo 2018 in London: How to celebrate on May 5

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Ailis Brennan4 May 2018

Fiestas mexicanas don’t get much bigger than they do on May 5 — or Cinco de Mayo for you clever hispanophones.

For those not in the know, the date signifies the Mexican army’s significant defeat over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, which took place on May 5 1862.

Nowadays, Cinco de Mayo is not only commemorated in Mexico, but is often considered internationally as a day for celebrating Mexican culture.

So, Mexican folks in London, there’s no need to be homesick on the big day. From free tacos to piñata-inspired desserts, there are plenty of ways to get your fiesta on in the capital this Bank Holiday Weekend.

Ella Canta

This acclaimed restaurant comes from Mexican celebrity chef Martha Ortiz, who has brought her contemporary twist on her native cuisine to Park Lane. On the big day, Ella Canta will be serving up a special four course menu, featuring maize chalupas topped with beef and salsa and a mole poblano served with emerald green rice. If Ortiz’s involvement isn’t starry enough, each dish on the menu will come with a cocktail made with Casamigos Tequila - yep, the tequila brand founded by George Clooney.

Pop Brixton

Camille Mack

Party people Pop Brixton will be throwing a major fiesta at their south London spot. Fill up on food from Maria Sabina, who will be serving up traditional tacos with a side of tequila. Music will come courtesy of Mexican DJs Borchi y Su Doble Redoble and all-female mariachi outfit Mariachi Las Adelitas, and dance groups Mestizo Mexican Folklore Group London and Atlachinolli Dance Group Mexico-London will be showing you how to shake it mexicana style.

Whole Foods

What’s better than Mexican food? Free mexican food! Celebrating both Cinco de Mayo and the opening of their new Taqueria, Whole Foods Piccadilly will be giving away 100 free tacos on Saturday from 3pm-5pm. Just quote the phrase “Cinco de Mayo” at the counter and the taco is yours.

MNKY HSE

This Mayfair gem loves all things Latin American, so for the one of the biggest dates in Mexico’s calendar, they’re celebrating for the entire month of May. Lunchtime diners can get 25% of the a la carte menu or plump for three course menu, that includes two starters and a main for just £22. Choose from signature dishes including an octopus and chorizo tostada, lamb shoulder taco and flat iron steak with nikkei chimichurri, and enjoy some seriously good value grub.

Cafe Pacifico

London’s oldest Mexican restaurant is still serving up a fiesta after all these years, with a tipple-heavy celebration on the go for Cinco de Mayo. A Pink Patron Paloma cocktail will be served up for just £8.50, featuring a raspberry aperol infusion with agave nectar, pink peppercorns, fresh lime and grapefruit soda. You can also take on the tequila with a £10 tasting flight featuring premium tequilas, prime to be enjoyed with a special enfrijoladas dish featuring house-made chorizo.

COYA

Peruvian restaurant COYA may not Mexican, but it sure knows how to throw a latina party. Saturday will see the restaurant throwing a special Cinco de Mayo edition of their spectacular party brunch, with live entertainment, tacos, margaritas and, of course, tequila. If you can’t get enough of the Mexican spirit, they’ll also be throwing a late night fiesta in the beautiful Mayfair Members’ Club, where a menu of COYA dishes will be enjoyed alongside a special Don Julio tequila tasting.

Discount Suit Company

If you’ve gone to Discount Suit Company looking for somewhere to get your shirt dry cleaned, you might be disappointed. Easing the dismay is, however, pretty easy when you find that the Petticoat Lane bar is throwing a full-on fiesta from 6pm onwards, with music, spicy snacks, and a guest cocktail - the Señor Juan, featuring Quiquiriqui mezcal, hibiscus, lime and sage.

Cantina Laredo

Seven Dials restaurant Cantina Laredo is starting the party early this Cinco de Mayo, with a tequila-filled bottomless brunch. Enjoy your three courses with a continual supply of prosecco, wine, Mexican beers or 1800 tequila, served either on the rocks or in their Ice Ice Baby Margarita. The party keeps going right up to dessert, where an "exploding" Piñata dessert will feature a tres leches mousse, Mexican flan, caramel and honeycomb.

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