Who’s got the best marg in Cincinnati? Meet the winners of Margarita Madness 2026

This past Friday, CityBeat took over the Purple People Bridge to host our annual Margarita Madness event, where guests sample margaritas from their favorite bars and restaurants in the Queen City before coming together to vote for a winner.

In addition, three prominent local figures — local nightlife icon DJ Boywife, Best of Cincinnati – Best Bartender winner Cat Middendorf, and CityBeat‘s own Kane Mitten — tried each and every item available before awarding a Critic’s Choice award and a Most Creative Margarita award.

Homemaker’s Bar, Somerset, Galaxie, Cantina, El Barril, Bakersfield, Cobblestone OTR, Dead Low Brewing, Agave & Rye, Bru Burger Bar, Livery Montgomery, Beeline on the Levee and more participated in the margarita competition, while El Jefe Cubanos and Kabobske served food on site. Local bands White Lighter and Floyd and the Walkmen played for the crowds before DJ Boywife finished the evening off with a live DJ set. Read on for our winners.

Critics’ Choice — Best Margarita

Somerset’s Ube Margarita

Ingredients: pineapple + ginger tequila, ube tincture, lime, agave

Somerset, 139 E McMicken Ave, Over-the-Rhine

Critics’ Choice — Most Creative Margarita

Homemakers Bar’s Espresso Marg-tini

Ingredients: tequila, lime juice, orange oleo, coffee, fresh pineapple, salt

Homemakers Bar, 39 E 13th Street, Over-the-Rhine

People’s Choice Award

El Trompo’s Frozen Margarita

Ingredients: It’s a secret

El Trompo Bar and Grill, four locations in the Cincinnati area, click here for more details

Gallery

Here are some photos from this year’s Margarita Madness.