History
Prickly pear, the fruit of the nopal cactus, ripens magenta across the Sonoran Desert in late summer and has flavoured Southwest drinks for generations. Phoenix bars turn its syrup into a vivid pink margarita that has become the regional patio cocktail, served everywhere from cantina patios to resort bars during the cooler months.
Book a food experience
Tours, tastings and classes from the cities on this page, bookable on GetYourGuide.
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 60ml blanco tequila
- 30ml fresh lime juice
- 20ml prickly-pear syrup
- 15ml orange liqueur
- Salt or chile-salt rim
- Lime wheel to garnish
Method
- Rim a rocks glass with salt or chile-salt and fill with ice.
- Add the tequila, lime juice, prickly-pear syrup and orange liqueur to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 10 seconds until well chilled.
- Strain over the fresh ice in the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and serve.
Tip from the editors. Real prickly-pear syrup gives the electric pink colour and tart-floral edge; grenadine is not a substitute.
Where to eat prickly pear margarita
Prickly pear margarita in Phoenix
Los Sombreros ★ 4.3
Los Sombreros in south Scottsdale has served Oaxaca-inspired Mexican food since 1994, in a cantina-style house with a patio and a menu that includes moles.
OrderThe traditional chile relleno, then the Mexican chocolate cream pie.
TipMonday is all-you-can-eat tacos at $9.99 and Tuesday has $3 to $5 tacos; happy hour runs Monday to Thursday from 14:00 to 18:00.
The Mission ★ 4.4
The Mission in Old Town Scottsdale is Matt Carter's modern Latin room, drawing on Spain, Mexico and South America in a dark stone-walled dining room.
OrderThe tableside guacamole and the slow-roasted pork shoulder; Carter won the 2024 Arizona Food Pioneer Award.
TipThe patio under the church wall is the seat to book; lunch runs daily and dinner fills the bar early.
Joyride Taco House ★ 4.0
Joyride Taco House on Central Avenue is a bright patio taco room from the LGO group, pouring margaritas alongside street tacos under string lights.
OrderA trio of street tacos with a frozen margarita on the patio.
TipHappy hour runs the bar; the misted patio is the seat for shoulder-season evenings.
Prickly pear margarita in Scottsdale
Rusty Spur Saloon ★ 4.0
Rusty Spur Saloon on Main Street is Scottsdale's last cowboy saloon, with live country music seven days a week, prickly pear margaritas and swinging doors.
OrderA prickly pear margarita or a cold beer, with the live country band in the background.
DrinkPrickly pear margarita
FoodLunch menu until 15:00 or until the food runs out
TipLive country music plays seven days and seven nights a week, and the lunch menu is served until 15:00 or until the food is gone.
More cities are in research. Want prickly pear margarita covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.