The best Cinco de Mayo + Kentucky Derby deals in Brooklyn

Bitchin' sombrero shot courtesy of Jack Woo on Flickr.

The time has come again to celebrate everyone’s favorite Pueblan holiday. Nope, not the feast of patron Saint Augustine–it’s Cinco de Mayo, which means bar and restaurant specials galore. As luck would have it, May 5 this year also marks the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby, bringing together the best in bluegrass and Benito Juárez. We’ve got you covered on cheap booze and grub, so all you have to worry about is combination costuming to cover your bases. Tulle-trimmed sombrero, anyone?

COMIDA Y BEBIDA (FOOD & DRINK) SPECIALS
Grand Street Cactus Crawl, various locations along Grand St., Williamsburg
Food and drink: Specials from 4 pm – 8pm at 11 bars on Grand Street, including

Burnside, 506 Grand St., $5 margaritas and $5 Tecate with a tequila shot
Williams & Bailey, 507 Grand St., $3 Tecate, $4 tequila shots and margaritas, $7 taco plates
Huckleberry Bar, 588 Grand St., $9 Sol with an El Buho Mezcal shot and a chaser of sangria
The Saint Austere, 613 Grand St., $3 tacos, $5 sangria and micheladas (spicy Mexican beer cocktail)
Bushwick Country Club, 618 Grand St., $6 frozen margaritas
Lady Jay’s, 633 Grand St., $7 Modelo with a tequila shot
Second Chance Saloon, 659 Grand St., $6 Mexican beer with a tequila shot
LP ’n Harmony, 683 Grand St., $4 fruity sangria, $5 Cinco de Mayo (tequila, grenadine, and lime juice)
Tex-Mex Pizza & Grill, 702 Grand St., $5 for 2 enchiladas with mole poblano, $5 for 2 flautas
Los Primos, 704 Grand St., $18 for 6 cubetazos, $6 lunch special, $6 chicken with garlic sauce plus salad or vegetables
Grand Morelos, 727 Grand St., $4.99 chips & guacamole, $15.99 for 6 cubetazos (Mexican beer only), $7.99 Mexican shrimp with rice & beans

Cafecito Bogota, 1015 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint
Drink: $3 Guaro shots, $4 margaritas and mojitos at the launch of the “world’s first” aguardiente spirit bar (tip: aguardiente means “fiery water,” more loosely translated as “instant blackout”)
Dekalb Market, 138 Willoughby St., Downtown Brooklyn
Food: 3pm – 8pm $30 for a plate of 1 1/2 lbs. of Maine steamed whole lobster, spicy potato salad, Mexican corn, Jicama cole slaw
The Habitat, 988 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint
Food: $1 off empanadas
Drink: $4 Dos Equis and Negra Modelo draft, $1 off tequila
The Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg
Drink: 7pm – 2am $4 tequila shots, $4 Dos Equis, $5 margaritas, $6 Dos Equis + tequila shot, $7 premium margaritas
Food: $5 for three empanadas from “The Empanada Guy”
Entertainment: $8-$12 for five bilingual (believe it!) bands, including Grupo Arcano, Maquina Mono, The Peeps, La Paracuta, and Cupero
Palo Santo, 652 Union St., Park Slope
Drink: $5 Drink sangria, micheladas, and 32oz Tecate Beers
Food: $25 three-course meal featuring tacos, mole poblano, and tres leches cake
Entertainment: Live music
Papacitos, 999 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint
Drink: All day drink-a-thon from 11am – 4am
Entertainment: Mariachi band Flor de Toloache and the promise that “YOU MIGHT GET LAID”
Pine Box Rock Shop, 12 Grattan St., East Williamsburg
Drink: Cinco de Derby from 2pm – 8pm with undisclosed drink specials
Food: Champ’s Family Bakery
Entertainment: Live music, Derby hat contest, and betting beginning at 6:24pm on the dot
Piramide, 499 5th Ave., Park Slope
Drink: 11:30am – 12am $8 Riazul Tequila (regularly $10), all night happy hour including $5 sangria, $6 margaritas and mojitos
Public Assembly, 70 N 6th St., Williamsburg
Drink: 30 minute pen vodka bar and PBR/Tequila shot combo for $6 with $10 cover
Entertainment: An “intelligent music dance party” featuring West Coast Heyoka, Digital Rust, Space Jesus, Supersillyus, and Bartlomein
South 4th Bar & Café, 90 South 4th St., Williamsburg
Drink: Cinco de Derby from noon–close with $4 margaritas and $6 Jack Daniels mint juleps
Entertainment: Coverage (with audio) of the 138th running of the first leg of the triple crown and encouraged Derby attire
Trophy Bar, 351 Broadway, Williamsburg
Drink: $4 margaritas until midnight
Entertaiment: Suzy Chase 7pm – 10pm, Nicolas Chop & Franz 10pm – 4am
Union Hall, 702 Union St., Park Slope
Entertainment: 9pm – 4am $5 cover Cinco de Chipo Electro, Dubstep, Video Game Charity Party presented by SickDamage.com
Food: Pork enchiladas, shrimp-stuffed jalapenos (price unannounced)

See anything we’re missing? Let us know in the comments!

Follow Kelly: @iamkellymurphy

5 Comments

jaclyn May 3, 2012

the bell house has a massive and fantastic derby party each year.

May 3, 2012 at 10:15 am

Reply
Greenpointers May 3, 2012

Greenpointers Cinco De Mayo Launch Party @ Greenpoint Heights 278 Nassau Ave, 9pm – tacos, margaritas, Greenpoint photo booth, prizes, DJ Cowboy Mark
Here is the link: http://greenpointers.com/2012/04/23/cinco-de-mayo-launch-party/

Also – Pete’s Candy Store Kentucky Derby Party: http://petescandystore.com/derby/derby_2012.html

May 3, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Reply
- Tim Donnelly May 3, 2012
  
  good additions!
  
  May 3, 2012 at 4:05 pm
  
  Reply
Phil May 4, 2012

This Saturday, May 5th, celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Bogota Latin Bistro. We’ll be open from 11 am to 1 am that night with Brunch starting at 11am through 3:45pm and happy hour running all day until 5pm. Come in and enjoy our popular Classic Mojitos ($5), Micheladas ($7), Piña Coladas ($6), and Mexican beers including Corona ($4), Corona Light ($4), and Negra Modelo ($4). In addition we’re serving up some of Latin American’s favorite dishes, including our popular Mexican Breakfast ($10) and, by demand, we’ve brought back the BBQ Chicken Nachos Appetizer ($11) as one of our dinner appetizers.

Reservations for Cinco de Mayo celebrations this Saturday can be made on our website at http://bogotabistro.com/reservations/.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

May 4, 2012 at 11:45 am

Reply
- Kelly Murphy May 4, 2012
  
  You guys are the best!
  
  May 4, 2012 at 11:58 am
  
  Reply