February elsewhere might mean parkas, but in Alamo City, it means squinting into 82-degree sunshine and pretending we weren’t just complaining about cedar fever. This year, we’re leaning in by posting up on a patio to sip San Antonio’s best margaritas — and skipping straight from “mild winter” to “where did I put my sunglasses?”

Anaqua Garden Bar
Still a relatively fresh face on the city’s going-out circuit, Anaqua Garden Bar has wasted no time making itself essential. In true San Antonio fashion, the patio is the whole bar, offering a breezy, loungey expanse that feels equal parts backyard bash and tropical getaway.

That island energy shows up in the Margaritas in Mexico, a spirited riff built with Espolòn blanco, coconut liqueur, pineapple, and guava oleo saccharum, a concentrated, aromatic syrup made by coating citrus peels in sugar. The cocktail leans into Anaqua’s tiki theme without straying too far from the city’s signature cocktail obsession. The result? Bright, beachy, and just strong enough to make you feel like you're on vacation.

Katerina
Another fresh addition that’s making fast friends in the 210, Katerina is already holding its own in Stone Oak. The patio scene is dialed in for those rare, golden-hour days, with a frozen margarita that’s a serious contender for one of the best in the neighborhood. Icy, balanced, and strong enough to earn respect, it just so happens to be discounted during happy hour.

With three bars onsite, Katerina gives you options, but the outdoor bar and its accompanying deck are the move. Although it faces a parking lot, huge umbrellas and a friendly crowd transport guests far away from the strip mall scene.

Cheers to patio season.La Fogata/ Facebook

La Fogata
Few places in San Antonio can claim margarita royalty quite like La Fogata. Its house special has racked up multiple awards over the years, and after one sip, it’s easy to see (and taste) why. Crafted with 100 percent blue agave tequila, it sets the gold standard for what a classic Alamo City marg should be.

Feeling fancy? The top-shelf versions let you choose from a lineup of premium tequilas, turning an already excellent drink into a personalized pour. There are playful spins, too, from a refreshing sangria margarita to fruity favorites like mango and strawberry. And for those keeping it light, the skinny margarita proves you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for restraint.

Los Barrios Family Restaurants
In a city that treats margaritas as a birthright, the Los Barrios Restaurant Group takes heritage seriously. Across Viola's Ventanas, La Hacienda de Los Barrios, and Los Barrios Mexican Restaurant, the pours are generous, the patios are sprawling, and the hospitality is as warm as it comes.

Each spot serves up a greatest-hits lineup of authentic Mexican entrées and Tex-Mex classics, but those jumbo margaritas tend to steal the spotlight. Frozen or on the rocks, with happy hour deals that vary by location, they arrive frosty, formidable, and unapologetically festive. And if you needed another excuse to claim a patio seat, consider this your sign: word is all three restaurants will be pouring house margaritas for $7 from February 21 to February 22.

Take advantage of the warm weather at La Hacienda de Los Barrios.La Hacienda de Los Barrios/ facebook

Soluna
If patios had a hall-of-fame, Soluna would already have a plaque. It’s the kind of place where the string lights flick on just as the sun dips, and suddenly everyone looks like they made excellent life choices. But as iconic as the patio is, the real legend here is the chispa — arguably the most San Antonio spin on a margarita ever made. No, there’s no Everclear lurking in the glass. The extra kick comes from something far less measurable: the accumulated spirit of every guest who’s raised one before you.

Available frozen, on the rocks, and in a lineup of fruit-forward flavors, the chispa is less a cocktail and more a commitment to the moment. Our pick? The prickly pear, a margarita that’s bright, electric, and just sweet enough to keep you lingering on the patio long after you swore you’d only stay for one.