Margaritas & Myth on the Island
The Margarita May (or May Not) Have Been Born Here
Was the margarita really invented on Galveston Island? Maybe. Are we going to let facts get in the way of a good cocktail? Absolutely not. What we do know is that Galveston’s bars serve up some of the most refreshing, beach-ready margaritas in Texas. From classic lime to jalapeño-kissed twists, these island spots are blending up history with every pour
The Man, the Myth, the Margarita
While the origins of the (sometimes) frozen concoction are still widely debated, many stories say it was invented right here in Galveston by Balinese Room head bartender Santos Cruz back in 1948.
Santos Cruz created the Texas Margarita at the Balinese Room in Galveston in 1948. The Balinese Room hosted a lot of big-name entertainers and when singer Peggy Lee came to town, Santos Cruz made a drink that Peggy Lee and her husband, Harry Barber -- fresh from a trip to Mexico -- were sure to enjoy. Lee liked the drink, and she asked what it was called. Cruz told her she could call it whatever she wanted.
Her husband, according to accounts passed down through family legend, eventually named it the "margarita" – a take on Peggy's more formal name, Margaret. The Cruz family resides in Galveston today.
Galveston Margarita Spots
East Beach Cantina is located on the far eastern tip of Galveston Island at East Beach. Head up to the bar in the pavilion during the spring/ summer for an ice-cold margarita on the beach!
