In early April, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a temporary measure to allow restaurants with a liquor license to sell mixed drinks for delivery or take-out until 11 p.m. You have to order food, too—one meal must be part of the package for every two cocktails—and there is a limit of four drinks per order. Local watering holes have since responded with unique mixes, packaging and deals, from upscale craft cocktails to throwback favorites. We can’t possibly cover all of them, but let’s just say there are more than enough options below to take the edge off. Give them a try if your liquor cabinet is bare and happy hour is calling.
El Paso Café
Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner and you need a marg. Look no further than this local cantina, which has been serving Tex-Mex cuisine in Arlington’s Buckingham neighborhood since 1992, and where margaritas are a mainstay. The bar menu features nearly a dozen tequila drinks for curbside pick up—including the 1942 Original, made with Cazadores Reposado, Cointreau and fresh squeezed lime juice on the rocks. Throw in one of the cafe’s 10- or 20-packs of enchiladas with rice, beans, chips and housemade salsa and feed your family for days. // 4235 N. Pershing Drive, Arlington
Bronson Bier Hall + Taco Rock
Two of chef-owner Mike Cordero’s Arlington restaurants are offering cocktails for delivery. Taco Rock in Rosslyn is focusing on traditional margaritas and Palomas—grapefruit juice and tequila—as well as large format drinks designed to serve 4 to 6 (socially distanced) and boozy popsicles for warmer days. At Bronson Bier Hall in Ballston, order your giant pretzel and brat with a cocktail, an adult Italian ice (raspberry and lemon) or spiked freeze pops—including a retro Ecto Cooler flavor. For take-out or delivery. // Bronson Bierhall, 4100 Fairfax Drive; Taco Rock, 1501 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Busboys and Poets
The Shirlington location of the DC operation is serving batched cocktails for pick-up and delivery—use the online ordering portal and click “To Go Bar Beverages” from the pull-down menu for a complete list of options. The Langston Cooler features dark and spiced rums, peach Schnapps, orange juice and cranberry juice, while the DC Tap Water is a sweet-and-sour mix of vodka, peach Schnapps, raspberry rum, blue Curacao, pineapple, sour mix and Sierra Mist. //4251 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)