Monterey Tequila Festival Weekend: Where to Find Agave Cocktails in Downtown Monterey

Where can you find great agave cocktails in downtown Monterey?

Montrio, the Michelin Guide 2026–selected restaurant at 414 Calle Principal, is downtown Monterey's craft cocktail bar for anyone who loves tequila and mezcal. The bar pours four agave cocktails — the Almost Paloma, Aloe There, Oaxacan on Sunshine, and the tableside Smoke & Mirrors — inside a restored 1910 firehouse, the first firehouse in California. Happy hour runs 4:30 to 6 PM every day at the bar, which makes Montrio a natural first or last stop on Monterey Tequila Festival weekend, Saturday, October 17, 2026.

When is the Monterey Tequila Festival?

The festival takes over the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course on Saturday, October 17, from 3 to 11 PM. Educational seminars open the day at 3, the tasting and food sampling run from 4 to 8, and the after-party with the Chicano All Stars carries on until 11. You'll find it, along with the rest of the month's lineup, on the See Monterey events calendar.

The festival is a tasting. Dinner is a different thing entirely. That's why so many guests book a proper sit-down meal Friday night before, or Sunday evening after, when they can actually taste what's in the glass. Mid-October is one of the Peninsula's best stretches of weather: afternoons near 70°F, evenings cooling into the mid-50s°F. It's exactly the kind of night a warm brick dining room was made for.

Which tequila and mezcal cocktails does Montrio pour?

• Almost Paloma: tequila, fresh lime juice, and a house-made grapefruit shrub. Bright, tart, and clean. Start here.
• Aloe There: charred watermelon–infused tequila, Chareau Aloe liqueur, a watermelon rind shrub, and lime. One last taste of summer, with a little char on the edges.
• Oaxacan on Sunshine: mezcal, Bruto Americano, passion fruit, lemon, and egg white. Smoke up front, silk on the finish.
• Smoke & Mirrors: Madre Mezcal, Chartreuse, Amaro Nonino, and lime, presented tableside. Order it when you want the whole table to look up.

The shrubs and infusions are made in-house, the same scratch-made approach the kitchen takes with its stocks and sauces. If someone in your group is skipping alcohol, the bar keeps a zero-proof list too.

What should you eat with agave cocktails at Montrio?

Two starters on the Montrio dinner menu could have been written with agave in mind.

The Ahi Tuna comes black-and-white sesame crusted over a shiso, arugula, and cucumber salad with a sesame ginger lime vinaigrette. The citrus and ginger pick up the grapefruit in the Almost Paloma, and the cool cucumber softens a mezcal's smoke.

The Almond Butter Pork Belly is the opposite mood: rich, sweet, and hot, with arugula, pickled apple, rice wine vinaigrette, spiced almonds, and jalapeño honey. Put it next to the Oaxacan on Sunshine and let the passion fruit and the jalapeño honey argue it out. Order both and share. For more on matching drinks to plates, see Montrio's wine and cocktail pairing guide.

Why do cocktail lovers end up in a 1910 firehouse?

Because the room does half the work. Exposed brick, the old firehouse bones, and the glow of the wood-fired oven make a drink feel like an occasion. The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Kurt Boucher, who trained in classical French technique with Asian influences. That same balance of richness and brightness runs through the bar list.

The credentials back it up. Montrio is the only Michelin-rated restaurant in downtown Monterey. It also holds the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2026 and is a certified green restaurant, plus The Last Plastic Straw certification. Your cocktail arrives without a plastic straw in it, as it should.

Frequently asked questions

Does Montrio have a happy hour?

Yes. Happy hour runs from 4:30 to 6 PM daily at the bar.

How far is Montrio from the Monterey Tequila Festival?

The festival is at the Hyatt Regency Monterey on the Del Monte Golf Course. Montrio is downtown at 414 Calle Principal, a short rideshare away. After a tasting, please leave the car and take the ride.

Does Montrio serve non-alcoholic cocktails?

Yes. The bar has a zero-proof menu built on house-made shrubs and spritzes.

Should I make a reservation for festival weekend?

Yes. Mid-October weekends are busy downtown, so book online or by phone ahead of time.

Make it a night worth toasting — reserve your table at Montrio, or call (831) 648-8880.