For the perfect confluence of Italy and Mexico’s drinking cultures, head to Johnny’s sun-drenched rooftop in the heart of Carlton. The limoncello margarita spans two continents, thanks to its primo combo of the house-made limoncello with blanco tequila, fresh lime wedges and a bold black-salt rim. Best enjoyed under the shade of a tasseled umbrella on a sunny day, it’s an important player in the venue’s retro cocktail culture (see also: martini with blue cheese stuffed olives) and the ideal drinking companion with an Amafli-worthy menu from Karen Martini, starring zucchini fritters, authentic pizza bianca and rossa, and gnocchi pomodoro. Level 2/293-297 Lygon St, Carlton; johnnysgreenroom.com

If the words ‘bottomless brunch margaritas’ fail to get the pulse racing, you don’t deserve the 90-minute sessions at this ripping retreat from the Hardware Lane mayhem. Held 12pm every Friday to Sunday on the open-air rooftop, it stars four types of margs – classic and spicy for the purists, and classic and pineapple in the frozen department – and a fifth no-alcohol ‘nah-garita’. They’re backed by a roll call of Mexican bar snacks, including Tajín-coated corn ribs and tacos with fried rockling or pulled pork. NB: management has no problem with guests ordering a margarita any other day of the week. 23-25 Hardware Ln, Melbourne; hotelnacional.co

A drinks list brimming with more than 50 choices of Mexican-sourced tequila, mezcal and their lesser-known cousin raicilla is the first sign that this cavernous High Street space (in a former shoe factory) has the goods to do justice to Melbourne’s favourite drink. Thoroughly decent margaritas (classic and spicy) on tap cut down on the waiting time – visit on Thursdays and they’re only $10, with $5 tacos thrown in as an extra sweetener. If you live in the west, its sibling venue Hotel Mexico in Yarraville brings a similar formula, and ups the ante with a cinemascopic spaghetti western aesthetic. 39 High St, Preston; barmexico.com.au

Ascend to agave heaven on level six of Curtin House, where its spirit family is taken seriously (they claim to have one Australia’s largest collections of tequila and mezcal), but the bartenders aren’t above serving a frozen marg. These ice-cold lovelies are the best in the biz, leaving those sweet slushie abominations in the dust with combinations like mandarin and lime or blackcurrant and hibiscus. They’re best enjoyed on days that hit over 30 degrees; the rest of the time, our money’s on the margarita picante, which lives up to its name with habanero-infused tequila, curaçao with lime juice and tamarind. Level 6/252 Swanston St, Melbourne; mesaverde.net.au

Luxuriate in the possibilities of tequila at this Hosier Lane joint, where an eight-strong margarita menu tips its hat to the classic, then takes off on a trip to charred pineapple mezcalita town. You’ll also find it flirting shamelessly with the tropics in the form of coconut fat-washed tequila with coconut liqueur, and have the chance to taste the difference between blanco and reposado. Want to spread your wings? The rest of the cocktail list is tequila and mezcal-obsessed, too. Ballast your session with habanero oysters, prawn empanadas, quesa birria and authentic Mexican-style tacos every which way you like. 3-5 Hosier Ln, Melbourne; tresacinco.com.au

Julian Hills’ acclaimed fine diner is great for a special occasion, but the moody-hued lounge bar next door is geared for drop-ins to savour super-creative cocktails showcasing syrups and infusions that make the most of kitchen offcuts. You’ll always find a play on the margarita – recent iterations have included one heroing smoked paperbark tequila, as well as another cumquat-laced winter version. Spring has welcomed the lemon myrtle marg, a heady combination of lemon myrtle-infused tequila, the orange note of curaçao and wild strawberry liqueur. A dehydrated strawberry salt rim is the perfect clincher for a fruity flirt with an acid backbone. 83b Gamon St, Yarraville; restaurantnavi.com.au

A drinks list reciting an oath of allegiance to agave is a good starter at this dimly lit, party-hard city basement, which boasts more than 100 premium tequila brands. But save the tequila tasting flight for next visit, and order a margarita exploring the horizons of fruit liqueurs and purees – there’s a peach number that’s all lilting softness, while cherry is going to look fabulous with your all-white outfit, darling. Fifteen-dollar cocktails bring a shine to Thursdays, while two-for-one margs go perfectly with Friday and Saturday evenings, when the venue’s Mendozas Social Club brings in Latin DJs to set the tone. 313 Flinders Ln, Melbourne; mirandabar.com.au

If the name doesn’t drive the point home, the two separate bars – one up, one down – will give you some guide to the priorities of this maximalist off-Smith Street venue. The broadly Latin American venue pays its dues to the margarita gods with a spicy grapefruit number bristling with a chilli tequila kick. Whether you believe claims that the margarita verde is a healthy choice is up to you, but the green appeal of basil and jalapeno is undeniable. If you want to stray off the margarita script while staying in the ballpark, the tropical fuego cocktail has fiery appeal, literally. 59 Cambridge St, Collingwood; pinchodisco.com

What’s a Thai venue doing on a list like this, you ask? Let’s start with the Curtin House stalwart’s ‘El Spanko’ margarita, which goes hands across the ocean with its Mexi-Thai fusion. They start with 1800 Coconut Tequila, add toasted coconut syrup, coriander and lime, and finish with a toasted coconut salt rim. Purists will be horrified, but we’re down with it, as we are with the tequila twist that comes with the Bloody Maria. It’s also worth heading to sibling venue The Toff a floor above, where the Twisted Sister is the bastard love-child of the paloma and Tommy’s margarita. 252 Swanston St, Melbourne; cookiemelbourne.com.au

Want to inject some Greek ‘opa’ into your Mexican ‘olé’? Try hitting this smart Hellenic newcomer. The addition of tsipouro liqueur (made using residue left from grapes pressed for winemaking) injects a note hovering at the intersection of aniseed and liquorice that’s entirely simpatico with lime – if a margarita is a holiday in a glass, this one whisks you to a sun-drenched Aegean island. While you’re there, you might want to check out the great list of Greek wines. Start your journey at the smashable white grape assyrtiko, and snack on fig and olive tapenade with the house spelt bread. 226 Coventry St, South Melbourne; aegli.melbourne