Tex-Mex wild child El Camino Cantina has released details of its six-week Ritapalooza festival and local DJ line-up as it prepares to flick on the neon at its first two-storey, 510-seat margarita mecca, located at South Bank in Brisbane, on Friday, 20 November.
Brisbane’s first-of-its-kind Ritapalooza is a celebration of El Camino Cantina’s famous rockstar-style ritas, which have a cult following across three states, including a growing footprint in Queensland. The colourful festival will run from opening day until Sunday, 3 January, with 15 frozen flavours available alongside a value-packed menu.
The South Bank site is the only El Camino Cantina in Queensland to offer 15 flavours of its legendary margaritas: Classic, Calypso Crush, Coconut, Passionfruit, Watermelon, Grapefruit, Lychee, Hubba Bubba, Skittle, Mango, Strawberry, Raspberry, Sour Apple, Marshmallow and Grape. They are all served Cadillac-style, with a smooth, rich float of Grand Marnier on top. Classic, Mango and Strawberry flavours are also served on the rocks, and tasting paddles of four, 220ml frozen flavours are available.
The sassy South Bank site is also home to El Camino Cantina’s inaugural Hotel Diablo, located on the upper floor of the venue, which launches on Friday, 27 November. Hotel Diablo boasts a cool club vibe every Friday and Saturday from 9pm, with DJs playing until at least midnight. A dance floor is available for when social restrictions ease further, with later DJ performances also likely to kick in at this time. Early evening dining reservations are available at Hotel Diablo.
Headline performers include Brisbane band and DJ duo Mashd N Kutcher on Friday, 27 November, then it’s Club MTV and resident DJ Brooklyn on Saturday, 28 November.
El Camino Cantina South Bank has three distinct zones: a colourful, umbrella-ed outdoor dining area for 140 guests, a ground floor diner that caters to 120 guests, and the 250-seat Hotel Diablo, which has a dedicated bar and is split across two interlinked rooms that are perfect for private functions throughout the festive season.
The price-friendly menu includes tacos with eight flavour combinations, sizzling chargrilled fajitas with a choice of four fillings, buffalo wings with three spicy sauces, nachos, burritos and burrito bowls. Tortillas are house-made daily, and bottomless baskets of complimentary chips and salsas are available all day.
Guests can dine on the Palooza Party Package ($89 each), which includes spicy buffalo wings with blue-cheese mayo, sizzling adobo chicken fajitas with all the Tex-Mex trimmings, and crisp churros served deliciously warm with chocolate and caramel sauce for dipping. Two hours of Cadillac margaritas, available in all 15 flavours, are also included in the package.
Throughout Ritapalooza, every week celebrates Taco Tuesday when three limited-edition tacos are available for $4 each, on every Wing Wednesday traditional buffalo wings are 10-cents each (with a drink purchase) and guests can attempt Wing Roulette when a basket of buffalo wings includes one that is laced in ‘Facemelter’ hot sauce. Habanero and Teriyaki sauces are also available. Every Thursday it is all about Fajitas & Ritas, when small fajitas are $20 with the purchase of a Cadillac margarita.
El Camino Cantina Food and Beverage Director Molly Haranis said there will be no shortage of killer music across the two-storey destination.
“We are thrilled to be launching our first two-storey El Camino Cantina and Hotel Diablo, where we will spotlight top DJs every week and have the biggest line-up of our cult margaritas in Queensland,” she said.
“The venue boasts a number of great zones, spaces and rooms that are ideal for group functions this festive season. With a large alfresco area and upper level entertainment it’s the perfect party spot this summer.”
The South Bank site is the tenth El Camino Cantina in Australia, including those located at Bowen Hills and Westfield Chermside in Brisbane, Robina on the Gold Coast, and Sunshine Plaza on the Sunshine Coast.
El Camino Cantina
153 Stanley Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101
elcaminocantina.com.au