Cancún has a drinking culture shaped by two overlapping worlds — the tourist-economy cocktail bars of the Hotel Zone, and the genuinely different drink traditions of everyday Mexican and Yucatecan life. Both are worth knowing about.
The margarita question
Yes, you'll have a margarita. The Hotel Zone serves millions of them. The quality difference between a house margarita made with mixto tequila and artificial lime cordial, and one made with 100% agave tequila and fresh lime juice, is significant enough to be worth the small upcharge. Ask for "margarita con tequila 100% agave y limón fresco" to get the version that tastes like the cocktail is supposed to.
Mexican beer
The major Mexican lagers — Corona, Modelo, Dos Equis, Pacífico, Tecate — are everywhere and well-suited to the heat. Of these, Modelo Especial and Pacífico are the picks most consistently recommended by people who think about beer. Negra Modelo (a dark lager) is worth trying if you usually avoid "light" beers.
Michelada
Beer served over ice in a salt-rimmed glass with lime juice, hot sauce, and sometimes tomato juice or Clamato — sounds strange, is genuinely good in 33-degree heat. A standard bar drink throughout Mexico; widely available and worth ordering at least once.
Non-alcoholic: agua fresca and horchata
Agua fresca — water blended with fruit (jamaica/hibiscus, tamarind, watermelon, etc.) and a little sugar. Found at market stalls, juice bars, and local restaurants. Refreshing, cheap, and genuinely good. Horchata is rice-based, creamy, mildly sweet — a surprisingly good pairing with spicy food. Both are safe to drink where they're made with purified water, which any reputable market stall uses.
Local mezcal and craft spirits
The cocktail scene in downtown Cancún has a growing number of bars serious about mezcal and Mexican craft spirits — a genuine point of difference from the Hotel Zone's volume-focused cocktail bars. See our tequila vs. mezcal guide for the background before ordering.
What to avoid
Open-bar packages at large tourist clubs often use the cheapest available spirits and pre-made mixers. They're designed for volume, not quality. The math works if unlimited drinks is the literal goal; it doesn't if you plan to taste anything.