Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Dandy Rosé, made in Austin
Dandy Rosé is the only wine in the world made especially for Austinites. Its creator, Rae Wilson, has even more to brag about: this Austin-exclusive rosé is made from 100 percent Texas grapes.
Wilson considers her rosé, now in its fourth year of production, to be “a love letter to Austin.” The sommelier-turned-winemaker is proving to the rest of the country that authentic and complex wine can be grown and produced in Texas. [Read more…]
Overlooking the Colorado River on Tillery’s East Austin patio (Credit: Joleen Jernigan)
If you live in Austin, you likely have a hankering for the outdoors, whether that means hiking the Greenbelt, taking the dog or the kids for a walk, riding your bike, or swimming at one of our outstanding swimming holes. After all that brisk exercise, it’s time to head for a patio and enjoy a cold drink. Patio culture is Austin culture. Here are a few of my favorite patios for happy hour on the east side. [Read more…]
School House Pub
It’s a shame that more people aren’t talking about Manor Road. Located in northeast Austin, across I-35 from The University of Texas, these few blocks are packed with shops, bars, bakeries, and restaurants.
Actually, there are over a dozen spots to grab a cold local beer or unique cocktail. Some are classic Austin dive bars, while others are funky joints where you can bring the whole crew. High-end dining options are also available for extraordinary happy hours.
Starting at the 1800 block and heading east, the bars and restaurants below come one after another on Manor Road. It really is a perfect spot for a bar crawl or night out, and it’s easy to tailor your adventure to what you want to eat, drink, or do! [Read more…]
Mueller Lake Park
Mueller in Northeast Austin started 10 years ago as a 700-acre community. It has grown into a thriving, developed neighborhood. With public parks, farmers’ markets, and some of Austin’s hottest businesses, Mueller has it all.
It’s about time someone created a bar crawl guide for the expanding Mueller neighborhood. The Austin spots on this list are nestled within a small, walkable area on the east side of I-35, in the main Mueller development. [Read more…]
What a deal at Buddy’s Place
There are many types of bars in Austin, offering different things for different people. The hipster bars have the creative, infused cocktails. The frat bars have top 40 music and cheap shots. Whatever the theme, each new bar of its type tries to outdo the competition with stranger cocktails, or cheaper shots, and the list goes on.
One bar on Burnet Road stands out by taking the opposite approach. This Texas bar is distilled to the essentials. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. [Read more…]
Arriving at Carousel Lounge (Credit: Wright Sulek)
There is a diminishing number of places in Austin that are truly and wonderfully weird. Carousel Lounge is one of them. Located at 52nd Street and Cameron Road in North Austin, Carousel Lounge is home to one of the most authentic atmospheres in all of the city.
You may have been there before, or your alternative buddy at work may have mentioned it a few times. No matter what day, month, or year you go, it’ll likely be an experience you’ll never forget. Here are a few reasons why Carousel Lounge is one of Austin’s most beloved offbeat bars. [Read more…]
Guest article by Caitlin Johnson
Sake isn’t actually rice wine. Yes, it’s sipped like a fine wine, but that doesn’t make it wine. Wine requires fruit for fermenting. Since there is no fruit, just rice…you get the idea.
I recently went to check out how one company in Austin is putting an American spin on this 2,000-year-old drink. I got to meet Jeff Bell, the Toji or master sake brewer at Texas Sake Company. We sipped and chatted as he cleared up common misconceptions about sake, and shared what the brewery is working on and what the sake-brewing process is all about. [Read more…]
Lala’s Little Nugget is the definition of “hole in the wall”
Drive around Austin with anyone who has been here more than five years, and you’re likely to get into the I remember whens. I remember when downtown was boarded up and always quiet. I remember when The Domain was a field. The frenetic pace of Austin’s growth has a lot of us wishing time would stand a little more still.
Luckily, there is Lala’s Little Nugget. With all of the young, trendy bars that come and go all the time, Lala’s feels like a relic trapped in time. It’s an “old Austin” bar that has switched ownership in recent years, been renovated and somehow managed to survive in today’s bar scene. Undoubtedly one of my favorite bars in North Austin. [Read more…]
Credit: Dennis Burnett Photography
If coffee and travel have something in common, it’s the sense of awakening they both give you. Coffee awakens your body, while traveling awakens your mind and soul. When two adventurous and energetic individuals combined the two, it resulted in a brand as unique as a far-away country and as bold as your morning cup of joe. [Read more…]
Bartender Andrew Campbell mixes a cocktail at Garage (Credit: Julie Cope Photography)
When I venture out for a stiff drink in a short glass, I seek a setting that rouses a sense of romance and sparks my imagination, where skillfully crafted cocktails are served. As someone who finds herself mired in the aesthetics of a room, the ambiance of a bar is important.
Sometimes you just want a beer and burger at the neighborhood joint, but other times you want to embark on an upscale, booze-fueled adventure that transports you to another time and place. In the case of the latter, here are my top five picks for the most stylish bars in Austin. [Read more…]