bars Archives - Page 6 of 10

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Porter Ale House and Gastropub

April 21, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena Leave a Comment

Your friendly neighborhood bar, set to the background of South 1st traffic

Editor’s Note: Porter Ale House closed on July 27, 2017.

The craft beer scene in Austin is blowing up. For every new brewery that opens, there are at least three bars that pop up, eager to serve you the best local beers that Austin has to offer.

Continuing the tradition Eric started with his Best Burger Joint in Austin series, I’m profiling and reviewing the best craft beer joints in Austin, with the occasional stop or two at bars that have room for improvement. I’ll take into consideration everything from beer selection to ambiance to overall value, and everything in between.

Please join me as I try to catalog your favorite watering holes in Austin, and let me know what you think in a comment below.

First Impressions: Porter Ale House and Gastropub

The 78704 zip is home to plenty of good bars and some of the best restaurants in town, but it was never quite considered a craft beer destination. The opening of ABGB last year started to change that reputation and the recent debut of Austin’s first dedicated craft beer bottle shop, Whichcraft, further solidified this status. Further south, just within the boundaries of the 78704 zip code on South 1st near 71, Porter Ale House and Gastropub is another welcome addition to the now thriving craft beer scene in South Austin. [Read more…]

Always Oktoberfest at Sixth Street’s Easy Tiger

April 10, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome Leave a Comment

Easy Tiger on 6th Street in Austin

There is a sweeter smell wafting down the alleyways of Dirty Sixth. The aroma is sweet enough to tempt the most finicky of eaters, and may even make established Austinites question their preconceived notions about our city’s most notorious street.

While 6th Street’s strongest associations may be cheap liquor and cover bands, hidden restaurant gems have been here for years. A more recent addition to the list is Easy Tiger, a somewhat unexpected mix between bakery and bar that has quickly become a local favorite.

I’ll take the yummy one!

[Read more…]

Winflo Osteria: Modern Italian Gem in Old West Austin

March 10, 2014 by Samantha Champion Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: Winflo Osteria closed at the end of March 2018.

If you’re over the age of 22, you’ve probably already realized there is a Sixth Street beyond Congress Avenue. In fact, it extends west of Guadalupe, even beyond Lamar. This is Old West Austin, where historic charm and fresh modernity seamlessly blend together to create a different kind of Sixth Street.

Between Mopac and Lamar, the cracked sidewalks of West Sixth are lined with restaurants brimming with laid-back coolness. Among them are seasoned (pun intended) favorites like Z’Tejas (1110 W 6th), Cafe Josie (1200B W 6th), and Sweetish Hill Bakery (1120 W 6th). Newer additions to Old West Austin include Clark’s Oyster Bar (1200 W 6th), Blake’s On Sixth (1221 W 6th), and my favorite, Winflo Osteria (1315 W 6th). [Read more…]

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company Draws a Crowd to South Austin

February 26, 2014 by Matthew Champion Leave a Comment

Fly, ABGB, Fly (Photo credit: TheSimplifiers.com)

Every time I head out to the Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company, it’s always packed to the brim with people. There’s good reason for this, and it’s admirable that ABGB has been able to develop such a following in less than a year. They opened their doors last summer and it seems like they’ve never closed since.

Despite the new company name, the people behind the brand are not inexperienced when it comes to the craft beer game. Head Brewers Amos Lowe and Brian Peters hold nearly fifty years of collective experience between them, with former leading positions held at Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que and Live Oak Brewing Company. [Read more…]

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Pinthouse Pizza

February 24, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena 1 Comment

L-R: Electric Jellyfish and his big brother, the Nomura Double IPA (Credit: Bill Tucker)

The craft beer scene in Austin is blowing up. For every new brewery that opens, there are at least three bars that pop up, eager to serve you the best local beers that Austin has to offer. Continuing the tradition that Eric started with his Best Burger Joint in Austin series, I’m profiling and reviewing the best craft beer joints in Austin, with the occasional stop or two at bars that have room for improvement. I’ll take into consideration everything from beer selection to ambiance to overall value, and everything in between.

Please join me as I try to catalog your favorite watering holes in Austin, and let me know what you think in a comment below.

First Impressions: Pinthouse Pizza

Pinthouse Pizza has quickly become a staple in the Austin beer scene, though they’ve only graced the Burnet strip for the last year and a half. This review is timely, since the infamous Odell Microbrewery from Ft. Collins, Colorado is throwing a launch party at Pinthouse this month. What some people don’t know is that Odell’s former head brewer, Joe Mohrfeld, is the cofounder of Pinthouse. What better time to revisit one of Austin’s great brewpubs, as Mohnfeld returns to his roots. [Read more…]

Savor the Past and Present at Freedmen’s Bar

February 3, 2014 by Matthew Champion 3 Comments

Freedmen’s Bar exterior at 2402 San Gabriel St. (Credit: Freedmen’s)

Editor’s Note: Freedmen’s is closing Aug. 31, 2018, at its West Campus location.

These winter months provide an ideal opportunity to savor mouth-watering BBQ and enjoy a warming cocktail or two. Freedmen’s Bar over in West Campus allows you to do just that in a cozy atmosphere that has aged like a fine wine or a hard cheese – well. The bar sits in a historic landmark that was built by former slave George Franklin nearly 150 years ago. Over the years, the building has housed everything from a church to a grocery store.

When Cuatro’s owner Cuatro Kowalski saw the space, he envisioned a place where you could drink fine whiskey and eat smoked meat with both your friends and your ancestors. He renovated the building with some modern touches and imported an antique bar from Brownsville, all while maintaining the classic elegance and charm that a century and a half naturally provides. [Read more…]

Hopfields Is French for Yummy

January 24, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome 1 Comment

Hidden at the end of a rather stark commercial building sits one of the shiniest hidden gems in the treasury of Austin dining spots. There are many choices for lovers of food and libation in Austin, but Hopfields is the only bar I have discovered so far that manages to please the pickiest eaters, as well as the most discerning craft beer fans.

As an eager drinker of brews both local and distant, the copper wall of taps is a welcome sight. It can be overwhelming to the uninitiated, but the bartenders here are helpful experts. Let them know your tastes and they will make recommendations accordingly. If beer isn’t your thing, Hopfields also has a lovely selection of Ciders, with a rotating tap as well. There is a very complete wine list – and a list of clever sounding wine cocktails. Enough to tempt even the most stoic beer-drinker away from their old standard. [Read more…]

Austin’s Best Downtown Happy Hours Ready to Wet Your Whistle

January 10, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome 5 Comments

According to Wikipedia, the origins of “Happy Hour” are shrouded in mystery, but we are grateful nonetheless. Just as mysteriously, finding the perfect happy hour can be difficult in a city full of watering holes, but the well informed won’t have to travel far.

Believe it or not, some of the city’s more affordable cocktail hours happen to be in the heart of downtown, conveniently close by to that afternoon meeting of yours. Maybe happy hour should even be combined with the meeting?

The following four locales are a great place to start any evening, but this list is just the tip of the happy hour iceberg. [Read more…]

Peche Belongs on Your List of Go-To Cocktail Spots Downtown

December 5, 2013 by Brittany Highland 1 Comment

Peche in the Warehouse District downtown (Photo credit: Tim Meaney via Flickr CC)

Your downtown business meeting or special event just ended, and now all you want is a place to relax and enjoy a hand-crafted drink. If this is you, I recommend Peche.

Located in the Warehouse District, on 4th Street just east of Lavaca, Peche’s unpretentious exterior is easy to pass without a second look. But step inside and you’ll be greeted by a low-lit, romantic interior with decor that hints at times past.

The menu is filled with a variety of cocktail, food and wine selections. The venue’s claim to fame is its status as Austin’s first absinthe bar. Cocktails are pre-prohibition style, inspired by owner Rob Pate’s historical studies and time abroad. In fact, your visits to Peche will likely transport you to another time and place. [Read more…]

Departure Lounge Takes Dine and Dash to a Whole New Level

November 25, 2013 by Edgar Barguiarena Leave a Comment

Departure Lounge in downtown Austin is cozy and comfortable

Editor’s Note: Departure Lounge closed its downtown location in July 2017. Owner Keith Waldon plans to open a new location in the airport.

Austin loves to mix things up. We want great food and drinks while watching the latest releases at the Drafthouse, or a quick round of embarrassing karaoke after rolling a few frames at The Goodnight. Austin entrepreneurs are taking mixed-use concepts to a whole new level. The latest to hit the downtown scene is a travel agency with a wine bar built in. Or maybe it’s the other way around? [Read more…]

« Previous Page
1
…
4
5
6
7
8
…
10
Next Page »

First Impressions: Porter Ale House and Gastropub

First Impressions: Pinthouse Pizza

Recent Posts

Welcome to The Austinot