Bars Archives - Page 8 Of 10

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Whip In

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Edgar Barguiarena

You can admire Whip In’s bottle selection even while sitting at the bar

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

Continuing the tradition that Eric started with his Best Burger Joint in Austin series, I’ll be 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 below in a comment.

First Impression of Whip In

“Would you like to try a new beer? It’s terrible!” asked one of the bartenders as I first walked in.

Immediately, I knew I was in the right place. [Read more…]

Buckle Up for Turtle Racing at Little Woodrow’s

Posted on July 10, 2013 by David Thomas

At turtle racing, the first turtle to reach the checkered border wins the heat.

The turtles scramble for the finish line

I mopped my brow as the stiff summer breeze did little to alleviate the sweltering heat on the porch of Little Woodrow’s 6th St. location. I bit my lower lip and placed my ticket stub in bucket two. Standing next to a bucket in the middle of a small area with a checkered circle, BDOE started the count, “One…two…THREE!” His assistant lifted the bucket and six turtles scrambled to the checkered outer ring.

I clenched my ticket in anticipation of victory, but it was not to be. I bet on #2, a turtle named Soup. Soup decided it wasn’t worth his while to even move in any direction. The folks who placed their tickets in #3’s bucket were stoked, since that little guy beat feet to the checkered finish line. I hung my head, resolved to win the next race. [Read more…]

Moontower Saloon Does It Better With Music, Food & Events

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Cris Mueller

Creative, handmade seating adds unique Austin feel to the spacious patio

I set out on my Sunday adventure to discover a house-turned-watering-hole in way south Austin, Moontower Saloon.

The founding duo behind the spry and still young concept is visionary Josh Bumb and Richard Veregge, hands-on building and bio planner and marketing wiz.

The idea for this neighborhood destination, located at 10212 Manchaca Road, stemmed from a conversation which began two and a half years ago. The friends were chatting at Weirdo’s, and Bumb voiced his interest in creating “something even better.” Far surpassing their initial expectations, the team’s first collaborative concept came to life with Moontower Saloon. [Read more…]

Austin Wine Bars: Apothe-Carry Me Home

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Laura Darby

Exterior at Apothecary Austin Cafe & Wine Bar

Unassuming exterior at Apothecary Cafe & Wine Bar

Editor’s Note: Apothecary closed in May 2017.

Not every evening in Austin calls for beer and BBQ. We at the Austinot aim to find some of the town’s great wine bars too, where one can go after a rough day at work and just sit for a quiet glass of vino.

Which led me to Apothecary Cafe & Wine Bar one evening after work. Located in the Rosedale Village Center at 4800 Burnet, close to 45th Street, Apothecary is a bit difficult to find. The signage along Burnet are blink-and-you-miss-it. It was, in fact, my failure to find Apothecary that originally led me to Gusto. [Read more…]

Search for the Best Burger Joint in Austin: Cover 3

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Eric Highland

Cover 3 in Austin

If you’ve been looking for the best burgers in Austin, you’ve come to the right place. This post is part of a series on the Austinot.

Remember, I’m looking at not only the burgers, but the experience as a whole.

You’ll always get an honest take on the burger joints I visit. I’m not on any burger joint’s payroll.

After you’ve read my review, agree or disagree with a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

First Impression of Cover 3

When I published my most recent burger joint review on Opal Divine’s Freehouse location on 6th, a few personal friends told me, “If you liked Opal’s, you are gonna love Cover 3.” Over time, quite a few folks have commented that this spot is a “must” for my burger joint review series. Finally convinced that I needed to pay Cover 3 a visit, I was pretty excited to check this place out.

[Read more…]

Downtown Coffee Shop, Bar & Lounge, Halcyon Suits Any Occasion

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Brittany Highland

Halcyon by night

We categorize most coffee shops as appropriate for a specific purpose, at a specific time of day: late night chill hangout with friends, outlets-galore study spot.

But I long ago discovered a local staple that is all things to all people. Located in the Warehouse District of downtown Austin, Halcyon manages to wear a typically chaotic persona with magnetic flair. [Read more…]

The Buzz Mill Brings Lumberjack Life to East Austin

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Eric Highland

The Buzz Mill recently opened on the eastside, off of Riverside

Beavers coming out of the woodwork (literally), subdued mason jar lighting hanging from the rafters, a huge outdoor yard, BBQ from one of the most famous pits in history, fruit-infused liquor, all-you-can-eat flapjack breakfast for $5, free Wi-Fi, full bar, coffee, open 24/7…should I go on?

Anyone who keeps up with the Austin scene has already heard the clamoring about this new joint on East Riverside. But the chatter shouldn’t surprise anyone. When the owner of Bootleg Coffee gets together with the manager of Emo’s and the marketing director at Antone’s for a project, you know something special is on tap.

And they’re just getting started.

Since the grand opening of The Buzz Mill on January 19, 2013, we’ve had numerous Austinot readers ask us to pay them a visit. And so we did. [Read more…]

Drinking with Gusto at One of My Favorite Austin Wine Bars

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Laura Darby

Gusto is one of the best Austin wine bars

Good crowd even on a weeknight

Our guest blogger Rob Moshein has written about relaxing Austin wine bars downtown, but there also happen to be some great wine spots in North Austin that should be shared as well!

I first discovered Gusto Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar when I was on Burnet Road looking for another wine bar in the same neighborhood. Considering how I wandered in, lost and confused, it turned out to be a wonderful treat and surprise, boasting an impressive list and variety of wines.

And while Gusto is a great place to have some appetizers and a glass or two of wine, it also has delicious, fresh-tasting food and excellent happy hour specials. When we get just a LITTLE bit more warmth in Austin, we’ll really appreciate their fantastic outdoor patio space! [Read more…]

Bridget Dunlap: Gritty Imagineress Reigning Barefoot on Rainey

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Brittany Highland

Bridget Dunlap reigns barefooted

Visionaries are the ones who look at what’s in front of all of our faces, and have just enough careless abhorrence of common sense to imagine a metropolis where the rest of us see only a mound of dirt.

Successful Houston business owner Bridget Dunlap had visited Austin many times. Despite the economic bust of 2008, she was looking for opportunity when she parked in the dirt lot on the north side of Driskill St. near I-35.

The parcel of land on the northeast corner of Rainey Street at Driskill – now known as Lustre Pearl – was for lease. Signs communicated that the property was condemned, and the former home was completely boarded up. “You could barely walk up the stairs,” Dunlap recalled. [Read more…]

Search for the Best Burger Joint in Austin: Opal Divine’s Austin Grill

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Eric Highland

Opal Divine’s Freehouse location in Austin

EDITOR’S NOTE: Opal Divine’s is closing its final location on April 21, 2019. Opal Divine’s Austin Grill will remain open at the Best Western Plus Hotel on the corner of I-35 and Oltorf.

If you’ve been looking for the best burgers in Austin, you’ve come to the right place. This post is part of a series on the Austinot.

Remember, I’m looking at not only the burgers, but the experience as a whole.

You’ll always get an honest take on the burger joints that I’ve visited. I’m not on any burger joint’s payroll.

After you’ve read my review, agree or disagree with a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

First Impression of Opal Divine’s Austin Grill

Located on the corner of West 6th Street and Rio Grande (700 West 6th Street), you’ll find one of the four Opal Divine’s Austin Grill locations. This spot, known as the Freehouse location, was recommended by one of our Austinot readers as a possible candidate for the best burger joint in Austin. [Read more…]

First Impression of Whip In

First Impression of Cover 3

First Impression of Opal Divine’s Austin Grill

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