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Austin, Texas, is world-renowned for its delicious BBQ and Tex-Mex fare. However, the city is also full of alluring bars offering robust cocktail programs in less thought-of places: hotels. Many properties throughout the city have established themselves as go-to hubs well beyond a place to lay your head. Whether you’re an Austin local or a tourist, there’s a tasty thirst-quenching cocktail to sip at one of these luxe hotels.
Las Bis
Pam McLean Photography
This beautiful outside terrace bar (and inside lounge) is on the Hyatt Centric’s eighth floor. It’s the perfect place to munch on tapas-inspired bites such as tinned fish, caviar and escabeche whilst enjoying one of their craft cocktails amid incredible views of Austin’s skyline. If you’re into spirit-forward libations, then you’ll love the complexity and bold flavours of the Sir Eel cocktail comprised of oloroso sherry, Still Austin bourbon, Amico Amaro, star anise bitters, Don Ciccio & Figil fennel liqueur, and Peychaud's. If cocktails aren’t your ‘thing,’ Las Bis offers a lineup of biodynamic wines and even a Texas-made pinot meunier from the award-winning Lost Draw Cellars.
Diner Bar
Photo: Jasmin Porter
The key to setting your bar apart from the sea of others is creating hand-crafted libations with fresh ingredients and distinct styles, and Diner Bar has unlocked such a high-quality standard. The dynamic, warm-welcoming restaurant and bar are adjacent to Thompson Austin’s lobby. Celebrated for its range of seasonal Southern cuisine with a nod to local Texas culture, the cocktails will help cement your appreciation for the locale. The drinks menu is refreshed each season but offers classics year-round, such as the Manhattan and a gin martini made with top-shelf liquors. Currently, Diner Bar serves refreshing summer sippers such as Wild Dogs, crafted with blanco tequila, St. Germain, cucumber, ginger and lime.
Simona’s Coffee + Cocktails
Photo: José Flores
Named after the family who founded the small town of Colton, Texas, the Colton House Hotel is off the beaten path though centrally located close to tons of Austin hotspots. In the hotel, Simona’s Coffee + Cocktails offers their signature riff on a blood orange paloma: the Texas Sun. It’s made with locally distilled Desert Door Sotol – a spirit made from wild harvested sotol plants – blood orange, brown sugar and ginger bitters. Simona’s sits next to their charming private patio and pool – a picture-perfect place to cool off in peace.
Tillie’s
Photo: Ashleigh Amoroso
Are you itching to escape the hustle and bustle of the city? Then, you’ll want to visit Camp Lucy Resort’s The Black Elephant Bar. Located in Dripping Springs, a quaint town approximately 23 miles outside of Austin, The Black Elephant Bar is an extension of the resort’s Tillie’s restaurant. Like Tillie’s locally sourced farm-to-table menu, their selection of drinks pulls from Central Texas’ top distilleries, vineyards and breweries. For example, The Bourbonist is a mouth-watering cocktail made with the 100% Texas-made grain-to-glass Treaty Oak Day Drinker Texas Bourbon from the nearby Treaty Oak Distilling.
Sidebar: There’s a four-acre working vineyard on Camp Lucy’s property. So, Tillie’s offers their own blend exclusively bottled by Texas-based Bending Branch Winery. Since their first harvest in 2014, they’ve expanded to growing enough grapes – hand-picked every summer – to create four varieties of Camp Lucy wine.
The Driskill Bar
Photo: Courtesy of The Driskill
You can’t talk about iconic Austin hotels without mentioning The Driskill Hotel and its namesake bar, The Driskill Bar. The decor captures the essence of Central Texas with rustic leather couches, cowhide barstools, cattle-branded custom carpet and a huge Texas Longhorn on the wall above the fireplace. Daily live music performances complement the laidback ambience. They recently updated their drinks menu to include delightful cocktails such as the Batini (Austin is known for its bat population), made with Texas-based Tito’s vodka, house-made hibiscus and ginger juice, and sweet and sour mix, and the Strawberry MoTito made of Tito’s vodka, strawberry puree, fresh lime juice, sugar, sparkling water and mint leaves.
Fun fact: Since opening in 1930, The Driskill Grill, the restaurant within the hotel, has served as the site of many legendary events, such as the first date of President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson in 1934. It’s been the ‘it’ dining spot for ranchers, politicians and celebrities for decades.
Bar Mischief
Photo: Taylor Hannan
“For the poets, the writers, the artists, and the scofflaws – all those who dabble in mischief,” is emblazoned on the Bar Mischief website and Instagram posts – and it captures the speakeasy vibe of the bar. Beverage Director, Jorge Viana, is the liquid architect behind Bar Mischief’s inventive drink concepts. The creativity and passion shine through with flavourful nuances in each cocktail. Whether you’re in a whisky highball mood (The Ronin Highball is made with Toki whisky, Akashi plum, green tea, star anise, lemon oil and soda) or craving a classic old fashioned made with top-shelf bourbon (The Mischief Old Fashioned is made with Blanton’s bourbon), there’s something tasty for every palate.
Second Bar + Kitchen
Besides Austinites’ love of a good concert (The city’s known as the “Live Music Capital of the World”), they equally value an exquisite rooftop with views. Second Bar + Kitchen doesn’t disappoint with its chic, contemporary-style rooftop patio overlooking the lively East Sixth Street. The bar offers fresh takes on classic cocktails. One of their signature drinks is the East Austin Mule-Jito, made of aromatic and sweet strawberry Giffard Creme De Fraise Des Bois liqueur, mint and lime. If you want a special something-something without the liqueur, they make a zero-proof version using the award-winning non-alcoholic Ritual Rum.
Gin Bar
The rooftop Gin Bar, located on East Sixth Street, has over 90 varieties of gin from all over the world, including a few Texas options. The Gin Bar also makes speciality cocktails dancing between traditional and unconventional. Even if you’re not quite into gin’s juniper-forward and botanical flavour notes, there’s bound to be a gin for you.
Sidebar: Every second Thursday of the month, they host Gin & Juice, a soiree featuring light bites, ‘90s hip-hop, and gin creations.
Lutie’s Garden Restaurant
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Lutie’s Garden Restaurant is located within the Commodore Perry Estate, an award-winning historic architectural landmark and private retreat on the outskirts of downtown Austin. Lutie’s is the quintessence of the crème de la crème Austin has to offer, with touches of vivid emerald retro décor inspired by the 1920s Jazz Age with a hint of European flair. The cocktail list reflects innovation and sophistication with a twist. The delectable Duckphat cocktail is made of duck fat-washed Cognac, honey lemon oleo, PX Sherry and black pepper – the ultimate post-dinner treat or nightcap.
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