News you can eat

6 things to know in Austin food right now: New cocktail bar tips into downtown

For The Tipsy Alchemist, cocktails are a matter of chemistry.

Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of Austin's restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings and closings

An anticipated Dallas-based bar concept that mixes cocktails with science is making its Austin debut January 23. The Tipsy Alchemist at 70 Rainey St. serves a wide variety of creative cocktails such as The Edison, a rum drink with nitrogen-frozen mint, and the Mad Hatter, a vodka sipper that is transported in a pneumatic tube transport system similar to those used at banks.

Whataburger may no longer be Texas-owned, but it's still majorly invested in the Lone Star State. On January 31, the beloved chain debuted a new one-of-a-kind location at 1616 E. Oltorf St. with new features inspired by Austin's unique culture. Among the highlights are digital menu boards, recycling and compost bins, and patio seating, naturally.

In other fast-food news, Ike's Love & Sandwich is opening its first San Marcos at 301 N. Guadalupe St. #154 on January 31. Like the other locations, the outpost will boast exclusive sandwiches like the Can I Drink You a Buy made with fried chicken, orange Buffalo barbecue sauce, and American Cheese. Starting at 10 am on opening day, the restaurant will offer free sandwiches to the first 25 guests in line and $5 sandwiches all day after.

Other news and notes

Acclaimed downtown eatery Comedor has launched a new taco tasting menu available during happy hour from 5-6:30 pm. The three- to five-course tasting options, priced at $15 and $25, will change regularly based on seasonality, but will always include a dessert taco from owner and pastry chef Philip Speer. Mezcal pairings will also be available, priced at $24-$28 for five pours.

New Waterloo's corporate pastry chef Amanda Rockman is teaming up with Lick Honest Ice Creams on a swoon-worthy Valentine's Day collaboration. The heart-shaped strawberry red velvet ice cream cake, made with tart cream cheese ice cream with a strawberry-balsamic swirl, is available for pre-order through February 5 for $45.

Tito's Handmade Vodka is now the top-selling spirit in the country, according to a new report from drinks industry analysts company ISWR. The brand, founded in Austin by the aptly named Tito Beveridge, knocked out Smirnoff, who has held the spot for a decade.

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Cooler Than Cool

11 frozen cocktails cool Austin down this Memorial Day weekend

Photo courtesy of Westin Austin Downton

Memorial Day Weekend might call for a frozen drink at Azul Rooftop.

We know — it's hot. Summer calls for tanning (hopefully not burning) poolside, barbecues, and frozen drinks, particularly on three-day weekends. Memorial Day anyone?

Check out these 11 bars and restaurants across Austin for ice-cold frozen drinks, perfect for healing the burn of a 9-5 workweek, one sip at a time.

Azul Rooftop
310 E 5th St.
Summer is calling at Azul Rooftop. The chic pool and cocktail lounge has a flirty Cactus Kiss margarita made with Patrón Blanco, Luxardo citrus, prickly pear, and lime, for $8 during the Margarita May special. Enjoy an array of other frozen drinks during Azul's Memorial Day party on Saturday, May 24, from 3-11 pm, or anytime the mood strikes.

Uptown Sports Club
1200 E. 6th St.
Chef and Uptown Sports Club co-founder Aaron Franklin will be away at Hot Luck Fest over Memorial Day Weekend, but the New Orleans-inspired East Austin restaurant has something special planned: a pop-up with Turkey and the Wolf on Saturday, May 24. Grab a hot sandwich from the James Beard Award-nominated NOLA eatery and wash it down with one of Uptown's signature frozens — boozy milkshakes in flavors like chicory and chocolate or orange and cream. Guests can also enjoy them without the alcohol.

Uptown Sports Club frozen Uptown Sports Club's frozens are almost as thick as blended ice cream.Photo by Ericka Predmore

Cabana Club
5012 E. 7th St.
It's a party all Memorial Day weekend long at the Cabana Club. Enjoy a frozen Cabana-rita Friday night during the East Austin pool lounge's dive-in movie night swim. Saturday brings activations all day including cold plunges, Pilates, karaoke, and frozen Irish affogatos. Didn't win the Backyard Belly Flop contest on May 26? Soothe your soul with a frozen Adult Push Pop featuring Las Calfornias gin, vanilla tang, and coconut milk.

Aba
1011 S. Congress Ave, Bldg 2, Suite 180
Enjoy an extra day of brunch on Memorial Day over at Aba. The Mediterranean restaurant's signature brunch will be available from 10 am to 3 pm on Monday, May 26. Nosh on short rib shakshuka, strawberry rhubarb biscuits, and an assortment of hummus specials with house-made bread. Wash it all down with a Thirst Trap — not the type you post on Instagram, but a frozen drink with Aperol, prosecco, orange, strawberry, and rhubarb flavors.

Canje
1914 E 6th St., Suite C
Founded by critically-acclaimed chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje offers an innovative spin on an array of Carribbean cuisines that pair well with frozen rum punch (available in three levels — boozy, upgraded, and baller). This Memorial Day, Canje's legendary block party returns for a third consecutive year, featuring bites and beverages from Good Hot Fish, Mezquite, Five O' Four, and of course, Canje. Entry is free with RSVP, and food and drink tickets are available to purchase via Eventbrite or at the door.

Pool Burger
2315 Lake Austin Blvd.
Located within swimming distance of the Deep Eddy pool and Lake Austin, Pool Burger's tiki-inspired drink menu features frozen hurricanes, in addition to boozy mai tais, a vodka-based Yacht Rock, zombies on draft, and painkillers. Kick off Memorial Day weekend strong on Friday, May 23, with Pool Burger's signature happy hour from 3-5 pm, which features half-off the frozen hurricanes, pool chips, Brut rose, and Red Stripe beer.

Uncle Nicky's
4222 Duval St. and 2121 S. Lamar Blvd. #100
Options for a very chill day off can be found at Uncle Nicky's, whether it's a hardy Italian(ish) brunch or an aperitivo snack bar from 2-5 pm. On Memorial Day, the signature Frozen Italian Margarita with Lunazul, lime juice, orange liqueur, and Luxardo Cherry Sangue Morlacco will be $7 all day long.

Uncle Nicky's Frozen Italian Margarita The Frozen Italian Margarita can be enjoyed in layers or stirred together.Photo courtesy of Uncle Nicky's

Holiday on 7th
5020 E. 7th St.
While they haven't announced any Memorial Day specials as of publication, Holiday on 7th's claim to fame is a frozen drink. Purportedly the home of the first frozen Mexican Martini, Holiday on 7th also has a frozen tropical Saturn on its extensive drink menu. Enjoy half off of any martini on the menu every Sunday during the bar's all-day martini happy hour.

De Nada Cantina
5020 E. 7th St.
It would be downright criminal not to mention De Nada's famous frozen margaritas on this list. Charting numerous "Best Austin Margaritas" lists over the years, De Nada has several variations on the frozen marg: a classic lime flavor, seasonal frozen flavors with fresh fruit, and a mezcal-forward frozen with pineapple. De Nada also has a frozen sandia with lime, agave, and a house-made chamoy rim. These drinks are refreshing and strong; De Nada holds guests to a two-margarita limit for a reason! De Nada's happy hour, running every Monday through Friday from 3:30-6:30 pm, features classic frozen margaritas for $10.50 and seasonal frozen margaritas for $11.50.

Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar
2115 S. Lamar Blvd.
Loro's expansive, yet laid-back picnic table setup inside and out is tailor-made for summer nights. A love letter to Asian cuisine and Texas barbecue, Loro's fusion of flavors extends to its broad menu of frozen drinks. From a frozen spicy watermelon margarita, to boozy Vietnamese coffee, to mango sake slushees, Loro's got frozen drinks for a wide spectrum of tastes. Can't decide? Try a frozen slushee flight for $14.25.

Zanzibar
304 E. Cesar Chavez St.
A tropical oasis tucked away in the urban jungle of downtown Austin, Zanzibar offers frozen drinks that are best sipped poolside. The Austin Marriott Downtown's rooftop bar has a frozen rum-based Tradewinds cocktail, featuring coconut, peach, lime, and a touch of Aperol for balance. Another must-try: a frozen Zanzibar Swizzle with rum, hibiscus, ginger, and allspice.

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