A new tune
East Austin dive bar owners sing new tune with debut of SoCo cocktail bar
Twice is a coincidence, three times is a trend, but four is positively a movement. When the end-of-year reports come rolling in for 2019, surely those 12 months will be remembered as the time Austin went gaga for sandwiches and cocktails.
Following on the heels of Little Brother, Uncle Nicky’s, and The Front Page, another bar concept has popped up in Austin — this time from Tim Lupa and Sara Lupa, the couple behind east side watering holes The Brixton and Drinks Lounge. After a quiet soft opening, Velouria, named after the classic Pixies song, officially announced its debut on April 16.
The project, located in the Davis SoCo building at 3801 S. Congress Ave., is a slight departure from the dive-ier environs of the Lupas' other bars. Deep jewel tones are accented by wood and gold accents for a feel that’s a little swankier, although a release states the couple wanted to keep the easiness of the other spots.
“We’ve spent the last nine years serving friends and folks around the east side,” said Tim in a release. “We’re excited to venture south to continue serving the community with straightforward, classic drinks in a space that we hope can feel like another ‘home base’ bar for the neighborhood. We really tried to capture that feeling in creating Velouria — no frills, just good people and good drinks in a cozy spot.”
Joining the Lupas is general manager Kelon Bryant, whose resumé lists a diverse range of concepts including Justine’s Brasserie, Continental Club, Eberly, and Loro. He’s in charge of a drinks program that focuses heavily on classic cocktails like Negronis, Bees Knees, and martinis, as well as craft beer, wine, and frozen sippers like espresso martinis and Mai Tais.
For snacks, the spot splits its menu into daytime and nighttime menus. In the daylight hours, guests can enjoy pastries from Crema Bakery, breakfast tacos, salads, and sandwiches like a chicken salad croissant and an avocado BLT. Later on, pub grub includes cheese and charcuterie boards.
Since it’s open between 7 am-2 am daily, Velouria also offers a full coffee program featuring beans from Austin Roasting Company.
Those who can hardly function before their jolt of caffeine will also be happy to know that ample parking is available. Just make sure you bring a designated driver along when you hit it up later in the evening.