national nightlife

Travel + Leisure declares two Austin watering holes among "America's BestOutdoor Bars"

Lustre Pearl on Rainey Street.
The front of Lustre Pearl
San Jose Courtyard

Travel + Leisure bestowed the honor of being one of "America's Best Outdoor Bars" to two equally popular but distinct watering holes in Austin.

First up is the sprawling, glittering Lustre Pearl. Known for its hula hoops, table tennis and charming (un)restored (I'm not being facetious, the paint peeling off the walls truly is party of the appeal) interior aesthetic, social butterflies arrive in droves to sit under the stars and, if things go well, meet a mate.

Bypass Austin’s better-known 6th Street, nicknamed “Dirty Sixth.” You’ll find this pearl-in-the-rough on Rainey Street in a wonderfully dilapidated house. With an old jukebox, Ping-Pong tables, and lounge chairs on a spacious gravel patio, it’s a laid-back place to get a Black Eye — the drink, that is (Shiner Bock, a Texas beer, with a shot of Jack Daniels). The outdoor front porch is for people-watching and provides easy access to a food truck selling tacos, nachos, and other comfort foods for when the munchies set in.

The magazine's second selection is the courtyard nestled within Hotel San Jose's grounds. The understated patio (small, quiet, private) is frequented by the creative, artist type seeking asylum from the Texas heat with, quite possibly, the most refreshing sangria in town. You can be confident that anything hotelier Liz Lambert is behind will exude a certain brand of minimalistic cool.

A small pool, vintage reclining chairs, and tall plants make this intimate courtyard bar an easy, breezy space to while away a few hours in Austin’s South Congress neighborhood. If a drink makes you so inclined, grab a Polaroid camera or antique typewriter — available on loan from the hotel — and start recording some memories. Just be sure someone holds your spot because seats are hard to come by after 6 p.m.

But I must say, just how well do New Yorkers compiling this list know Austin? I for one would have added Easy Tiger as one of the best beer gardens in Texas.

What do you think of Travel + Leisure's picks?

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Raise a Glass

More than 200 whiskeys headed for Austin in traveling tasting festival

Photo by Kathy Tran

Whiskey Riot is coming to Austin in April.

On Saturday, April 5, whiskey nerds in Austin will have a chance to taste and compare more than 200 products at Whiskey Riot, a traveling whiskey festival. This will be the festivals fourth year in Austin — so even if guests try 50 whiskeys each time, they still haven't exhausted the lineup.

A press release invites both whiskey lovers and the "whiskey curious," and it sounds like past events have appealed to both because the 2024 event sold out.

Attendees will learn about whiskey from representatives of brands from near and very far, including some local to the Austin area and Central Texas: Austin's own Austin 101, Milam & Greene from Blanco, Balcones from Waco, and Maverick Whiskey from San Antonio, to name a few.

For a $90 ticket, attendees will get to sample all the whiskeys on the lineup, a commemorative tasting glass to take home, and some whiskey cocktails to break up the flavors. If guests also want to get there early for a more leisurely experience (and to pace out the alcohol consumption a bit), they can get a $120 early entry ticket; that gets them in an hour ahead and gives premium access to each brand and the cocktail bar.

Since more than 200 whiskeys is a lot to keep track of, the Whiskey Riot website also offers a free downloadable tasting worksheet. Using the notes section and a tasting wheel with descriptors like "botanical" and tasting notes like "coffee" and "honey," attendees can keep track of which discoveries were their favorites and why. The wheel might also help identify patterns of personal taste, so it becomes easier to find new favorites beyond the festival.

Whiskey Riot will be held April 5 from 4-7 pm (or 3-7 pm for early access) at Fair Market (1100 E. 5th St.). Guests must be at least 21 years old.

whiskey festivals tasting cocktails