• Restaurants + Bars
  • Entertainment
  • Arts
  • Society
  • City Life
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Real Estate
  • Home + Design
  • Innovation
  • Travel
  • City Guide
  • Events
  • Charity Guide
  • Subscribe
  • Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
culturemap logo
  • Restaurants + Bars

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Healthy food pioneer Picnik plants new roots with South Austin opening
    New Picnik
    Healthy food pioneer Picnik plants new roots with South Austin opening
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    John Egan: Downtown Austin taps into record-setting territory with $40 million in monthly alcohol sales
    Pour me a drink
    Downtown Austin taps record-setting $40 million monthly alcohol sales
    By John Egan
    Brianna Caleri: Popular steakhouse carves out modern Mexican niche in Central Austin
    Casa Del Bistec
    Popular steakhouse carves out modern Mexican niche in Central Austin
    By Brianna Caleri

    SPONSORED BY

  • Entertainment

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Austin Symphony Orchestra composes spectacular 4th of July concert and fireworks
    Baby, you're a firework
    Austin symphony composes spectacular 4th of July concert and fireworks
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Hannah J. Phillips: H-E-B might anchor massive Manor development, plus more hot headlines
    Hot Headlines
    H-E-B might anchor massive Manor development, plus more hot headlines
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Alex Bentley: Baz Luhrmann's Elvis fails to shake up the myth of music legend
    Movie Review
    Baz Luhrmann's Elvis fails to shake up the myth of music legend
    By Alex Bentley

    SPONSORED BY

  • Arts

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Austin's Harry Ransom Center hosts centennial celebration of author James Joyce
    Bibliophiles ReJoyce
    Harry Ransom Center hosts centennial celebration of James Joyce
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Hannah J. Phillips: Austin Public Library and BookPeople band together to celebrate banned books
    Freedom to Read
    Austin Public Library and BookPeople band together for banned books
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Brianna Caleri: Texas Women for the Arts champions 5 Austin organizations with annual grants
    Wish Granted
    Texas Women for the Arts champions 5 Austin organizations with grants
    By Brianna Caleri

    SPONSORED BY

  • Society

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Austinites gather to toast, taste, and crown top culinary talent at the Tastemakers
    A Delicious Celebration
    Austinites toast, taste, and crown top culinary talent at Tastemakers
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Katey Psencik Outka: Founder of boozy Austin brand weds local singer in destination event
    Ranch Rider
    Founder of boozy Austin brand weds local singer in destination event
    By Katey Psencik Outka
    Katey Psencik Outka: Local music legend's niece ties the knot in romantic Austin ceremony
    Real Wedding
    Local music legend's niece ties the knot in romantic Austin ceremony
    By Katey Psencik Outka

    SPONSORED BY

  • City Guide

    THE LATEST

    : ZACH Theatre
    Entertainment
    ZACH Theatre
    : Spiderhouse Ballroom
    Entertainment
    Spiderhouse Ballroom
    : Vic Mathias Shores
    Entertainment
    Vic Mathias Shores

    SPONSORED BY

  • Events

    THE LATEST

    : Paramount Theatre presents Summer Classic Film Series
    6.28.22 | 7:30 pm
    Paramount Theatre presents Summer Classic Film Series
    : Museum of Ice Cream
    6.29.22 | 10:00 am
    Museum of Ice Cream
    : BookPeople presents Zachary Levi: Radical Love
    6.29.22 | 7:00 pm
    BookPeople presents Zachary Levi: Radical Love

    SPONSORED BY

  • Subscribe
  • City Life

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Robert De Niro celebrates Harry Ransom Center’s 65th anniversary with star-studded gala
    You talking to me?
    Robert De Niro honors HRC’s 65th anniversary with star-studded gals
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Hannah J. Phillips: Mueller's first boutique hotel books into bustling Austin neighborhood
    Mueller memo
    Mueller's first boutique hotel books into bustling Austin neighborhood
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    John Egan: UT hooks highly touted quarterback from famed Manning football family
    Star power
    UT hooks highly touted quarterback from famed Manning football family
    By John Egan

    SPONSORED BY

  • Fashion + Beauty

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Former Texas Longhorn launches luxury shopping destination in South Austin
    Sporting Fashion
    Former Longhorn launches luxury shopping destination in South Austin
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Hannah J. Phillips: Austin jewelry star Kendra Scott shines with dazzling engagement ring collection
    Great Scott
    Austin jewelry star Kendra Scott debuts dazzling new engagement rings
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Kristen O'Brien: Iconic French fashion house Hermès unwraps elegant Austin store
    Hermès Home
    Iconic French fashion house Hermès unwraps elegant Austin store
    By Kristen O'Brien

    SPONSORED BY

  • Real Estate

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Stunning Lake Austin home owned by Counting Crows pianist hits market to tune of $4.25 million
    Keeping up with Mr. Jones
    Counting Crows pianist's Lake Austin home for sale to tune of $4.25M
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    : Austin named No. 2 most overpriced housing market in the U.S. in new study
    Second Worst
    Austin named No. 2 most overpriced housing market in the U.S.
    By KVUE Staff
    Arden Ward: City of Austin home price hits record $667,000 as number of homes for sale soars
    Real Estate Report
    City of Austin home price hits $667K as number of homes for sale soars
    By Arden Ward

    SPONSORED BY

  • Home + Design

    THE LATEST

    John Egan: Iconic South Congress store closes up shop after 33 years
    So long
    Iconic South Congress store closes up shop after 33 years
    By John Egan
    Holly Beretto: Step back in time inside 9 grand and historic Galveston homes on popular tour
    living history
    Step back in time inside 9 grand and historic homes on Galveston tour
    By Holly Beretto
    David Phillips: Sustainable outdoor furniture brand selects Austin for first Texas showroom
    Become a Yardbird
    Sustainable outdoor furniture brand selects Austin for Texas debut
    By David Phillips

    SPONSORED BY

  • Innovation

    THE LATEST

    John Egan: These 6 Austin businesses punch in among Texas' best employers, report says
    Workin’ it
    6 Austin businesses punch in among Texas' best employers, report says
    By John Egan
    Hannah J. Phillips: Austin-based Bumble sponsors 50 female athletes to honor 50 years of Title IX
    Big League Bumble
    Austin-based Bumble sponsors 50 female athletes in honor of Title IX
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Brianna Caleri: Texas university awards $4 million for groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research
    Brainy Theories
    Texas university awards $4M for groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research
    By Brianna Caleri

    SPONSORED BY

  • Travel

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: River Walk hotel celebrates 40th anniversary with $38 million transformation
    Revamped River Walk
    River Walk hotel celebrates 40th anniversary with $38M transformation
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    John Egan: Spa at Hill Country resort previously owned by George Strait goes up in flames
    Blaze near Boerne
    Spa at George Strait's former Hill Country resort goes up in flames
    By John Egan
    Stephanie Allmon Merry: Unique design plans unveiled for National Juneteenth Museum in Texas
    Museum news
    Unique design plans unveiled for National Juneteenth Museum in Texas
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry

    SPONSORED BY

  • Charity Guide
  • Tastemaker Awards
Promoted articles are produced by CultureMap sponsors and not by the editorial staff.
Home » Restaurants + Bars
Park it and Bark it
7 upscale Austin eateries that are dog-friendly and delicious
Peachy keen
Peachy Austin restaurant branches out with first-ever Clarksville bar
LATEST NEWS
What to know about building a custom home, from an Austin land expert
Raise a Glass

Discover the secret cocktail bar inside the South Congress Hotel

Discover the secret cocktail bar inside the South Congress Hotel

By CultureMap Create
Oct 5, 2018, 12:00 pm
Enlarge
Slideshow
Miso Paradisu cocktail at Watertrade
The Miso Paradisu. Photo by Ricky Cobia
Chochinbi cocktail at Watertrade
The Chochinbi, made from tequila, rum, coffee, mole, and smoke. Photo by Ricky Cobia
Omakase cocktail at Watertrade
An omakase cocktail. Photo by Ricky Cobia
The Bamboo cocktail at Watertrade
The Bamboo: gin, vermouth, amontillado, and tonic. Photo by Ricky Cobia
Omakase cocktail at Watertrade
An omakase cocktail, made to order. Photo by Ricky Cobia
Omakase cocktail at Watertrade
The bartenders can create an entirely original cocktail based on your preferences. Photo by Ricky Cobia
Miso Paradisu cocktail at Watertrade
Chochinbi cocktail at Watertrade
Omakase cocktail at Watertrade
The Bamboo cocktail at Watertrade
Omakase cocktail at Watertrade
Omakase cocktail at Watertrade

Austin is a cocktail city, but even some of the area's most in-the-know drinks experts might not have discovered Watertrade yet. The intimate, omakase-style cocktail bar is located next to Otoko in the South Congress Hotel, and it mirrors the omakase experience of its neighbor.

"Omakase" means "I'll leave it up to you," and those who sidle up to the eight-seat bar would be wise to leave their drink order to the whims of bartenders Whitney Hazelmyer (a Tastemaker Award nominee in 2017) and Ricky Cobia (a Tastemaker Award nominee this year).

The duo masterfully crafts cocktails based on ingredient availability and seasonality, pulling from extraordinary Japanese whiskey and sake selections along with tequila, mezcal, rum, vodka, and gin.

Guests can choose from the carefully curated menu or ask for the omakase experience for a drink designed just for them. If you opt for an established cocktail, there's a wide range from which to choose.

The Japanese spirit shochu is a popular ingredient, thanks to its neutral flavor (kind of like vodka) and lower alcohol content (definitely not like vodka). Try it in the Good Intentions, which features lemongrass shochu, swedish punsch, and yuzu, or the R. Gordon Wasson, which combines suntory toki, shiitake shochu, and ginger.

Looking for a cocktail with a kick? The Crimson peps things up with Nikka coffey vodka and balsamic shrub while the Chochinbi mixes together tequila, rum, coffee, mole, and smoke.

Those who are fans of the classics won't be disappointed if they order these traditional sips that have a slight exotic twist: Lobby Boy (gin, Aperol, egg white, and sparkling wine); Goma Fashioned (rye bourbon, toasted sesame, and vanilla); or Babekyu (bourbon, lemon, and lapsang souchong tea).

Watertrade opens at 5 pm Wednesday through Saturday. Follow Watertrade's Instagram account to get a glimpse of the libations you'll want to be drinking — as soon as you get off work, that is.

Read These Next
Construction workers building a house
What to know about building a custom home, from an Austin land expert
Westin Austin Downtown pool lounge cocktails
Downtown Austin taps record-setting $40 million monthly alcohol sales
brazosport beach kids
Explore the 5 coastal destinations of nature-filled Brazosport
Construction workers building a house
What to know about building a custom home, from an Austin land expert
Westin Austin Downtown pool lounge cocktails
Downtown Austin taps record-setting $40 million monthly alcohol sales
brazosport beach kids
Explore the 5 coastal destinations of nature-filled Brazosport
Related City Guide Listings
  • South Congress Hotel
  • Latest News
  • Most Popular
  • Austin suburb sizzles with one of the hottest ZIP codes for homebuyers
  • Healthy food pioneer Picnik plants new roots with South Austin opening
  • Austin symphony composes spectacular 4th of July concert and fireworks
  • What to know about building a custom home, from an Austin land expert
    - promoted -
  • Downtown Austin taps record-setting $40 million monthly alcohol sales
See All Latest News >
  • 6 Austin businesses punch in among Texas' best employers, report says
  • Downtown Austin taps record-setting $40 million monthly alcohol sales
  • Popular steakhouse carves out modern Mexican niche in Central Austin
  • Austin symphony composes spectacular 4th of July concert and fireworks
  • Mueller's first boutique hotel books into bustling Austin neighborhood
Vote Now
Where to Eat Austin
3/11
Where to eat in Austin: 12 hot spots to feed your face during SXSW
10/1
Where to eat in Austin right now: 10 spots near ACL Fest to feast on
8/13
Where to eat in Austin right now: 10 best restaurants for summer bites
Home | About Us | News Tips & Suggestions | Submit An Event | Submit A Charity | Advertise | Media Sponsorship | Jobs | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
© 2022 CultureMap LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Be A CultureMap Insider
Get Our Emails
Sign Up

We will not share or sell your email address

Newsletters for exploring your city

Thank you for signing up Please verify your e-mail by following the link we just sent you.
Look for an e-mail from CultureMap <info@culturemap.com>