Where to Drink Now

Where to drink in Austin right now: 5 best bars to toast autumn

To get into the spirit of the season, we've rounded up five great fall cocktail menus from top Austin bars. Here's where to drink right now to satisfy your craving for pumpkin, spice, and all things autumn.

Craftsman
This east side hang has crafted a very unique autumn lineup with drinks such as the intriguing Me So Corny with tequila, mezcal, pineapple, cinnamon, and (you guessed it) corn. Prefer vodka? Try the Orchard & Vine with apple-spiced vodka, lemon, orgeat, and Angostura bitters.

Drink.well.
Grab a cocktail and cozy up at this North Loop neighborhood mecca. The fall offerings are whiskey-heavy, but there are a few alternatives like the Save Room (cognac, chicory coffee, ancho chili liqueur, and egg) and the Writer's Block (tequila, mezcal, ruby port, ginger, and mulling spices).

Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile
Known for ranch-to-table dining, Jacoby's also knocks it out of the park with signature drinks. The seasonal menu, which pairs well with Austin's mild autumn weather, ranges from sweet (Sweet & Toasty with bourbon, cognac, sweet potato, molasses, and a toasted marshmallow) to refreshing (Old Cuban with rum, lime, mint, sugar, and prosecco).

Vox Table
The only thing that rivals the cuisine at this South Lamar spot is the cocktail program, which is currently wowing with a new fall lineup. The beverage that caught our attention? Bear Rug Cuddles by the Fire with apple brandy, cherry-spiced Pinot Noir, and bitters.

Whisler's
Whether sipping from the regular lineup or seasonal creations, Whisler's never disappoints cocktail connoisseurs. Highlights include the Maggie Bailey, Dickel's white corn whisky, dry vermouth, thyme-corn syrup, and cream, and the Ginger Snap, a double gin drink featuring gin, ginger liqueur, and other tasty additives.

Jacoby's Sweet & Toasty.

Jacoby's Restaurant and Mercantile fall 2016 cocktail Sweet and Toasty

Jacoby's Restaurant and Mercantile/Instagram

Jacoby's Sweet & Toasty.

where-drink holidays cocktails drinks

Back to the Plow

Homey Austin jam and bake shop closing and returning to farmers market

Confituras/Instagram

Confituras Little Kitchen is closing its brick-and-mortar store, but feeling optimistic about the future.

A famers market find is returning to its natural environment after six years in a brick-and-mortar location. Confituras Little Kitchen, which specializes in locally sourced preserves, is closing its jam and biscuit shop after service on Sunday, December 22. However, it will continue selling goods at the Barton Creek Farmers Market and via retailers.

Confituras announced the change in a newsletter to its customers in December. The letter called the news "bittersweet."

"Although the brick and mortar will no longer be, the good news is that this will be a fresh new start for us – we are bursting with energy and creativity at the thought of being back out in the community where it all started for confituras," it said.

The kitchen is closing because the lease is up, and the team has decided to "give up the chase." The newsletter emphasized the ups-and-downs of business over the past several years — ones that were chaotic for just about any business, let alone a small, fairly niche food operation.

"So much has happened since we decided to open a brick + mortar – a wonderful kickstarter fundraiser, THE PANDEMIC, the AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, and an ever growing city," the letter says. "We tried so very hard but never really got our footing. We know we are not alone, many small business are in the same boat. We renewed our lease during the pandemic because we were hopeful we could make it work - the changing times had other ideas."

Finally, it shared how customers could keep enjoying Confituras creations:

The Barton Creek Farmers Market is open at 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
A list on confituras.net compiles retailers including Royal Blue Grocery, Farmhouse Delivery, and Antonelli's Cheese Shop.
Jam share and Table22 subscription customers will have more instructions coming soon about picking up their goods in January at the same space, 2129 Goodrich Ave.
Customers may also reach out to inquire about continuing to order meals directly.

The kitchen also hosted frequent events and workshops, but the letter did not address this aspect of the business.

A shorter message shared on Instagram has inspired 63 comments so far, five days later. Customers eulogized the shop for its community feel and providing a sense of regularity during the height of the pandemic thanks to weekend pick-ups.