Tacos y Cocktails
New rooftop bar quietly opens above East Austin Tex-Mex favorite
Along the stretch of Manor Road peppered with numerous eateries and watering holes, the only thing that appeared to be missing was a mezcal bar. Luckily, Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar — Austin's newest mezcal obsession and the neighborhood's only rooftop bar — opened quietly on Tuesday.
Techo is a joint venture from Mi Madre's and neighboring School House Pub. While the bar is nestled above the Tex-Mex staple, the entrance can only be found through a staircase in School House's yard. The mezcaleria is helmed by School House owners Christina Torres and husband Edgar Torres, son of Mi Madre's owners Aurelio and Rosa Torres.
The project has been in the works for about five years. "I didn't love [mezcal] as much as [Edgar] did," Christina Torres tells CultureMap. "So we wanted a place we could both go, so I can have a mezcal cocktail, and he could have it straight."
In addition to mezcal, Techo offers other agave spirits incorporated into craft cocktails. The simple mezcal margarita serves as the perfect gateway cocktail into the mezcal world, but there are also more innovative beverages on the menu including the Hierba (mezcal and bourbon with lime and pickled grape) and the Tepache Mapache (mezcal and tequila with pineapple, sage, and chili).
Complementing the array of earthy drinks is a collection of commissioned art pieces from Mexico arranged around a very small, intimate space. "We wanted that cozy mezcaleria feel," explains Christina Torres. The look is achieved with stained glass fixtures and exquisite tiles.
Daily hours at this new mezcal bar have yet to be announced. We suggest getting arriving early — the bar can only accommodate about 30 to 40 people at a time — or grabbing a taco from Mi Madre's while you wait for a seat.