shaking up the nightlife

Austin's 8 best bartenders are pouring the city's finest drinks

Whether these bartenders favor classics or frills, they're some of the best around. (Pictured: Conor O'Reilly of Here Nor There)

Here Nor There/Instagram

The key to having a successful night out on the town is to know exactly where the best drinks are being mixed, and to know who is the master mixologist behind the bar.

Our nominees for Bartender of the Year at the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards come from some of Austin's most renowned bars and restaurants, serving up the most innovative libations, classic cocktails, and more.

Our 2024 judges — last year's winners and our editorial staff — selected the nominees based on their individual contributions and overall magnanimous influence on Austin's bar scene.

Find out who wins Bartender of the Year on April 11 at the 2024 Tastemaker Awards party at Distribution Hall. We’ll dine on bites from this year’s nominated chefs and restaurants, and sip cocktails from our sponsors before revealing the winners in our short and sweet ceremony.

You can keep up with all the Tastemaker Award nominees in a special editorial series, then be sure to buy your tickets to see who triumphs.

Let's raise a glass to our nominees for Bartender of the Year:

Amanda Carto, Daydreamer
Amanda Carto spent six brilliant years as the general manager at Nickel City before setting off to open her own cocktail and champagne bar in fall 2023. She now serves as the beverage director of this aesthetic hangout on East Sixth, dreaming up an array of signature and inspired cocktails, wine and champagne by the glass, mocktails, and more.

Caer Maiko and Sharon Yeung, Daijoubu
Maiko and Yeung are returnees to this year's nominee list, but this time as a pair for their collaborative effort on traveling cocktail bar pop up Daijoubu. The duo shares a common interest in creating an experimental bar program that demonstrates the diversity of Asian flavors in inspired cocktails. Expect the unexpected at Daijoubu, and embrace the spontaneity that comes with the unique libations that celebrate their culture and heritage.

Conor O'Reilly, Here Nor There
Dublin, Ireland native Conor O'Reilly is the co-beverage lead at Here Nor There, one of Austin's most famous secretive speakeasies. This creative bar is known for its immersive cocktails, with flavors that can evoke synesthesia or conjure up childhood memories. If you can't find O'Reilly at Here Nor There, he's likely at the bar's second location, In Plain Sight, or participating in national competitions like the upcoming 2024 U.S. Beverage Guild World Class Competition in Denver.

Eva Suter, L'Oca d'Oro
Known as L'Oca d'Oro's "drinks guru," Eva Suter pulls out all the stops to make dinner guests feel happy and right at home at this beloved neighborhood restaurant. Her role as beverage director doesn't just extend to making drinks; Suter hand picks each and every bottle of wine that goes into the restaurant's Wine Share program, which showcases vintages from all over the Mediterranean.

Josh Loving and Laura Maddox,Small Victory
There's nothing but the classics at Small Victory, which is coincidentally nominated for a different Tastemaker Award for Bar of the Year. Bar manager Laura Maddox previously won this category in 2020, but her partnership with industry veteran Josh Loving has kept them top of mind. Patrons at Small Victory obsess over these bartenders' unique takes on classic cocktails, which are highlighted by Loving's use of perfectly clear, 300-pound Clinebell blocks of ice.

Nadia Hernandez, Toshokan
We recognized Nadia Hernandez's artistry last year when she was Watertrade's bar manager, who headed the complex season-inspired menu. This year she's carrying on the high profile omakase style at speakeasy Toshokan, inheriting the menu from former bar director Wyn Vida. As things unfold, we expect to see more charismatic pop-ups and artsy flourishes. Now, if only reservations weren't booked out so far in advance...

Robert Bjorn Taylor
From his knowledgeable Instagram reviews of zero-proof beverage brands, to his work at crafting drinks at fellow Tastemaker nominee Uptown Sports Club, beverage specialist and all-embracing alchemist Robert Bjorn Taylor shines no matter what environment he's in. Truth be told, there's not much Austinites haven't raved about when it comes to Taylor's wide-ranging talents behind the bar, but we'd be remiss to neglect his work as a creative artist and graphic designer.

Sarah Rahl, Commodore Perry Estate
Estate lead bartender Sarah Rahl is one of the most sophisticated figures in Austin's mixology scene. She draws inspiration for her vivacious cocktails from her surroundings, including how the seasons affect the resort's gardens. She's widely recognized for her Old Fashioned cocktails, but we wouldn't say no to her fun tequila tasting experience.

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Brunchy Business

Mimosa Walk returns to Austin's South 1st Street for sips and shopping

Blue Suede/Instagram

Businesses along South 1st Street are welcoming shoppers with mimosas on Saturday, November 16.

Perhaps no other drink has the mimosa's power to draw people out on the weekend, and one Austin neighborhood is harnessing it for a leisurely tour of local businesses. The Austin Mimosa Walk: South 1st Fall Festival is scheduled for November 16, and will stop at local businesses, each with complimentary drinks.

The tour will include some shopping, some casual snack spots, and even some wellness stops. Although not every business mimosa walkers will pass is participating, the tour will pass lots of local eateries, making it easy to tack on a lunch when the Champagne starts making itself known.

The following eight businesses are participating as stops on the self-guided tour:

Austin Salt Room — a spa-like environment for salt therapy, essentially hanging out near tons of salt while breathing in microscopic salt particles, which are said to improve respiratory health
Blue Suede Austin — a cool women's shoe boutique (with a wine bar!) that specializes in semi-casual styles at mid-range prices, featuring brands like Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, and Cecelia
Devil’s Details Boutique — formerly Bloomers and Frocks, this vintage shop has rebranded and shifted its focus to jewelry, often in bold and unique styles
Glint Dental — a dental office specializing in aesthetic procedures like veneers and whitening, but also offering general and preventative care
Golden Mean — early holiday shoppers should keep friends and family in mind at this gift shop, which carries unique goods ranging from soaps and blankets to kitchen goods and avant-garde decor.
Once Over Coffee— an unassuming-on-the-outside, artsy-on-the-inside coffee shop serving Wild Gift Coffee and less common coffee shop finds like kombucha and Italian soda
Package Austin — a queer menswear store for harnesses, underwear, accessories, toys, and community events
Sugar Mamas Bakeshop — a colorful bakery specializing in fantastically decorated cakes, often with a sarcastic or funny twist

The listing on Eventbrite promises a hydration station by Topo Chico, a collector's glass, and that the event will sell out. It requires that tickets ($32) be purchased in advance online. [Update: An event organizer says the ninth business on the Eventbrite list is still under construction, and will not be participating.]

The walk will take place from noon to 3:30 pm. Guests will receive a "passport" to help navigate between tour stops. A check-in tent will get guests started at 1628 S. 1st St.

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