WHOM THE BELL SOTOLS

Poolside sotol bar splashes into high-end downtown Austin hotel

Cantero Austin

Photo by Jade Hammer

Austin's thirst for desert spirits may not be precisely quantifiable, but there's no doubt it is on the rise. Over the last decade, several mezcal and tequila bars have popped up throughout the city. No wonder the Line Austin is eager to enter the game with its newest nightlife offering, Cantero.

Officially open as of November 12, it's the Capital City's first bar emphasizing sotol, a sibling spirit of mezcal made with the desert spoon plant instead of agave. The chic space, decorated with Mexican modernist neutrals, opens up to the downtown property's pool.

"When planning Cantero, we knew we wanted to highlight local ingredients and Texas spirits," explained Line head of creative Stefan Merriweather in a release. "Sotol, a regional gem, stood out as something we hadn't yet encountered in a dedicated bar, and we saw an opportunity to introduce our guests to something fresh and unexpected."

Although the bar stocks other spirits, it has one of the broadest sotol collections in the region. While Mexican brands like Flor del Desierto are featured, Cantero stocks Texan trailblazers like Desert Door and Marfa Spirit Co.

Guests can enjoy sotol via standalone tastings or mixed in signature cocktails like the Yucca with Aperol, lemon cordial, habanero bitters, and soda; or the Strelitzia with ginger, lemon, and lavender-honey soda. Other liquors anchor more sippers, like the Dahlia with mezcal, green pepper, sweet corn, and smoked chili bitters.

The lounge also enjoys proximity to the Line's outpost of Veracruz All Natural. Guests can soak up the booze with the entire taco and appetizer menu from the Austin favorite, located adjacent to Cantero.

Cantero is now open from noon to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am to midnight Friday through Saturday, and 10 am to 10 pm on Sunday.

Photo by Jade Hammer

Cantero is dedicated specifically to sotol.

nightlife hotels bars cocktails openings

From the Ashes

Barbecue joint with Austin's oldest pit returns after 2020 fire

Photo courtesy of KVUE

The only thing that's not new is the pit.

It may have new walls, kitchen, and staff, but an old staple of Austin is making a comeback.

House Park Bar-B-Que in Downtown Austin reopened on Monday after a devastating fire burned down the long-standing restaurant in 2020.

“This is my baby. I’m happy to be back," Owner Matt Sullivan said. “It's just been a beautiful reincarnation of what we once had.”

The restaurant has been serving Austinites barbeque since 1943, using the oldest fire pit still left in town. Sullivan said the business was owned by the Noel family in the 1950s before it was sold to his parents in the 1970s and 80s. Sullivan then bought it in 2015.

“[Sullivan's father] wanted to save a little piece of Austin, and when I had the opportunity, I wanted to save a piece of Austin myself," Sullivan said. "In a city that’s constantly changing, it was very important for me to keep this place around."

However, in December 2020, a grease fire set the building ablaze.

“We had to rebuild everything from the ground up,” Sullivan said. “We had to replace the plumbing, we had to redo the electrical. The only thing we got to keep was our magnificent [barbeque] pit.”

Sullivan said it took two years just to get permits to rebuild and it was hard not to lose hope.

“After 18 months, it has you wondering if we’re making the wrong choice," Sullivan said. "I'm watching skyscrapers get built faster than I can renovate 1,000 square feet."

However, it was support from customers that kept Sullivan’s passion burning.

“They had the flood, the fire. I mean, basically any kind of natural disaster," Tom Picazo said. "They've been able to plow right through it and keep going."

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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