Cosmic Coffee lovers who live north of the river can rejoice at not having to travel as far to get their favorite outdoorsy digs now. Cosmic Hospitality Group opened its second coffee shop and beer garden in East Austin (1300 E. 4th St.) on September 8.
The South Austin original is famous for its organic ambiance — shaded picnic tables and Adirondack chairs are dotted around the property, but the gardens and water features steal the show. There aren't many places that Austinites can work next to a waterfall, but at Cosmic, the common sight of laptops juxtapose the biodiverse pond and neighboring chicken coop.
Cosmic Saltillo is bigger and equally beautiful, with lots of industrial nooks and foliage-filled crannies. The otherworldly space looks abandoned and overgrown — in the most fanciful way — with lily pads, climbing vines, and rusty, unconventional exteriors. Plus, it wouldn't be New Austin without a bunch of graffiti murals.
Architect Clayton Korte headed the transformation of the former Historic Texaco Depot. Associate Sky Currie said in a release that the preservation of the sit allows Cosmic Saltillo to fully "embrace the spirit of East Austin."
"Our designs complement these existing structures by bringing a new harmonious ensemble of spaces and forms that will serve as an ever-changing platform for both nature and art," Currie said.
Even though the buildings are old, the odd structures and reclaimed stylings give it a futuristic look.Photo by Jane Yun
Despite the new look, this location offers all of the signature beverages that regulars at the original South Austin cafe have come to love, such as the Cosmic Comet, Liquid Sunshine, boozy coffees, or classic cocktails. Plus, a new beverage program will offer a rotating on-tap beer selection and a wider variety of non-alcoholic beverages.
Another new feature is an all-day taqueria, Cosmic Tacos. Guests can take their pick between a Cosmic Taco, a breakfast taco, or build their own taco, torta, or greens bowl.
Photo by Jane Yun
Cosmic Saltillo is the first expansion of the widely loved South Austin workspace and evening hang spot.
The new concept also continues Cosmic's legacy of sustainability through water reclamation, on-site composting, and more. The two buildings on the property were renovated using reclaimed materials, and considerable effort was made to retain the buildings' corrugated steel siding and metal roofing. A 30-foot tower that leads to a an illuminated rooftop deck is another restored central feature of the property.
Eat your hearts out, botanical gardens everywhere.Photo by Jane Yun
Cosmic was founded by Paul Oveisi and Patrick Dean in 2017 with the goal of being a sustainability-driven establishment for locals in South Austin. Their first cafe and beer garden, located at 121 Pickle Rd., became a certified wildlife habitat in 2020, and also boasts several organic food gardens on the premises.
Just like the South Austin location, Cosmic Saltillo will work towards becoming a certified wildlife habitat.
"My partners and I set out with the purpose to create an oasis from the day-to-day, and we are extremely grateful to the Austin community for embracing our first location in such a strong way and for now supporting us in the opening of Cosmic Saltillo,” said Paul Oveisi. “With this historic location, it was important to us and to the neighborhood that it would be preserved. I’m proud of our team and our partners on this project for making that happen in a really exceptional way.”
Following its opening weekend, Cosmic Saltillo will be Wednesday, September 13, with regular hours from 8 am to midnight. More information about the new location can be found on cosmichospitalitygroup.com.
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Brianna Caleri contributed to this article.
