One pour for the road

Lauded Spanish bar to close as Emmer & Rye group leaves Austin hotel

The bar rightfully takes up almost half of Kalimotxo, which is known for its beverage program.

Photo by Mars Tello

Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, one of Austin's leading restaurant groups, has announced that as of November 9 it will cease to manage Kalimotxo and Lefty's Day and Night at the Sixth Street hotel Arrive Austin.

Kalimotxo, which was an Emmer & Rye concept before it moved to the hotel on Sixth Street, will close. The hotel will replace it with a lobby bar starting November 9. Lefty's Day and Night, which the Emmer & Rye group acquired as Lefty's Brick Bar in March of 2026, will stay open with its regular hours and programming.

"We are sad to see this chapter come to a close, and we are deeply grateful to the guests, staff, and neighbors who frequented Kalimotxo over the years," said a statement the group provided to CultureMap. The statement simply announced the end of operations and the transition or closure of each concept.

Lefty's Day and Night patio The patio at Lefty's Day and Night draws locals as well as hotel guests.Photo by Mitchell Skees

Kalimotxo is a Spanish cocktail bar with tapas. The name (pronounced kah-lee-moh-choh) refers to a Basque drink that mixes red wine and Coca-Cola. Among the hospitality group's original concepts, it was one of the more casual and suited for an impromptu visit.

The concept's identity was largely based on wine — especially wine poured from a porrón, a pitcher with a very narrow spout that allows drinkers to pour directly into their mouths. Kalimotxo was a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

However, many Austinites recognize Kalimotxo for one dish: the burnt basque cheesecake, served with Texas fruit. This dessert was an early signature for Emmer & Rye group partner and pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, who is now one of the leading pastry chefs in the state and even the country. Bristol-Joseph also earned a James Beard finalist nomination this year for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker at Nicosi, his avant garde, fine dining dessert bar in San Antonio.

Kalimotxo exterior Kalimotxo's hot pink signature hints of the concept's subtle party vibe despite a chic and calm interior.Photo by Mars Tello

In addition to Bristol-Joseph, Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group includes partners Kevin Fink, Alicynn Fink, and Rand Egbert. Its Austin concepts are Emmer & Rye, Hestia, Canje, and Ezov; its San Antonio concepts are Ladino, Henbit, and Pullman Market. The market contains four full-service restaurants including Nicosi and Isodore, which both have Michelin stars, plus five quick-service eateries. San Antonians can also look forward to more Emmer & Rye dining at the upcoming hotel Sítio El Tropicano, and its first-revealed concept, Barberry. The hospitality group is the hotel's culinary partner across the property.

STARS STRUCK

Texas Monthly’s new restaurant guide recommends 127 Austin-area spots

Howdys Pizza and Pasta/Instagram

Howdys Pizza and Pasta has been open since July. Texas Monthly thinks you should go.

After half a century, Texas Monthly is ditching its revered Dining Guide. But before hangry locals start storming the magazine’s offices, it has replaced the massive list with the Texas Grand — an honor roll of the “thousand-ish” best restaurants in the state, including 127 in Austin its suburbs.

The Dining Guide has been a fixture of the magazine since its 1973 launch. It was synonymous with Texas Monthly’s former restaurant critic Pat Sharpe, who began her storied career proofreading the entries as an editorial assistant, then added hundreds of restaurants until her retirement in 2025.

The new guide scraps the guide’s star system. Sharpe originally used the ratings under a three-star system, which she described as good/better/best in a 2001 column. In 2017, that scale grew to five. The new Texas Grand describes its entries as “restaurants in the state that are wholeheartedly recommended by [Texas Monthly’s] dining team.”

“Excellent food, service, and overall atmosphere are musts—and that excellence can exist at all price points, whether at a taco truck, a diner, or an upscale steakhouse,” explained the magazine in a FAQ section. “We don’t pay much attention to big chains…Our reviewers focus largely on restaurants with local roots that offer something genuinely special.”

Where once readers had to pour over pages of the magazine to discover new restaurant picks, Texas Grand now allows them to sort by city, type of cuisine, and price point. There are some quirky filters, too, like checkboxes for pet-friendly spots, “fancy” eateries, or those that offer Favor delivery. A map feature lets road-trippers easily plan road-trip dinners.

The San Antonio entries include everything from neighborhood stalwarts like Liberty Bar to buzzy upstarts like Lovers Pizzeria, with a few food trucks thrown in for equal measure. It particularly shows the influence of Taco Editor Jose R. Ralat’s Top 50 Tacos list.

Each is described in one sentence. According to the two most recently published Austin write-ups, Howdys Pizza and Pasta is a "cozy neighborhood Italian with a fast-changing menu" and Fonda San Miguel serves "locally renowned interior Mexican food in a lovely hacienda setting." For the publication's full thoughts, readers can pony up for a subscription.

Texas foodies can peruse the full list here.

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