Mardi Gras season starts soon, on Friday, February 9 running through Fat Tuesday — aka the final day of the Carnival season — which takes place on Tuesday, February 13. Now is when people celebrate America’s finest excuse for weekday drinking and eating tons of cake and crawfish. Grab that king cake, and hit up these restaurant and bar events fully loaded with New Orleans cocktails and food.
Everything below is listed in chronological order.
Banger’s
79 Rainey Street, Downtown
The beer garden and sausage restaurant is hosting its regular multi-day Pardi Gras celebration that is both pet- and kid-friendly. The menu includes dishes like boudin links with red beans and rice; gator hush puppies; beignets; and king cake cinnamon rolls, among other dishes. And then, for drinks, there’s a bunch of special bourbon- and run-barrel-aged beers; plus live music.
When: Friday, February 9 to Saturday, February 10 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and then on Sunday, February 11 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Uptown Sports Club
1200 East Sixth Street, East Austin
The newer neighborhood bar is celebrating its first Mardi Gras with decorations and a special menu. This includes oyster po’ boys, hot roast beef with fried shrimp, and cocktails in special purple-gold take-home cups, such as its take on the Hurricane and a daiquiri made with a king cake syrup. There are nonalcoholic options too.
When: Saturday, February 10 from noon to 2 a.m. and Sunday, February 11 from noon to midnight.
The Cavalier
2400 Webberville Road, East Austin
The East Austin bar and restaurant is hosting a party with gumbo, grillades and grits, beignets, and cocktails such as Sazaracs, Hand Grenades cocktails, and Jell-O shots; plus beads
When: Tuesday, February 13 from noon to midnight
The Tigress Pub
100 West North Loop Boulevard, North Loop
The cocktail bar is hosting a Fat Tuesday event with live jazz, NOLA drinks, and boudin balls courtesy of D. Branch Boudin.
When: Tuesday, February 13 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Huckleberry
440 East Saint Elmo Road, East Congress
The Texas seafood truck is throwing a post-Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday party with host site Still Austin and the Austin Oyster Co. There will be two-foot-long oyster po’ boys; oyster flights in flavors like pimento cheese and Viet-Cajun; raw oysters, and drinks. It’s free to attend, but people who want to book preorders for oysters can do so online.
When: Friday, February 16 from 4 to 10 p.m.
Update, February 7: This guide, originally published on January 23, has been updated to include more events.