SXSW’s Westworld Pop-Up Is a Sci-Fi Fantasy Come True

The immersive theater/interactive theme park of Westworld, the HBO science-fiction television show, is now open at South by Southwest. With it, comes actors playing characters within the Western-themed world, plenty of bars mixing up cocktails, including the Mariposa Salon, and food.

Eater previewed the Westworld experience, which began at East Cesar Chavez barbecue restaurant park Eastside Taven. Guests are given either a black or white hat (villains or heroes). Then they are ushered onto buses which will take them to the undisclosed location of the theme park somewhere outside of Austin.

At the park itself, guests can order two cocktails, the Mariposa Special (an Old Fashioned) or the El Lazo (a tequila gimlet). As for food, EastSide Tavern is actually making free snacks at the luxury hotel Coronado: packaged beef jerky and tin cans of beans. Elsewhere, people are encouraged to explore and interact with the members of the park.

While advanced reservations for Westworld are booked, day-of spots will be released daily. It takes place from Friday, March 9 through Sunday, March 11, from 2 to 10 p.m.

HBO [Official]

HBO [Official]

HBO [Official]

Nadia Chaudhury/EATX

• ‘Westworld’ Saloon Becomes Reality at SXSW [EATX]