South Lamar Cocktail Bar Backbeat Is Closing

One of South Austin’s few proper cocktail bars, Backbeat, is closing, as reported by Austin 360. Its last day of service on 1300 South Lamar Boulevard will be on Sunday, June 10.

Specific reasons as to why Backbeat is closing weren’t given, but the space will be turned into something new to be revealed in the fall, according to the mysteriously unnamed owners. It’s probably safe to assume it will involve cocktails.

The cocktail team competed in the recent Official Drink of Austin in May. Bar manager Steph Teslar created the Graffiti Park cocktail.

Backbeat originally opened under the guidance of Jessica and Michael Sanders, the founders of North Loop spot Drink.Well, in March 2016. Backbeat’s unnamed owners broke their partnership with the Sanders in the fall of 2017 after Michael was accused of alleged sexual assault by Drink.Well’s then-bar manager. (Jessica Sanders is now the sole owner of Drink.Well.) Backbeat continued to operate after that partnership break.

• South Lamar cocktail bar Backbeat to close in mid-June [Austin 360]
• All Coverage of Backbeat [EATX]