A ‘Barbie’ Fan’s Guide to Austin Events, Foods, and Drinks for the Anticipated Film

It’s almost here: one of the year’s most anticipated movies, Barbie. Yes, it hinges on commercialization and capitalism because it’s based on a toy, but, because it stars two of the world’s most beloved actors (Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie), features a slew of other favorite actors and musicians (Issa Rae, Dua Lipa, America Ferrera, Kingsley Ben-Adir, John Cena, etc.), and was directed by the great Greta Gerwig, it has to be great and super fun, right? We’ll see when it premieres on Friday, July 21. Austin restaurants and bars are getting into the mood by offering food and drink specials or hosting parties in honor of the film and the iconic doll.

Through July

• The very pink taco restaurant Taquero Mucho is hosting multiple events and specials all for Barbie. The events already happened, but it’s serving bright pink mimosas for the movie throughout the month. (508 West Avenue, Downtown; 11101 Burnet Road, Suite A-170, North Burnet)
• Dive bar Dirty Bill’s created some themed shirts. Available until sold out. (511 Rio Grande Street, West Sixth)

Friday, July 21 through Sunday, August 20

• Arrive Austin hotel bar Lefty’s Brick Bar is offering three Barbie-themed cocktails for a whole month. This includes the Come on Barbie, Let’s Go Party, a gin and Aperol drink with grapefruit, pink peppercorn, and glitter; the Malibu DreamHouse, a frozen Painkiller brightened up with a pink swirl, sprinkles, and whipped cream; and the nonalcoholic Life in Plastic, a drink with sweet-and-sour mix, grenadine, pineapple juice, and ginger beer. The bar is also hosting a Barbie-themed drag queen bingo on Wednesday, July 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. where people are encouraged to dress up, plus there are related drinks and a market. (1813C East Sixth Street, East Cesar Chavez)

Lefty’s Brick Bar

Tuesday, July 22

• Alamo Drafthouse’s South Lamar bar and karaoke spot, the Highball, is hosting a Barbie edition of the Drago Queen Game Show with themed games and prizes, food, and drinks from 8 to 10 p.m. (1120 South Lamar Boulevard, Zilker)

Friday, July 28

• Karaoke bar the Canary Roost is hosting a Barbie theme party where attendees are encouraged to dress up like the dolls and sing songs befitting the movie and its soundtrack from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. (11900 Metric Boulevard, North Austin)

Saturday, July 29

• Very already-on-brand pink coffee shop Revival is hosting a Barbie self-care party with themed cocktails and cookies, pink mimosas, a photo booth, DJ, and a market. It runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (1405 East Seventh Street, East Cesar Chavez)

Already happened

Friday, July 14

• Because the Fairmont Austin is going to honor Barbie with a pink light display, it’s hosting a party at its rooftop bar Rules & Regs with themed drinks and a real-life Barbie box. The party starts at 5 p.m. and the light display starts at 9 p.m. (101 Red River Street, Seventh Floor, Downtown)

Friday, July 14 through Friday, July 21

• The South Austin location of Jo’s Coffee is turning over its iconic I Love You So Much mural to Barbie and Ken while the cafe will serve two special drinks in honor of the movie. It’s the Malibu Jo’s, a strawberry-coconut lemonade; and the Malibu Sunset, the frozen version of that drink. (1300 South Congress Avenue, Downtown)

Sunday, July 16

• Bright cafe Revival Coffee is hosting a painting and cocktail event centered on Barbie. People will be able to paint their own Barbie artwork with guidance plus enjoy themed drinks. Tickets are $40 and it runs from 1 to 3 p.m. (1405 East Seventh Street, East Cesar Chavez)
• The very pink taco restaurant Taquero Mucho is hosting multiple events and specials all for Barbie. First, the downtown location is throwing a Barbie brunch on Sunday, July 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a first-come, first-served service. This includes themed cocktails, a large Barbie box for photos, and a DJ playing the movie’s soundtrack and artists. And then the North Burnet location is hosting a Barbie drag brunch starting at 1 p.m. (508 West Avenue, Downtown; 11101 Burnet Road, Suite A-170, North Burnet)

Monday, July 17 through Sunday, July 23

• Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin eighth-floor hotel bar and lounge Las Bis is offering a Barbie cocktail and a Barbie dish for the movie. The first is the Barbie-licious Cosmo made with Grand Marnier, vodka, lemon-lime oleo saccharum sherbert, and pink lemon; the second is Barbie’s Blini Bites, with three blinis made with hibiscus and served with smoked trout roe and lemon crema. (721 Congress Avenue, Downtown)

Wednesday, July 19

• Both Austin locations of Moviehouse & Eatery are hosting advanced screenings of Barbie where tickets come with two themed glittery cocktails, four courses of food, a pin, and more. There are still some tickets available at the Southwest location at 7 p.m. (7415 Southwest Parkway, Building 7, West Oak Hill)

Thursday, July 20 through Saturday, July 22

• The central location of Garbo’s will serve Barbie-themed lobster rolls for the premiere of the movie. The Easy Tiger buns will be pink, and filled with lobster, edible flowers and glitter, and optional caviar. A percentage of the sales will go to the Planned Planethood. (626 North Lamar Boulevard, Clarksville)

Saturday, July 22

• Bouldin Acres is hosting a Barbie party with face painting, photo ops, food and drink specials, and a costume contest. (2027 South Lamar, South Lamar)

Update, July 25, 10:19 a.m.: This guide, originally published on July 12, has been updated to include additional events and specials.