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15 Boozy, Briny Mexican Martinis in Austin

Where to find the iconic Austin cocktail

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According to Austin lore, it’s thought that downtown bar Cedar Door is the original creator of the concoction now known as the Mexican martini, dating back to the 1970s or ‘80s. While nowadays it seems like many restaurants and bars in the city has a version of the cocktail, it’s still the same format: tequila and the briny liquid from olives — much like a classic dirty martini — served up in a martini glass with a shaker of the leftover cocktail on the side.

From the original Mexican martini still served at Cedar Door over 40 years later to newer classics, like Trudy’s, which offers a super-sized version, there’s a deliciously boozy version out there for everyone.

For related searches, check out maps dedicated to margaritas, bars, the bar heatmap, Tex-Mex restaurants, and queso.

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While the Linc Tex-Mex restaurant is known for its very pretty margaritas, the extensive bar menu includes two Mexican martini options, one house and the other with Don Julio Reposado tequila. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Vamonos

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Chef Shawn Cirkiel’s North Loop Tex-Mex restaurant serves a classic Mexican martini made with El Jimador 100 percent blue agave tequila. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Julio's Cafe

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The Hyde Park cafe has Mexican martinis on the menu, the house version and the other made using top-quality liquors. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Hula Hut

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Take in the lake view at the quintessential Hawaiian-ish-Tex-Mex joint that serves a take on the Mexican martini with its Texas martini, made with a handmade sweet ‘n’ sour mix and a jalapeño-stuffed olive. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Maudie's

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With six Austin-area locations to choose from, it’s super easy to find a Mexican martini from the Tex-Mex mini-chain, where the cocktail is made with Cazadores Reposado tequila. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Iron Cactus

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The perfect people-watching Mexican downtown Austin restaurant offers the option to turn several of its tequila cocktails into Mexican martinis (read: add olive brine) for $4 extra. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

La Condesa

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This downtown, upscale Mexican restaurant serves its Mexican martini with a twist: instead of tequila, it’s made with a mezcal-gin and sweet vermouth. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill

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The downtown restaurant and bar is the apparent creator of the Mexican martini as the world knows it, and it’s still churning out the classic cocktail four decades later. There are also four other variations, including a spicy one, one made with local liquors, and a mezcal iteration. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

A clear cocktail mixer with light yellow liquid and a label reading Cedar Door next to a martini glass with yellow liquid and a lime slice on the rim and a toothpick of olives.
The Mexican martini at Cedar Door.
Cedar Door

Baby Acapulco

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While known for the infamous purple margarita, the house Mexican martini is still just as potent and is capped with a three-drink limit. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

El Alma

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The Barton Springs rooftop Mexican restaurant eatery offers the Almatini, perfect for Mexican martini purists with a bit of olive juice plus Milagro Reposado tequila. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Grizzelda's

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Forgot the cutesy pink margarita for the regular or spicy Mexican martini, made with El Jimador el Respado tequila. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Both locations of the Mexican restaurant (the other downtown) serve a house Mexican martini in addition to a spicy one. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Matt's El Rancho

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This longtime South Lamar Tex-Mex restaurant serves Matt’s Knockout Martini (made with Milagro Reposado tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice), which pairs well with its famous queso. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

El Naranjo

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The traditional South Lamar Mexican restaurant from recent James Beard Award-winning chef  Iliana de la Vega allows diners to make their own Mexican martinis with their choice of agave spirits, plus potential Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Combier additions for an upcharge. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Trudy's

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The Tex-Mex mini-chain serves up what it claims as the biggest Mexican martini in Austin. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

VIVO

While the Linc Tex-Mex restaurant is known for its very pretty margaritas, the extensive bar menu includes two Mexican martini options, one house and the other with Don Julio Reposado tequila. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Vamonos

Chef Shawn Cirkiel’s North Loop Tex-Mex restaurant serves a classic Mexican martini made with El Jimador 100 percent blue agave tequila. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Julio's Cafe

The Hyde Park cafe has Mexican martinis on the menu, the house version and the other made using top-quality liquors. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Hula Hut

Take in the lake view at the quintessential Hawaiian-ish-Tex-Mex joint that serves a take on the Mexican martini with its Texas martini, made with a handmade sweet ‘n’ sour mix and a jalapeño-stuffed olive. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Maudie's

With six Austin-area locations to choose from, it’s super easy to find a Mexican martini from the Tex-Mex mini-chain, where the cocktail is made with Cazadores Reposado tequila. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Iron Cactus

The perfect people-watching Mexican downtown Austin restaurant offers the option to turn several of its tequila cocktails into Mexican martinis (read: add olive brine) for $4 extra. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

La Condesa

This downtown, upscale Mexican restaurant serves its Mexican martini with a twist: instead of tequila, it’s made with a mezcal-gin and sweet vermouth. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill

The downtown restaurant and bar is the apparent creator of the Mexican martini as the world knows it, and it’s still churning out the classic cocktail four decades later. There are also four other variations, including a spicy one, one made with local liquors, and a mezcal iteration. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

A clear cocktail mixer with light yellow liquid and a label reading Cedar Door next to a martini glass with yellow liquid and a lime slice on the rim and a toothpick of olives.
The Mexican martini at Cedar Door.
Cedar Door

Baby Acapulco

While known for the infamous purple margarita, the house Mexican martini is still just as potent and is capped with a three-drink limit. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

El Alma

The Barton Springs rooftop Mexican restaurant eatery offers the Almatini, perfect for Mexican martini purists with a bit of olive juice plus Milagro Reposado tequila. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Grizzelda's

Forgot the cutesy pink margarita for the regular or spicy Mexican martini, made with El Jimador el Respado tequila. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Polvos

Both locations of the Mexican restaurant (the other downtown) serve a house Mexican martini in addition to a spicy one. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Matt's El Rancho

This longtime South Lamar Tex-Mex restaurant serves Matt’s Knockout Martini (made with Milagro Reposado tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice), which pairs well with its famous queso. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

El Naranjo

The traditional South Lamar Mexican restaurant from recent James Beard Award-winning chef  Iliana de la Vega allows diners to make their own Mexican martinis with their choice of agave spirits, plus potential Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Combier additions for an upcharge. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Trudy's

The Tex-Mex mini-chain serves up what it claims as the biggest Mexican martini in Austin. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

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