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15 Boozy, Briny Mexican Martinis in Austin

Where to find the iconic Austin cocktail

by Darcie Duttweiler Updated
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by Darcie Duttweiler Updated

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.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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VIVO

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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.

6406 N Interstate Hwy 35 Ste 2343, Austin, TX 78752
(512) 407-8302
(512) 407-8302

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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.

4807 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 474-2029
(512) 474-2029

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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.

4230 Duval St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-1040
(512) 452-1040

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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.

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 476-4852
(512) 476-4852

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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.

2608 W 7th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 473-3740
(512) 473-3740

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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.

606 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-9240
(512) 472-9240

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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.

400 W 2nd St A, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 499-0300
(512) 499-0300

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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.

201 Brazos St Bldg A, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-3712
(512) 473-3712
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

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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.

1628 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 474-8774
(512) 474-8774

Also featured in:

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.

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 609-8923
(512) 609-8923

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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.

105 Tillery St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 366-5908
(512) 366-5908

Also featured in:

Polvos

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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.

2004 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-5446
(512) 441-5446

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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.

2613 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 462-9333
(512) 462-9333

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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.

2717 S Lamar Blvd STE 1085, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 520-5750
(512) 520-5750

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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.

901 Little Texas Ln C, Austin, TX 78745
(512) 326-9899
(512) 326-9899

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VIVO

6406 N Interstate Hwy 35 Ste 2343, Austin, TX 78752

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.

6406 N Interstate Hwy 35 Ste 2343, Austin, TX 78752
(512) 407-8302
(512) 407-8302

Vamonos

4807 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

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.

4807 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 474-2029
(512) 474-2029

Julio's Cafe

4230 Duval St, Austin, TX 78751

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.

4230 Duval St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-1040
(512) 452-1040

Hula Hut

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

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.

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 476-4852
(512) 476-4852

Maudie's

2608 W 7th St, Austin, TX 78703

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.

2608 W 7th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 473-3740
(512) 473-3740

Iron Cactus

606 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701

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.

606 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-9240
(512) 472-9240

La Condesa

400 W 2nd St A, Austin, TX 78701

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.

400 W 2nd St A, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 499-0300
(512) 499-0300

Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill

201 Brazos St Bldg A, Austin, TX 78701

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.

201 Brazos St Bldg A, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-3712
(512) 473-3712
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

1628 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

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.

1628 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 474-8774
(512) 474-8774

El Alma

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

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.

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 609-8923
(512) 609-8923

Grizzelda's

105 Tillery St, Austin, TX 78702

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.

105 Tillery St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 366-5908
(512) 366-5908

Polvos

2004 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

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.

2004 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-5446
(512) 441-5446

Matt's El Rancho

2613 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

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.

2613 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 462-9333
(512) 462-9333

El Naranjo

2717 S Lamar Blvd STE 1085, Austin, TX 78704

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.

2717 S Lamar Blvd STE 1085, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 520-5750
(512) 520-5750

Trudy's

901 Little Texas Ln C, Austin, TX 78745

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.

901 Little Texas Ln C, Austin, TX 78745
(512) 326-9899
(512) 326-9899

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