Where to Drink in Austin Right Now, June '14

by Meghan McCarron Jun 6, 2014, 6:47am CDT

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by Meghan McCarron Jun 6, 2014, 6:47am CDT

Welcome to the latest installment of Eater Austin's drinky heatmap, a list of the hottest, buzziest boozing destinations around town. That might mean brand-new bars, hot restaurants with serious cocktail game, or established places mixing it up with a new bar program.

The past few months have been very, very good to the Austin drink scene, and this update of the previous installment features lots of great new options. From hidden-away Garage to impossible-to-miss Container Bar, there's lots of fun spaces to explore. And new bars Pleasant Storage Room and Mezcaleria Tobala offer a chance to get to know rum and mezcal very, very well.

Don't see your favorite new spot on the list? Heard about an older place that's made some changes? Let us know down the tipline or leave advice in the comments.

Garage

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This hidden-away bar inside a downtown parking garage is worth seeking out: the midcentury-inspired space is a stunner, and Chauncey James' cocktail program features a great mix of classics and original cocktails

503 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

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The Container Bar

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Rainey bar maven Bridget Dunlap finally opened her crazy shipping container bar during SXSW, and it's already a certified hit. A food trailer is coming soon.

90 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

(512) 494-4120

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Bar 2211

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Rainey's Blackheart features one of the best whiskey selections in the city, and the team behind the bar bring that same focus to this newly opened, more casual neighborhood bar.

2211 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 699-1830

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Licha's Cantina

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Licha's serves up traditional Mexico City cantina fare that makes for a great accompaniment to their agave-forward drinks menu.

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1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 619-0993

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La V

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LaV's elegant Provencal dining is generating serious buzz, and their large bar area offers its own unique drinking and dining experience. Enjoy their impressive wine selection and solid cocktails with their approachable bar menu.

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1501 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 293-6048

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Mezcalería Tobalá

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Whisler's bar manager Cesar Aguilar shares his passion for mezcal in this stripped-down, intimate space above the main bar. Designed to encourage exploration, all mezcals can be sampled in half or full pours. Open Thursday - Saturday only, starting around 9.

1816 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

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The Pleasant Storage Room

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If Pleasant Storage Room has its way, this summer will be the summer of rum. The first bar in Austin to focus on the spirit, Pleasant also features a street-food inspired menu to compliment their classic cocktails.

208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

(512) 919-0770

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Half Step

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Co-owner Chris Bostick honed his skill at craft cocktail meccas like L.A.'s The Varnish, and now he's returned home to heat up the Austin cocktail scene. Half Step's friendly service and intimate setting is worlds away from wild Rainey, and the ice program alone demonstrates a serious commitment to quality.

75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

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chavez

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The bar at Shawn Cirkiel's new Radisson stunner overlooks the pool, and the cocktail menu features options like a smoked cherry margarita and a michelada made with Pearl Snap's pilsner

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111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

(512) 478-9611

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Odd Duck

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Barley's Swine's more casual sibling is focused on making everything in-house, including the cocktail ingredients. They're not afraid to have fun with their cocktail menu, either: check out the frozen orange margarita.

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1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

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School House Pub

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This Cherrywood neighborhood bar from the team behind Mi Madre's is serving up inventive cocktails with playful school-inspired names, as well as an extensive menu of bar snacks.

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2207 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

(512) 469-7630

Haymaker

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This laid-back Manor road neighborhood pub is primarily about the beer, but they serve up a solid menu of cocktails as well, and it's a great place to watch all sportsball worth watching.

2310 E. Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

(512) 707-2744

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