Need a place to hit up after the Austin Food & Wine Festival closes its tents each day this weekend? Or will you be in the area and aim to feed off the buzz surrounding the three-day event? Here are three hot spots to check out.
Firehouse Lounge
605 Brazos St.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 201-2522
Say you favor specialty cocktails over wine. Then take the five-minute cab ride from the festival at Butler Park to the Firehouse Lounge, which was named “Best New Lounge” last month by Austin Monthly. Try the staff-recommended Champagne Julep (bourbon, mint, sugar and champagne) or El Diablo (tequila, lime, ginger beer, sugar and blackberry), and bob your head to the live music. Jazz, Swing or Blues tunes are available upon request in this the oldest standing firehouse in Austin, originally built in 1885.
The Ginger Man
301 Lavaca St.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-8801
If craft brews are more your thing, make your way to The Ginger Man, just a half-mile walk from Butler Park. You’ll find pub staples such as Guinness and Blue Moon, but you don’t come here for your go-to beer after 18 holes. This is the place to try a new brew like the Whiskey Barrel Double Pecan Porter, made a few miles south at the (512) Brewing Company. Or sample Bucking Bock, a golden and mildly hopped German beer from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company in Fort Worth. Whatever you order, bring it out to the back patio and take advantage of the spring weather. And considering The Ginger Man is conveniently located to a few of the festival’s prime parking lots, consider making this your first stop.
The Red Room Lounge
306 E. 3rd St., Suite A
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 644-1737
Yet, if you’re attending this weekend’s festival, chances are you enjoy a nice glass of wine. But if you’re not fond of the crowds, the Red Room Lounge is your spot. Some locals have compared it to a speakeasy because of its nondescript location and mellow vibe, but also because they enjoy the fact that it doesn’t get overcrowded. Don’t be put off by the simple “Personal Wines” awning outside, or because the joint resides in a basement. Venture down and marvel at the hundreds of wine bottles covering the walls, sink into the leather furniture, and even bring your own food if you desire to pair it with your wine. Just don’t seek it out on Sunday; it’ll be closed. And don’t tell too many at the festival about this hidden gem next to Vince Young’s Steakhouse.
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