Whisler’s in East Austin is always crowded. Prepare to wait in line for the 75-cent martinis on Wednesdays.
Austin American-Statesman
The air in Austin this summer feels like it’s been lightly carbonated. World Cup watch parties are spilling into patios, the sun refuses to quit and drinking culture has become a full-contact sport.
If you’ve been participating in peak summer social life, your bank account may already be asking for a timeout. Because, respectfully, not all of us are emotionally prepared to drop $25 on a ranch water at a certain boutique hotel just for the vibe. And yet… the vibe is persuasive.
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The good news: Austin’s bar scene is in its budget era. Affordable, actually good cocktails are everywhere if you know where to look—and yes, some of them are so cheap they inspire their own kind of line culture. (Nothing bonds strangers like waiting 40 minutes for a 75-cent martini.)
So consider this your cheat sheet. Ten Austin drinks that keep it under $5, stretch your night and maybe your social circle.
75-cent martinis at Whisler’s
Whisler’s in Austin offers 75-cent martinis on Wednesdays this summer.
Ana Gutierrez / Austin American-Statesman
East Austin’s palo santo-scented bar turns Wednesday martinis into a social experiment. The deal: 75-cent martinis with a two-drink ticket system. Arrive early, expect a line and accept that half the experience is chatting with strangers who also decided this was a good idea.
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Order options usually include dirty, espresso or porn star martinis. Dress cute. You will be perceived.
1816 E. Sixth St. 512-480-0781, whislersatx.com.
99-cent martinis at Citizen
Citizen All Day offers 99-cent martinis daily.
Provided by Citizen All Day
At Citizen All Day on Burnet, martinis run 99 cents daily from 3 p.m. to close, limited to one per guest. Choices include espresso, dirty, dry or the “troublemaker.”
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4818 Burnet Road. 512-243-8836, citizenallday.com/citizensalldayburnet.
$3 daiquiri shots at Sour Duck
Sour Duck Market in East Austin offers $3 seasonal daiquiri shots from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.
Contributed by Richard Casteel
East Martin Luther King Boulevard’s Sour Duck keeps happy hour simple and slightly dangerous: $3 seasonal daiquiri shots from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.
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Pair it with the $6 burger on the patio and you’ve got the right kind of after-work hangout.
1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 512-394-5776, sourduckmarket.com.
$5 slushies at Loro
Loro offers boozy slushies like this mango sake creation for $5 from 2 to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Austin American-Statesman
From 2 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, boozy slushies drop to $5, including frozen G&Ts, espresso martinis, dragonade, mango spritz, spicy watermelon marg and even a nonalcoholic frozen lemonade option.
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Domain: 11601 Domain Drive. 512-379-0027, loroeats.com.
South Lamar: 2115 S. Lamar Blvd. 512-916-4858.
$3 mimosas at Kerbey Lane
A true Austin classic doing what it does best.
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Kerbey Lane offers $3 mimosas from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, plus a second happy hour window from 4 to 6 p.m. daily.
University: 2606 Guadalupe St. 512-477-5717, kerbeylanecafe.com.
Kerbey: 3704 Kerbey Lane. 512-451-1436.
South: 3003 S. Lamar Blvd. 512-445-4451.
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$3 ‘Time Machine’ lager at Lazarus Brewing
Lazarus keeps it crisp with its Time Machine lager for $3 during happy hour, Monday through Thursday, 4 to 6 p.m. It’s a 16-ounce pour of golden, no-nonsense beer with floral notes.
Airport: 4803 Airport Blvd. 512-394-7620, lazarusbrewing.com.
East: 1902 E. Sixth St.
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$4 baby frozens at the Jackalope South Shore
Jackalope stretches happy hour from noon to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
That means $4 frozen drinks for a very large portion of your day, which is either generous or reckless depending on your schedule.
1523 Tinnin Ford Road. jackalopebar.com.
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$4 frozen margaritas at Black Sheep Lodge
Black Sheep Lodge knows what Austinites want: burgers and beers.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE
South Lamar’s Black Sheep Lodge offers $4 frozen margaritas all day on Thursdays. The move here is to pair one with a chicken Caesar wrap and crispy tater tots.
2108 S. Lamar Blvd. 512-707-2744, blacksheeplodge.com.
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$4 Italian spritzes at Juliet
Juliet Italian Kitchen offers $4 spritzes from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.
Austin American-Statesman
For your “Euro summer but I live in Texas” fantasy, Juliet’s $4 spritzes are the closest thing to a boarding pass.
Available during happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. daily, you can go with an Aperol or Hugo spritz. Ideally consumed before a Barton Springs dip.
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Arboretum: 10000 Research Blvd., Bldg. C. 512-666-3067. juliet-austin.com.
Barton Springs: 1500 Barton Springs Road. 512-479-1800.
$10 margarita + taco deal at Nomade
This one comes with fine print, but we’re not reading it too closely.
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At Nomade on South First, Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., you can get one margarita and two tacos for $10 total.
1506 S. First St. 512-520-5440, nomadecocina.com.