<\/p>\n
Whisler’s in East Austin is always crowded. Prepare to wait in line for the 75-cent martinis on Wednesdays.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
The air in Austin this summer feels like it\u2019s been lightly carbonated.\u00a0World Cup watch parties<\/a> are spilling into patios, the sun refuses to quit and drinking culture has become a full-contact sport.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve 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\u2026 the vibe is persuasive.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The good news: Austin\u2019s bar scene is in its budget era. Affordable, actually good cocktails are everywhere if you know where to look\u2014and 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.)<\/p>\n So consider this your cheat sheet. Ten Austin drinks that keep it under $5, stretch your night and maybe your social circle.<\/p>\n 75-cent martinis at\u00a0Whisler\u2019s<\/p>\n Whisler’s in Austin offers 75-cent martinis on Wednesdays this summer.<\/p>\n Ana Gutierrez \/ Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n East Austin\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Order options usually include dirty, espresso or porn star martinis. Dress cute. You will be perceived.<\/p>\n 1816 E. Sixth St. 512-480-0781,\u00a0whislersatx.com.<\/a><\/p>\n 99-cent martinis at Citizen<\/p>\n Citizen All Day offers 99-cent martinis daily.<\/p>\n Provided by Citizen All Day<\/p>\n 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 \u201ctroublemaker.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 4818 Burnet Road. 512-243-8836, citizenallday.com\/citizensalldayburnet.<\/a><\/p>\n $3 daiquiri shots at Sour Duck<\/p>\n Sour Duck Market in East Austin offers $3 seasonal daiquiri shots from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.<\/p>\n Contributed by Richard Casteel<\/p>\n East Martin Luther King Boulevard\u2019s Sour Duck keeps happy hour simple and slightly dangerous: $3 seasonal daiquiri shots from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Pair it with the $6 burger on the patio and you\u2019ve got the right kind of after-work hangout.<\/p>\n 1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 512-394-5776, sourduckmarket.com.<\/a><\/p>\n $5 slushies at Loro<\/p>\n Loro offers boozy slushies like this mango sake creation for $5 from 2 to 5 p.m. on weekdays.\u00a0<\/p>\n Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Domain: 11601 Domain Drive. 512-379-0027,\u00a0loroeats.com.<\/a><\/p>\n South Lamar: 2115 S. Lamar Blvd. 512-916-4858.<\/p>\n $3 mimosas at\u00a0Kerbey Lane<\/p>\n A true Austin classic doing what it does best.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n University: 2606\u00a0Guadalupe St. 512-477-5717, kerbeylanecafe.com.<\/a><\/p>\n Kerbey: 3704\u00a0Kerbey Lane. 512-451-1436.\u00a0<\/p>\n South: 3003 S. Lamar\u00a0Blvd. 512-445-4451.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n $3 ‘Time Machine’ lager at Lazarus Brewing<\/p>\n Lazarus keeps it crisp with its Time Machine lager for $3 during happy hour, Monday through Thursday, 4 to 6 p.m. It\u2019s a 16-ounce pour of golden, no-nonsense beer with floral notes.<\/p>\n Airport: 4803 Airport Blvd. 512-394-7620, lazarusbrewing.com.<\/a><\/p>\n East: 1902 E. Sixth St.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n $4 baby frozens at the Jackalope South Shore<\/p>\n Jackalope stretches happy hour from noon to 7 p.m. on weekdays.<\/p>\n That means $4 frozen drinks for a very large portion of your day, which is either generous or reckless depending on your schedule.<\/p>\n 1523 Tinnin Ford Road. jackalopebar.com.<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n $4 frozen margaritas at Black Sheep Lodge<\/p>\n Black Sheep Lodge knows what Austinites want: burgers and beers.<\/p>\n AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE<\/p>\n South Lamar\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u00a02108 S. Lamar Blvd. 512-707-2744, blacksheeplodge.com.<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n $4 Italian spritzes at Juliet<\/p>\n Juliet Italian Kitchen offers $4 spritzes from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.\u00a0<\/p>\n Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n For your \u201cEuro summer but I live in Texas\u201d fantasy, Juliet\u2019s $4\u00a0spritzes are the closest thing to a boarding pass.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Arboretum: 10000 Research Blvd., Bldg. C. 512-666-3067. juliet-austin.com.<\/a><\/p>\n Barton Springs: 1500 Barton Springs Road. 512-479-1800.<\/p>\n $10 margarita + taco deal at Nomade<\/p>\n This one comes with fine print, but we\u2019re not reading it too closely.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n