Bottoms Up

Specialty cocktails are becoming more popular, but they are also getting more creative with names that will immediately win you over. Getting to try these new concoctions is always fun, though I can't say I have never tried a bad one. Here are the four I got to try during my stay in Austin.

Driskill Bar

The historic Driskill hotel in Austin has been around for a long time and is a place where guests may encounter ghosts. Though I didn't meet one of their in house ghosts, I did get a chance to visit their bar to try some of their house specialties. Claiming to have the 'official' drink of Austin, the batini is a modern day twist on the martini. Since Austin is known for the bats under the Congress Street Bridge, I decided it was only appropriate to give it a try. This treat was topped with a summer blackberry and was ripe with the sweetness of the fruit, making it very easy to drink. The Texas Orange Blossom, pictured on the right, was another summery drink that mimicked the flavors of an orange creamsicle. Made with locally made Tito's vodka, this was something I wish I could make at home.

La Condesa

One of my new favorite Mexican restaurants, La Condesa didn't disappoint in the drink department. The yellow colored one was a passion fruit and spiced mango margarita. This was not your typical margarita because it was not overwhelmingly sweet. The cayenne and salt rim provided a tiny bit of heat that paired well with the natural sweetness of the fruit. The pink one is a watermelon-elderflower martini. I had never really heard of the elderflower before, but it was pretty delicious in this drink. The fresh watermelon flavor added sweetness and made it the perfect summer drink. Though I was a bit confused as to why the martini was a bit foamy, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Let me know if you know what makes it foamy!

If you had a chance to try any of these let me know what you thought. Feel free to leave suggestions of your favorite drinks or places to visit next time I am in Austin.

What to do in Austin

 Austin is a great place to visit for a quick day trip or a weekend getaway. Though I have not been as often as I wanted to, I have found that there are always things to do and see. You can always visit the capital, the art museum, or watch the bats, however, I wanted to do something a little different. The South Congress district has a very eclectic shopping area and lots of food trucks. There were definitely some interesting costume stores, but it was great to see all the promotions of local artisans and businesses. Austin is a place where everyone seems to watch out for others and aren't afraid to talk about other places of business. I was disappointed that none of the food trucks were open around lunch time because there are several I would have liked to try.

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

If you are looking for something to a bit on the educational side, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum was great. It was an interactive look at the history and development of the industries in Texas. Each of the three floors covered the major development periods, starting with the Native Americans and early settlements and ending with all the major industries, like oil and cattle ranching. This museum also had an IMAX theater that was showing a film about the arctic. It was a very inspiring and educational film.


Unfortunately, I was only there for a day, so I didn't get to do to much, but post your favorite things to do so I can be sure put them on my list for next time I am in Austin.

Austin's Buried Treasure

While taking in the sights and sounds of Austin with my sister, I was gifted with one of the best restaurant suggestions that I have been given in a while, La Condesa. It's the real Mexican food that you have always wanted...seriously. Situated a short walk from the river, this super trendy place is full of life and food that is beyond words. Since this was a celebration trip, we decided to go for it and do the whole works. Here is the run down of my to die for dinner.

Chips, Salsa, and Guacamole

It started out with four different homemade salsas and one of the best guacamoles I have ever had. The ridiculously smooth texture and the perfect balance of salt made it absolutely delicious. The salsas were a creamy avocado, a habanero and green apple, a smokey red sauce, and a spicier salsa. These were literally dripping with freshness and should be salsa staples. The chips were the perfect thickness, handling the thicker guacamole and the delicate salsas.

Tortilla Soup

I am always a fan of tortilla soup and was very pleasantly surprised that this was not a broth based soup. It was creamy and spicy, with chunks of avocado and chicken. I usually try tortilla soup at most Tex-Mex places I go, and this was the best tortilla soup I have ever had. The freshness of the cilantro tones down the heat, but gives the soup the extra boost of flavor.

Pollo Rostizado Taquitos

Alongside the soup, I had pollo rostizado taquitos, which were small tacos. They had pulled roasted chicken with a citrus rub and salsa verde. These were even more perfect when I added a little bit of guacamole. The queso flameado taquitos were not what I was expecting. There were three corn tortillas served with a bowl of toasty goat cheese and queso mixto. It was almost as good as the Tex-Mex version of queso, but the authenticity made it ten times better.

Dulce de leche

Of course, this meal couldn't be complete without a sinful dessert. Though this one was a bit out of the ordinary, I thought I would give it a try. Dulce de leche is always a delicious dessert, but this one had a sweet corn sauce and was topped with caramel popcorn. Weird combination, I know. But... do not judge it without trying it first. It was a surprisingly magical combination. It was a melt in your mouth cake served with a cream cheese ice cream. The ice cream had a true cream cheese flavor and cut through the sweetness of the cake. The popcorn powder added crunch to the dessert and the perfect amount of savory to cut through the super sweet cake. 

This was one of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to and my sister said it made it on her top 10 restaurant list. This says a lot because she has been to quite a few restaurant around the world. If you live in the Austin area or visit Austin frequently, this is an absolute must the next time you are there! If you have been there, let me know what your favorites were or your favorite Austin restaurant.