By Bartender Justin Lavenue

Bartender Justin Lavenue is the co-owner of The Roosevelt Room, a cocktail bar, event space and music venue located in the heart of Austin's warehouse district. He won 2015‘s Bombay Sapphire's Most Imaginative Bartender of North America, Eater’s Bartender of the Year, and Food & Wine’s Best New Mixologist.

The Roosevelt Room
"We are proud to be serving some of the best craft and classic cocktails in the city. We have a large menu board above the bar that features 53 classic cocktails, divided by the seven different drinking eras since the creation of the cocktail in the early 1800s."

What to Order
"Start off with a classic Daiquiri; it's incredibly refreshing and will whet your appetite for your next drink. Our two most popular house cocktails are always great choices: The Cigar Box with mezcal, smoked black tea syrup, lavender bitters, tobacco bitters, and a flamed cinnamon stick; and The Poet's Muse with Bombay Sapphire gin, lime juice, yuzu concentrate, poet's cordial, and umami tincture."

307 West 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701
T: 512.494.4094 | therooseveltroomatx.com

AUSTIN

“Austin was formerly known for being a whiskey and beer drinking city, but it has developed an amazing palate for cocktails.”

— Bartender Justin Lavenue

Photograph courtesy of Whisler's in Austin

A Cocktail Town

Austin's burgeoning growth is extremely exciting as it has started to bring amazing new talent from all parts of the country, all of whom are breathing new and fresh ideas into the Austin drinking landscape. Austin was formerly known for being a whiskey and beer drinking city, but it has developed an amazing palate for cocktails. We're hot of the heels of the many cocktail meccas located on our country's east and west coasts, and I can't wait to see what the next few years have in store.

Go Downtown

Downtown is one of the most exciting areas in the city right now. After a brief lull, there are number of amazing bars and restaurants opening once again on strips that haven't seen much excitement in a long time. We're excited to be a part of the revitalization of West 5th Street, which has also recently become home to two amazing restaurants, Fixe and Wu Chow.

FIXE
500 West 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701
T: 512.888.9133 | austinfixe.com

WU CHOW
IBC Bank Plaza
500 West 5th Street #168, Austin, TX 78701
T: 512.476.2469 | wuchowaustin.com

Classic Bars

Midnight Cowboy

Hands down, this is my favorite classic bar. I like it mostly for how 'not-Austin' this little cocktail bar is and the fact that it's located on the most Austin bar strip of East 6th Street.

Although it hasn't been open nearly as long as some of the other classic bars in town, this original Austin speakeasy is an amazing date spot, where you can get to know one another better over a couple of delicious cocktails or a Ferrari (half Fernet Branca, half Campari) before stepping outside and going wild at one of its many neighbors.

313 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701
T: 512.843.2715 | midnightcowboymodeling.com

Maggie Mae's

This is one of Midnight Cowboy's many neighbors and has been a staple of 'Dirty' East 6th Street since 1978. It is an amazing spot if you want an Austin experience like your parents once did when they were your age.

323 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701
T: 512.478.8541 | www.maggiemaesaustin.com

The White Horse

If you're in the mood to not remember what you ordered the next morning, stumble your way down here. This is the classic east-East 6th Street dive bar and a hell of a good time. If you don't get a Lonestar, shot of shitty American whiskey, and dance your face off, you're f***ing up.

500 Comal Street, Austin, TX 78702
T: 512.553.6756 | www.thewhitehorseaustin.com

Elephant Room

If you find yourself in the mood for more live music, check out the Elephant Room for live jazz.

315 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701
T: 512.473.2279 | www.elephantroom.com

The Continental Club

Once you've satiated your jiggle bone at The White Horse and want more live music, come here.

1315 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704
T: 512.441.2444 | continentalclub.com

Modern Bars

Whisler's

My favorite modern Austin bar is far and away Whisler's on the East side. No matter what mood you're in, there's an area and offering in this joint to suit what you're feeling.

1816 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78702
T: 512.480.0781 | whislersatx.com

Small Victory & Half Step

You can experience a little bit of New York City in Austin. Both Small Victory and Half Step have an incredible ice program and use it to perfection.

SMALL VICTORY
108 East 7th Street, Austin, TX 78701
www.smallvictory.bar

HALF STEP
75 Rainey Street, Austin, TX 78701
T: 512.391.1877 | halfstepbar.com

Olivia

This is a great spot to get your grits on, grab a coffee, and if you feel so inclined, get a shot of Angostura bitters to start feeling human again.

2043 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704
T: 512.804.2700 | olivia-austin.com

What Tourists Don't Know

This city has some pretty incredible ramen in Tatsu-Ya, Michi, and Daruma. If you didn't know, now you know.

RAMEN TATSU-YA
8557 Research Boulevard, #126 Austin, TX 78758
1234 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704
ramen-tatsuya.com

MICHI RAMEN
6519 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752 | T: 512.386.1908
3005 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704 | T: 512.394.6350
michiramen.com

DARUMA RAMEN
612 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701 | T: 512.369.3897
www.darumaramen.com

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