South Congress, Austin · bar
Descend into the basement of Hotel Magdalena and you’re suddenly in a lamp-lit listening room where jazz and soul records play through vintage Klipsch speakers and a McIntosh tube amp. The cocktail list splits into A-Sides (classics) and B-Sides (house originals), with sake, crab tostadas, and tuna tartare in coconut leche de tigre keeping pace with the music. The room barely holds 40 people, so reservations tend to decide who gets in.
Kimchi salsa, sesame, shiso — Japanese-Texan bar snack done right
Fennel pollen gin, mascarpone foam, sourdough tincture — the B-Side to order
Smith & Cross rum, black sesame orgeat, lime — a reimagined tropical classic