Where to find boozy frozen drinks in Austin:
East Austin
Spots to get a boozy frozen drink in East Austin
Sour Duck Market
1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The casual sibling eatery of Barley Swine and Odd Duck has an enormous patio that clearly calls for a frozen drink. To that end, order the frozen margarita with a special twist. It’s worth dropping $2 extra for a swirl of any of its draft cocktails in the margarita, such as the gin-centric Summer in Greece.
Last Straw
1914 E. Sixth St., Suite C
Brightened by multicolored walls, Last Straw intends to be your vacation from everyday life and will help take you there through a variety of tropical cocktails — four of them frozen. Order the Miami Vice, which combines the piña colada with a strawberry daiquiri and serves that pink-and-white swirl of booze and ice in an actual pineapple.
La Holly
2500 E. Sixth St.
You might drive past this little mezcal bar while you’re looking for it, but double back for your agave fix, and also tacos. The cantina’s frozen Jamaica Y Mezcal with Kimo Sabe mezcal, housemade hibiscus syrup, lime and triple sec is fruity, smoky and delicious.
King Bee Lounge
1906 E. 12th St.
A frozen Bee’s Knees has helped to keep this dimly lit dive buzzing with people since summer 2014, and every regular would feel the sting if owner Billy Hankey ever took the signature drink off the menu.
Infinite Monkey Theorem
702 Shady Lane
This eclectic urban winery moved to a much larger location in East Austin earlier this year, but a couple of key elements haven’t changed. It’s got even more graffiti art on the walls, and it’s still making all the same wines — including a so-called wine slushy. Somehow, Infinite Monkey Theorem’s canned rosé, canned riesling, canned red and Camp Cider can all come together in a frozen mixture that is simply divine.
Il Brutto
1601 E. Sixth St.
The other essential summer sipper is a spritz — it’s low in alcohol and comes with bubbles. So this airy Italian restaurant had the brilliant idea to combine the two this spring and introduced a frozen Aperol Spritz with the same ingredients as its Il Brutto Spritz (Aperol, bubbles and orange). Does the frozen version lose the appeal of the fizz because it’s been blended with ice? Surprisingly, not at all.
Hank’s
5811 Berkman Drive
The all-day cafe and restaurant is a real looker, thanks to what you might call a “desert modern” aesthetic especially present on the long, succulent-dotted patio. Hank’s has the substance to back up all that style, with a pretty-in-pink frozen paloma featuring tequila, grapefruit juice, soda and lime. It goes down a little too easily even when it’s not $5 during happy hour.
Austin Eastciders Collaboratory
979 Springdale Road
Many of Austin Eastciders’ flavored ciders are widely available, but come to the Collaboratory for a taste of taproom-only options like a cider slushy. Currently made with the Watermelon Cider, it’s served in the actual can, sans lid, and features the addition of white port in part to raise the alcohol level. Yes, please.