Murray's Tavern

Travis Tober—who also runs Nickel City—named this tavern after his grandmother's maiden name and built the menu around modernised versions of her favourite cocktails: the Rob Roy, the Brandy Alexander, and the drinks that defined mid-century American entertaining. A 2025 Spirited Awards Regional Top 10 honouree for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar (Central) and a 2024 Top 10 nominee for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar, Murray's channels family memory into a programme that feels personal without becoming private. The grandmother's name on the door is not a gimmick; it is the mission statement. Austin's bar scene thrives on the same creative independence that built its music reputation—bartenders who care more about the drink than the ranking, venues that reflect their neighbourhood rather than a formula, and a city that treats every evening as an opportunity to discover something new. Keep Austin weird, sure. Keep Austin drinking well, absolutely.