Péché is a New Orleans-style bar that serves up pre-Prohibition craft cocktails (think: absinthe) with French snacks and supper foods. It stacks its menus with dishes like chicken liver mousse and smoked duck breast charcuterie, oysters Rockefeller with spinach and Grana Padano, and pan-roasted veal sweetbreads. Order up one of the bar’s “sinful cocktails,” like a Midnight Loving, which pairs Highland Park Single Malt Scotch with creme de cassis, amaro, strawberry, lemon, honey, and egg white, and laissez les bons temps rouler.

This intimate steakhouse, newly opened in 2021, gets rave reviews for excellent food and service and is already a local favorite for date night. While the pièce de résistance is the selection of premium aged steaks — cut in-house daily and seared to perfection on the restaurant’s wood-burning grill — customers can also enjoy accompaniments like homegrown tomato salad, wood-roasted gulf shrimp, and sautéed Dover sole.

Nestled in the heart of Austin’s Warehouse District, The Pub delivers classic Irish favorites like bangers and mash, cottage pie, and an all-day breakfast menu that includes a traditional English breakfast of rashers, grilled tomatoes, baked beans, and toast.

Located in the recently opened Otis Hotel near the UT Austin campus (with a name that winks at the school’s Forty Acres nickname), Acre 41 offers quietly sophisticated environs for kicking back with a cozy drink. This music-forward hotel features a record concierge stationed right in the lobby, and the restaurant sings with rich flavors. Start with an appetizer course of tuna wonton tacos, roasted bone marrow with tomato jam on toast, or truffle honey burrata. Then go the extra acre with an entree like belly-on pork chop with cider-maple jus, truffled spaghetti, or prime tomahawk rib-eye.

Head to Rosedale to discover the latest kitchen creations from chef Patricia Saenz and sous chef JD Solombrino. Their culinary talents and Mexican (Saenz) and Guatemalan (Solombrino) heritage make this neighborhood hangout near the Shoal Creek Greenbelt a must-visit. Stand-out dishes include rockfish ceviche in a coconut-habanero broth, grilled cauliflower steak, and braised short ribs from local Rosewood Ranch wagyu beef. Rosedale also prides itself on its body-warming cocktails — try the Noble Pecan, made with Highland Park 12 Year Old whisky and Pecan Porter cordial.

Offering rugged Old West-style cooking, Roaring Fork is a classic Austin favorite with elevated rustic-chic decor to complement the menu. Toast the season with a Salted Honey Old Fashioned: Highland Park 12 Year Old whisky mixed with smoked sea salt, honey, and bitters. Then tuck into a meal of blackened redfish or Berkshire long-bone pork chop basted in dry-aged chorizo with citrus and herbs.

One of Austin’s best secret bars is tucked away in plain sight on bustling 6th Street. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the humble red light bulb and small menu of buzzers. Ring the one that says “Harry Craddock” to gain entry to the cozy space inside, with mirrors lining the rows of private booths. Touches of vintage luxury adorn the space, and the classic craft cocktails — many of them prepared tableside — are renowned. Make sure to plan ahead: Currently, admittance is by reservation only.

Upstairs inside Kimpton’s Hotel Van Zandt just off Rainey Street, Geraldine’s welcomes guests during the winter holidays with the restaurant’s private Winter Igloos. These secluded tented dining spaces seat up to six guests each on the hotel’s outdoor pool deck. Reserve one and order shared plates while overlooking the gorgeous Austin skyline. We recommend the pork ribs (a Geraldine’s staple) made with tarragon and piquillo caramel and the grilled broccolini with yuzu cashew butter, Thai basil, and red onion. They pair perfectly with a festive cocktail like the Scottish Garland, made with Highland Park whisky, caramel, and chocolate mole bitters.

Slide up to the bar at this laid-back Rainey Street spot while your date (or group of friends) grabs a picnic table on the expansive outdoor patio. The cocktail list may look tightly edited, but don’t let that fool you: name an ingredient or two, and the friendly bartenders will shake up something special, just for you. Sip on an expertly made Highland Park Old Fashioned as you enjoy some live music or try your hand at a round of cornhole.

A beloved East Austin neighborhood bar, Nickel City embraces a whisky-focused menu with approachable food like Coney dogs, wings, and tots, and a comfortable atmosphere to match. 

We’re awfully fond of our pop-ups in the ATX, and during the holiday season, Nickel City transforms into Sippin’ Santa, a North Pole/Tiki-styled bar (think: Santa in his best Hawaiian attire), with a list of seasonal concoctions just this side of the naughty list.

A rustic and buzzy East Austin hangout in a 100-year-old building, Whisler’s cocktail menu punches up the flavor with house-infused spirits. For fall and winter, these lean into maple and spice and fruits like pear, fig, and apple — flavors you’ll find balance harmoniously with Highland Park Single Malt Scotch. Venture out onto the patio to take your time and relax while catching up with friends.

Toast to good friends and thoughtfully prepared bites at DrinkWell, located in Austin’s North Loop district. The restaurant features excellent vegan and gluten-free options, but everyone can find something to enjoy on this wellness-focused menu. Highlights include ancho chickpeas, baba ghanoush and dukkah-spiced crackers, and lamb and beef meatballs with couscous. For dessert: Texas pecan baklava, anyone? Stay tuned for regular events, such as a recent sold-out Scotch tasting featuring Highland Park 12 Year Old. Or, if you’re ordering to-go, DrinkWell also serves some of the city’s best bottled cocktails.

©2021 Highland Distillers Limited. Highland Park Scotch Whisky. Imported by Edrington Americas, New York, NY. “H” Device ®