Two things that are true of Texans: We love a good drink and we're definitely not impervious to heat.
Yes, we're more adept at surviving a dry, blistery hotness than your average bear - but that's because we've learned how to live with this ornery brand of weather. When the going gets hot, Texans cool down. Among swimming and retreating to climate-controlled areas, a favored way of beating the heat is to drink it away with a frozen cocktail and a couple of buds.
While there are a great many choices when it comes to these frosty concoctions, we've chosen a nice, manageable few to get you started. Here are Frozen Cocktails to Chill You Out. So screw you, sun.
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photo via facebook
Lil' Easy - The Best Damn Daiquiri
5000 E Cesar Chavez St
New to the frozen drink scene in Austin is Lil' Easy, an authentic Louisiana-style frozen cocktail bar, offering a full menu of Cajun favorites. This spot has been brought to us by the team behind De Nada Cantina and Sawyer & Co, ensuring top-notch frozens and food. Lil' Easy features an entire section of their menu dedicated to frozens, with eight different options all served in a 16 oz collectible cup. From The Best Damn Daiquiri (made with fresh lime, Havana Club and Pot Still Rums, sugar, and a strawberry swirl) to a Painkiller (featuring Navy Strength Rum, coconut, pineapple, orange, and nutmeg), and even a seasonal non-alcoholic option, there's a frozen treat for everyone.
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photo via facebook
2000 E 12th St
Austin Daiquiri Factory is essentially frozen drink heaven, offering 12 base flavors (such as margarita, strawberry, hypnotic, hurricane, octane, piña colada, Long Island, and more) that you can mix and match with a variety of toppings to tailor your drink precisely to your liking. Sizes range from small ($8.50) to a whole gallon ($43), and you can take your daiquiri to go with you wherever you please.
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photo via instagram
Holiday - Frozen Mexican Martini
5020 E 7th St
You can find Mexican Martinis at a number of places around Austin, but one of the hottest new restaurants and cocktail bars, Holiday, serves theirs frozen. It's the perfect combination of salty, sweet, briny, and frozen, making it one of the best frozens in town. Order some of their yummy bar snacks to go with one and enjoy it all on their charming patio.
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photo credit: Lexi Altman
1704 East 5th St
Tucked away on East 5th is Yellow Jacket Social Club, a neighborhood hangout with a dog-friendly, shady patio and some of the best sandwiches around. They are constantly rotating their frozen cocktails, but some in the past have been Blackberry Margarita, Mimosa, Lemonade, and Bellini. They come in two sizes, but do yourself a favor and just get the large along with some of their addicting spicy saltine crackers.
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6507 Burnet Rd
This is the tiny bar that could. In a former lifetime, The Aristocrat Lounge was The Poodle Dog Lounge and it’s still a well-guarded secret for many Austin locals. This charming dive is known for its inventive frozen concotions. And while frozen drinks are customary for any sultry Austin evening, the cats at this fine establishment do it particularly proud. Grab a seat on the patio or a spot in a game of pool and enjoy.
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photo via instagram @haymakeraustin
2310 Manor Rd
Neighborhood favorite Haymaker offers great daily deals on their frozen drinks, like on Fridays, when you can get $4 frozen margs and $5 Beer Ritas. Pair it with some of their signature bar food and you'll be ready for the weekend.
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Loro - Boozy Slushee Flight
2115 S Lamar Blvd
11601 Domain Dr, Ste. 200
This Asian smokehouse is best loved for its tasty meats, but we're here today to alert you to the presence of a lighter menu item: the ultra-refreshing Boozy Slushees. Sipping one of these on Loro's laid-back patio is a guaranteed good time, whether you indulge in barbecue or not. Don't stress about deciding which flavor you want to try, because you can sample any three with their Slushee Flight for just $14.25. Their happy hour is on weekdays from 2-5 on South Lamar, 2-6 at the Domain Northside location, and the frozen cocktails are only $5!
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photo via instagram @the301podcast
2700 Pecan St #202
If you’re up in the North Austin area, consider this stop for a candy shop-style beverage. Specializing in the to-go daiquiri experience, this locally-owned business is known for their delish drinks and super-friendly service. They’ve always got eight flavors on hand and fun toppings like gummy worms and pop rocks.
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photo via instagram @the_little_darlin
6507 Circle S Rd
Another gem with a cool patio and even cooler drinks, this South Side bar is the place to be. With an atmosphere that encourages families and four-legged friends, The Little Darlin' is a favorite hang for many locals. Their rotating frozen pick-me-ups shouldn’t be missed.
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photo via instagram
2315 Lake Austin Blvd
Pool Burger is inarguably one of the best places in Austin to find yourself on a hot summer day. The tiki and burger bar's proximity to Deep Eddy Pool means you can make a whole summery afternoon out of a visit to this restaurant and the nearby swimming spot. Pair a super-juicy burger (veggie or meat, both are excellent) with a frozen Hurricane - and add a floater of dark rum if you're feeling dangerous. These babies are even half off during their happy hour (Monday-Friday 3-5 PM).
photo via facebook
2211 Webberville Rd
Let's be clear - Kitty Cohen's is a great place to chill out, regardless of the weather. This is a sexy patio bar in East Austin where the swanky decor is only outmatched by their refreshing offerings. Their daq shack is crucial in the fast-approaching, never-ending summer months. Live your best life and enjoy a frozen bevie on this breezy patio.
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Photo via Instagram
3501 E 7th St
Kinda Tropical is true to their namesake: from mango margaritas to jackfruit sandwiches, KT has all the makings of a day spent pseudo-beachside. They offer 4 different frozen options including a Mango Margarita, Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita, and Strawberry Piña Colada. For the especially hot Texas summer, they also have boozy popsicles.
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MORE FUN FROZEN DRINKS IN AUSTIN:
614 E Oltorf St
Various Locations
1016 E 6th St
Domo Alley-Gato - Kirin Ichiban Lager w/ Frozen Foam Cap
1600 E 6th St B
4824 E Cesar Chavez St
Various Locations
1316 S Congress Ave
Know of a really great frozen cocktail that we should include on this list?
Sounds cool.
