All the Micheladas You Must Sip in Austin

The name for micheladas, often shortened to miches, translates to “my cold beer,” but the flavors go far beyond this with as many variations as there are fans. Along with the standard ingredients, most recipes incorporate Clamato, hot sauce (often Tabasco), and generous dashes of Maggi seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Some skip the alcohol altogether, subbing beer for a fizzy Topo Chico or Sangria, a Mexican grape soda.

Whatever your style, these cocktails are a prime complement to seafood dishes and are said to be the perfect answer for la cruda — the dreaded morning-after hangover. Here are some of the best micheladas the city has to offer.

The Long Goodbye

Come to this Cherrywood cocktail bar for build-your-own michelada buckets on weekends and $6 micheladas on Sundays. Complement your drinks with tacos, available on site, then sober up in the large outdoor seating area with a cup of coffee or go vintage shopping at Howdy’s, which is on the same lot.

Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar

Perched over Schoolhouse Pub, this Cherrywood mezcal bar offers a solid $6 happy-hour michelada, a $7 margarita, and an impressive collection of mezcals. Sit indoors for an intimate, speakeasy-like experience or outside on the elevated patio.

Este

This Cherrywood Mexican seafood spot is an excellent introduction to the michelada. Three versions are on the menu. The Chelada is a straightforward combination of Mexican lager with salt and lime, while the Cubana incorporates house Petroleo for a savory drink. The star of the show is the restaurant’s michelada, which includes the same Petroleo but adds homemade sangria for its signature red color and fresh fruit juices with the tanginess of grapefruit. Enjoy it during happy hour paired with mariscos either in the dining room or out on the patio.

Nixta Taqueria

This Eater Award-winning and Michelin-recognized taqueria produces a spicy, vinegary michelada that showcases its signature lacto-fermented hot sauce. This daring sip pairs perfectly with its menu items, which feature favorites like tuna tostadas and duck carnitas tacos. It shares space with the stellar Comadre Panadería, so don’t forget to grab a box of pastries on your way out. Takeout orders can be placed online.

Ensenada ATX

Located in a food truck park on the East Side, this Baja California-style taco truck has some caveats. It only pours up micheladas on weekends, and you’ll need to bring your own beer to spike it. Ensenada doesn’t sell alcohol, but that’s an easy fix. Pick up a six-pack at Quickie Pickie down the street to make your drink boozy. The miche comes in a large cup with a generous Tajín and chamoy rim. Pair it with Ensenada’s coastal Mexican fare — or make it a double feature with some of the highly lauded Mexico City-style tacos from Cuantos Tacos, which is steps away.

Las Perlas

This Downtown spot once declared that every day is Michelada Day — and it still observes this unofficial holiday with a happy hour that stretches from until 8 p.m. and includes its signature miche, which you can order as spicy as you’d like on a scale from 1 to 5 and is paired by default with a Tecaté. And it doesn’t stop there. Las Perla also houses a whiskey bar, a rum bar, and a taco joint that’s located on its expansive patio, making it a prime spot for groups of varied tastes.

Gabrielas Downtown

Just like the venue itself, Gabriela’s micheladas are a bit maximalist. The Miche-Helada Pop is an over-the-top combination that includes a house-made michelada popsicle. The Aguachil Michelada is crowned with shrimp aguachile, and bargoers can also enjoy other combinations like micheladas garnished in ceviche or fruit. All versions are served with chamoy, lime, chili powder, and peanuts, and can be made extra-boozy with mezcal or tequila. Share the experience with Gabriela’s Cervaza Preparada — five Mexican lagers garnished with aguachile, peanuts, and chamoy. A popular spot for brunch, Gabriela’s is known for getting the party started at any time of day.

La Perla

Not to be confused with Las Perlas (which also makes a stellar michelada), La Perla Bar is a tiny, beloved bar on East 6th that has no shortage of character. Specialties here include the Armodelos — a pared-down version of a michelada served in a Modelo can for $4, which can be enjoyed over a game of pool. Tip: Bartenders will only partially open the can before topping it with lime juice, salt, and Tabasco, so be sure to open the tab fully before drinking to get a well-rounded sip.

Ramen Tatsu-Ya

This Austin-based ramen shop puts an Asian spin on the michelada at its many locations. The Kimchilada uses Sapporo beer as the base, infusing it with a spicy bloody mary mix, bonito flakes, house katsu sauce, and kimchi for a burst of umami, with a togarashi salted rim. Pickup orders for all locations can be placed online.

La Holly

This East Sixth bar serves a standard miche with Clamato, lime juice, tabasco, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and Pacifico or Modelo. Sip it slowly on its large, dog-friendly patio, which features a taco truck on site, or choose from its fun cocktail list, which includes spicy margaritas and a Oaxacan Wipeout, a combination of mezcal, lime, pineapple, cinnamon habañero, Oaxacan bitters, and ancho chile.

De Nada Cantina

Garnished with a tamarindo straw, De Nada’s micheladas are easy to spot and in high demand. Served in its signature keepsake cups, these cocktails are rimmed in a house blend of smoked salt and ancho chile powder and are a great lower-ABV alternative to the restaurant’s cult-favorite margaritas (Bargoers can only order two per person). There is plenty of outdoor seating at this Govalle bar, but reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends. Takeout orders can be placed online.

Hotel San Jose

The michelada at this South Congress hotel omits Clamato but is balanced and spicy, offering salt or Tajín for the rim. After ordering inside, find a spot on the hotel’s large patio to enjoy your miche poolside. The hotel, which hosts monthly music events on the first Thursday of each month, welcomes walk-ins.

Chapulín Cantina

At this colorful Oaxacan restaurant on SoCo, you can add michelada mix to any beer or tepache, even the non-alcoholic options. Chapulin’s house mix combines tangy, spicy Sangrita with lime, ice, and a salted rim, which pairs well with its mezcal selection. With a wide selection of mezcals and tequilas to fuel its cocktails and Mexican dishes, including various moles and queso flameado, Chapulín is a wonderful place to dine-in and unwind.

Lulu’s

Along with its spiked aguas frescas, this colorful cocktail bar owned by a mother and daughter duo in South Austin also offers an excellent, classic michelada. The taco truck on site makes it a one-stop shop for drinks and a meal before or after one of the bar’s live music or DJ nights and free dance lessons. It’s also within walking distance of other bars like Lustre Pearl and Reset Arcade Bar, meaning you can make it just one of your pitstops on a whole night out on the town.