"The team behind Drinks Lounge and Little Drinks Lounge has created a tiny empire of laid-back neighborhood bars across Austin, and Drinks Backyard is no exception. It’s slightly south of the airport on 183, which means you probably won’t stumble upon it by mistake—but it’s a nice stop if you find yourself near COTA. There’s a small indoor bar connected to a massive backyard with more picnic tables than you can count and a 20-foot screen playing sports, movies, or whatever else the staff throws on. The cocktails are cheap, and it’s home to Nocco’s Napoletana and Smokin’ Brew-B-Q for pizza and barbecue. " - nicolai mccrary