Mezcalería Tobalá
Bar · Pershing ·
Intimate mezcal bar with rare pours, Oaxacan snacks, and expert guidance
Intimate mezcal bar with rare pours, Oaxacan snacks, and expert guidance
"If you’ve been to Whisler’s on a weekend, you’ve probably seen small crowds of people spilling out onto the stairs from a tiny room perched on the roof. And if you’ve ventured up, you’d find yourself in one of the first dedicated mezcal bars in Austin. Don’t come here expecting cocktails—this is primarily a place to come and sip on a variety of mezcals in a casual, candle-lit atmosphere. The space is tiny, and it's only open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights—so there’s not really an off-hour to pop in—but we’d recommend going shortly after they open (7pm) if you want to avoid crowds." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs
"“Late night, maybe head over to Whisler’s, have some nice drinks, then head up to the little nook of a mezcal bar that they have upstairs (Mezcaleria Tobala), which is where you’ll usually find me, kind of tucked away in this really cool, very small bar—probably one of the smallest bars in town—but they pour a lot of really beautiful, agave-derived spirits.”" - nicolai mccrary
"Tucked away upstairs of East Austin cocktail bar Whisler’s is this intimate little mezcal tasting room inspired by Oaxaca taverns. Named after the much-prized tobalá agave plant, the mezcalería aims to give customers the full Oaxacan experience, where guests can sample half-pours in clay copitas with a traditional service of oranges and sal de gusano (a spicy, smoky hit of umami made from crushed worms) or full pours in a traditional veladora glass. There are indoor dine-in areas." - Clara Wang
"One of the earlier mezcalerías in the city, opened in 2014, and part of the foundational set of spots that helped establish Austin's mezcal scene." - Clara Wang
"This intimate Oaxacan-style mezcalería upstairs from Whisler’s offers a broad selection of mezcals including some rare finds. Order a half-pour (3/4 of an ounce) in a clay copita or a full pour in a traditional veladora glass. There are indoor dine-in services." - Elizabeth Leader Smith
