Contigo

Contigo opened in 2010 on a quiet North Loop street and became one of those Austin institutions that other restaurants study for clues. The ranch-style outdoor patio — strung lights, fire pits in winter, large live oaks overhead — manages to feel effortless and considered at the same time. It is the kind of space that makes a good evening feel inevitable.

The cocktail programme is more serious than the relaxed patio atmosphere suggests. The bar team works with Texas spirits where possible, and the seasonal menu reflects that. The Topo Chico spritz variations are among the best low-ABV drinks in the city. The food menu runs toward New American with Texas influences — the devilled eggs with smoked brisket and the wood-grilled oysters are ordered on almost every table in the room on any given night.

Contigo's happy hour runs from 5pm to 7pm Tuesday through Friday, and it is one of the better-value happy hours in North Austin. Half-price on a rotating list of cocktails, $5 wines, and discounted bites. The patio fills quickly on warm Fridays, so the editors recommend arriving at 5pm sharp, getting a drink at the bar, and waiting approximately 20 minutes for a patio seat to open. This strategy has never failed us.