Entry No. 33 — the Austin file — filed under: speakeasy
Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar
To get a drink here you first have to walk through the gate of the School House Pub next door, then climb to the second story above Mi Madre's restaurant, where a tiny rooftop alcove pours an all-agave list — the Chronicle called it 'Techo's tiny rooftop bar' when it won Best Secret Mezcaleria.
The story
If you aren't paying attention, Manor Road will happily sell you a patio pint or a taco plate and send you on your way. But tucked directly above the low-slung roof of Mi Madre’s restaurant is a dim, near-hidden alcove that feels less like East Austin and more like an elevated roost in Oaxaca. To find it, you don't go through Mi Madre’s front door; you slip through the iron gate of the neighboring School House Pub and trace the narrow wooden staircase up to the second story.
What awaits at the top is Techo—Spanish for 'roof'—a diminutive agave sanctuary that holds only a handful of tables beneath the open Texas sky. Despite its tiny footprint, the bar punches well above its weight class, earning a nod as a 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalist and a spot on Wildsam’s list of the 50 most essential bars in the country.
The focus here is uncompromisingly narrow: an extensive, curated selection of mezcals and tequilas, poured neat or shaken into balanced agave cocktails. Sitting on the small deck while traffic hums along Manor Road below, you get the distinct sense that you've stumbled into a pocket of the city that wasn't built for crowds—and was never meant to be advertised.
What it's like
Space is intensely limited, meaning a prime weekend hour will likely require some strategic waiting at the base of the stairs or hovering near the rail. Navigate through the pub's gate, head up the steps, and order something smoky. The smart move is eating a full meal of tacos down at Mi Madre's first, then slipping upstairs right at opening to secure a seat along the roofline before the evening crowd catches on.
The move: Grab tacos downstairs at Mi Madre's first, then cut through the neighboring pub's gate and climb up to the rooftop for mezcal and sunset over Manor Road.
- 📍 East Austin (Cherrywood)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2201 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Vortex — Pair your rooftop agave drinks with an avant-garde outdoor play or puppet opera just a minute down Manor Road.
- The Herb Bar — Browse the city's oldest metaphysical shop and apothecary in Cherrywood before starting your evening on Techo's deck.
- UT Austin Free Public Stargazing (PMA Rooftop & Painter Hall) — Trade one rooftop view for another by starting with telescope stargazing atop UT's 19-story tower before grabbing a nightcap.
- La Botanica Green & White — Anchor your Eastside trip with a visit to this historic 1930s botanica before climbing the stairs for mezcal.
Good to know
How do I actually locate the entrance?
Walk through the side gate of School House Pub at 2201 Manor Road, then take the exterior wooden staircase leading up to the roof above Mi Madre's.
Do they take reservations?
No, seating is entirely first-come, first-served. Because the footprint is so small, seats fill up rapidly on weekend nights.
What is the drink menu like?
The bar specializes exclusively in agave spirits, featuring an extensive list of mezcals, tequilas, and craft cocktails.
Is there food available on the rooftop?
Techo is strictly a cocktail spot; plan to grab food at Mi Madre's downstairs before you head up the stairs.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: austinchronicle.com · statesman.com · Instagram
last checked: 2026-07-20