DRINKS
Aristocrat Lounge Reimagined retro dive bar becomes neighborhood staple T he Aristocrat Lounge—a bar just o Burnet Road—is reminiscent of a poodle skirt; with its 1950s style pink paint and larger-than-life drawing of the canine. In 1964, the squat, rectangular building opened as the Poodle Dog Lounge. It ran for almost 50 years before it was sold in 2013. Austin Kalman—now the owner of the bar, along with Christina Jarrous—worked for Donya and Ran- dall Stockton, who bought the bar. He said the group wanted to keep the name and character of the bar. “The lawyers at the time, they said we probably couldn’t keep the name, because it had a checkered past, like any place that had been around for 50 years would,” Kalman said. Instead, Kalman and the Stocktons decided to maintain a similar vibe while transitioning it into a neighborhood-friendly bar. “When we took it over, it had been like a divey, biker bar,” Kalman said. Kalman took over the bar in 2019. The bar is situated between the long-standing Crestview and Allandale neighborhoods. In recent years, apartment complexes have also popped up along Burnet. “The regulars have been our bread and butter,” Kalman said. The bar also attracts service workers because it is one of the few places open daily until 2 a.m. Inside, the bar is decorated with roughly 50 framed photographs of Marilyn Monroe, a crystal chandelier, a sign from the bar’s Poodle Dog Lounge days and a sometimes festively decorated deer head. The bar o ers games such as pool, darts, foosball and shu eboard. Outside it has a large patio and a food truck, Yeni’s Fusion. “We try to be a fun place for people to come and hang out,” Kalman said. BY DARCY SPRAGUE
Kalman, owner of the Aristocrat Lounge, working behind the bar.
DARCY SPRAGUE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
HOW TO BE ANEIGHBORHOOD BAR
Aristocrat owner Austin Kalman shares steps that helped him feel like part of the community.
DO IT YOURSELF Kalman came up with the design for the remodel. He did not have a lot of money to spend, so he did a lot of the work himself. FIND YOUR CREW The bar attracts both neighbors and service workers because of its late hours.
The bar features a sign from its Poodle Dog Lounge days.
DARCY SPRAGUE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
3 DRINKS TO TRY
KEEP CRAFTING Kalman said patrons want house cocktail options and appreciate a rotating menu.
Ginger on Ginger Mule $7 crystallized ginger infused vodka, fresh lime, simple syrup, ginger beer
Aristocrat Lounge 6507 Burnet Road, Austin 737-742-1894 www.aristocratloungeatx.com Hours: daily 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Frozen Irish Co ee $8 house cold brew co ee, organic almond milk, vanilla bean syrup, Irish whiskey
Hot Toddy $8
cherry or g infused bourbon, lemon, honey, cinnamon, bitters
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PHOTOS COURTSEY AUSTIN KALMAN
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