DATE NIGHT: The Best Martini in Austin Is at Perla’s on South Congress

There are a lot of places in Austin that say they make a good martini. Very few actually do. The best one in the city is at Perla's on South Congress. Not close. Not debatable.

This stop was part of our DATE NIGHT series where we bring our audience with us on dates around Austin and show them where to go, what to order, and what’s actually worth the money.

THIS PLACE felt like we were on the beach not in austin.

We started with the ceviche chips and dip, and that alone was enough to justify the visit. Fresh, bright, salty, citrusy, crunchy. The kind of appetizer where you keep saying “one more chip” until the entire thing is gone.

Then the drinks came.

Jon ordered a dirty martini, and this is where things got serious. Cold, perfectly salty, strong, smooth, exactly what a dirty martini is supposed to be. No shortcuts, no watered down nonsense.
Jon’s rating: 12/10. Best martini in Austin.

Iván ordered a margarita, which was clean, fresh lime, not overly sweet, and actually tasted like tequila.
Iván’s rating: 8/10. Solid margarita.

Perla’s is one of those places where Austin feels like a vacation town. You sit outside, the lights are on, people are walking South Congress, and everything feels slow in a good way. It feels like you’re supposed to be there.

If someone asked where to take a date in Austin and you wanted to look like you know what you’re doing, this is where you go.