Like the raw crackle of a record, a great wine carries an ineffable quality tied to a specific time and place. For Heather Tierney and Sarah Meyer Simon, the creative force behind the new South Congress wine garden Only the Wild Ones, the bar straddles the intersection of those two worlds. The space leans on low-intervention methods in both the cellar and the DJ booth, allowing the wine and music to stand on their own.
“[Only the Wild Ones] is the analog version of both wine and sound,” Tierney says.
The Decor
Opening Friday, May 1 at 1600 South Congress Ave., the garden sits on the Monroe side street where a wood-backed neon sign glows against the stone exterior. A step removed from the high-volume energy of the SoCo main drag and facing iconic Allens Boots, the outpost is the sister concept to Tierney’s popular vegetarian restaurant, The Butcher’s Daughter. While Only the Wild Ones originated in Southern California before expanding to New York City, this Austin location marks the first strictly outdoor iteration. Tierney designed the space to “live and breathe” with the Texas climate through natural airflow, fiber sun shades, and integrated misters.
The garden leans more toward a Moroccan courtyard than a standard Austin patio, defined by a striking contrast between brutalist cast-concrete overhangs draped in greenery and textured limestone walls. The space features banquettes upholstered in vintage African mudcloth and oversized terracotta pots. At the center, a midcentury-inspired conversation pit is sunken into the gravel, surrounded by sculptural timber blocks and hand-hewn wooden stools so guests naturally face one another.
“I want people to flow around the garden and meet,” Tierney says. “It’s a natural connection point.”
The Sounds
If the design is the body, the music program is the heartbeat. Curated by Eilon Paz of Dust & Grooves, the experience runs through a custom hi-fidelity system by Israel-based One-A-Way HiFi. Featuring 59-inch-tall red oak speakers and high-end Ortofon needles, local selectors will spin everything from bluegrass to rare international finds. “The common thread is connecting through music, wine, and service,” Tierney says. “I think that’s what’s missing nowadays.”
The Wine
Wine director Kate Harrington, a veteran of Emmer & Rye and Oseyo, curates a list of emerging winemakers with bottles that are story-driven, much like the liner notes of a record. The list is organized by mood rather than region, with sections like “Somewhere Beyond the Sea” for briny pours that practically taste like a Mediterranean vacation or “Wild Thing” for off-the-beaten-path labels.
While Lone Star bottles sit alongside international legends, DrinkWell owner Jessica Sanders and the Treasury’s Antonio Matta consulted on a cocktail program focused on herbal, savory profiles. These include gin martinis with Japanese sake vermouth and a white mezcal negroni finished with rose and bergamot. The bar also caters to those skipping booze with functional, adaptogen-heavy pours featuring the Snoop Dogg–backed Iconic Tonic.
The Bites
Designed by Executive Chef Dimitri Voutsinas, the menu focuses on snacky small plates meant to pair with the acidity and funk of natural wine. Guests can nosh on toasted almonds with lavender or heartier plates like pan con tomate with burrata and smoked prosciutto with cherries.
The bar serves as what Tierney calls the “welcome mat” to the neighborhood, acting as a preview for The Butcher’s Daughter, which is slated to open in front of the bar later this summer. Until then, the “outdoor living room” stands on its own as a space built for lingering over wine and music.
Only the Wild Ones debuts May 1 at 1600 S. Congress Ave. The space will be open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 4 to 10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to midnight Follow on Instagram at @onlythewildones_atx.
Dining and Cooking