Flatbread, a glass of wine and the harmony of laughter, conversation and live music: If this sounds like your ideal happy hour, you’ll find it all and more at Austin Mercantile. This coffee, wine and beer bar flies slyly under the radar because of its off-the-beaten-path location in the Brookswood Meadow Plaza on the edge of Deschutes River Woods. But you wouldn’t know it once you’re inside. It’s bustling with a where-everybody-knows-your-name vibe — the neighborhood’s Cheers but with mountain-town flair. And if you’re new to the scene, as I once was, it’s an easy place to stick around long enough for everyone to learn your name because the ambiance is incredibly warm and inviting. Sink into the brown leather couch in front of the fireplace with a beer and bruschetta. Feel the sun on your face while you eat lemon hummus and a caprese salad on a bar stool in front of a wall of windows, or share a charcuterie plate with friends at the community-style picnic tables. Prefer to sit in the fresh air with a fire and some meatballs marinated in marinara? Great, the heated patio area is ready and waiting.
Or perhaps — and this is what makes this place so unique — you’d like to do a little shopping while you snack on some olives. Austin Mercantile’s got you covered for that, too. The shelves on the chic, clean, white walls are filled with home decor and gifts that owner Kate Saffell sources based on “what I would want to have in my own home if it doesn’t sell.” Which makes me think her home must be gorgeously curated (akin to Anthropologie’s home goods section) with gold measuring spoons and wooden cutting boards, handmade glasses, Peruvian pillows, baskets, frames, plates and prints.
Kate, along with her husband John and all the participating locals, celebrate happy hour Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 7pm. With a red and white wine plus two beers on draft, the drinks are a dollar off, and the small plates, prepared in-house by Kate, are only available during these hours, relatively speaking. Being the neighborhood Cheers where people are the priority, Kate warmly shares that “we close at 7ish. If somebody comes in and I’m able to make them something, I’m always happy to do it.” While the menu may shift from time to time, the focus remains consistent: easy eats to grab with your glass of wine or beer. The flatbread is one I recommend you don’t pass up — it’s made on the spot with homemade dough and fresh ingredients. (This week, it was chicken, red onion and fresh cilantro — delightful.) For a little entertainment, you can also find live music here every Thursday and Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30pm, with local singer/songwriters like Jared McComas, Jason Burky and Evan Mullins filling the space with their sounds.
This article appears in Jan 28, 2025 – Jan 28, 2026 and Toast! 2025.
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