New Bar/Cafe Opens on East Fourth Street

Cosmic Saltillo opens today at 1300 E. Fourth, just west of the Scoot Inn. Paul Oveisi and Patrick Dean, who launched popular South Austin hangout Cosmic Coffee & Beer Garden, have taken over the old Historic Texaco Depot with partners Jason Stevens and John Butts. Cosmic Saltillo features a full bar, cafe, and restaurant.

Cosmic Hospitality Group teamed up with architect Clayton Korte, Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, Spencer Landscaping, and Space Squared to create a unique experience for the area. Much of the historic building has been preserved, and the graffiti that covers the outside lends it an industrial chic vibe that belies the lush interior garden and pond designed to prioritize sustainable practices.

The deck on the second floor overlooking the property promises to be a popular nighttime attraction. Even on the first morning/afternoon it was open, the family-friendly courtyard was full of young professionals who live near the booming Plaza Saltillo area conversing with each other or hunched over laptops.

The interior has been converted into a full bar, which serves a menu similar to the south Cosmic Coffee location including beer, cocktails, and coffee. The complex also houses Cosmic Taqueria, which draws inspiration from Juarez/El Paso, Tijuana/San Diego, and Mexico City. Forgoing the food trailers that have been a big draw for the original location, the all-day taqueria has a breakfast menu and a lunch/dinner menu in addition to serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic aguas frescas and horchata. It also has classic Mexican-influenced snacks such as chips and salsa, loaded queso fries, fruit cups, and charro beans.

Cosmic Saltillo is poised to become a staple for the neighborhood and a pregame or postshow spot for those attending concerts next door at the C3 and Live Nation-owned Scoot Inn. The soft opening was packed with a mix of friends and family of CHG and local residents checking out the new space, which is still evolving. The end result is a fashionable yet unpretentious space for Austin’s Eastside.

Although there is no live music program for the space given that at night you can easily overhear the acts performing at the Scoot Inn, one can almost guarantee that Cosmic Saltillo will make a big splash during SXSW 2024 given its location and footprint.

Cosmic Saltillo is open Sunday through Thursday from 8am to 10pm and Friday-Saturday from 8am to midnight.