Close to Home: Sip Something Hip

New Orleans, Louisiana
Two sisters rule the French Quarter. The Court of Two Sisters, named for Creole siblings who lived during the late 1800s, renders some of the tastiest mimosas ($6) in the South. Stop by any day except Wednesday for the jazz brunch ($25), where guests sip to the beat of live music and feast on everything from grits and grillades to duck à l'orange. 613 Royal Street; (504) 522-7261 or www.courtoftwosisters.com. Make reservations online. Lunch hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Dinner hours: 5:30-9 p.m., Thursday-Saturday and Monday.

Austin, Texas
When four friends with different culinary tastes started cooking together, they gave birth to the spicy downtown spot called Z' Tejas Grill. Snag a seat on the patio, and order a Latin-inspired mojito ($4.50) with your meal. It comes in a tall glass and tastes like what you'd imagine a Cuban drink to be---smooth, refreshing, and tropical. With a menu as diverse as its hometown, the restaurant features items such as Fireman Tim's Chile Verde ($7.95) made with pork drenched in garlic and green chiles. 1110 West Sixth Street; (512) 478-5355 or www.ztejas.com.

Don't Drink?
The Round Robin Bar at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C., serves favorite Presidential drinks, some of which are nonalcoholic. Try the one named for Calvin Coolidge, which contains a refreshing blend of cranberry juice and soda ($5). (202) 628-9100.

"Close to Home: Sip Something Hip" is from the June 2006 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.