A particular kind of heat settles over the Panhandle every July. It presses down on dry, open plains and sunbaked parking lots alike, and by early afternoon, the only sensible plan is to find something cold—and let somebody else make it for you.
This isn’t a season for ambition, y’all. It’s a season for finding shade, claiming a breezy patio, and letting someone who knows what they’re doing place a great drink in your hand.
Fortunately, Amarillo delivers. This city has never needed much of an excuse to gather around a good drink, whether that’s a cup of coffee strong enough to jump-start the day or a glass of wine poured slowly enough to encourage you to linger a while. Summer simply gives us another reason to enjoy the outdoors.
Here are three spots I love that are helping Amarillo beat the heat this summer, along with a refreshing cocktail you can shake up at home when venturing back out into the sun feels like one errand too many.
Palace Coffee
For more than a decade, Palace has built an empire of exceptional coffee across Amarillo. Order the cold brew latte if you’re craving something rich and indulgent, or ask about the seasonal Cause Drink, which is always worth the surprise. The baristas roast every bean in-house, and that attention to detail shines through in every cup.
My go-to order—if anyone out there is buying—is a tall Aztec Mocha with oat milk and an extra shot of espresso, which tells you everything you need to know about how my mornings usually unfold. The cinnamon and chile give it a warmth that feels distinctly West Texas: comforting, a little unexpected, and memorable for all the right reasons—the way the best things about the Panhandle tend to be. On a 100-degree afternoon, I tend to order it iced.
The 806 Coffee + Lounge
Tucked along Sixth Street, The 806 has been part of my life longer than I’ve been running a catering business, and that’s saying something. This place has been a neighborhood fixture since 2007. Part coffee shop, part art gallery, and part lounge, it features local art on the walls and a legendary open mic on Wednesday nights. It’s the kind of spot where you order coffee in the morning, a cold beer or glass of wine in the evening, and a small plate to hold you over in between.
I used this place as my makeshift office back when Black Fig was still just an idea. I’d sit at a corner table with my laptop open, letting my coffee go cold because I was too busy scribbling notes to drink it. I’ve met more good friends here than I can count—the kind of relationships that start with a nod across the room and grow into something real over the course of a few afternoons. That’s the true magic of The 806. It has never been solely about the drink in your hand; it’s about the community built inside those walls.
Old Tascosa Brewing Company
Down in the Route 66 Historic District, Old Tascosa Brewing Company has built a taproom that feels like the neighborhood living room this city needed. Their easy-drinking craft beers are built for hot days, and the entire space carries the road-trip nostalgia this stretch of highway is famous for. It’s the perfect place to end an evening, cold pint in hand, surrounded by the vibrant local color that defines Amarillo.
Every detail—from the murals and the iconic sign out front to the live local music on weekends—points back to this historic highway and the people who love it. A specific brand of Amarillo hospitality lives here: unhurried, welcoming and well worth sitting inside for a while.
Cocktails at Home: The Canyon Sunset
Not every hot day calls for a drive across town. This drink is built for the porch, the backyard, or the kitchen counter at five o’clock after a long workday.
The color should land somewhere between peach and rose gold, capturing the hue of a Palo Duro Canyon sunset—which felt like the perfect note to end on. Pour yourself a glass, sit still and enjoy the evening.
2 ounces fresh peach puree (or 2 ripe peaches, blended)
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces of your favorite bourbon
2 ounces ginger beer
Ice
A few mint leaves and a lime wheel, for garnish
Combine peach puree, lime juice, simple syrup and bourbon in a shaker filled with ice. Shake hard for about 10 seconds, until the outside of the shaker turns cold to the touch. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Top with ginger beer and stir gently once. Garnish with mint and a lime wheel.
Make it a Mocktail: Omit the bourbon and add 3 ounces of ginger beer or sparking soda.
Makes 1 drink
