Every March, when the maelstrom of movies, music and networking that makes up the annual South by Southwest festival hits downtown, it can be nearly impossible to get a feel for what the city truly has to offer food and drinks-wise. Bars are jam-packed and reservations overbooked, the streets are littered with tourists, and traffic is a nightmare.

Ducking into a bar for a quick beverage and bite is the best practice for the serious SXSW-ers, ensuring that the next seminar, screening or show isn’t missed. Veteran festival-goers know it’s possible to survive the fest on free Lone Star and tacos alone, but if you’re looking to get a real taste of Austin this year, here are three steadfast local staples to try.

Vodka for breakfast

Frank is the perfect one-stop-shop for breakfast before diving into the day’s revelries. Start with the house bloody mary, known as the Red Headed Stranger. This beast of a beverage packs enough protein and vitamins to justify skipping solid foods altogether. Bacon-infused Tito’s Vodka makes up the foundation for the drink, which is then topped with a proprietary blend of bloody mary mix. A crispy peppered slab of bacon, geometric cube of cheddar cheese, jalapeño-stuffed olive and tangy pepperoncini are perched on top, encouraging grazing in between sips. To balance out the dose of booze, Frank’s skilled baristas also excel in preparing fresh coffee shipped in from Handsome Roasters out of Los Angeles. You’ll likely need the caffeine to get through the day, so why not pair the two for a potent liquid breakfast?

With or without salt: an Austin classic

Bar 508 is not only one of the newest and more trendy spots for margaritas (the bar and its sister restaurant Pelóns opened last spring), it’s also one of the few spots in the downtown area that employs fresh-squeezed lime juice instead of pre-packaged sour mix, meaning each drink is healthier and tastes shockingly fresh. There are several margarita options on the menu, depending on what brand of tequila one desires, but there’s no harm in keeping things simple with the signature house Pelóns, which hits the spot with 100 percent agave tequila, fresh lime juice, agave nectar and a splash of orange juice. The refreshing Austin classic comes in either regular or giant goblet size. Spicy chili salt lines the rim, adding a welcomed departure from standard salt dusting.

Brewed in our backyard

It’s no secret Austin’s brewing scene is exploding, and finding local beer is getting easier and easier in the downtown core. If day parties draw you east of the highway, you’ll find some of the city’s best trailer food and plenty of homegrown beer options at the slightly grungy local hangout Liberty Bar. The shabby-chic dive’s back patio plays home to Paul Qui’s original East Side King trailer. It doesn’t get much more quintessentially Austin than relaxing on the back patio with a local brew in hand while you wait for beet fries or brussel sprouts salad. Austin Beerworks’ German-style Schwartz Black Thunder usually occupies one of the few taps behind the bar, with the rest of the brewery’s styles chilling in iconic cans in the fridge. Looking for something lighter? Hops and malts swim together in harmony in the Lost Gold IPA from local veterans Real Ale.