Go Beyond the Obvious {Desert Beauty}

Turn down the alley. Park in the dirt parking lot. Look for the light. Ring the doorbell.

Words by Abby L. Johnson | Photos by Baptiste Despois

From the peculiar name itself to the strange instructions patrons receive to find the bar entrance, Trona exerts an air of otherworldliness on guests from the get-go.

Tatanka Guerrero, owner and visionary, wanted to create something special for East Austin. “Trona was an idea that I had to curate and conceptualize a small boutique cocktail bar. I just felt that there was a void…[when] I wanted to go get a nice cocktail in a nice atmosphere, with great vibes and also hospitality…I feel like every single time I would have to go too far from where I live.”

When the shotgun bar that formerly housed 13th Floor (now located on Red River) became available, Tatanka saw the opportunity to challenge his design sensibility with the small scale of the building. He re-envisioned the layout, turning the street-facing door into a graffitied façade and transforming the alleyway into an otherworldly portal. The old entryway windows are now covered in spray painted scribbles that, when you look closely, spell out “anort”—which is Trona backwards. And when the sun shines just right, it casts a shadow of the name across the room.

The design takes inspiration from desert aesthetics, shining through in the earthy tones and rich textures of cedar, concrete, and terracotta that make up this highly intentional space. From the lighting design to the custom cups to the earthy smell of copal incense filling the space, there is nothing left to chance at Trona. It embodies an earthly beauty.

The idea for the name came from Tatanka’s friend. He was searching for something that would elicit an eerie feeling when he was first introduced to the word. It is both the name of a mineral best known for forming the Trona Pinnacles, a unique geological formation in California, and the name of a nearby “dilapidated kind of desert-y” town. Trona leans into a slightly uncanny feeling, yet still retains the warmth and hospitality one would expect of a cocktail bar of its caliber.

Contact:
1812 E 12th St.
@tronaeast

Access Granted
The best bet for getting a seat without a reservation is on Mondays and Tuesdays, when they leave walk-in seats available to neighborhood and industry folks. Otherwise, plan a special occasion a couple months ahead of time. Trona is certainly well-worth the wait.