Once every four years, Cowtown turns into Pianotown. And that deserves a toast.
About 50,000 music fans are expected to attend the prestigious 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, currently in its semifinal round at Bass Performance Hall in downtown Fort Worth. About 20 percent of the attendees will travel from outside DFW.
With so many locals and visitors mixing and mingling in Fort Worth for the competition, the Cliburn has partnered with nearby restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries for "Passport to Pianotown" specials, discounts, and even some freebies.
The first-ever "passport" includes 57 destinations, most of which are bars and restaurants offering Cliburn-inspired beverages and bites for a citywide celebration of piano. Popular Near Southside bars The Usual, Proper, and Atlas, for example, are crafting special sips with music-inspired names: "The Black (and White) Keys," "Sonata No. 10," and "E-Sharp (E#)," respectively. Downtown restaurants 61 Osteria, Grace, and Little Red Wasp are offering a complimentary glass of prosecco before and after performances.
The virtual passport is free online, and there are printed versions, with maps, available at all participating businesses and at Bass Hall. However, it's not necessary to show anything to get the specials; just mention them upon ordering. (Beware that some places may ask to see concert tickets).
No proceeds from sales of passport specials go to the Cliburn, they say; their goal is to encourage competition attendees to visit local establishments during the event, which runs through June 7.
Here's the complete list of all the restaurants and bars offering Cliburn-inspired specials, in alphabetical order.
61 Osteria
500 W 7th St.
Downtown restaurant is offering a complimentary glass of prosecco to attendees either prior to or after competition performances.
Acre Distilling Co.
1309 Calhoun St.
Downtown distillery and bar is crafting the special cocktail Green Room Prelude: "a crisp overture of Two Minnies Gin, fresh basil, and lime, served in a coupe glass."
Atlas
314 S Main St.
South Main bar is pouring a special cocktail called E-Sharp (E#) , "a bold harmony of elegance and edge," made with Haku Vodka, Caffè Borghetti liqueur, locally brewed Ampersand Espresso, and house made sweetener.
Bodega South Main
203 S Main St.
The recently crowned Tastemaker Awards Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year is baking up special piano keys cookies during the Cliburn.
Buffalo Bros
415 Throckmorton St.
Dine in at the Sundance Square sports bar to enjoy Encore Eats late-night bites until 2 am after performances.
Clay Pigeon Food & Drink
2731 White Settlement Rd.
Crafting a "Cliburn Cup" cocktail special with bourbon, honey, lemon juice, yuzu curacao, and sparkling wine.
Don Artemio
3268 W. 7th St.
West Seventh fine-dining restaurant has a special dessert offering: La Sonata Dulce - pastel aleman deconstruido.
Funkytown Donuts & Drafts
132 E 4th St.
Shop across from Bass Hall is offering a piano key doughnut special with lemon glaze (white) with dark chocolate.
Grace
777 Main St.
Fine-dining restaurant steps from Bass Hall is offering a complimentary glass of prosecco to attendees either prior to or after competition performances.
Hao's Grocery and Café
120 Saint Louis Ave.
Near Southside restaurant-shop is offering Butter Chicken Dumplings: "a symphony of fresh tomatoes, aromatic spices, Kashmiri red chili, solicits all the tasting notes, creating a crescendo of intense flavor with each gastric melodic movement."
Hopscotch
103 W 3rd St.
Sundance Square beverage and snack shop is offering 25 percent off agua frescas (fresh juices).
Kahwa Coffee
1050 W. Magnolia Ave.
Receive 20 percent off all handcrafted Kahwa coffees and beverages at the Magnolia Ave. coffee shop.
La'Creamian
215 W 8th St.
Downtown ice cream shop is offering The Cliburn Grand Sonata Swirl: "white chocolate ice cream with an accompaniment of indulgent dark chocolate curls, and a passionate embrace of Chambord raspberry ribbon."
Leaves Bakery and Books
1251 W Magnolia Ave.
Near Southside tea shop is rolling out Cliburn-themed decorated sugar cookies "that strike the perfect chord between rich buttercream frosting and a soft, classic sugar cookie."
Liberty Lounge
515 S. Jennings Ave.
Near Southside bar is serving up La Tecla Cocktail: "crafted with signature jalapeño-infused tequila, fresh-squeezed lime juice, pure agave nectar, and a refreshing splash of soda, this cocktail is a crisp, spicy-smooth ode to rhythm, flair, and fiery finesse."
Little Red Wasp
808 Main St.
Downtown restaurant is offering a complimentary glass of Prosecco to attendees either prior to or after competition performances.
Maiden: Fine Plants & Spirits
1214 6th Ave.
Near Southside vegan restaurant has two offerings. Menu special: "Cliburn 1959: Moscow. Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor. Delicate braised cabbage folded with intention, resting in a fragrant consommé. Garnished with pickled cherry and fresh thyme."
Cocktail special is: The Van Cliburn Mule: "a tribute in a copper cup: wild- harvested Texas yaupon tea, shaken with Tito’s vodka and fresh lime, then topped with effervescent Goldenroot Elderberry-Ginger Beer."
Melt Ice Creams
700 Main St., 1201 W Magnolia Ave., 122 East Exchange Ave.
Ice cream shop with three locations is shaking up a black-and-white Maestro's Mocha Crunch Meltshake: "blending the bold taste of MELT's housemade Cookie Crush ice cream with rich, coffee and cream flavored Cup of TX ice cream. Topped with fluffy whipped cream, a rich chocolate drizzle, and dark chocolate sprinkles."
Ostara Coffee Roasters
208 E Broadway Ave.
Near Southside coffee shop is doing Black and White Cappuccino: "Ostara's signature espresso meets the delicate sweetness of white chocolate, all wrapped in a velvety layer of steamed oat milk and foam."
Proper
409 Magnolia Ave.
Magnolia Avenue bar has a cocktail special: Sonata No. 10, "the vibrant Citadelle Rouge gin lays the foundation, while hibiscus-infused dry vermouth and an east India sherry add depth and warmth, orange curacao brightens the melody, with a precise touch of saline. Finished with an orange peel and served with a wafting of campfire smoke."
Reata Restaurant
530 Throckmorton St.
Downtown restaurant is doing a Texas Keyslinger cocktail: "Mount Gay Rum anchors the drink with warmth and depth, while Aperol introduces a bittersweet contrast, and St. Germain adds a floral hint of elegance. Lime juice cuts through with crisp clarity, like a well-timed high note."
Rio Dulce
109 Houston St.
Downtown coffee shop is brewing up The Cliburn Crescendo: "the Crescendo is offered as either a Latte or a double espresso using our premium espresso infused with a hint of cardamom syrup for warmth and complexity, topped with a light orange zest foam to evoke the bright, expressive notes of a performance."
Salsa Limon
550 Throckmorton St., 1465 W Magnolia Ave., 925 University Dr.
Gourmet taco shop with three locations is serving a Cliburn Combo: Signature Chicken Capitán accompanied by a fresh squeezed real lime margarita. Crispy Oaxaca-Jack cheese melted directly to a buttery tortilla, filled with succulent grilled chicken, shredded pickled cabbage, onions, and cilantro.
The Holly Natural Wine Bar
305 W Daggett Ave.
Near Southside wine bar is bringing out a Natural Wine Tasting Flight: a global exploration through three distinct wines crafted by independent, visionary winemakers.
The Usual
1408 W. Magnolia Ave.
Magnolia Avenue cocktail bar is crafting The Black (and White) Keys: bourbon, Benedictine, Averna, bitters, walnut liqueur.
Walloon's Restaurant
701 W. Magnolia Ave.
Magnolia Avenue restaurant is pouring together a Piano, Piano: Jamaican Rum, Italicus Rosolio d’Bergamatto, maraschino liqueur, lime juice.
Waters Restaurant
301 Main St.
Sundance Square seafood restaurant is offering a cocktail called Sunset Sipper: "like a well-rehearsed sonata, the Sunset Sipper is all about balance. Zephyr gin, St. Germain, Aperol, and fresh lemon play in perfect harmony."
WineHaus
1628 Park Place Ave.
Near Southside wine bar is welcoming Cliburn patrons with a special Provence rosé.
