8 Best Bars in East Austin, Austin

This natural wine bar and shop popped up amidst the dive bars and music venues of East Sixth to great fanfare, offering an incredible respite for respectable wine lovers. Friendly staff help navigate the selection of biodynamic and natural wines at the shop's front counter, and the shady back patio has communal seating and live music some nights. Stop in for a bottle to-go or enjoy their happy hour with an artisanal cheese board.

Named one of the best bars in America by GQ magazine, Nickel City holds court in one of the most bustling stretches of east Austin. With an arsenal of heavy pours, classic cocktails, and a "damn good" whiskey selection, bartenders serve loyal customers without gimmicks or frills. There are hearty on-site food options, and weekly specials are promoted regularly on the pedestrian-heavy East 11th Street. Look out for special pop-up installations and themed takeovers during SXSW.

Cowboys, hipsters, and dancing queens alike all mix and mingle with surprising ease at this Eastside honky-tonk for the modern age. Live music from some of the best country, rockabilly, and swing bands in the area are hosted onstage every night, and newcomers can take donation-based two-step classes before the main dance floor fills up. The backyard food truck, Bomb Tacos, slings food every night until late.

This historic outdoor music venue, established in 1871, is tucked away on the east side and offers a funky and fresh mix of music and theme parties in a dive-bar–esque setting with an impressive outdoor stage. On-site parking can be tough to find, so ride-sharing is encouraged. Be sure to check out their lineup during SXSW.

If the sun has set and you're ready to not only hear, but feel some beats, then hit up these side-by-side sister bars and live music venues for nightly live bands, killer DJ sets, and dance parties in the heart of East Sixth Street. Expect a throwdown of sound during SXSW.

This East Sixth Street dive bar has a huge back-patio space filled with picnic tables. The on-site food truck, Bat City Pies, serves up Detroit-style pizza. Grab a beer before hitting the town, or end up here for a late-night bite and game of pool. The Liberty also provides a great place to socialize during SXSW with its hip east-side address and it always hosts its share of live music.

With an original location in Brooklyn, NY, the Weather Up has brought its craft cocktails down south. Grace this patio for a fanciful concoction before heading out into the rest of your night. With Brooklyn roots and a hip East Side address, expect plenty of fanfare during SXSW.

A top spot for craft cocktails in an intimate atmosphere along East 6th Street, Whisler's consistently draws a see-and-be-seen crowd who not only expect the best cocktail of their choice, but are also willing to pay top-dollar for it. If you take craft cocktails seriously, you won’t regret an evening here. You’ll find an inviting array of seasonal drinks on the menu, but be sure to ask your server about off-the-menu options, too. And their "back bar," a Oaxacan-inspired mezcal bar, Mezcalería Tobalá (open Friday and Saturday), is not to be missed.