64 Best Bars in Austin, Texas

Opened in 1963, this north Austin haunt is one of the longest-running, most widely cherished dive bars in the city. Playful murals cover the outside of this gritty hole-in-the-wall, and it's a surreal circus once inside. You'll find no-frills service amid all the surreal accoutrements and decor straight out of a Twin Peaks episode, from pink elephants and clowns to circus tents and fire-breathers. The vibe is wild, the drinks are cheap, and the live music (hosted throughout the week) tends to be honky-tonk.

This place serves up a good time every night of the week, with live music from national and local bands. People love to catch the Spazmatics—a local '80s cover band—on Wednesday night as the courtyard becomes a playground after dark for revelers. Cedar Street offers one of the top SXSW showcases every year. RSVP and pick up your wristband early to catch a great lineup throughout the festival.

This local gay bar, dance club, and live music venue boasts an incredibly friendly staff that delivers an equally friendly pour (whether it's a Lone Star beer, biodynamic wine, or kombucha on tap). The LGBTQ+-friendly bastion serves as a great meetup point thanks to its large back patio (plus a resident food truck) in the heart of Red River. There is weekly programming on the indoor and outdoor stages dedicated to live music, drag shows, record releases, themed dance parties, and more. With its location in the heart of SXSW madness, expect music showcases and special events during the festival.

One of Rainey Street's original bungalow bars, Clive was reopened in 2022 after a major two-year renovation that expanded this once-modest bar into a three-story nightlife destination complete with rooftop deck. Drinks are simple and strong, but they're still known for an impressive mezcal selection.

Part wine bar and café, part travel agency, the Departure Lounge brings together a global variety of wine, coffee, cheese, chocolates, and pastries while offering guests a chance to explore various regions of the world. The low-key vibe allows wine enthusiasts to enjoy weekly seminars on wine regions around the world while sampling appropriate examples, and armchair travelers can use the many large touch screens to check out potential getaways through an interactive experience.

This north Austin neighborhood craft cocktail haven has all the comforts of a local community pub with all the sophistication of a sleek downtown bar. Creative signature libations and local beers dominate the beverage menu, while a tasty spread of snacks and savory bar food keeps guests pulled up to the cozy bar for a few hours. There's an open-air back patio that expands the seating of the intimate interior.

For good food, great drinks and, yes, board games, Emerald Tavern is the place to go. The front retail portion resembles a simple old-school book shop, but with a variety of games lining the shelves. In the back, the tavern offers a unique selection of beers on tap, a sizable wine list, a few café-style bites, and fresh coffee from local roaster Cuvée Coffee. Both indoors and out on the patio, you can sip and savor while passing the time playing a selection of classic, European, and role-playing games, as well as tabletop miniature games that involve tiny figurines.

Once a classic Red River haunt in the middle of downtown, this indie rock and punk venue is now on East Riverside, where a much larger main stage hosts internationally acclaimed names in the music industry, including the likes of Blues Traveler and Lauryn Hill. A long-time player in the Austin music scene, expect plenty of SXSW showcases.

Home to some of Austin’s top comedy and improv performances, the Fallout Theater draws a broad audience who journey into the rather small venue for cheap, free-sketch, stand-up, and improv comedy on most days of the week, often with two performance time-slots a night. The theater also offers eight-week classes on improv or sketch writing. There is a full-service bar, but some shows are BYOB.

The thought of parking in downtown Austin induces an instant headache. Yet, one particular parking garage on Colorado in between Fifth and Sixth streets has been known as a stress-relieving, inner-city sanctuary for savvy cocktail lovers since 2014. Enter under the "Cocktails" sign just past the nondescript garage's "Enter" and "Exit" signs and arrive via a winding entryway into the intimate, industrial-meets-mid-century-chic speakeasy. Snag one of the dozen stools around the curved granite bar to watch the experts at work on signature cocktails like the popular Indian Paintbrush, or cozy up in the banquette booths to people watch the weekend crowds. The menu also includes tasty small plates and snacks.

One of the top spots for live music on the perpetually vibrant East Sixth Street since 1978, the Gibson Room is one of famed bar Maggie Mae's music spaces and has its own entrance on the other side of the building. Sponsored by Gibson Guitars, this exclusive music venue is an artful homage to some of the world’s greatest rock artists, styled with Gibson guitars associated with legendary musicians like Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. Regular shows are open to the public, especially during SXSW, but the venue also hosts private events.

A prime spot for craft cocktail aficionados, Half Step is a swanky Rainey Street locale with first-rate bartenders who are serious about cocktails, but not too serious to keep away the fun. Both the indoor and outdoor seating areas are prime for people watching, and there are two delicious local food trucks parked on-site: Little Lucy's Mini Donut's and Spicy Boy's Fried Chicken. Live music and DJ sets are scheduled on weekends.

Originally opened by local celebrity Lance Armstrong, this lively Warehouse District bar quickly became a place to see and be seen. The warm lighting, exposed brick walls, and hardwood accents give this place a sexy urban-chic appeal, and the rooftop lounge provides amazing views of downtown at night. This venue will undoubtedly pull in a SXSW lineup.

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.

The hallowed walls of this UT dive bar and music venue are legendary. It's been a mainstay on the Drag since 1974, with a gritty Old Austin atmosphere that still remains today despite the high-rise apartments and student housing that continue to develop around it in West Campus. It's a reliable haunt where you can find cheap Lone Star beers and excellent live music every day of the week. Celebs looking for an authentic night out in Austin are spotted here regularly during festivals like SXSW, as are a lively tribe of locals who show up for the weekly happy hours, songwriters' nights, and monthly lineup of local bands and touring headlining acts. There's an indoor and outdoor stage with an on-site food truck that stays open late.

This small live music venue attracts a diverse range of bands and DJs, in every genre from rock to hip-hop, Tuesday–Sunday throughout the year; Monday is stand-up comedy night. There's a laid back vibe, and Holy Mountain serves up southern-inspired food and drink specials on the back patio.

You don't need to be a hotel guest to unwind at the San José's popular courtyard bar and lounge in what many consider to be the hippest hotel in town. Enjoy signature micheladas, reasonably priced bottles of wine, and cheese plates poolside or at a bamboo-bordered patio table. Special events, like the annual South by San Jose SXSW festival, showcase local bands in the adjacent parking lot, while weekly DJ sets, themed dance parties, and seasonal happy hour specials are hosted in the lounge space.

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.

Lamberts offers a luxurious take on barbecue in its swanky Second Street historic district locale while offering live music almost every night of the week in their upstairs loft. They host a mix of popular local musicians as well as highly acclaimed acts in an intimate setting and offer a full spectrum of SXSW offerings, including an impressive music-infused brunch.

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.

A swanky downtown bar during most of the year, this hotel bar brings Austin nightlife to the next level during big city events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Pride Week, and, of course, SXSW. There are multiple lounge spaces and bars here, including the Records Room where DJs play weekly, and an air-conditioned Screen Porch hangout. 

The first renovated bungalow bar that debuted on Rainey Street in 2009, anchoring it as its own distinct nightlife district, still attracts crowds every night of the week. The charming bungalow faces the street as it always did, but the property also encompasses a second story with rooftop deck, an outdoor stage for live music, and a courtyard filled with patrons playing bar games on the AstroTurf. The amazing Via 313 pizza food truck parked out front stays open late.

One of Sixth Street's longest-running venues (established 1978), Maggie Mae's features an Irish pub–style bar, a New Orleans–style courtyard, two stages, and one of the largest rooftop bars in downtown. The expansive, 11,000-square-foot venue hosts live acts throughout the week, and it is usually an official SXSW music showcase or party venue throughout the annual music fest.

Now overshadowed by towering condos, this little shack of a bar owes its name (and overall atmosphere) to the Man in Black. Originally a chainsaw repair shop, this dive is a local cult favorite, with worn barnwood walls covered with tattered Johnny Cash memorabilia and a shabby-chic patio with an assortment of tables where patrons can enjoy a wide selection of beers and cocktails, some of which are deeply discounted during their weekday happy hour (4–8 pm).

An evening reservation at this diminutive cocktail club, hidden in plain sight in the midst of Sixth Street, is an absolute must for craft cocktail lovers. Originally a massage parlor busted for running an in-house escort service, the club perpetuates a secretive air of mystique with Prohibition-era decor and a speakeasy entrance. (Guests must press the buzzer marked "Harry Craddock" under the "Midnight Cowboy Modeling Oriental Massage" sign to gain entry.) Tableside cocktails are the main attraction, perfect for a special occasion for an intimate group of friends or a romantic date-night indulgence. Reservations are required and are available in two-hour time blocks.

Formerly located downtown, this live music lounge and venue relocated just east of I–35 in recent years, so the physical space is different than old Austinites remember, but the nightly live music and dedicated community and special events are still the same. A small attached bar space, My Oh My, has a nice cocktail menu and rotating food options.

On Sixth Street’s "grown-up" west side, this multilevel bar has a tendency to get a little rowdy on weekends but manages to keep a steady flow of young execs popping in throughout the week. Large-screen TVs, upbeat DJ tunes, and an outdoor patio with a great view of the city skyline make this a perfect place for large gatherings with friends. It's also near a few choice spots to grab a bite to eat. It's currently only open on weekends and during Longhorn and Patriots football games. 

If you can get past the Saxon's lackluster exterior on an ugly stretch of South Lamar, then you'll find a phenomenal local music experience. Bands play every night, usually from the local rock, country, and blues scene. There's Shiner Bock on tap and a well-worn pool table that draws regulars from all over the city. The legendary venue always packs bands in back-to-back throughout SXSW.

This downtown live music venue is composed of three levels; the first floor bowling mezzanine (a lounge area complete with two vintage bowling lanes that overlook the music lounge stage); the second-floor Ballroom concert space and Prohibition-themed Kabaret Room; and the Terrace59 rooftop lounge. There is live music and late-night dance parties almost every night, with extended showcases during SXSW. The Spazmatics, a beloved local '80s and '90s tribute band, perform on the Ballroom stage to packed audiences every Wednesday night.

Although Austin is better known for hole-in-the-wall bars, live music venues, and couture cocktail emporiums, this club is one of the main spots in the city. It is almost too trendy for Austin, but visitors may enjoy the 1920s speakeasy feel and rooftop views. This downtown establishment always play hosts to a variety of SXSW acts, too.