Austin's drinking map sorts itself into three zones: downtown's cocktail dens, the East Side's honky tonks and patios, and Rainey Street's converted bungalows. This crawl threads all three in one night, seven stops in walking and short ride order.
The route draws from our best bars in Austin ranking and the full Austin bar guide. For deeper options east of the highway, see our East Austin bar guide.
The Route
Start downtown at 6pm, cross to the East Side by 9pm, and finish on Rainey Street after midnight. Texas calls last orders at 2am, so the schedule matters.
DowntownCocktail Bar$$$
Garage pours serious cocktails inside an actual working parking garage off Colorado Street, neon sign and all, and has collected national best bar mentions for years. Order the Indian Paintbrush, the drink that made the room famous, and take the first stop slow.
Sixth StreetSpeakeasy$$$
Midnight Cowboy hides behind a discreet door on Dirty Sixth, reservation required, in a space that once held a massage parlor. Cart service builds drinks at your table, and the room stays library quiet while the street outside roars. Book days ahead; it is the one essential stop on this strip.
Sixth StreetBeer Garden$$
Easy Tiger pairs a working bakery with a beer garden stepping down toward Waller Creek, which makes it the night's eating stop as much as its drinking one. Order a Texas draft and a pretzel with beer cheese, then get out before comfort ruins your schedule.
East AustinCocktail Bar$$
Whisler's anchors East Sixth with a chandeliered patio, prices that undercut downtown, and a small mezcal room upstairs that opens on select nights and rewards the climb. This is where the crawl changes character; the East Side does not hurry, and neither should you.
East AustinLive Music Bar$
Hotel Vegas stacks garage rock, punk, and psych across its stages and backyard, with cheap cover and a Lone Star in everyone's hand. Check the calendar but trust the booking; the room rarely misses. Stay for one full set, no more.
East AustinHonky Tonk$
The White Horse runs live country and two stepping most nights, with a taco truck out back and a dance floor that absorbs beginners kindly. Cover stays cheap and the band stays loud. If you only keep one East Side stop, keep this one.
Rainey StreetCocktail Bar$$$
Half Step closes the night in a Rainey Street bungalow with a hand cut ice program and a porch built for the last hour. The room takes its drinks more seriously than its neighbors take anything, which is exactly the landing the night needs before 2am.
Crawl Rules
Skip the rest of Dirty Sixth; Midnight Cowboy and Easy Tiger are the exceptions, not the rule. The East Side carries the night's character and Rainey carries its finish.
Hydrate between zones, because Austin heat does not care that the sun went down. Keep cash for cover charges east of the highway.
The Short Version
Cocktails at Garage, the booked door at Midnight Cowboy, a pretzel at Easy Tiger, then east for Whisler's mezcal, a Hotel Vegas set, and White Horse two stepping before Half Step's closing pour on Rainey.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this Austin bar crawl take?
About eight hours end to end. Start at 6pm downtown, reach the East Side by 9pm, and hit Rainey Street after midnight before the 2am Texas last call.
Is Sixth Street worth visiting?
The Dirty Sixth strip mostly is not, but two exceptions justify the walk: Midnight Cowboy's reservation only speakeasy and Easy Tiger's beer garden.
What is the best night for this route?
Thursday or Friday. Saturdays pack Rainey and Dirty Sixth past comfort, while early in the week the East Side's live rooms thin out.
