Austin's bar scene grew up alongside its food scene over the past decade. The Roosevelt Room set the technical reference; the East Side rooms (Whisler's, Nickel City) brought the neighbourhood warmth. The 10 below cover Rainey Street, the East Side, and one essential South Austin entry. Most are within a short drive of downtown.
Part of our 50 Best Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
Read the world list
The 10 best bars in Austin
01 · Austin
Downtown
$$
Cocktail temple · Speakeasy
Justin Lavenue's room. Texas's most decorated cocktail bar. Spirits-of-the-month feature, encyclopaedic menu.
Order: Whatever's the bartender's spec for that month's spirit
02 · Austin
East Austin
$
Casual · East Side
East Austin neighbourhood favourite. Sister bar to Mezcalería Tobalá upstairs. Long bar, mezcal-leaning cocktails.
Order: A mezcal-led seasonal
03 · Austin
East Austin
$
Late-night · Hot dogs
East Side late-night bar. Hot dogs, tallboys, cocktails that punch above the dive format.
Order: A cheap shot + a cheap beer + a hot dog
04 · Austin
East Austin
$
Patio · Casual
East Side patio bar. The patio is the room. Casual, warm, exactly what Austin drinking should feel like.
Order: A whiskey + a Lone Star
05 · Austin
East Austin
$$
Restaurant + bar · Patio
Texas-ranch-themed restaurant with one of Austin's most patient cocktail programs. Outdoor seating, fire pits, slow food.
Order: A Texas-spirit seasonal cocktail
Weekly editorial
The bars worth going to, weekly.
One email per week. The bars our editors are recommending right now, across 60 cities worldwide.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
06 · Austin
South Austin
$$
Cocktail bar · East Side
East Austin cocktail bar with a smaller, more intimate scale. Reservation-friendly. Modern Texas cocktailing.
Order: A small-batch Texas-distillery feature
07 · Austin
6th Street
$$$
Speakeasy · Tableside
Through an unmarked door on 6th Street. Reservations only. Tableside cocktail service. Theatrical.
Order: Whatever they bring to your table
08 · Austin
Downtown
$
Speakeasy · Inside a parking garage
Inside an actual parking garage downtown. The trick is the entrance; the cocktails are unfussy and well-made.
Order: An Old Fashioned, made fast
09 · Austin
East Austin
$
Brewpub · Tacos
Brewpub with a serious taco menu. The combination is more Austin than the format suggests.
Order: Their flagship pale + a brisket taco
10 · Austin
South Congress
$
Live music · 1955
Operating since 1955. Live country/blues music seven nights a week. Drinks are basic; the music is the point.
Order: A whiskey, neat, during the late set
More Austin bars by categoryCocktail, live music, craft beer — the full Austin index.
See the full list
How Austin's bar scene fits its city
Austin drinks Texas-warm — the patios are part of the room, the music programming is genuine, the staff actually want to talk. The Roosevelt Room and Whisler's are the technical bookends. The Liberty and Nickel City are the no-bullshit neighbourhood places. Live-music bars (The Continental Club, The Saxon) are essential context if you're in town for a few days.
