Austin's cocktail scene grew up alongside its food scene. The Roosevelt Room set the technical reference. Whisler's and Midnight Cowboy followed with East Side and 6th Street innovation. The 10 below show how Austin balances Texas warmth with serious craft.
Part of our 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
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The 10 best cocktail bars in Austin
01 · Austin
Downtown
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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. Mezcal-leaning cocktails. Sister bar to Mezcalería Tobalá upstairs.
Order: A mezcal-led seasonal
03 · Austin
6th Street
$$$
Speakeasy · Tableside
Through an unmarked door on 6th Street. Reservations only. Tableside cocktail service. Theatrical.
Order: Whatever they bring to your table
04 · Austin
South Austin
$$
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
05 · Austin
East Austin
$$
Restaurant + bar · Patio
Texas-ranch-themed restaurant with one of Austin's most patient cocktail programs. Outdoor seating, fire pits, slow food.
Order: A Texas-spirit seasonal cocktail
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06 · Austin
Downtown
$
Speakeasy · Inside a parking garage
Inside an actual parking garage downtown. The trick is the entrance; the cocktails are unfussy and well-made.
Order: An Old Fashioned, made fast
07 · Austin
Downtown
$$
Speakeasy · Reservations
Hidden downtown speakeasy. Reservation-friendly. Classics-driven menu, intimate atmosphere.
Order: A perfect Manhattan
08 · Austin
East Austin
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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
09 · 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 hot dog
10 · Austin
East Austin
$$
Speakeasy · Through a fake repair shop
Through a fake floppy-disk-repair-shop facade. East Austin speakeasy. Modern cocktail program with retro-tech theme.
Order: A signature cocktail with a 1980s name
More Austin cocktail barsThe full Austin cocktail-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How Austin cocktailing fits Texas
Austin cocktail bars combine Texas warmth (no posturing, music programming, patios) with serious craft. The Roosevelt Room and Whisler's are the technical bookends. Midnight Cowboy is the theatrical option. Most peak between 9 PM and midnight; some run later on 6th Street.
