A daytime coffee shop evolves into a comfortable bar after dark, offering fabulous drinks and a party-garage vibe. The Bloody Mary – deliciously pickled, rimmed with Creole seasoning – is a must.
We seriously dig this bar’s sticky-floor aesthetic and convivial vibes. The room is dark, the music is hot, the crowd is diverse, and friendly barkeeps keep the margaritas and the Two Steps flowing.
With dark lighting, cool air, and the Beach Boys on the jukebox, this is a perfect after-work stop that holds up nicely into the night. The long, L-shaped bar is good for chill TV watching.
The kickass, always-packed patio here can keep us happily captive all evening. Even if you don’t feel like drinking, it’s worth the trip just for a steamed bun from food trailer East Side King.
Cheap drinks + ESK curry buns and beet fries make this our go-to bar. Chances are you’ll run into someone you know on the back patio, and the communal benches mean you’ll be making new friends, too.
Think Parisian bistro, burlesque cabaret, and steampunk film set, with upscale food and bar menus based on seasonal, local ingredients. Execution can be spotty, but the ambience is always spot-on.
Our readers regularly vote Cheer Up the best LBGTQ hangout in Austin, but this this vegan bar/music venue is an all-inclusive haven for hipsters and slackmeisters, too. Kombucha on tap, y’all!
With its vintage funeral-parlor-meets-antique-taxidermy-museum vibe, the Volstead appears to pride itself on dirty cool. Sister bar Hotel Vegas next door has live music.
This no-frills neighborhood bar is named for the patron saint of dogs and those who love them. Try the Leftover Cereal Milk, a perfectly named shot.
You access this swanky side lounge from the alley. Follow the red X to the snug, spy-themed interior; continuing the theme, craft cocktails bear names like Mata Hari and the Cyanide Pill.
Classic cocktails, a short but uncommonly adventurous wine list, and an elevated bar food menu make the casual Yellow Jacket a winner. Snag an outside table and enjoy a pork belly bánh mì in the sun.
The Scoot has been in business off and on for over 140 years, making it one of the oldest beer-slinging honky-tonks in Texas. We adore this dive bar, but the bathrooms are strictly to be avoided.
This NYC import ain't messin' around: It has a novella-length cocktail list and harvests its ice from 300-pound crystal blocks. That's the type ice sculptors use – perfect for craft cocktail art.
Tiny, with a jukebox ranging from Hot Snakes to Otis Redding, the Brixton is a straight-up, no-fuss bar that highlights the beauty of tattoos, good folks, and bar talk.
