What are the best bars in Austin?

The best bars in Austin span a wide range of styles — from intimate cocktail dens to rooftop venues with panoramic views. Our editors maintain a curated list of the top venues across 8 categories and every major neighbourhood.

What neighbourhood has the best bars in Austin?

Austin's bar scene is scattered across several distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own character. Use our city guide to discover which areas suit your occasion and preferred style of night out.

What is the best time to go bar-hopping in Austin?

Thursday through Saturday evenings are the peak nights at Austin's best bars. If you prefer a quieter atmosphere, midweek visits between 7–9pm let you enjoy the same venues without the crowds.

Do bars in Austin take reservations?

The most popular bars in Austin do take reservations, particularly for weekend evenings. Some venues operate walk-in only. We note reservation policies in our individual bar listings.

Best Bars in Austin 2026

Top Picks This Week

Editor's Choice

Cocktail Bar East Austin $$ ⭐ 4.8

Whisler's

Mezcaleria downstairs, rooftop bar upstairs, proper cocktails throughout. The mezcal selection is one of the best in Texas. Go midweek when the East 6th crowd is manageable and the bartenders have time to talk you through the selection.

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Live Music West Campus $ ⭐ 4.7

Hole in the Wall

The quintessential Austin dive bar. Live music 7 nights a week, cheap long necks, neon signs you have to squint to read. Stevie Ray Vaughan played here. Every Austin bar crawl should end here.

Craft Cocktails

Cocktail Bar East Austin $$ ⭐ 4.7

Half Step

Among the finest cocktail bars in Texas. Ice program, seasonal menu, serious bartenders who don't take themselves too seriously. The covered patio is ideal for Austin's long spring and fall evenings.

Austin by Neighbourhood

East Austin (East 6th and East Cesar Chavez)

The bar corridor that defines modern Austin drinking. The stretch from East 6th to Cesar Chavez holds the best independent cocktail bars, mezcalerias, and craft beer spots in the city. It arrived quickly and the quality has stayed high. Get here before 9pm on weekends if you want to eat before you drink.

Sixth Street (Historic and Dirty Sixth)

The original bar strip runs from Congress to IH-35. Weekend nights are loud, young, and packed. But the blocks between Congress and Brazos — known as the Rainey Street alternative for more grown-up tastes — hold some genuinely excellent spots if you know where to look. Sixth Street is also Austin's live music heartland: venues like Antone's and The Parish sit within a block of the honky-tonks, making it one of the few bar corridors in America where you can move from a Longhorns watch party at a sports bar to a jazz set at a live music venue without hailing a ride.

Rainey Street

Bungalow bars in converted houses, a distinctly Austin setting that other cities can't replicate. The crowd is mostly 25-35, the drinks are reasonable, and the outdoor areas are the appeal. Gets busy quickly on Fridays.

South Congress (SoCo) and South Lamar

The south side of the river has a more relaxed pace. Neighbourhood bars, live music venues without the tourist traffic, and the kind of spots where regulars have their order memorized by the staff.

Downtown and West 6th

The business district bars are busiest from 5 to 9pm with the tech and government worker crowd. After-work scene is strong here; late-night is more variable. The rooftop bars along West 6th have some of the best views of the Capitol building.

Austin Bar Guide