The 27 best bars in Austin right now

Opened in 2021, this social club is currently downtown’s hippest spot. Combining a restaurant, bar, and nightclub in one large venue, Higher Ground is spiritually themed, offering patrons a sinfully good time. Driving home the theme, the space is intricately decorated with religious artifacts, stained glass windows, and a DJ booth made from a vintage organ. Sip on one of the “Seven Deadly Sins” cocktails such as Greed (Texas whiskey, coffee-infused demerara, and bitters) or Lust (tequila, mezcal, absinthe, strawberry syrup, and blackberries). Keen to work your way through the entire list? We suggest ordering a helping of delicious “daily bread” to soak up the booze.

This all-day drinking den is a chameleon for any occasion. Inside, design-forward interiors create a sophisticated setting (perfect for a glass of wine), while outside is more relaxed (unwind with friends on big comfy sofas). In the morning, the bar is a quiet coffee spot while afternoons are more upbeat (celebratory espresso-martini brunch, anyone?). Whatever your reason for visiting, don’t miss their signature brew, The Codependent, made with casamigos reposado, Mr Black cold brew liqueur, espresso, and Licor 43.

Believe it or not, it’s totally possible to blend wellness with booze. At The Well, located in the 2nd Street District, a better-for-you beverage program features a biodynamic, natural, and 100% organic wine list alongside cocktails that are crafted with cold pressed juices and sweetened with natural sugars like agave, honey, and dates. Our favorite drink, the Majik Matcha, is made with smoky mezcal, blue majik spirulina, matcha tea, raw organic honey, sparkling water and vegan egg whites. Happy hour runs Tuesday-Friday from 4:30-6pm.

A lively new addition to the campus district, think of Bar Moxy as your chance to mingle with the student crowd. While there’s an indoor living room, head outside and you’ll find backyard space with lounge seating, swings, arcade games, a fireplace, and worthy craft cocktails. Look out for themed events and offers such as Fraternity Fridays, Sorority Saturdays, and “retro” Mean Girls Wednesdays. Feeling peckish? Luckily, a 24-hour taco stand sits within the bar.

The original ‘Midnight Cowboy Modeling & Oriental Massage’ sign has been taken down, but a single red bulb still lets you know where to find this hidden bar, a refuge amongst Dirty Sixth’s bush-league. Guaranteed entry requires a reservation (check their website), although from Thursday to Sunday the patio is open to walk-ins and features an inventive menu that differs from the one inside. If you do have a reservation, buzz the button labeled “Harry Craddock” upon arrival and a host will seat you inside where the cocktail menu changes annually and follows a theme, such as a passport-style lineup made with ingredients from all over the world.

Lit with candles and dressed in jewel tones, The Roosevelt Room never disappoints. Striking a balance between finesse and playfulness, the cocktails are bold and exciting — a few showstoppers include the Death Valley (served in a Topo Chico bottle, it’s made with absinthe and lime), and the elegant Jingu Bang (made with tequila, Linie Aquavit, banana liqueur, sesame oil, and cinnamon). Looking for a challenge? Go ahead and tackle The Roosevelt Room’d Classics Card: if you try all 50-plus drinks over time, you’ll get your name on a plaque and a t-shirt.

Small Victory is, in fact, a huge victory. The bar serves cocktails borrowed from the past in a gorgeous space that still feels like a secret (despite all of the acclaim). Nestled in the corner of a parking garage behind the Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel, you’ll find the joint up a flight of stairs and behind a heavy wooden door—inside, plush banquettes span the length of the room, a long and narrow space. Perfect for intimate gatherings, stylish cocktails are the name of the game: try the Creole Cocktail, a concoction made with rye, sweet vermouth, amaro ciociaro, and benedictine.

Keen to let your hair down? The Long Play is a low-key watering hole with all the right ingredients to blow off some steam. Patio and board games? Check. A long list of craft beers? Check. More than 400 vinyls ready to spin? Check. Pups allowed? Woof. Their self-titled “World Famous Chili” washes down well with a cool IPA or their signature Marga-Reba cocktail.

Located on the fourth floor of the Van Zandt Hotel off Rainey Street, Geraldine’s is a spacious restaurant with an open kitchen, a stage for live music, and a separate rooftop lounge that serves drinks, food, and views. On sweltering days, try the Texas Sunburn (a refreshing cocktail made with Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Chareau aloe liqueur, ancho reyes, and housemade grenadine) while enjoying views of downtown’s skyline and Lady Bird Lake.

Garage exists in the category of Austin’s kinda hidden bars—you’ll find this small joint tucked within a parking garage on Colorado Street between 5th and 6th. The raw concrete interior, with soaring ceilings and structural columns, is lit only by candles and the glow of a circular bar. Without forgetting its locale, the menu is organized with clever car terms (an ‘unleaded’ section features non-alcoholic drinks, for example) and runs the gamut with classics and signature cocktails alike. For a light option, try the herbal Indian Paintbrush (made with vodka, grapefruit juice, lime, and rosemary) or for something a little more brooding, the Penicillin (made with earl grey scotch, lemon, ginger, and honey).

The former Longbranch Inn has been transformed into Nickel City, a refreshingly unpretentious cocktail bar with classic cocktails, inventive variations, and a food truck out back that serves coney dogs, sliders, and wings. Regulars and newcomers alike rave about the Nickel City aperol spritz on draft, though don’t be afraid to try one of their tiki drinks, boilermakers (beer and a shot), or one of their “unknown” cocktails like the Dickel in a Box. Whiskey Wednesdays are especially popular.

With ample patio seating and a popular food truck (Golden Tiger, located out back), Whisler’s is a crowd-pleasing happy hour destination. A combo of exposed stone and salvaged architectural details — like a Virgen de Guadalupe altar, complete with a board of handwritten peticiones, a.k.a. wishes — gives this place a somewhat romantic vibe, while its creative cocktails go down easy. For a sure-bet, try the Feel Good Hit of the Summer, a drink made with bourbon, cantaloupe, lemongrass, apricot, and lemon. Upstairs from the bar, you’ll also find Mezcalería Tobalá, an Oaxacan-style mezcal bar where the agave spirit is served in traditional terracotta copitas with orange slices and sal de gusano (worm salt).

Despite closing in 2020, King Bee Lounge is back with new ownership and a shiny new East 12th Street location. Their rotating selection of signature drinks remains, including classics like the Boulevardier (rye bourbon, campari, and sweet vermouth) and frozen drinks like the Bee’s Knees (gin, local honey, and lemon juice served with edible flowers). The reopened venue bids farewell to the former joint’s pizza menu and instead offers burgers from Golden Castle, a pop-up food truck. Live music, stand-up comedy, and themed parties (from tiki-inspired gatherings to Halloween events) are in the works, pandemic restrictions pending.

Lala’s, which locals affectionately call Lala’s Christmas Bar or Lala’s Little Nugget, can be found in a dingy shopping strip on Justin Lane. Inside, the beloved dive bar is festively decorated with strings of colored lights, tinsel, and metallic ornaments that dangle from retro ceiling tiles (all year, a Christmas tree looms in the corner). The story behind Lala’s kitschy aesthetic is simple: in 1972, after packing up the bar’s holiday decorations for the season, the founder of Lala’s thought the space looked bare and decided to put them back up (they haven’t come down since). Embrace the kitsch and sip on the bar’s Reindeer Water (tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and rain water) in true festive fashion.

Drink.Well. is a quintessential neighborhood bar that serves healthy fare and inspired cocktails. Owner Jessica Sanders brings creative energy to the table with fresh concoctions that are jam-packed with flavor, like an herbaceous Costa Brava (made with mahon spanish gin, vida mezcal, pajarote grapefruit, rosemary liqueur, and so much more). The space is intimate—40 seats with just a handful of highly coveted bar spots—and on weekends is packed to the gills, so get there early to avoid disappointment.

By serving Texas-only craft brews, Craft Pride showcases the many styles done well in the Lone Star State. You’ll find 54 drafts and two beer engines from the likes of Deep Ellum Brewing Company, Buffalo Bayou Brewing, Southern Star Brewing Company, and many others. In true Texas fashion, the interior of the bar is made of wood from floor to ceiling, and Tru Bar-B-Que serves Tex Mex and BBQ on the back patio.

Set in the historic Clarksville neighborhood, you can choose between seats at the intimate bar (just 13 spots), the colorful dining area, or the large patio (centered around the historic heritage tree) from which to sip your drink. The bar program spans a wide variety of cocktails, locally-crafted beers, and wine. Creative, Asian-inspired foods (think Spicy Gochu Pork Fries and Malaysian fried rice) are there to complement the booze, and they do it well.

Past the lobby and behind a sliding bookshelf lies the appropriately named — and very red — Firehouse Lounge. The bar is on the ground level of the Firehouse Hostel, a European-style inn occupying the city’s oldest standing fire station (the building dates back to 1885). You’ll find classic and craft cocktails here like the aperol spritz, the old-fashioned, or the Brimstone, an herbal take on the traditional Gold Rush. Our favorite part about this place? The crowd is always friendly and the speakeasy-esque ambiance makes you feel like you've discovered one of Austin's best gems.

Like many Rainey Street bars, you’ll find Half Step in a small renovated house — but the concept, not to mention the bar’s talent, sets it far apart from its neighbors. The previously run-down structure was gutted and restored, now decked out in floral wallpaper, booths, and both indoor and outdoor stages for musicians. Founder Chris Bostick, who was once the general manager of Varnish, L.A.’s covert cocktail den, created a stunning bar program with meticulously crafted offerings such as the draft Ginger Paloma (made with tequila, grapefruit, ginger, jarritos, and toronja).

Prove to your date that you have great taste with an evening at Péché, Austin’s first absinthe bar. Located in Austin’s Warehouse District, Péché serves classic French fare with a nod to 19th-century New Orleans; a chandelier-lit space and a pre-Prohibition-inspired cocktail is nothing short of romantic, while a considerable absinthe selection and even adult milkshakes takes it over the top. The happy hour here (all night Sunday and Monday, and 4-7 pm Tuesday-Friday) is a dream: you’ll snag $6 classic cocktails like the Royal Bees Knees and the Sazerac, plus half-off certain dishes.

At The White Horse Saloon, hipsters, yuppies, students, and bonafide honky-tonkers all have one thing in common: they’re having a damn good time. Since opening in 2011, the White Horse has been a go-to venue for Austin’s best musicians who play live sets that range from conjunto and country to blues and pop. There are no windows, and the churn of couples spinning on the dance floor never ends—not surprisingly, it’s easy to lose track of time here. The saloon is famous for its ice-cold beer, “bomb tacos,” and its dangerously cheap house special, the Two-Step (a shot of well whiskey and a Lone Star beer).

Take a trip back in time at Kitty Cohen's, a 1970s-inspired cocktail bar in East Austin that will have you dreaming of Palm Springs pool parties. A mini pool serves as the center of the bar's courtyard, where tipsy customers sip on frozen drinks, aperol spritzes, and seasonal sippers made with coconut and Mexican 7-Up. Happy hour runs Monday-Friday from 3-7 pm. And yes, you can get into the pool.

Cheer Up Charlies is the east side's go-to LGBTQ bar. Some of the best local and national musical acts can be found on Cheer Up Charli’s stage (which backs up to a spectacularly illuminated rock wall) or its intimate indoor space. The bar offers signature cocktails like the Golden Ticket (whisky, kombucha, lavender bitters, and candied ginger) and the Kale Lime Gingerita (a kale and ginger margarita), but you can always find a solid beer selection as well.

Although it sits right in the middle of Austin’s college scene, Jackalope welcomes everyone — the giant half-rabbit, half-antelope namesake sculpture near the door surveys a relaxed bar filled with locals and tourists alike. Expect B-movies on the television and '80s new wave blasting on speakers while tattooed bartenders pour overflowing shots of Jameson. The kitchen menu is solid, with a Honey-Jalapeño Bacon Cheeseburger that locals rave about, while the drink menu has evolved to include craft cocktails like the Jackalope Old Fashioned (which gets its spicy kick from Fire & Damnation bitters). But it's mostly whiskey and beer that prevail at this place—and we’re happy to oblige.

Violet Crown is one of the best and most affordable neighborhood bars in Austin. Expect dive-bar prices on local draft beer, domestic bottles, and a decent selection of vodka and whiskey. If you feel like experimenting, try their signature drink, the Iron Whip, an orange creamsicle-flavored frozen slush. Outside, the patio overflows with 20 and 30-somethings while Via 313 Pizza slings Detroit-style pizza (by the slice or pie) straight to your barstool. Dogs are welcome to join between Sunday and Thursday.

Halycon's coffee-shop-meets-bar vibe translates into drinks like the chocolate espresso martini and the Iced Voodoo Lady (rum, coffee liqueur, and house-made chai). For a more traditional cocktail, we like Nutty Negroni (gin, Select Aperitif, Amontillado Sherry). Make sure to try their s'mores kit (for two to four diners) that’s complete with a table-top stove for roasting marshmallows.

Casino El Camino is a no-frills, no-BS, rock and roll dungeon. Gargoyles loom overhead as TVs play gruesome and campy cult flicks. The kitchen is known for its Guy Fieri-approved hamburgers and, if you visit on a weekend, you’ll have the privilege of trying one of their over-the-top Bloody Marys. What is it, exactly? It’s a pint glass of vodka and bloody mary mix topped with a bouquet of skewered snacks—taquitos, bacon, corn dogs, meatballs, pizza bagels, mini sliders and sandwiches are just a few of the accoutrements.