The best bars in Austin for great drinks and good vibes

Combining a restaurant, bar, and nightclub in one large venue, Higher Ground is spiritually themed, offering patrons a sinfully good time. Driving home that message, 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, a la crispy porchetta. Mmm.

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.

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.

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 for groups 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.

Drink.Well. is a quintessential neighborhood bar that serves healthy fare and inspired cocktails. The team brings creative energy to the table with fresh concoctions that are jam-packed with flavor and, best of all, your orders come with an automatic service charge for fair staff wages, meaning no need to work out a tip when you’re tipsy. 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.

Believe it or not, blending wellness with booze is possible. At The Well, located in the 2nd Street District, a better-for-you beverage program features a biodynamic, natural, and 100 percent 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, Morning Glow, combines fresh juices with sparkling brut and apple brandy. Happy Hour runs Monday-Friday from 4 to 6 pm.

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).

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 room's length, 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.

For a dose of old-school Austin, without all the skyscrapers and pretentious nightclubs, head up to North Lamar. Revelry on the Boulevard is a locally owned and operated scratch kitchen and bar offering a relaxed hangout to kick back at all day. Taco Tuesdays, all-night happy hour Wednesdays, and Smash Burger night Thursdays are just some of the week’s draws to get you in early, fill you up, and splash copious cocktails, wines, and brews on tap till late. Look out for holiday specials for a creative take on the mainstays.

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 Concorde (a refreshing cocktail made with Aperol and bourbon) 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. 

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. The Frozen Irish Coffee is especially popular.

With ample patio seating and a popular food truck, 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. 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).

King Bee Lounge on East 12th Street is best known for live music, stand-up comedy, and themed parties, and their impressive cocktail list is worth a whirl outside of the main stage events. In sweltering times, cool down with their tasty frozen drinks like the Bee’s Knees (gin, local honey, and lemon juice served with edible flowers). 

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.

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 sweet Gin Bramble in true festive fashion.

Past the lobby and behind a sliding bookshelf lies the appropriately named—and very red— irehouse 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 and the Old-Fashioned. 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. The team have 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 take it over the top. 

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 weekdays and, yes, you can get into the pool.

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).

Rooftop pool that’s always throwing a party? You’ll want to take the elevator up to Fairmont Austin’s seventh floor. The hotel is the base of many of the city’s pre, during, and post-festival and event parties, from ACL and F1 to Pride and whoever is performing at the Moody centers. It could be something to do with their huge palm tree-lined pool, and the fact that the cocktails are the tropical escape you need from this dusty desert state. A short walk from Rainey Street means you’re never far from an after-after party.

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.

For a spot of drag, pop tunes you know all the words (and moves) to, make a beeline for Oilcan Harry’s. This is Austin’s oldest gay bar, and it attracts all kinds of patrons thanks to its excellent investment in drag performers who always turn the party up. If you’re lucky, you may even stumble upon a RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni strutting her stuff. Great prices, a welcoming crowd, and solid entertainment from brunch to late-night lip-syncing make this an always jubilant time.

A lively lobby in 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 like “retro” Mean Girls and pink movie nights, plus open mics and live DJ setd. Feeling peckish? Luckily, a 24-hour (weekend) taco stand sits within the bar.

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.

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 who fuel up on the food trucks. Dogs are welcome to join.