If there’s one thing I learned in college at UT Austin, it’s how to conquer a beverage – particularly of the alcoholic variety. Perhaps the debauchery of Sixth Street – a rampant strip of bars and live music venues that’s gained worldwide notoriety – had a little something to do with it. Back then, the west side had all the action, but businesses began migrating east in pursuit of lower rent, allowing fresh new bars to crop up. East Austin’s now a hotbed of creativity as well as nightlife.
While dive bars and beer still dominate the college town, newcomers on the Eastside cater to those who’ve graduated to more sophisticated cocktails. So do as the dirty south do, and bar crawl your way through these top picks!
1. Weather Up
1808 East Cesar Chavez Street / Austin, TX 78702
Kathryn Weatherup takes cocktails to an alchemic level in the Austin outpost of her Prohibitionstyle lounge, originally from New York. If you like your booze potent and flavorful like me, you’ll love their craft cocktails like the Suffering Bastard – a divine gin and ginger concoction. The 12- page menu offers small bites and divides drinks by spirits and preparation – something Weatherup takes seriously. The bar’s crown jewel is a Clinebell ice machine to make handcarved ice.
2. The White Horse
500 Comal St. Austin, TX 78702
“Only in Austin” is the best way to sum up this place. Cowboys meet hipsters in an unconventional honky-tonk saloon, where everyone gets along and dances the Two-Step to free live music, downs Makers on tap, then gets a shoe shine out back.
3. Yellow Jacket Social Club
1704 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702
Named after the owner’s high school mascot, this cozy bar’s got a great selection of local food, wine and brews. Try the Pork Belly Banh Mi, then catch a sip spilling from the wall-mounted tap tree. Expect the occasional zany event, like the Easter petting zoo.
4. Rio Rita
1308 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78702
This eclectic “cafe y cantina” is a coffee shop by day and a bar by night serving local bites, exclusively infused spirits and killer Bloody Marys (tip: try it with local favorite, Tito’s Vodka).
5. The Grackle
1700 E 6th St. / Austin, TX 78702
Considered one of the best dive bars in East Austin with an excellent beer selection (Shiner’s a must or try Lone Star, the Texan PBR). The unexpected bourbon and jukebox selection also aim to impress.
6. The Liberty
1618 1/2 E 6th St. / Austin, TX 78702
This dog-friendly neighborhood haunt has the quintessential Eastside vibe – an exceptionally diverse crowd in a laidback setting that boasts a bocce ball court on a large patio. Sip on Austin Beerworks’ Black Thunder, play some pinball and rock out to the jukebox.
7. Shangri-La
1016 E 6th St. / Austin, TX 78702
Another solid watering hole with old school arcade games (Mrs. Pacman, anyone?) and Netflix gems ranging from zombie gore to Arnold Schwarzenegger. We dropped in on a lively trivia night in the spacious backyard. Enjoy cheap drinks and quirky events, like Sock Hop Sundays.
>> Whats Special About East Austin? <<
By Ruby S. Nichols (Almanac of Style)
