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A dimly lit bar.
Equipment Room.
Nick Simonite

The Best Cocktail Bars in Austin

Where to enjoy expertly crafted drinks in the city

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated
View as Map
Equipment Room.
| Nick Simonite
by Nadia Chaudhury Updated

Bars are important to Austin, where drinking is a time-honored ritual. The city overflows with bars, so it’s important to pay respect to the city’s essential cocktail bars, where well-crafted drinks come first.

Here are the best bars that hold the craft of the cocktail in utmost respect, where bartenders pay dedicated attention to building excellent drinks. There is the welcoming cocktail pioneer the Tigress Pub, knowledgeable bars including Roosevelt Room, the need-to-know space of Small Victory, and neighborhood spot Nickel City, among others. Sit back, sip, and enjoy.

While, yes, a majority of these cocktail bars are found in/near downtown Austin, the city has way more drinking options. Navigate newer bar offerings with the cocktail heatmap, versatile bars for every drink preference, iconic dive bars, great restaurant bars, and speakeasies. Those looking to go the nonalcoholic route are covered with this map.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

The Tigress Pub

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The North Loop bar is one of Austin’s earlier cocktail bars, serving up well-made classic, house, and low-ABV cocktails in an easy space, led by mastermind Pam Pritchard and her team. The Fancy Feast — a gin cocktail with Cocchi Americano, lemon, and jasmine-clove syrup — is a really nice, light, punch. Takeout cocktails can be ordered online; there are indoor and outdoor areas.

100 W North Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 600-3232
(512) 600-3232

Also featured in:

Drink.Well

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The North Loop favorite serves up excellent craft cocktails from owner Jessica Sanders and her stellar team (including some made by the highly talented Caer Maiko Ferguson of Asian cocktail pop-up Daijoubu, who is sadly-for-Austin moving out of state). Explore the seasonal house drinks, such as the fall-perfect Heron Maiden, made with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet potato shochu, peach-sweet potato syrup, pineapple, limes, and bitters. The food menu is also great and heart. There are indoor and outdoor services.

207 E 53rd St (at Avenue G), Austin, TX 78751
(512) 614-6683
(512) 614-6683
A bar with padded bar seats.
Drink.Well.
Drink.Well

Also featured in:

Small Victory

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Industry vet Josh Loving's intimate downtown cocktail haven (which won Eater Austin’s best new bar award in 2016) serves up well-done classics, especially those choose-your-own-adventure martinis. Keep an eye out for its fun monthly specials too (over the summer the Brat menu was a particularly inventive one) The team is also led by the hella-talented Laura Maddox, who was named one of the best new bartenders of 2023 by Eater’s sibling publication Punch. The cheese and charcuterie make for nice drinking snacks too. There are indoor dine-in services.

108 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 701-0500
(737) 701-0500
A bar with a bar top on the left and tables with a long blue banquette on the right.
Small Victory.
Robert J. Lerma/Eater Austin

Also featured in:

Nickel City

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The Eater Austin-award winning of 2017 Central East Austin neighborhood bar successfully highlights all sorts of cocktails, from common yet well-made classics like Old Fashioneds and Negronis to other drinks that don’t get as much love, at relatively more affordable prices. The creamy frozen Irish coffees are also fantastic. Many of the drinks can be made either with lower-proof spirits or completely nonalcoholic Bonus: on-site truck Delray is there with drink-friendly food like sliders, chicken wings, and coney dogs. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1133 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 987-4294
(512) 987-4294
A bar with yellow banquettes.
Nickel City.
Robert J. Lerma/Eater Austin

Also featured in:

Here Nor There

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While it seems like it’s difficult to get into this hidden downtown bar, it actually isn’t. Just download the app and book a required reservation (read: you don’t need to be a member). Once in, you’ll find thoughtfully put-together cocktails in a fun vibey space. Ground-floor colorful sibling bar In Plain Sight is also worth a visit for similar fun cocktails. There are indoor dine-in services.

612 Brazos St (7th Street), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 949-7995
(512) 949-7995

Also featured in:

Garage

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Much like some of the other bars on this map, it’s difficult to find the entrance of the downtown cocktail bar (the name is a hint). But once you’re there, find classic and original cocktails in a snazzy, dim space. Reservations can be booked online; there are indoor service services.

503 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas 78701
(206) 322-2296
(206) 322-2296

Also featured in:

The Roosevelt Room

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Nerd out over the downtown cocktail bar's sprawling cocktail menu, which spans drinking history from the early years to modern classics. The house drinks are equally as great, including the gin-based citrusy Poet’s Muse. Co-owner Justin Lavenue won Eater Austin’s bartender of 2015 award. There are Uber Eats deliveries and pickups; reservations can be booked online; there are indoor dine-in services.

307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-4094
(512) 494-4094
A bar with table seating on the left.
Roosevelt Room.
Marc Swendner

Also featured in:

Milonga Room

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Per the name — referring to an Argentinian dance — this downstairs bar at East Austin Argentinian restaurant Buenos Aires feels like it came straight out of South America. The list focuses on amaro and South American cocktails, rounded out with tapas and snacks, served in a sultry space. Reservations can be booked online; there are indoor services.

1201 East 6th Street, TX 78702
(512) 886-1920
(512) 886-1920

Also featured in:

Kinfolk Lounge & Library

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Another speakeasy in the cellar of downtown restaurant Moonshine Grill, this one emphasizes whiskeys, alongside other liquors. The menu also spans cocktail history with many classics through the years. The Next of Kin section highlights its house cocktails, including its namesake flip. Reservations can be made online; there are indoor services.

303 B Red River Street, TX 78701
(512) 236-9687
(512) 236-9687

Also featured in:

Whisler's

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Scranton Twohey’s East Sixth bar was an immediate hit when it opened in 2013 with its neighborhood-friendly massive outdoor space and approachable yet intriguing cocktail list. The current seasonal lineup takes on a more salty-savory angle, take: the Buongiorno, Bambina made with a clariied brandy, tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, and amaro, topped with a salted stracciatella foam. Sneak upstairs to Mezcaleria Tobala for a smoky-tasting tour of mezcals. On-site truck Golden Tiger slings up chicken sandwiches and burgers. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1816 E 6th St (at Chicon St), Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-0781
(512) 480-0781
A bar with stone walls.
Whisler’s.
Mark Weatherford

Also featured in:

Little Brother

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It’s back! Despite the ruckus from the evergreen construction on Rainey Street, Austin’s smallest indoor bar on Rainey is serving up its fun cocktail lineup within its very small indoor-outdoor space. Marrying its two loves (the coffee program is perfect), there’s an espresso martini as well as a frozen Blue Hawaiian, alongside shots and beers. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

89 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 305-3133
(512) 305-3133

Also featured in:

Half Step

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Another shining bright light amidst the bars on a busy drinking hub, industry veteran Chris Bostick brought his art of the cocktail over to Rainey Street, earning Eater Austin’s best new bar award in 2014. He even geeked out with an in-house ice machine, where chunks of frozen water are particularly crafted for each drink. The ginger paloma is particularly refreshing. There are indoor and outdoor spaces.

75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
A bar with people seated.
Half Step.
Claire McCormack

Also featured in:

Tiki Tatsu-Ya

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The immersive tiki bar courtesy of the Tatsu-ya team takes the experience of drinking (and food) to a whole other level — there’s a reason it won Eater Austin’s spectacle of 2022 award. Drinks include classics like the Painkiller and takes on the originals like Slurping Bastard. Reservations are highly recommended; the bar seating and second floor are available for walk-ins; there are indoor dine-in services.

1300 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 772-3700
(512) 772-3700

Also featured in:

Holiday

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The Govalle bar won Eater Austin’s best bar of 2023 award because co-owner Erin Ashford and her team are geniuses when it comes to crafting perfect, fun cocktails. The frozen Mexican martini is a work of cold, briny, acidic art; the punches are fancy and dainty; and the Virgo’s Groove is a savory wonder. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

5020 East 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78702

Also featured in:

Equipment Room

Copy Link

Travis Heights is a lucky place for being the home of not one but two excellent hotel cocktail bars. The first is this listening bar-slash-cocktail destination within the Hotel Magdalena. The cocktails take their cues from music, leading to inventive house and classic drinks like the (Nice Dream) made with a strawberry yogurt-washed mezcal, or the decadent 6’s to 9’s with matcha foam and crushed pistachios. The nonalcoholic drinks are just as good, and there’s a wide-ranging food menu. Reservations can be booked online; there are indoor dine-in services.

1101 Music Lane, Austin, Texas 78704
(512) 520-5890
(512) 520-5890

Also featured in:

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Watertrade

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The hidden South Congress Hotel bar offers thoughtful cocktails within its intimate space plus access to Japanese bites from next-door sibling spot Otoko. Reservations can be booked online the bar seating is available for walk-ins; there are indoor dine-in services.

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 994-0428
(512) 994-0428

Also featured in:

Nadia Chaudhury is an editor for Eater Northeast and Eater New York and was the former Eater Austin editor, who often writes about food and pop culture.

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The Tigress Pub

100 W North Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

The North Loop bar is one of Austin’s earlier cocktail bars, serving up well-made classic, house, and low-ABV cocktails in an easy space, led by mastermind Pam Pritchard and her team. The Fancy Feast — a gin cocktail with Cocchi Americano, lemon, and jasmine-clove syrup — is a really nice, light, punch. Takeout cocktails can be ordered online; there are indoor and outdoor areas.

100 W North Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 600-3232
(512) 600-3232

Drink.Well

207 E 53rd St (at Avenue G), Austin, TX 78751

The North Loop favorite serves up excellent craft cocktails from owner Jessica Sanders and her stellar team (including some made by the highly talented Caer Maiko Ferguson of Asian cocktail pop-up Daijoubu, who is sadly-for-Austin moving out of state). Explore the seasonal house drinks, such as the fall-perfect Heron Maiden, made with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet potato shochu, peach-sweet potato syrup, pineapple, limes, and bitters. The food menu is also great and heart. There are indoor and outdoor services.

207 E 53rd St (at Avenue G), Austin, TX 78751
(512) 614-6683
(512) 614-6683
A bar with padded bar seats.
Drink.Well.
Drink.Well

Small Victory

108 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

Industry vet Josh Loving's intimate downtown cocktail haven (which won Eater Austin’s best new bar award in 2016) serves up well-done classics, especially those choose-your-own-adventure martinis. Keep an eye out for its fun monthly specials too (over the summer the Brat menu was a particularly inventive one) The team is also led by the hella-talented Laura Maddox, who was named one of the best new bartenders of 2023 by Eater’s sibling publication Punch. The cheese and charcuterie make for nice drinking snacks too. There are indoor dine-in services.

108 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 701-0500
(737) 701-0500
A bar with a bar top on the left and tables with a long blue banquette on the right.
Small Victory.
Robert J. Lerma/Eater Austin

Nickel City

1133 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78702

The Eater Austin-award winning of 2017 Central East Austin neighborhood bar successfully highlights all sorts of cocktails, from common yet well-made classics like Old Fashioneds and Negronis to other drinks that don’t get as much love, at relatively more affordable prices. The creamy frozen Irish coffees are also fantastic. Many of the drinks can be made either with lower-proof spirits or completely nonalcoholic Bonus: on-site truck Delray is there with drink-friendly food like sliders, chicken wings, and coney dogs. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1133 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 987-4294
(512) 987-4294
A bar with yellow banquettes.
Nickel City.
Robert J. Lerma/Eater Austin

Here Nor There

612 Brazos St (7th Street), Austin, TX 78701

While it seems like it’s difficult to get into this hidden downtown bar, it actually isn’t. Just download the app and book a required reservation (read: you don’t need to be a member). Once in, you’ll find thoughtfully put-together cocktails in a fun vibey space. Ground-floor colorful sibling bar In Plain Sight is also worth a visit for similar fun cocktails. There are indoor dine-in services.

612 Brazos St (7th Street), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 949-7995
(512) 949-7995

Garage

503 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Much like some of the other bars on this map, it’s difficult to find the entrance of the downtown cocktail bar (the name is a hint). But once you’re there, find classic and original cocktails in a snazzy, dim space. Reservations can be booked online; there are indoor service services.

503 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas 78701
(206) 322-2296
(206) 322-2296

The Roosevelt Room

307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701

Nerd out over the downtown cocktail bar's sprawling cocktail menu, which spans drinking history from the early years to modern classics. The house drinks are equally as great, including the gin-based citrusy Poet’s Muse. Co-owner Justin Lavenue won Eater Austin’s bartender of 2015 award. There are Uber Eats deliveries and pickups; reservations can be booked online; there are indoor dine-in services.

307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-4094
(512) 494-4094
A bar with table seating on the left.
Roosevelt Room.
Marc Swendner

Milonga Room

1201 East 6th Street, TX 78702

Per the name — referring to an Argentinian dance — this downstairs bar at East Austin Argentinian restaurant Buenos Aires feels like it came straight out of South America. The list focuses on amaro and South American cocktails, rounded out with tapas and snacks, served in a sultry space. Reservations can be booked online; there are indoor services.

1201 East 6th Street, TX 78702
(512) 886-1920
(512) 886-1920

Kinfolk Lounge & Library

303 B Red River Street, TX 78701

Another speakeasy in the cellar of downtown restaurant Moonshine Grill, this one emphasizes whiskeys, alongside other liquors. The menu also spans cocktail history with many classics through the years. The Next of Kin section highlights its house cocktails, including its namesake flip. Reservations can be made online; there are indoor services.

303 B Red River Street, TX 78701
(512) 236-9687
(512) 236-9687

Whisler's

1816 E 6th St (at Chicon St), Austin, TX 78702

Scranton Twohey’s East Sixth bar was an immediate hit when it opened in 2013 with its neighborhood-friendly massive outdoor space and approachable yet intriguing cocktail list. The current seasonal lineup takes on a more salty-savory angle, take: the Buongiorno, Bambina made with a clariied brandy, tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, and amaro, topped with a salted stracciatella foam. Sneak upstairs to Mezcaleria Tobala for a smoky-tasting tour of mezcals. On-site truck Golden Tiger slings up chicken sandwiches and burgers. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1816 E 6th St (at Chicon St), Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-0781
(512) 480-0781
A bar with stone walls.
Whisler’s.
Mark Weatherford

Little Brother

89 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

It’s back! Despite the ruckus from the evergreen construction on Rainey Street, Austin’s smallest indoor bar on Rainey is serving up its fun cocktail lineup within its very small indoor-outdoor space. Marrying its two loves (the coffee program is perfect), there’s an espresso martini as well as a frozen Blue Hawaiian, alongside shots and beers. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

89 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 305-3133
(512) 305-3133

Half Step

75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Another shining bright light amidst the bars on a busy drinking hub, industry veteran Chris Bostick brought his art of the cocktail over to Rainey Street, earning Eater Austin’s best new bar award in 2014. He even geeked out with an in-house ice machine, where chunks of frozen water are particularly crafted for each drink. The ginger paloma is particularly refreshing. There are indoor and outdoor spaces.

75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
A bar with people seated.
Half Step.
Claire McCormack

Tiki Tatsu-Ya

1300 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

The immersive tiki bar courtesy of the Tatsu-ya team takes the experience of drinking (and food) to a whole other level — there’s a reason it won Eater Austin’s spectacle of 2022 award. Drinks include classics like the Painkiller and takes on the originals like Slurping Bastard. Reservations are highly recommended; the bar seating and second floor are available for walk-ins; there are indoor dine-in services.

1300 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 772-3700
(512) 772-3700

Holiday

5020 East 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78702

The Govalle bar won Eater Austin’s best bar of 2023 award because co-owner Erin Ashford and her team are geniuses when it comes to crafting perfect, fun cocktails. The frozen Mexican martini is a work of cold, briny, acidic art; the punches are fancy and dainty; and the Virgo’s Groove is a savory wonder. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

5020 East 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78702

Equipment Room

1101 Music Lane, Austin, Texas 78704

Travis Heights is a lucky place for being the home of not one but two excellent hotel cocktail bars. The first is this listening bar-slash-cocktail destination within the Hotel Magdalena. The cocktails take their cues from music, leading to inventive house and classic drinks like the (Nice Dream) made with a strawberry yogurt-washed mezcal, or the decadent 6’s to 9’s with matcha foam and crushed pistachios. The nonalcoholic drinks are just as good, and there’s a wide-ranging food menu. Reservations can be booked online; there are indoor dine-in services.

1101 Music Lane, Austin, Texas 78704
(512) 520-5890
(512) 520-5890

Related Maps

Watertrade

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

The hidden South Congress Hotel bar offers thoughtful cocktails within its intimate space plus access to Japanese bites from next-door sibling spot Otoko. Reservations can be booked online the bar seating is available for walk-ins; there are indoor dine-in services.

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 994-0428
(512) 994-0428

Related Maps