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A lit-up neon sign that reads DIRTY.
Dirty Bill’s.
Dirty Bill’s/Facebook

15 Excellent Austin Dive Bars

Unfussy drinking

by Melanie Haupt and Nadia Chaudhury Updated
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Dirty Bill’s.
| Dirty Bill’s/Facebook
by Melanie Haupt and Nadia Chaudhury Updated

Avoid fussy cocktail bars and opt for a watering hole with no pretenses or airs: a dive bar, where the only goal is to embrace a less polished atmosphere with drinks and beer neon.

Austin is full of such bars, which excel at keeping it truly weird: dark watering holes with cheap beer and shots, wild characters, and weird atmospheres. With that, here is Eater's guide to the city's iconic dive bars, like Donn Depot’s train station setting, chicken shit bingo at Little Longhorn Saloon, the Christmas-forever vibe at Lala’s Little Nugget, and others.

For other like-drinking options, check out Austin's craft beer destinations, cocktail bars, all-around bars, cheap drinks, happy hours, and karaoke spots.

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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.

Lala's Little Nugget

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It's always Christmas at the Crestview bar, which was saved from an uncertain fate after an abrupt closure in 2015. That's worth celebrating. A second location is also in the works for South Austin. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2207 Justin Ln, Austin, TX 78757
(512) 487-5297
(512) 487-5297
A bar with Christmas decorations.
Lala’s Little Nugget.
Robert J. Lerma/Eater Austin

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Little Longhorn Saloon

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There’s nothing little about the Allandale bar's reputation. Sunday afternoons feature the storied Austin tradition of Lone Stars, live music, and chicken shit bingo. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

5434 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
(512) 458-1813
(512) 458-1813

The Silver Medal

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The very low-key Coronado Hills bar is the epitome of a dive bar: easy drinks, easy foods (the burger is great), a cat that isn’t allowed to be indoors but still makes its way inside. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

7100 E Highway 290, Austin, TX 78723
(512) 786-3634
(512) 786-3634

Also featured in:

Barfly's

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Very affordable beers and unabashedly pleasant bartenders make a trip to the North Loop bar nourishing both the wallet and the soul. Don't trip on all those stairs, though. Party foul. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

5420 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-6455
(512) 452-6455

Also featured in:

Carousel Lounge

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This Windsor Park circus-themed dive offers set-ups, beer, and wine as well as live music and even the occasional theatrical performance. It's cash-only, of course, like any good dive should be. There are indoor areas.

1110 E 52nd St, Austin, TX 78723
(512) 452-6790
(512) 452-6790

Hole In The Wall

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This Guadalupe live music venue and bar on the Drag has been keeping the University of Texas at Austin students sauced for decades. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2538 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 477-4747
(512) 477-4747
People hanging out at a bar.
Hole in the Wall
Robert J. Lerma/Eater Austin

Also featured in:

Skylark Lounge

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Former lesbian bar Bernadette’s-turned-dive and blues spot in the MLK neighborhood features a full bar. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2039 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 730-0759
(512) 730-0759

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Deep Eddy Cabaret

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The Deep Eddy area isn't known for its divey tendencies, but this West Austin bar offers a nice respite in the west side area. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2315 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-0961
(512) 472-0961

Also featured in:

Donn's Depot

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A dive bar in an old train station in Clarksville seems just about right. It’s fantastically fun. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-3142
(512) 478-3142

Dirty Bill's

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The tiny downtown bar is an industry favorite for good reason: easy drinks and fun vibes. There are indoor areas.

511 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701

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Casino El Camino

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Burgers, eardrum-shattering metal from the jukebox, and affordable drinks served across a sticky bar. Pretty much a textbook downtown dive. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

517 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 469-9330
(512) 469-9330

Also featured in:

La Perla

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This East Side cantina is holding its own amid the continuing swell of gentrification. Come with cash and an appetite for beer or an Armodelo (Modelo + lime + tabasco + beer salt). There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1512 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 477-0167
(512) 477-0167

The Lost Well

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The former Frontier Bar in East Austin was taken over by two ex-Lovejoys bartenders, the ultimate dive-bar pedigree for this east side joint. Find live music and very affordable drinks.

2421 Webberville Rd., Austin, TX 78702, Austin, TX
(512) 524-0590
(512) 524-0590

The White Horse

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This Lynchian honky tonk brings together the best of East Austin: cheap beer, live music, and two-steppin'. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 553-6756
(512) 553-6756

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Sam's Town Point

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The low-key far south Austin honky tonk is the place to go for easy drinks, live music, and dancing. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2115 Allred Dr, Austin, TX 78748
(512) 965-6028
(512) 965-6028

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Lala's Little Nugget

2207 Justin Ln, Austin, TX 78757

It's always Christmas at the Crestview bar, which was saved from an uncertain fate after an abrupt closure in 2015. That's worth celebrating. A second location is also in the works for South Austin. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2207 Justin Ln, Austin, TX 78757
(512) 487-5297
(512) 487-5297
A bar with Christmas decorations.
Lala’s Little Nugget.
Robert J. Lerma/Eater Austin

Little Longhorn Saloon

5434 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

There’s nothing little about the Allandale bar's reputation. Sunday afternoons feature the storied Austin tradition of Lone Stars, live music, and chicken shit bingo. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

5434 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
(512) 458-1813
(512) 458-1813

The Silver Medal

7100 E Highway 290, Austin, TX 78723

The very low-key Coronado Hills bar is the epitome of a dive bar: easy drinks, easy foods (the burger is great), a cat that isn’t allowed to be indoors but still makes its way inside. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

7100 E Highway 290, Austin, TX 78723
(512) 786-3634
(512) 786-3634

Barfly's

5420 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Very affordable beers and unabashedly pleasant bartenders make a trip to the North Loop bar nourishing both the wallet and the soul. Don't trip on all those stairs, though. Party foul. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

5420 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-6455
(512) 452-6455

Carousel Lounge

1110 E 52nd St, Austin, TX 78723

This Windsor Park circus-themed dive offers set-ups, beer, and wine as well as live music and even the occasional theatrical performance. It's cash-only, of course, like any good dive should be. There are indoor areas.

1110 E 52nd St, Austin, TX 78723
(512) 452-6790
(512) 452-6790

Hole In The Wall

2538 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705

This Guadalupe live music venue and bar on the Drag has been keeping the University of Texas at Austin students sauced for decades. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2538 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 477-4747
(512) 477-4747
People hanging out at a bar.
Hole in the Wall
Robert J. Lerma/Eater Austin

Skylark Lounge

2039 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78722

Former lesbian bar Bernadette’s-turned-dive and blues spot in the MLK neighborhood features a full bar. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2039 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 730-0759
(512) 730-0759

Deep Eddy Cabaret

2315 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

The Deep Eddy area isn't known for its divey tendencies, but this West Austin bar offers a nice respite in the west side area. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2315 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-0961
(512) 472-0961

Donn's Depot

1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703

A dive bar in an old train station in Clarksville seems just about right. It’s fantastically fun. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-3142
(512) 478-3142

Dirty Bill's

511 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701

The tiny downtown bar is an industry favorite for good reason: easy drinks and fun vibes. There are indoor areas.

511 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701

Casino El Camino

517 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Burgers, eardrum-shattering metal from the jukebox, and affordable drinks served across a sticky bar. Pretty much a textbook downtown dive. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

517 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 469-9330
(512) 469-9330

La Perla

1512 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

This East Side cantina is holding its own amid the continuing swell of gentrification. Come with cash and an appetite for beer or an Armodelo (Modelo + lime + tabasco + beer salt). There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1512 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 477-0167
(512) 477-0167

The Lost Well

2421 Webberville Rd., Austin, TX 78702, Austin, TX

The former Frontier Bar in East Austin was taken over by two ex-Lovejoys bartenders, the ultimate dive-bar pedigree for this east side joint. Find live music and very affordable drinks.

2421 Webberville Rd., Austin, TX 78702, Austin, TX
(512) 524-0590
(512) 524-0590

The White Horse

500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702

This Lynchian honky tonk brings together the best of East Austin: cheap beer, live music, and two-steppin'. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 553-6756
(512) 553-6756

Sam's Town Point

2115 Allred Dr, Austin, TX 78748

The low-key far south Austin honky tonk is the place to go for easy drinks, live music, and dancing. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2115 Allred Dr, Austin, TX 78748
(512) 965-6028
(512) 965-6028

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