Nightlife · Austin · United States
Austin nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Austin, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: LoneStarMike, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Austin's nightlife revolves around live music, with hundreds of bands playing each week, plus a lively bar scene on Sixth Street, Rainey Street and in East Austin. Bars close at 2am. The main areas are Sixth Street, Red River Cultural District, Rainey Street, East Austin and South Congress and South Lamar.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- Downtown
- Local drink
- Frozen margarita
Where to go out
Sixth Street
The famous bar strip east of Congress Avenue, with cover bands, shots and big crowds on weekend nights.
Red River Cultural District
Long-running original-music clubs and rock venues.
Rainey Street
Bungalow bars with big yards and food trucks near the lake.
East Austin
Cocktail bars, dive bars, beer gardens and small music venues along East Sixth and East Cesar Chavez.
South Congress and South Lamar
The Continental Club, the Saxon Pub and the Broken Spoke for blues, roots and country.
Nightlife tips
- Carry photo ID; it is checked at nearly every bar.
- Many venues post their schedules online; check before heading out.
- Rideshare prices surge at closing time, so walk a few blocks away from Sixth Street to find a car more easily.
Evening sights
Experience · Downtown
Congress Avenue Bridge bats
Arrive about 30 minutes before sunset; August, when the young join the flight, is usually the biggest show. Bat-watching boat tours give a close view from the water.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- After dark
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Street · Downtown
Sixth Street and Red River
For original bands rather than covers and shots, head to the clubs on Red River Street.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Iconic
Experience · South Congress (SoCo)
Continental Club
Early evening happy-hour sets are often free or low-cost and less crowded.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- History
What to drink
- Frozen margarita — Lime-and-tequila margaritas blended or machine-frozen, a staple on patios through the long hot season.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 23°C (73°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:52 | 5°C (41°F) | 8 |
| April | About 19:58 | 14°C (57°F) | 7 |
| July | About 20:34 | 23°C (73°F) | 4 |
| October | About 19:00 | 15°C (59°F) | 7 |
Getting home late
- Bus — CapMetro buses, including frequent MetroRapid lines along Congress Avenue, Lamar Boulevard and Guadalupe Street, connect downtown with South Congress, the university and the airport.
- Ride-hailing — Prices surge sharply after big events and festival days.
- Walking — Downtown, the lake trail and South Congress are walkable, but summer heat makes long walks tough in the middle of the day.
Late-night bites
- Queso — Tex-Mex restaurants across the city.
Staying safe at night
Summer heat is the main risk: drink water, wear sun protection and avoid strenuous activity in the afternoon. Heavy rain can cause dangerous flash floods; never drive or walk through flooded low-water crossings. Sixth Street can be rowdy late at night.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and luxury
Downtown
Downtown runs from the State Capitol down Congress Avenue to Lady Bird Lake, with most of the large hotels, the Sixth Street and Red River music districts and the Warehouse District's cocktail bars. The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony and the lake trail are at its southern edge.
- Good
- Walk to music venues and the Capitol; Lake trail on the doorstep; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Hotel prices soar during SXSW, ACL and the Grand Prix; Sixth Street is loud and rowdy on weekends
- Nearby
- Texas State Capitol, Sixth Street, Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, Lady Bird Lake
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Austin?
Sixth Street, Red River Cultural District and Rainey Street. The famous bar strip east of Congress Avenue, with cover bands, shots and big crowds on weekend nights.
+Which area of Austin is best for nightlife?
Downtown: High-rise hotels, the Capitol, Sixth Street bars and the lakefront.