BYOB setup on the back patio at Phara’s Mediterranean Restaurant in North Austin (Credit: Jason Babos)
One of the best policies in Austin is our BYOB policy. All over town, plenty of restaurants offer some sort of BYOB. Whether it’s bring your own beer and wine, or beer, wine, and liquor, there’s BYOB fun for every taste.
Here are my top picks for BYOB in North Austin, in alphabetical order.
1/ Austin Karaoke
Room 8 at Austin Karaoke fits 20-40 people (Credit: Chang Soon Photography)
Austin Karaoke is a BYOB karaoke lounge with a variety of private rooms for large and small groups that feature high-tech sound systems. This North Austin karaoke spot is open late, which means you can drink and sing your favorite songs with friends late into the night.
6800 N. Lamar Blvd. – Website
2/ East Side Pies
The original East Side Pies (Credit: Sandra Ramos Photography)
Want to kick back a few colds one while you nom on crispy thin crust? East Side Pies is a small pizza joint with a few locations throughout North Austin, where you’ll find just what you’re looking for! They have your traditional favorite ingredients, plus a few exciting combinations for the more adventurous pizza lover.
5312 Airport Blvd., 1401 Rosewood Ave., 1809 W. Anderson Lane – Website
3/ FoodHeads
FoodHeads near The University of Texas at Austin (Credit: Meagan Vitek)
Maybe you’re more into sandwiches than pizza pies. In that case, head to FoodHeads. They’ve been making gourmet sandwiches, soups, and salads in Austin for over 20 years. Located near campus, this cozy spot serves breakfast and lunch every day, and the corkage fees are small.
612 W. 4th St. – Website
4/ Foreign & Domestic
Foreign & Domestic is an upscale farm-to-table restaurant in Austin. Fortunately, your wallet will take a break with the open BYOB policy. Since the restaurant offers its own full bar, there is a $25 corkage fee should you wish to bring a bottle with you.
306 E. 53rd St. – Website
5/ Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon
There’s a honky tonk joint off Burnet Road in North Austin that has endured the changes happening all around it. The bar offers wine and ice cold beer, but no liquor. No worries, though! Feel free to bring your own liquor, then buy soda and setups from the bartender.
5434 Burnet Road – Website
6/ Hi Tunes Karaoke
Bring your own food and drinks when you go sing your heart out with friends at Hi Tunes Karaoke in North Austin. Besides the great BYO policy, Hi Tunes is open until 5 a.m. and is known for having super clean rooms for groups large and small. Night owls looking for a BYOB night need to head there with all the food and drinks they can carry!
911 W. Anderson Lane #117 – Website
7/ La Cocina de Consuelo
This small Mexican restarunat is North Austin has homemade tortillas that are simply out of this world good. Add to that a lax BYOB policy that encourages all things boozy. Since the place doesn’t offer any beer or liquor on the menu, you’d be smart to bring a local Mexican lager to pair with your dishes!
4516 Burnet Road – Website
8/ Little Deli & Pizzeria
There are some who argue Little Deli has the top thin crust pizza in town. That’s a separate argument because we’re here to talk about the BYOB policy. You’re more than welcome to post up at one of the outdoor picnic tables or gazebo with your own beer or wine. You’re also allowed to bring coolers, and Little Deli will even bring out an ice bucket if needed! A local lager would go down quite nicely with the delicious roast beef or pastrami sandwiches. Or go for something darker, like a red, to pair with a gooey, cheesy calzone.
7101-A Woodrow Ave. (at W. St. Johns Ave.) – Website
9/ Phara’s Mediterranean Cuisine
Phara’s Mediterranean Cuisine on North Loop
Kick back and relax in the lavish indoor lounge or on the spacious patio space at this spot in the heart of Austin’s North Loop neighborhood. At Phara’s, the $3 cork fee per person is cheap, considering they’ll bring any setup you need. And I can’t forget to mention Phara’s also offers hookah, all the delicious Mediterranean food you could want, and belly dancers every night at 8 p.m.!
111 East North Loop – Website
10/ Pho Saigon Noodle House
Double down on the liquids and bring BYO wine or beer to eat with a bowl of pho at Pho Saigon Noodle House. Pairing some of our city’s best beers with Vietnamese food is a win-win.
10901 N. Lamar Blvd. – Website
11/ Pinballz Arcade
Hundreds of pinball machines await at Pinballz (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Heaven is a place on earth and it’s called Pinballz. It’s pretty freely BYOB and the arcade is filled with what seems like hundreds of new and vintage arcade games. One drink at a time here, though. That means you’ll need to leave the cooler out in the car. Protip: this is a fabulous place to bring a boxed or canned wine.
8940 Research Blvd. Ste. 100, 13729 Research Blvd. (Lake Creek), 15201 S IH 35 (Buda) – Website
12/ The Omelettry
The Omelettry has all-day breakfast. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, this all-day breakfast is totally BYOB. Suggestion: bring your own bubbly for DIY mimosas. The Omelettry will provide the rest, with ice buckets to keep everything nice and cool.
4631 Airport Blvd. – Website
13/ Tyson’s Tacos
BYOB at Tyson’s Tacos on Airport Boulevard
Any type of taco your heart desires is possible at this North Austin taco stand. Tyson’s Tacos has always had a solid lineup of local and Mexican beer, but you’re always welcome to BYOB. The outdoor patio is sweltering in the summer, which in Austin lasts a good part of the year. So a chilly, ice cold Lonestar should come standard with grabbing a taco.
4905 Airport Blvd. – Website
Many restaurants open as BYOB while they wait to obtain a TABC license, so policies may and often do change. I recommend calling ahead to confirm each venue’s BYOB policy and any associated fees.
Remember, don’t get sloppy drunk and ruin the fun for everyone. Let’s keep North Austin BYOB.
@bigwrldsmallgrl wants to know:
What’s your favorite BYOB in North Austin?
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