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Guide to Austin’s East Sixth Street

February 25, 2020 by Jessica Pino 3 Comments

Guide to Austin's East Sixth

There are three sections of Sixth Street in Austin: West, East, and what locals refer to as Dirty. West Sixth is the section of Sixth Street that runs west from Congress Avenue. For the most part, the nightlife scene ends at North Lamar Boulevard.

For locals, Dirty Sixth runs from Congress to I-35 even though technically, and according to street signs, East Sixth Street starts at Congress Avenue and runs east. But when you hear locals talk about East Sixth, we are referencing anything east of I-35. Don’t get confused by the street signs; you’ll be talking like a local in no time.

East Sixth as we know and love it today is an eclectic blend of shops, restaurants, dives, and cocktail bars. It’s also quite new–in relation to Dirty or West Sixth–with the gentrification of east Austin surging in the past 10 years.

Here are 15 of my favorite East Sixth Street establishments you won’t want to miss.

1/ Shangri-La

Shangri-La Bar on East Sixth Street in Austin
Shangri-La is great for large groups, thanks to the large backyard (Credit: Shangri-La)

As you wander down East Sixth Street, you’ll come across one of my favorite dive bars, Shangri-La. As an east side “veteran” that has been around since 2008, this spot has won the hearts of many locals…and Bill Murray, who helped serve up drinks during SXSW in 2010.

What I love about the people at Shangri-La is they’re all about having fun. If you’re not having fun, then it’s your fault–not theirs.

1016 E. 6th St. —  Website

2/ Ah Sing Den

Ah Sing Den's Watermelon Soju Gimlet
Ah Sing Den’s Watermelon Soju Gimlet

Ah Sing Den has a luscious, luxuriant ambience that makes you want to sit down and stay awhile. Just one look at Instagram or the location’s website, and you’ll get a sense for the exotic aesthetic. Ah Sing Den has a host of signature cocktails inspired by worldly flavors; a number of Asian spirits, including sake; coffee and tea; desserts; and delicious bites which include poke nachos and different types of dumplings.

1100 E. 6th St. — Website

Keep reading: Ah Sing Den’s Exotic Name Matches Revamped Food and Drink Menu

3/ Practice Yoga

Practice Yoga Austin
You don’t have to be this flexible to start a yoga practice (Credit: Practice Yoga)

Although Sixth Street is packed with bars and places to enjoy Austin’s nightlife, there are also places like Practice Yoga. It’s a donation-based studio with classes starting as early as 7:15 a.m.

Practice Yoga offers classes at a variety of levels, whether you are a brand-new beginner or seasoned yogi. It also hosts workshops, including sound healings and meditations.

1103 E. 6th St. — Website

Keep reading: Bendy on a Budget: Free or Donation-based Yoga in Austin

4/ Via 313

Via 313 owners Zane and Brandon Hunt in front of the original food trailer
Via 313 owners Zane and Brandon Hunt in front of the original food trailer (Credit: Nick Bianco via Flickr CC)

Via 313 started as a food trailer inside Violet Crown Social Club on East Sixth Street. Eventually it branched out, but didn’t go far, moving from Violet Crown to a new location just down the street.

Now with multiple locations in the Austin area, Via 313 serves Detroit-style pizza. For the longest time, I’d only known of New York and Chicago styles. Detroit is similar to Chicago in that it’s deep dish, but different in that its a bit fluffier and not so heavy.

Many Via 313 fans recommend The Detroiter as a representation of pizza from the northern region: it’s made with two kinds of pepperoni and two kinds of cheese.

1802 E. 6th St. — Website

Keep reading: Via 313 Dishes Out Authentic Detroit-style Pizza at 5 Locations

5/ Gelateria Gemelli

Gelateria Gemelli on Austin's East Sixth Street
Grab your sweet treats until 11 o’clock every night (Credit: Gelateria Gemelli)

“Gemelli” means “twins” in Italian. The shop was started by two friends—not twins, though they’re both Geminis—who have an immense passion for the art of gelato. They use local and organic ingredients and, for those of us with vices other than sugar, they also serve coffee and cocktails.

1009 E. 6th St. — Website

6/ Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya Vegetarian Dishes
Not to fear, vegetarians! Ramen Tatsu-ya also has a dish for you (Credit: Julia Keim)

Ramen Tatsu-ya is an Austin staple with several locations, and you’ll be glad to know there’s one on East Sixth Street! The owners are both chefs and DJs, and they first met through the music scene in Austin. There are always hints of Ramen Tatsu-ya’s musical origins, because the playlists are always on-point.

Ramen comes in a great variety here, so make sure you come back more than once to try a different style.

1600 E. 6th St. — Website

Keep reading: Here’s What You Need to Know About the Tatsu-ya Restaurants in Austin

7/ Revelry Kitchen + Bar

Revelry Kitchen and Bar Austin
Murals adorn the walls of Revelry Kitchen & Bar (Credit: Revelry)

Revelry boasts two popular locations in Austin: this one on the east side and another on North Lamar. The original on East Sixth Street is 21+ with a shorter food menu and a focus on drinks. Both locations love their dogs, however, with dog-friendly patios.

1410 E. 6th St. — Website

Keep reading: Cocktails, Bar Food, and Brunch at Revelry Kitchen + Bar on East Sixth

8/ Violet Crown Social Club

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Violet Crown Social Club (@violet.crown.social.club) on Sep 13, 2019 at 12:57pm PDT

Violet Crown is a longtime favorite in the Austin scene. It’s known for the Iron Whip, a refreshing creamsicle-like drink make with orange juice, and orange and vanilla vodka. The Iron Claw is the Iron Whip made with White Claw hard seltzer.

1111 E. 6th St. — Website

Austin Food Blogger Alliance City Guide 2020

9/ Buenos Aires Cafe/Milonga Room

Milonga Room Speakeasy Interior
Restored restaurant booths, ceiling tiles, and tables create an eclectic, but chic, look at Milonga Room (Credit: Talena Ramnath)

Buenos Aires Cafe is owned and operated by Argentinians who aim to recreate the atmosphere of Buenos Aires within the restaurant walls, highlighting traditional Argentine dishes. If you don’t know what chimichurri sauce is, do yourself a favor and order from the grill.

The same owners then opened speakeasy Milonga Room in the basement, adding a whole new level to the Argentine history and ambiance they share. Don’t forget to check for the weekly passcode, which can be found on social media.

1201 E. 6th St. — Buenos Aires Cafe, Milonga Room

Keep reading: We Hope Buenos Aires Café Will Be Around a Long, Long Time

10/ Hotel Vegas/The Volstead

Looking down East Sixth Street past The Volstead and Hotel Vegas
Looking down East Sixth Street past The Volstead and Hotel Vegas (Credit: Nomadic Pursuits)

If you’re in the mood for music and dancing, then head to Hotel Vegas and sister bar The Volstead. Think swanky dive bar with fancy damask wallpaper next door to a bar that has a stage for live music. You can easily switch between the two bars through the back patio area, making this the center of East Sixth entertainment.

1500-1502 E. 6th St. — Website

11/ The Liberty

The Liberty Bar on East Sixth Street
The Liberty (Credit: Nomadic Pursuits)

The Liberty is another one of the original dives on East Sixth, dating back to 2009. It’s also home to the original East Side King trailer! And since the outdoor signage was recently upgraded, you literally can’t miss it. Be sure to stop in and stay for a while.

1618 E. 6th St — Website

12/ Zilker Brewing Company & Taproom

Zilker Brewing Company beer flight
Zilker Brewing Company beer flight (Credit: Mathis Kennington)

Austinites are incredibly lucky to have so many micro breweries to choose from in the city. There’s even one on East Sixth, Zilker Brewing Company. While there isn’t a kitchen on site, they host local food trucks on a rotating basis.

1701 E. 6th St. — Website

13/ The Grackle

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Grackle (@the_grackle) on Dec 4, 2018 at 10:04am PST

Another dive bar on East Sixth, The Grackle offers patrons several whiskey options, as well as a covered patio and large draft beer selection. You may also notice the fancy signage from the same folks who did The Liberty Bar’s: Blackout Signs and Metalworks. This is another great spot to enjoy a low-key night out with friends.

1700 E. 6th St. — Facebook

14/ Whisler’s

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by whislersatx (@whislersatx) on Dec 26, 2019 at 2:36pm PST

Moving down the line, Whisler’s is another personal favorite on my East Sixth list. The rotating cocktail menu always features classic drinks with a twist, made by mixologists who know what they’re doing.

Golden Tiger, the restaurant inside of Whisler’s, has a rich array of American comfort food with an Asian twist: fries, burgers, and a Thai chicken sandwich made with sweet chili sauce.

1816 E. 6th St. — Website

15/ La Holly

La Holly on East Sixth Street
La Holly marks the end of Sixth Street

Thus far, our featured establishments have been in no particular order. Sixth Street may be a straight line, but your east side adventure will likely not be linear. However, La Holly is intentionally placed at the end of this list for a reason: once you hit La Holly, you know you’re about to reach the end of Sixth–its easternmost point.

The fact La Holly is called a “cantina” instead of a bar should give you a clue as to its origins. The owner has strong ties to Mexico and the cocktails are strongly influenced by Mexican flavors. There is ample outdoor space for enjoying hot summer evenings with your cold drink.

2500 E. 6th St. — Website

Keep reading: La Holly Is East Side’s Newest Cantina With Neighborhood Vibe We Love


@theAustinot wants to know:

What’s your favorite East Sixth Street spot?


The original version of this article was published May 9, 2016.

Filed Under: Drink, Entertainment, Food, Food & Drink, Music, Nightlife Tagged With: bars, eastside, sixth street

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johnroescher
johnroescher
6 years ago

Rhino Lounge
Burn
Fukumoto
Qui
Brew and Brew (5th street but you included White Horse)

0
Reply
rob
rob
6 years ago

St Roch’s Bar for sure and Grackle

0
Reply
Ronald Dunaway
Ronald Dunaway
2 years ago

You left out The Brixton.
What’s up with that?
And food wise?
The fact you fail to mention Ciscos is pretty disturbing…?

0
Reply

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