bars Archives - Page 2 of 10

Find Your Old Texas Watering Hole at Buddy’s Place in Austin

April 5, 2017 by Dustin Vegas 4 Comments

What a deal at Buddy’s Place

There are many types of bars in Austin, offering different things for different people. The hipster bars have the creative, infused cocktails. The frat bars have top 40 music and cheap shots. Whatever the theme, each new bar of its type tries to outdo the competition with stranger cocktails, or cheaper shots, and the list goes on.

One bar on Burnet Road stands out by taking the opposite approach. This Texas bar is distilled to the essentials. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. [Read more…]

5 Stylish Austin Bars Serving Up Cool Vibes and Inspired Cocktails

January 24, 2017 by Jaclyn Hubersberger Leave a Comment

Bartender Andrew Campbell mixes a cocktail at Garage (Credit: Julie Cope Photography)

When I venture out for a stiff drink in a short glass, I seek a setting that rouses a sense of romance and sparks my imagination, where skillfully crafted cocktails are served. As someone who finds herself mired in the aesthetics of a room, the ambiance of a bar is important.

Sometimes you just want a beer and burger at the neighborhood joint, but other times you want to embark on an upscale, booze-fueled adventure that transports you to another time and place. In the case of the latter, here are my top five picks for the most stylish bars in Austin. [Read more…]

Best Spots to Sit & Sip a Glass of Wine in Austin

January 3, 2017 by Jessica Pino 9 Comments

I’m a recovering wine snob. Years ago, I only drank high-end bottles with other wine snob friends. We would eat cheese while sipping, sniffing and discussing wines. Then I moved to Italy, where delicious wines cost as little as $5.

And then it hit me.

It’s not about this varietal or that vintage, or even what pairs best with what. It’s simpler than that. Much like any alcoholic beverage of choice, you drink it because you like it. And the reason you drink is to celebrate friends, family, careers or life events.

Here are some top-notch spots to sit and sip a glass of wine in Austin with your closest friends, family or colleagues. They aren’t necessarily the most high-end in town, but they’ve got soul. [Read more…]

Smooth Guide to Finding Blues and Jazz Music in Austin

August 15, 2016 by Ashley Alkek Leave a Comment

Antone’s by night, home to the Blues (Credit: Marco Figueroa)

Are you interested in exploring the depths of the music scene here in Austin? You don’t have to be a classically trained musician to appreciate amazing blues and jazz. In fact, all you need is an open mind and–optionally–a pair of dancing shoes.

Austin is home to some of the greatest venues and artists around. Grab a friend and head to one of these cherished institutions. [Read more…]

Guide to Austin’s West Sixth Street

August 3, 2016 by Jessica Pino 2 Comments

There are three sections of Sixth Street in Austin: West, East and what locals refer to as Dirty. For locals, Dirty Sixth runs from Congress to I-35 even though technically, and according to street signs, East Sixth 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.

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, but for this article I’ll take us all the way to MoPac as there are several notable bars and restaurants in the extended stretch of West Sixth.

While you’ll find your fair share of bars here–no surprise for Sixth Street–West Sixth is much more diverse when it comes to local Austin businesses. This list highlights the cream of the crop. [Read more…]

BaseCamp Aims to Elevate Austin Sports Bar Concept

May 30, 2016 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Live it up with drinks, eats and sports at Basecamp (Credit: Cultivate PR)

Sports bars can be overwhelming. Bar tops bathed in the harsh light of tightly packed TVs and beer sign neon. Average food options like bland wings, onion rings and the dreaded over-cooked nacho plate. Liquor ads serve as wallpaper, designed to distract you from the real mission: rooting on your favorite team. Sports bars don’t have to be “pinkies up,” but they don’t have to be blaring noise machines either.

With a cut above menu of comfort bar food, inspired cocktails and a modern yet welcoming ambiance, BaseCamp hopes to elevate Austin’s expectations of what a sports bar should be. [Read more…]

Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street

February 4, 2016 by Jessica Pino 54 Comments

Dirty Sixth Street (Credit: Ian Aberle via Flickr CC)

Whether you love it or loath it, Sixth Street is one of the most iconic streets in Austin. It’s the epicenter of what made Austin the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

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.

Technically, and according to street signs, East Sixth starts at Congress Avenue and runs east, but that’s not what you’ll hear from locals. We refer to the section of Sixth Street that stretches from Congress Avenue to I-35 as Dirty Sixth. Then East Sixth is anything east of I-35. Don’t get confused by the street signs; you’ll be talking like a local in no time.

There are actually quite a few wonderful businesses on Dirty Sixth that aren’t as “dirty” as you might imagine.

Looking for late night eats in Austin? Check out – 20 Restaurants Open Late in Austin!

And for the best places to eat at on sixth street & other downtown areas check out our – 10 Best Restaurants in Downtown Austin!

[Read more…]

Mean Eyed Cat Brings Spirit of Johnny Cash to West 5th Street

February 4, 2016 by Bill Tucker 1 Comment

Warm and welcoming with a dive bar edge: welcome to Mean Eyed Cat! (Credit: Mean Eyed Cat)

For 90% of the world, there’s only one Man in Black. Forget the Will Smith movies; ignore the X-Files. Johnny Cash, one of country music’s original rebels, is the only one who matters.

While you can trek to Nashville to pay homage, there’s a joint right here in Austin that honors the legend through its décor, drinks and demeanor. With more than just a novelty name for a dive bar, Mean Eyed Cat Bar hides quality cocktails, great food and exceptional service behind its roughneck exterior. The result is your new favorite local hangout. [Read more…]

Guide to the Diviest Dive Bars in Austin

October 22, 2015 by Andrew Chase 4 Comments

Credit: Lisa Taylor

Ah, dive bars. Places with lights so dim, you can barely see the dirt on your pint glass. Where the beer-soaked wood creeks under your boot, between skips from the jukebox. Where you can’t tell whether the wall is holding up the dusted rows of decades-deep décor, or vice-versa. Where the hangover comes in smell-form. Where the only good Tinder dates ever happen.

I could go on, but you get the point. Roll up your sleeves, my fellow patrons. We’re about to go diving. But before I list a few of my local favorites, let’s clear something up. If a dive bar says it’s a dive bar, it isn’t a dive bar. Don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of quality, local watering holes around town. But not all dives are created equal, and that’s my point. A good bar is like a good guitar. The more history it has, the more authentic it becomes. [Read more…]

Austin’s laV Earns National Recognition for Food and Wine

August 28, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad 1 Comment

laV wine bar

Editor’s Note: laV has permanently closed, as of January 1, 2016.

LaV was recently named among U.S. Wine Enthusiast’s 2015 list of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants, and for good reason. Their wine selection is exceptional and they employ two advanced sommeliers. The two-story wine cellar at laV houses over 1,200 different selections, and the wine menu is a book with a much-needed table of contents.

To put laV’s accomplishments into perspective, it is one of only 19 restaurants on Wine Enthusiast’s list in the south. It’s the only one of eight in Texas, and the sole representative in Austin. [Read more…]

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