sixth street Archives - The Austinot

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.

Guide to Austin’s Nightlife Districts for Bachelor Party Planners

January 13, 2020 by Jonas White 1 Comment

Bachelor Party Planning Austin

You’ve seen them. Young men roaming the city, with matching t-shirts and an eye for adventure. They touch down in Austin on Thursday or Friday, live their best lives for as long as they can, and then go back to whatever reality they came from.

Bachelor parties are everywhere in Austin, and for good reason. Our city offers the best food, drink, and group activities. Accessibility within the city that makes it easy to navigate from place to place. And of course, the warm weather. If you’re planning a bachelor party in Austin, know you have options and–most importantly–the opportunity to keep it uncomplicated and fun.

Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): J. Stephens

November 12, 2019 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Kansas City Shuffle Cocktail at J. Stephens — Fiery Kansas City Shuffle cocktail (Credit: J. Stephens)

Speakeasies tend to latch on to the creepy and salacious. During the course of my speakeasy series, I’ve visited horror film-themed bars, heard multiple stories of ghosts haunting the premises, and learned that brothels existed in the heart of Austin not long ago. When I found out Austin’s newest speakeasy is named after J. Stephens, who came to his end in the late 1920s via suicide, due to drinking the equivalent of Lysol, it felt rather on-brand.

Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Midnight Cowboy

August 12, 2019 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Midnight Cowboy Speakeasy Interior

You can’t just walk into Midnight Cowboy on a Saturday night and expect to get the experience, or the cocktails, everyone raves about. Certain steps are necessary. This may be why it took me three years to visit what is perhaps Austin’s most well-known speakeasy. Planning ahead has never been my strong suit.

When I made my reservation, found the hidden door, rang the bell, and sat in a booth for the first time, it didn’t take long to figure out why so many people recommended Midnight Cowboy over the years. For the sixth installment of The Austinot’s Speakeasy Secrets series, I’ll teach you how you too can have this same experience, and why you should make it a priority to do so.

Lazarus Brewing Cultivates Community Alongside Coffee, Tacos, and Beer

March 18, 2019 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Guest article by Ken Pishna

When Christian Cryder left Montana behind to open a brewery on East Sixth Street in Austin, he wanted to build a community around four key ingredients: coffee, beer, tacos, and joy.

Lazarus Brewing Company was born on Christmas Eve in 2016. With a talented head brewer, one of Austin’s finest Street-Mex food truck chefs, and a veteran coffee roaster; the beer, food, and coffee were givens.

The question was whether Lazarus could rise up and give new life to the Bike Texas building, and iconic Cool Store, as a brewery with plans to be more than a place to grab a cold one. [Read more…]

Dolce Bacio Food Truck Creates Authentic Italian Gelato for Austin

September 24, 2018 by Vi Chetan 1 Comment

Dolce Bacio Colorful Gelato in Austin

Francesca Cavallari’s love for natural ingredients brings colorful scoops to life (Credit: Dolce Bacio)

Those who can recognize the “real deal” when it comes to gelato are typically the ones who grew up with it. Francesca Cavallari and Dante Scarano not only grew up with gelato, but went to school to master the art of making it. And luckily for us, the duo recently opened a truck in East Austin, dishing out some seriously mind-blowing flavors of the popular Italian dessert. [Read more…]

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

August 1, 2018 by Brittany Ballard 1 Comment

Detroit-style pizza Via 313 in Austin

Via 313’s Detroit-style pizza packs maximum flavor, from the cheese caramelized crust to the gooey center

Whether you’ve tried Detroit-style or not, Austin has the place for you to chow down on these delicious pizzas. Via 313 will have you dreaming of cheesy crusts and pizza toppings for weeks once you’ve gotten a taste.

What started as a food truck on East Sixth Street quickly became an Austin favorite, growing into a local empire. Since 2011, Via 313 has expanded from one trailer to five different locations throughout our area.

Suerte Serves Satisfying Interior Mexican Food on East Sixth Street

July 16, 2018 by Samantha Saenz Leave a Comment

Brisket Tacos and Sotol Cocktail at Suerte Austin

Confit brisket tacos and sotol cocktail at Suerte

Since opening on East Sixth Street in March 2018, Suerte has generated critical acclaim with its interior Mexican menu by Executive Chef Fermín Nuñez. I visited recently to sample the cuisine and cocktails. Here are a few of the highlights.

The Original Hoffbrau: Bootlegging, Steak-slinging Austin Essential

February 7, 2018 by Vi Chetan Leave a Comment

The Original Hoffbrau Steakhouse Vintage Bar

The Original Hoffbrau Steakhouse’s vintage bar (Credit: Hoffbrau)

Yes, you read the title correctly. I am indeed talking about bootlegging during the Prohibition. The Original Hoffbrau opened its doors in 1932, a year before Prohibition came to an end. Brothers Robert “Coleman” and Tom Hamby put in $125 each to buy the property now located in one of the most coveted parts of town: West Sixth Street. Now in its 83rd year with the fourth generation of family ownership, The Original Hoffbrau has become an iconic Austin steakhouse.

Family and Interior Mexican Cuisine Are Heart and Soul of Licha’s Cantina

January 12, 2018 by Amanda Sayers Leave a Comment

Licha's Cantina Mexican in East Austin

Licha’s Cantina’s colorful exterior welcomes you to the heart of East Sixth Street

I tend to be drawn to people and places that radiate a positive energy. Add delicious food to that, and I’m a loyal and devoted regular.

When you first walk into the old bungalow that is Licha’s Cantina, you don’t feel like you’re in a restaurant at all. You feel as though you’re in someone’s home. The interior is cozy and dimly lit, and there’s music playing in the background. There is heart and soul, and the energy makes you feel good.

Somehow you know you’re about to sit down to a delicious and comforting meal, like you’re at a family dinner. [Read more…]