• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

See for Yourself: The Highball Is Back

October 22, 2014 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

The Highball Austin

The Highball at 1120 S Lamar

When The Highball closed its doors almost two years ago, it left a gaping hole in the Austin nightlife scene. Seriously. Where else could you grab a drink, sing a Miley Cyrus song and bowl ten frames without leaving the building? Now settled in its refurbished home, the South Lamar landmark is looking to reclaim its crown as one of Austin’s most distinctive hot spots.

Chillin’

Whenever The Highball is brought up in conversation, people always ask, “Did they bring back the bowling?” Sorry, friends. Due to space restrictions, the bar’s signature lanes are no more. Luckily, the decor keeps the ten pin tradition alive. Decked out like a scene from The Big Lebowski, the bar tops, dance floor and benches have all been fashioned out of the original alley wood.

The Highball Bowling Alley Bartop

Keeping the past alive with bartops from bowling alley wood

Bright gold bar stools crank up the kitsch factor and the lush booths hearken back to the days of Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. It’s all stylishly retro, yet surprisingly cozy. Once the surrounding apartment and retail plaza is finished, The Highball will be the place to hang out and people watch.

Singin’

Midnight Manor Karaoke Room at The Highball

Midnight Manor karaoke room

Although the bowling alley is now a dance floor, Highball 2.0 brings back karaoke in grand fashion. With seven themed rooms from heavy metal to eight bit Nintendo, there’s a vibe for every group. A dedicated speakeasy style server keeps the libations rolling. With room rates running from $20 to $50 an hour, it’s a cheap night out.

This past weekend, I got a chance to do my best Joe Cocker impersonation in the Midnight Manor room. Decked out like a cross between The Shining and The Walking Dead, it was singalong heaven.

Thanks to gear that would put the Enterprise’s holodeck to shame, picking from The Highball’s massive song library was a breeze thanks to a slick touchpad interface. Two massive screens made it easy for everybody to warble along. And if you ever wanted to know what Bruce Springsteen would sound like auto-tuned, a built in effects bank can answer that question. I recommend the helium balloon setting for maximum uncomfortable laughs.

Joysticks Karaoke Room

Joysticks Karaoke Room

The Fifth Dimension Karaoke Room

The Fifth Dimension Karaoke Room

Doin’

Not a fan of singing badly in front of friends? There’s more to check out at the brand new Highball. Events are still a huge part of the experience. Whether you’re battling brainstems with the Geeks Who Drink trivia team or hurling insults at bad movies with Hecklevision and the Action Pack, there’s always something going down. Even signature events like the famous “Highballoween” are back on the calendar.

The Highball Seating and Bar

The Highball seating area and bar

Live music has also returned with a vengeance with a nice mix of weekly acts and special drop-ins. My personal favorite is Motown Mondays backed by the exceptional Matchmaker Band and The Nightowls, but there’s always something fun to discover. Case in a point: a few weeks ago, I popped in after a movie to find Dale Watson in a white tux fronting a swing band. Deliciously bizarre. Totally awesome.

Drinkin’

The Highball has plenty of liquid encouragement to help you get all Moulin Rouge on the mic. While the vaunted mixologists of the original bar are long gone, the current crop of drink slingers get the job done in sparkling fashion. From the signature sweetness of their classic old fashioned to the ginger beer burn of their “Dark and Stormy,” the cocktail menu has something for everybody. And if you’re more of a beer snob like me, their selection of over twenty craft drafts will keep you satisfied. Feel free to downshift from a gin fizz to a Founder’s Scotch Ale. The Highball is a no-judgment zone.

The Highball Beer on Tap

Beer on tap

(Note: They also have a small food menu. But since I’ve never tried it, I can’t comment on the quality. It smelled delicious)

With charm, style and a distinctive vibe, the new Highball is a welcome addition to the South Lamar scene. It may be missing some key original components, but the awesome karaoke, friendly staff and chilled out vibe made the trip to the new location. You know. The important stuff. So grab a stool, order a drink and prepare to sing the night away. The Highball is officially back.

The Highball is located at 1120 South Lamar Blvd. When heading south on S Lamar, make a left onto Treadwell Street and park in the Alamo Drafthouse garage. Follow signs for the Drafthouse and you can’t miss it!

Bill Tucker is a writer of film reviews, articles and short stories for a number of publications and sites. His work can be found at Entertainment Weekly, Revolt Daily and Pantheon Magazine. You can check out all of his everything on TheSurrealProject.com.

 

@theAustinot asks:

Have you checked out the new Highball yet? What do you think?

Filed Under: Drink, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Nightlife Tagged With: bars, south lamar

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

    Hyperlocal Blog About the City of A...

    To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

    Hyperlocal Blog About the City of Austin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend

Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend of July 1, 2022 include Bastrop Patriotic Festival, Family Game Night, and More!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of July 1, 2022, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Dive In Movies – Wells Branch, Bastrop Patriotic Festival, and more!   Top […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend | Brick Rodeo

10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!

  For summer camp information, check out our page for Best Summer Camps in Austin for 2022!  If you would like to discover more Things to do in Austin this Week & Things to do in Austin with Kids this Weekend, check out Facebook for immediate notifications.

Things to do in Austin this week

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 27, 2022 include Pints & Pups at Round Rock Express, Carpenter BBQ Pool Party, and more!

Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. There are things to do on Monday in Austin, of course, things to do in Austin on Saturday night, and everything in between! Some of you may be […]

texas swimming holes near austin

Texas swimming holes near Austin – 10 watering holes for a fun swim this summer

If you have been looking for free places to swim in Austin or googling ‘swimming holes near me’, you are in the right place! Texas is known for a lot of things and one of them is relentlessly hot summers. The temperatures are rising in Austin and across the state. Luckily, there are also many […]

Austin trampoline parks - Urban Air Adventure Park (Cedar Park)

Austin Trampoline Parks – Best Indoor Jumping Places for Kids and Adults!

Trampoline parks were among the decade’s most unique leisure attractions. They offer a playful atmosphere where people can defy the laws of physics and have a good time hurling themselves around. It consists of a large room filled wall to wall with trampolines. On the weekend, you may get rid of your boredom and have […]

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend of July 1, 2022 include Bastrop Patriotic Festival, Family Game Night, and More!
  • 4th July events in Austin: Independence day 2022 fireworks, parades, concerts & other celebrations!
  • 10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 27, 2022 include Pints & Pups at Round Rock Express, Carpenter BBQ Pool Party, and more!
  • Texas swimming holes near Austin – 10 watering holes for a fun swim this summer

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!
  • 4th July events in Austin: Independence day 2022 fireworks, parades, concerts & other celebrations!
  • 10 Best Lakes in and around Austin
  • 7 Popular Lady Bird Lake Activities to Experience This Year
  • Day Trip in Austin: 10 Places To Visit Like a Tourist

Copyright © 2022 · Log in

wpDiscuz