44 Best Dive Bars in Austin

“Fun place to have a drink and start the night for some east austin fun!!“

“Workhorse Bar has total Cheers vibes, like the old TV show… but if you’re too young you probably don’t even know what I’m talking about. Go check it out and you’ll get it. The atmosphere is welcoming, the drinks are strong, and the food is on point. They have the best veggie burger and fries around, and it’s the kind of spot where you instantly feel like a regular even if it’s your first time.“

“Favorite bar in Fort Worth!! Great staff great bartenders and always great live music“

“Best neighborhood bar in Austin. The service is exceptional if you know what you want. It's too crowded at times for boneheads that don't know how to order. The food is from Pool Burger downstairs which has an exceptional veggie burger if you have one of "those" in your group. Go there and share a pitcher with friends. Plus, they have White Claws.“

“This is literally one of my happy places! Staff is friendly and warm, atmosphere is cozy, and food is unparalleled. The amount of care and thoughtfulness that goes into every component of every dish is just amazing and hard to find. A really unique and fun concept that doesn’t take itself too seriously but you can tell there is some serious talent in that kitchen. Yellow ranger is a warm hug on a rainy day!“

“Very cool neighborhood bar. It seems like a “dive” bar from outside, but it’s a very classy and well-kept bar. The music they had on was so relaxing and chill. We really appreciated the ambiance and ability to comfortably visit with the bar tender. He was very personable and made great drinks. The happy hour goes til 7:00, which is hard to find in Austin. We don’t live on the east side, but will definitely be back.“

“It was like stepping into a small bar in Mexico. Very authentic little place, easy to miss. My friend and I came for a few drinks after working SXSW and loved it, think it was my fav bar we went to all week! We tried their Spicy Modellos we saw a few people drinking, with Tabasco and Lime on the rim which were interesting. Great place, great environment, probably don't come here in a big loud group“

“Fell in love with this place. A group of girlfriends and I were just stopping in for a quick shot but it ended being the funnest part of our whole night! We ended up staying for a couple hours singing along to every song this tall cute cowboy of a bartender played for us. We would request songs and he’d play anything we wanted to hear and it turned into a big party. No place ever does that! Unexpected hugging, singing, drinking, dancing, laugh fest. Thanks for making our night Cowboy Barry“

“This show in the Gallery is on of the GREATEST experiences listening to Live Music. Sue Foley was absolutely stunning covering old County Blues artists from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s!!!! Highly recommended!!!“

“This place is amazing. The drinks are affordable, the bartender was friendly, and the regulars were welcoming. If you don't like welcoming, inclusive places, keep walking, but if you enjoy a safe space to have a drink and sing a song, you've found it. Fair warning, I understand that the Younglings show up around 11, and they, as they will, will often suck (as it was when I was a Youngling).“

“Came in from out of town and this is the first place we stopped, glad we did. Our bartender, Kenny, was outgoing and funny. Gave us some great recommendations for other local bars. Prices were very cheap here for the area. Had the buffalo wings and they were great. Can't recommend this place enough.“

“Such great barbecue! Great Dive Bar atmosphere!“

“When you read all the reviews about this place being friendly, ya gotta go and see for yourself. I can confirm this is one of the friendliest bars in town. We did a random drop-in for a drink and stayed for hours. Bartenders are great, patrons are great. Cool lil dive bar. We'll be back“

“I asked about smoking rules and feel like I was over stepping boundaries, but it's better I ask then do, but felt like the bad guy don't know why, but I will be going back despite that because one bartended smiled and said I should come back!!! :)“

“Dear the Grackle,
You are a fantastic space. You can tell someone cares about the plants on the patio. A person in the food truck outside called me momma and then, I thought, yes, I am momma. I am momma at the grackle and I am momma eating a cheesesteak. I am momma and I have no children but I am
Here at The Grackle being momma.“

“coolbar . Great drinks and service“

“We had great burgers and Brunch food. Recommend the onion petals and cheeseburger. The atmosphere is "Austin Weird" ! Service is friendly, but very slow. Will be back soon.“

“I just randomly looked this place up. I really liked it. It’s more of a chill, 1-2 drink type of relax place. Maybe do some work.. theres barely any people in there so it feels peaceful. Music is nice, place is clean, love the bathroom and drinks“

“Definitely a friendly spot.“

“Always my go to place. Great service with a nice neighborhood atmosphere.“

“Great dj! Great vibe! Went on a Sunday! Fun and the mood is right! Also, Sweet bar tenders!“

“This place is GREAT. I’ve read the reviews and I simply don’t care. We came in here, received a warm welcome, a cold beer, and an amazing vibe. There’s 30-some-odd years of history in this building and I’m here for it. Fantastic establishment.“

“Great little bar with live music“

“We found this Pub while driving in Austin. The bartender was awesome and the drinks too! The place looks like an old movie. Love it!“

“Great bartenders. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming“

“Fun times and great music.“

“I don't get out often and I'm not much on being around large groups of people. But for being my first time here I was definitely impressed and I will definitely be coming back . Great service staff is very helpful and attentive food is good and reasonably priced. And the atmosphere is phenomenal and that's coming from an introvert lol. If you're in Austin TX you should stop by.“

“Great asian food and the drinks were good. All self service, bartenders were snotty but we're told this is sooo Austin. Too bad because with some kindness and extra effort, this would be a top rated establishment. The live music was good !“

“Had a nice stop over at Twin Creeks just off FM 2469 in North Austin recently. They have an indoor bar with outdoor seating next to a small creek. Bring a slice of bread and you can feed the fish in the clear creek waters.

Bartender was very friendly. Interesting mix of patrons from different walks of life, came in during the afternoon hour we were there, most just enjoying a beer in the great spring weather on the day.

Just seemed like a really good, local watering hole in north Austin, a place worth checking out if spending a bit of time in the area.“

“Love this place! Spicy chicken samich is the *ish!!!“

“A must see during an Austin trip. Best service in town thanks to Tammy! Donn is a legend!“

“Excellent food but the bar kinda leave some things to be desired! Stopped in on a weeknight to have dinner, it’s a dive bar with just a few tables, there weren’t many patrons but the music was blasting so loud we could barely hear eachother. No drink menu, just a list of shots on the board.

The food however was delicious, the fried rice really stood out.

Definitely worth a try, might recommend take out!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hotbox Pizza & Rolls absolutely delivers on flavor and quality! The pizza is delicious — with a perfect crust, rich sauce, and fresh toppings that hit the spot every time. The wings are packed with flavor, cooked just right, and definitely stand out from your average takeout. Mozzarella sticks? Golden, crispy, and full of gooey cheese — the kind you crave. And don’t even get me started on the pizza rolls… they’re on another level! Hot, cheesy, and stuffed with flavor — they’re easily the best I’ve had anywhere. Try their house made ranch with literally everything. So good. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or feeding a crowd, Hotbox is a winner across the board. Highly recommend!“

“Fun Honky-tonk road house dive… good music…“

“What about this place? What do you all suggest?“

“Was supposed to meet some friends at a bar and came to this place as my wife said it was the correct spot. Turns out it wasn't. Had some excellent music though. We had a beer and talked a bit and had great service. Thank you Mike! Hated to leave the music but moved on to meet our friends at the correct bar. Probably will stop in again at some point.“

“The burger was amazing and great onion rings.“

“Met some really nice people and had great food and drinks along with playing pool while on vacation.“

“Very cool spot to hang out and have some drinks. Lots of games including pool, ping pong, Jenga, foosball and probably others.There's a bar but also tables to kinda hang out in, and a juke box that you can choose all kinds of music from. I was really happy with the tunes they picked out - an eclectic mix that was nice for all people in our party (all ages).They also had a nice selection of taps of beer and normal well drinks from the bar. I was from out of town and just looking for a cool place to hang and have a few drinks. This place executed that perfectly. Would definitely recommend. :)“

“I had a great time at Shenanigans. The vibe is laid-back and fun, with plenty of things to do like karaoke, pool, and darts. Drinks are reasonably priced compared to other bars in town, which makes it a nice spot for hanging out with friends without breaking the bank. The crowd feels local and welcoming, which adds to the charm. Service can be a little hit or miss depending on the night, but overall it’s a solid place to relax and enjoy the evening.“

“Saw a great band called Dena Hope. Cool vibe!“

“I love Caci’s she is the best bartender. Dog friendly and very friendly.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great bar with an awesome vibe—and the bonus of a comedy club in the back makes it even better! Always a great time here. The bartenders are all friendly and make you feel welcome every visit. Perfect spot for drinks, laughs, and good vibes! 🍻😂“