I came to Austin for the week to cat-sit for my daughter and asked two strangers on South Lamar…read morewhere a woman traveling alone could find live music. Without hesitation, they both pointed me to Donn's Depot. They were absolutely right. From the moment I walked in, the place felt authentic. Not curated. Not trendy. Just a room full of people genuinely enjoying one another. The bartender was friendly, the regulars immediately welcomed a complete stranger to their table, and before long I was swapping stories with some of the kindest people I've met in a long time. Murphy's In-Laws were fantastic. Their musicianship was outstanding, and after I asked about a James Taylor song, they dusted off Steamroller--a song they hadn't played in years--and performed it like they had played it during warm-ups. Definitely not for the "first time in 15 years." They threw in "Shower the People" for me afterward! Donn's is one of those local favorites that is unforgettable because it provides moments you can't plan. One thing to know before you go: they don't serve meals, but they do have complimentary popcorn (which was great to discover if you haven't eaten anything prior to liquor)! What stayed with me most wasn't just the music. It was the hospitality. A stranger (who overheard my desire to hear Steamroller) quietly paid for my song request. A table of regulars pulled up a chair and made room for me. No one asked why I was there by myself. They simply welcomed me and nick-named me, "San Antonio." From a mic. If you're looking for polished nightlife, this may not be your place--but you probably need to go anyway. If you're looking for authentic Austin, genuine people, excellent live music, and an evening that reminds you how kind strangers can be, don't miss Donn's Depot. Keep Austin Great, y'all!

This unpretentious, eclectic, festive, multi-generational dive is off the rails. Get it?…read more Named after Donn, a local legend, who plays piano or tends bar at least once a week. The authentic but repurposed train station opened in 1972. In fact, a vintage railcar serves as an elevated viewing area of the dance floor, and you may want to check out the women's caboose. Literally, the depot has a caboose for a restroom! Going on a Friday night, we paid the $10 cover and it was a little crowded, but there were a few seats at the picnic tables in the wrap-around patio and I managed to step on only a few feet on the small dance floor, dancing to Donn and his Station Masters playing honky-tonk soul, western swing, and rock and roll covers. If you want a fun night, choo-choo-choose Donn's Depot. :

If you know, you know... I didn't know, but now I know. You…read moreknow? No? This is a rooftop bar, several stories up, overlooking Inn Cahoots, and downtown Austin. It's got a bunch of sunshades for day drinkin', and chaise lounge chairs for lounging under the city lights and the moon in the evening. The bartenders were pretty friendly, poured Hornitos Tequila, which is a good brand! The price was nice too. They have a rather limited beer selection. You have to take an elevator to get here. It's a weird moment of silence before the doors open to a DJ spinning tracks. My favorite part of this bar is the views. You can literally look down on East Austin. It's hard to top this view of downtown. The bathrooms were super clean, and really private. There's a communal washroom. I'll be back- this is a super fun bar!

Rating: 4.4/5 This…read morespot definitely stands out with its eye-catching setup and rooftop bar. You enter through a well-lit entrance on the ground floor, walk past the food truck toward the giant "IYKYK" sign, then take a left to reach the elevator. The rooftop offers a spectacular view of downtown Austin. The dance floor is huge, though it was empty when we arrived at 9:30 PM on a Thursday. More people started coming in after 10 PM as we were leaving. The music was great, and my Mai Tai was solid (but I was pretty drunk so take this with a grain of salt). One thing to note--they have a communal-style restroom. Overall, it seems like a cool spot to wrap up the night, and I'd definitely bring friends here if I were in the area.

This was my third time visiting Retail Therapy, and it honestly just keeps getting better. The…read moreboutique-inspired decor is absolutely stunning, complete with chic fashion touches like Tom Ford shoes on display. We went later in the night when the deejay was spinning, so the lounge was totally packed and full of energy. Despite the busy crowd, the overall vibe was perfect thanks to the welcoming staff and the incredible mixologists behind the bar. The drinks are always amazing, and on this last visit, I shared the Dancing Queen cocktail with my boyfriend. Spot on! Can't say enough good things about this place. A+!

Went here for date night. It's dimly lit and good romantic vibe in here. They had a live dj. Drinks…read morewere very good but service was slow. Waiting 10-15 minutes for our drinks to arrive and took a while for the server to close us out. I recommend trying the New York Sour.

A good neighborhood bar! Not a lot of space inside but there is a patio which adds more room to…read morehang out. We brought food from trucks next door and each had a drink. The drinks were solid and the prices were about average. The staff were nice and quick to serve drinks! It was busy so we hanged out outside. The downside is that there's a lot of flies so gotta watch your food like a hawk.

Small mid sized interior with a pool table. There are food trucks next door you can bring food…read moreinto. The inside was quite packed on a midday Saturday. Large outdoor patio. The flies here will swarm ya food here though.... Nice staff here. There is a small parking lot out front.

Came here randomly for the 4th of July to a free cover band show. This is probably one of the only…read morefew bars in the small vicinity of south congress. Other things will be a longer walk away. Service here is fine. Expect drink prices to match the area. This is more of a bar with a stage than a club. Good to see some rock and metal in the area.

A friend asked me was I interested in listening tosome live music tonight. Absolutely! First stop…read morethe Continental Club on S. Congress. This place is an Austin institution and one of the best places in the city to experience live music. This historic venue has been a local hangout for great music since the 1950s. The club was dimly lit with lots of stickers, graffiti, neon signage, paintings and interesting artifacts. While it has been a long time since I have been to the Continental club, it still felt truly Austin and very unpretentious. In the Continental Club you are literally I feet away from the live music. A dog was sleeping on stage, which made the place feel homey. The club is small and intimate, exuding a super personal persona. In addition, the sound quality is excellent for such a small venue. Tonight we listened to Hot Club Cowtown...they sounded folksy and a bit country western yet enjoyable to listen to. Folks were boot scooting, so maybe more country western. Mike the doorman was super personable and helpful. He happily provided the WIFI password and was super engaging. In addition, it is important to note the cover was free until 9 pm. The crowd was a mix bag...locals, tourists, and musicians who love live music. Austin is affectionately known as the "Live Music Capitol of the World". Great music...great time!

What a fun little place to go and listen to the DJ play an eclectic collection of vinyl records…read more This is a very intimate spot and a fun place to enjoy a drink and snacks. I would ent recommend a group unless you were reserving the entire place. We went while staying at the Magdalena, and it was a fun spot to visit right after dinner and before bed.

What a vibe! Loved it here. I could probably stay here a whole shift lol…read moreMusic-Perfect Temp-excellent place to escape the heat! Vibes-dark and moody, my fave. Comfortable seating and not too loud so you could have an easy conversation. The drinks were all great and so many options. Such a fantastic atmosphere and idea. Really loved the concept!

Unexpected night out led me down south to the Far Out Lounge to see Spiritus, covering Ghost. It…read morewas a great show, sound was on point, but my interactions with everyone on staff - literally Aaron to Zeb (A -Z) - were so markedly positive that I couldn't have had a bad night if I tried. They were also awesome about assuring me my car would be safe overnight, so that fun was not marred by unnecessary stress, anxiety, or last minute poor choices. Thanks so much, Far Out staff -- see you soon :)

The bartender/manager interaction here was honestly bizarre and unprofessional. I ordered a drink,…read moreclarified the tequila I wanted, and asked for salt on the rim, completely normal requests when paying premium prices for cocktails. Instead of basic customer service, I was met with attitude, irritation, and eventually being called "bro" and spoken to disrespectfully in front of other people. I work in service myself, so I'm usually very understanding, but this experience completely killed the vibe of the night. If you're going to charge upscale lounge prices, the staff should know how to treat customers professionally instead of acting annoyed that someone wants their order made correctly.

I always see this bar on social media and I finally decided to give it a try. This bar exceeded my…read moreexpectations with the drinks, the size, events, games, and shops. The actual bar is to the left of the entrance. I love that they have a variety of drink specials as well as nonalcoholic beverages. I was hoping to get a taste of the food, but the kitchen doesn't open until 4pm. I would also suggest coming later if you want to catch a show from the live band or explore their seasonal mazes. There's plenty of photo ops, jenga, corn hole, pool, foosball, connect four, pacman, and a few other arcade games. This place is completely filled with 80s, 90s, and early 2000s' nostalgia. It's the perfect spot of tourist and for native austinites. There also a lot of vintage signs from old stores and restaurants that were local to austin as well. I would say this spot is worth the hype! I also give bonus points for the shops & food trucks outside of the bar. The perfect place to hang out with friends and have some fun.

I've seen this place all over the internet I needed to see it for myself. I came on a Thursday…read morenight, and I was the only person here. It was a cool vibe, seeing all of the neon signs and I'm sure if it was more lively, I would've had a better time and better experience. The drinks are decently priced, and the staff is extremely friendly. Being alone here gave some Zombieland, creepy vibes and I was kind of living for it. I thought they should have some events centered around that, but it's probably like that during Halloween. I would love to check it out again on a livelier night!