Live music at night! Seats about 60 people a perfectly intimate venue. More faculty in the audience than students, typically.

The Cactus Cafe is such a cool bar on the UT campus! It is only open during shows. I came here for jazz night, and my friend and I were the only college students. Everyone else was very old. The venue is very intimate with chairs surrounding a tiny stage. It was a fun time, and I had a delicious ruby drop cocktail for $9. The bartenders were really nice, and mine helped me pick a drink that I would like. read more

Cactus Cafe - Jazz night - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

First time here and it was a semi-decent experience. Environment: I went here for a free blue grass concert and had no idea what I was walking into. This place is very very very small place, dark, and loud. Drinks: they have a full bar at semi decent prices for being on campus. Staff: the two female bartenders were very nice, but the male/seem like the manager was a different story. We were Literally sitting in the back of the room and he came from behind the bar and asked us to stop talking. Normally I would Understand this, but we were literally in the very back of the room, he was behind the bar, and the music was extremely loud. I could barely even hear my friends while we talked brief when I first got the, so I know he couldn't hear us, he must of just seen our actions, and took advantage of the opportunity. Overall: this was definitely not what I expected when a buddy told me "you need to watch a show at Cactus Cafe". Pretty disappointed in this experience. read more

Cactus Cafe - The bar - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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With a sorrowful heart, I write this review. Aside from holding events, the Cafe is often closed at the hours they claim; the ambiance is decent and pleasant. The $3 coffee is the best on their drinks menu, but anything after that will surely be under-poured. They cut my friend's real ID and were quite rude. I know it's a University "cafe." Still, I genuinely blame the management and policies that have made it the decrepit corpse in the University Union, only resurrected for paid events. read more

The Cactus is part of the Student Union building on the UT campus, and it's been there since before I can remember. It's in the very front of the building, closest to Guadalupe (The Drag), where "Commons" is engraved on the limestone above a fancy door intended for several generations of students past. But you actually enter at the next set of doors. The metal and glass ones. As a true music listening room, it's been the inspiration for other intimate venues such as Strange Brew Lounge. If you're lucky enough to get tickets to see an artist here, it will feel like seeing them in someone's home. Granted, their fairly large home, but it's that sort of personal experience. The acoustics are great, the sound is mixed perfectly, and the seating varies depending on the number of tickets sold: tables or seminar style rows. FYI: It's not a party-style atmosphere. They expect total silence except for applause while artists are performing. It feels almost like church at times, except for the alcohol. They're open during the day for coffee and drinks, as well. If you're planning to see a band/artist here, I advise buying tickets online instead of chancing their availability at the door. While you're standing in line to enter, check out the wall of posters to your left, and you'll see a sampling of shows you wish you'd been lucky enough to see over the years. And since it's campus, if you're driving there, parking is a problem. Watch for limiting street signs and prepare to walk several blocks. There are on-campus parking garages if you don't want to take your chances on the streets of West Campus. read more

Knowing that this place still exists pleases me to no end, even if I rarely get the chance to enjoy it in person any more. When I was a student at UT throughout the 90s, I spent many happy evenings here in the smoke-free environment (this was before Austin's smoking ban) listening to amazing acoustic performances in a perfect space for true music lovers to be up close & personal with the performers. Just this week, I had the great pleasure to hear Chip Taylor (acoustic guitar) and Carrie Rodriguez (fiddle), along with their friends playing upright bass, electric guitar, and pedal steel. The crowd (all ages, but heavily skewed to the baby boomer set on this night) was pleasant & engaged, the acoustics were amazing, and the bar served some stout cocktails at a very cheap price. It was a wonderful evening, and we were on our way home by 11:30pm, extra nice on a school night. We had decided on the spur of the moment to attend this 8:30pm show on a Wednesday night and we were pretty lucky to get in. When we arrived at 7:45, there was a line at the door, and we nabbed the very last two chairs in the house right before they cut off entry. Next time, we'll plan ahead and make sure we're there by 7:15. Good to know: Many Cactus shows do not offer advance tickets, and doors open 30 minutes before showtime. It's on the UT campus, just about directly east of the University Co-op store, so you must park wherever you can find a space in the adjacent area. We paid $8 to park at the UT garage on San Antonio by Whole Earth Provisions and then came in the back entrance of the Union off 24th. UT students showing ID get $3-5 off the ticket price, generally $15 for touring acts, $10 for local acts, and (gasp) *free* for some events. Join the email list to get advance notice of upcoming shows here http://www.utexas.edu/universityunions/texas-union/scene/cactus-cafe-music This link provides the advance ticket sales http://cactuscafe.thundertix.com/ read more

FOUR PICTURES? THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN: 50,000 Graduate & Undergrad students 25,000 Faculty & Staff AND Cactus Cafe is open to the General Public, in a city of approx population of 750,000 inside the City Limits, about 1.5 Million total in Travis County. And FOUR PICTURES of the Historical, Legendary, Irreplaceable Cactus Cafe; that's ALL? What's wrong with this picture? NO pictures, that's what! So I 'm gonna help out a little, but not nearly enough; I NEED HELP OVER HERE! When I first moved to Austin, many moons ago, one of the first places I got taken to was The Cactus Cafe. The drummer of the band I was playing with at the time was a Professor of Musicology at UT (though not much of a drummer, to be honest), and we went to see another (band) project he was involved in. I LOVED THE PLACE. I was young, had never been to a College music venue before, and I was impressed. I never attended UT, which is why I probably didn't go to Cactus as much as I would have, had I been a student. You students, you are very lucky to be in such close proximity to such a wonderful place. I know you frequent the place, probably "frequently". SO TAKE SOME PICTURES, PLEASE! Actually, the entire Student Union complex is remarkable, and the Cactus Cafe is the crowning jewel of the whole thing, if you ask me. OK, OK, nobody did, nobody ever does, but that's what I'd tell 'em if they ever asked. Tonight, I THOUGHT I was going to Cindy Cashdollar's CD release party; slightly mis-informed by a friend of mine, I was (channeling Yoda now, I am). But in essence I WAS attending a "Cindy release" party. Tonight, Cindy performed with an all-female Country / Folk act called THE CARPER FAMILY. Cindy co-produced this, their second full-length CD, "Old Fashioned Gal", and performs on it as well, along with some other very talented sidemen. This review is about Cactus, so I won't delve into how talented a group The Carper Family are, with their perfect instrumentation, and precise three-part harmonies filling up the entire Universe, it would seem. But they are a PRIME EXAMPLE of the caliber of talent you'll get EVERY TIME you attend a performance at The Cactus Cafe. My cheap, stupid camera won't take good low-light pictures at all, and they weren't allowing flash to be used. My cell phone camera's even worse, they ALL are. Wouldn't have mattered anyway; I was too far back for the flash to carry in the first place. So the pictures I took inside the venue were not fit to post; sorry. What I DID capture are several framed groups of POSTERS from past shows, which are only a teeny, tiny FRACTION of the legendary musical acts that have graced the stage of the Cactus over the years and years and YEARS. You may not be able to see all of them in great detail, as Yelp doesn't allow very high-resolution pics to be uploaded. But you get the idea. Anyway, THAT'S what I'm posting, and it's a DAMN SIGHT BETTER than the pictures of empty chairs that are there right now. "Is this picture HELPFUL?" No, it's a CHAIR! But my additional shots are just a start; we need LOTS MORE PICTURES. I haven't been to Cactus Cafe in a long time; I'm ashamed to say how long. But every time I go, it's always been a wonderful experience. Last time, it was a Django Reinhardt Festival, several years back. I don't know if they've held it again, but if they have, I wasn't aware of it; I would've gone. And to any "Jaywalkers" out there: NO, Django Reinhardt has NOTHING to do with the recent "Django" movie. In fact, although I like Tarantino's movies (this one included) I think he's a real PUTZ for naming the movie that, unless it maybe gets some younger, uneducated, uninitiated individuals to stumble upon Django Reinhardt's music. That would be a GOOD thing. So c'mon Students; I KNOW there are some Yelpers among your ranks. Please start fillin' up the Cactus Cafe photo page with LOTS & LOTS of HELPFUL stuff, such as the myriad of performers that are playing there all the time. Start promoting one of UT's most wonderful features. And no more "empty-table-and-chair" pic's, PLEASE? And a total of only 42 reviews (not including mine) is pretty lame too. Any JOURNALISM MAJORS reading? You budding journalists do read and write? Right? So WRITE. Right now. It's your God-given RIGHT. OK, I think we've worn THAT out... The Cactus Cafe is an awesome place, one of the best Live Music venues in all of Austin. And oh yeah, UT's curriculum's nice too. WOW, THAT WAS SHORT! Or at least, SHORTER. Maybe the "Bet-For" treatments ARE working after all... larrythediner . read more

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I ventured onto the University of Texas campus to find the Cactus Cafe to watch a musical performance by the recently reformed celtic group - Clandestine. One should park in one of the parking garages just across the street from the University. The place is small - a lot of people turned out for the performance. The acoustics were quite good - I had a seat in the far right - second to last row (facing the stage). There is a small bar in here and they do a brisk business. I had a couple of hard ciders, and then bottled water. There was a a lot of beer, wine, and coffee flowing during the performance! read more

I don't think I have ever had a bad time at The Cactus Cafe. Small intimate venue. Great sound. Great performers. I love it. read more

Cactus Cafe and Bar is a great music venue and watering hole based out of UT. Open since 1979, this acoustic music house brings in folks from all over the world, while still catering to local interests. Cactus is partially to thank for jump-starting many a music career. Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams, and Ani DiFranco are listed as performing here early on. Alison Krauss and the Dixie Chicks have also visited. The Cactus is located in the Texas Union on the UT campus (23rd or 24th and Guadalupe). Not the most ideal location, especially when students are in town (ha), but this space makes for a nice evening out if you're looking to avoid the nuisances of downtown. I've seen a couple of shows at this spot, and the Cactus provides an intimate experience with open table seating and a small stage. Not really room for dancing, but the mood isn't right for shaking your groove anyway. Really chill and enjoyable all-around. Buy tickets at the door 45 minutes before show time (unless otherwise noted). Good luck parking. Cactus Cafe is good-natured...not prickly. read more

Cactus Cafe - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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There's seldom a reason that I venture to campus, but when I do it's to see Views and Brews at the Cactus Cafe. The place is small, but adequate. It has a large floor that can sit a ton of people, plus a cool bar with an ok selection. This is a great place to catch a show. I sure wish I had something like it in college. UT, you're lucky. Keep this place alive. read more

Came here last week to see Shawn Mullins. What a great show! An intimate little venue that pours strong drinks. There is limited seating and people do arrive early for concerts. My husband and I were literally the only ones standing, so they brought out barstools so we could sit (they normally don't do this). It would have been a very long show otherwise. Next time we will know to arrive early. Can't wait to see who else plays here in the future. read more

Cactus Cafe - Shawn Mullins - 3/23/17 - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm not into live music, but I AM into good drinks and a good place to drink them. That being said, I enjoy stopping in to the Cactus Cafe. I would never order a margarita at a bar, but the margaritas here are super tasty. The ambiance is good, the bartenders are fun, and it's convenient to my workplace (I don't even have to find a parking spot!). And my goodness, they have hand-crafted shakes made with real Blue Bell ice cream and actual ingredients. Mocha is my favorite, but they also have a pumpkin pie and dreamsicle depending on the time of year (outside of your typical vanilla and chocolate). They may also be able to make 'em boozy but I haven't tried that yet myself. From what I hear, they have a great live music lineup and the schedule can be found on their web site at cactuscafe.org. So find a show you like, grab a drink, and have a chill evening. read more

I just want to let Chewy know that we were discussing Marx and Engels on Cactus Cafe's ratty couches as late as 1986. And I didn't have testicles then either. And must also express surprise that the Cactus charges covers now! Though I guess I'm an idiot for being surprised. Everyone charges for everything these days. Sightings in the 80's: Lucinda Williams, Marcia Ball, Angela Strehli. Smoked in the 80's: Clove cigarettes, cigars, cigarettes, and a few other items. Drunk in the 80's: Shiner BOCK BOCK BOCK (chicken call beer). read more

well I am PISSED OFF to read that UT has decided to close this venue. I was just there tuesday evening, ever so thankful to have such a warm intimate venue. a real gem there in the UT student union. I shudder to think of what great plans they have for the space, I sure hope it does not involve covering the historic walls with huge flat panel tvs to display sports. I feel sick. read more

I think Townes Van Zandt said it was his favorite venue...enough said. Oh yeah, don't go here if you want to talk to your friends because you are just going to piss off everyone there who came to listen to the music. read more

The Cactus holds a dear place in my heart. After being told that I had to start school at UT a week after graduating high school (instead of the fall like I had planned) I was rushed up here without getting to meet anyone. My first night here I decided to walk around campus and see what I saw. Luckily I saw the Cactus. I walked in, ordered a coke, and was one of two other people there waiting to listen to the guy who was playing that Monday night. That person was Shane Bartell, and like the Cactus, he also plays a big part in my early memories of starting school at UT. What I enjoyed about that concert as well as all that followed along the years, was the close proximity of the stage that I hadn't seen anywhere else. Shane talked to me and the two other people there watching him and played a really nice set that made us all feel at home. Over the years that I have been here in Austin since I have seen numerous people grace that stage; Robert Earl Keen, Bruce Robison, Citizen Cope, and many others including those that partake in the Kerrville Folk Festival review (which is among one of my favorite events of the year). Every concert there is a concert like the first that I attended when I knew no one in the city. You sit down and feel like you're a big group of friends that all know the artist on a personal level. You all enjoy the evening and don't leave feeling as though the artist was only there to make some money (because in a venue that big, you know he/she sure as hell isn't). They still have the big stars who, like Robert Earl Keen, never forget their roots and continue to come back to play at this little hole in the wall, though I would definitely recommend just picking a random musician from the lineup and checking them out as the folks who run it have fantastic taste in music. Plus as far as I know, its the only place on campus that still sells beer....;) read more

I absolutely love this place. I've managed to meet cool people here. The open mic nites are fantastic, though there's so many people in line for it. They do random drawing for the lineup so it doesn't matter if you show up too early or anything. It's the only real bar that's IN the campus, so if you're an UT student and need a quick drink with your meal, then you know where to go. I like how when you step into this place, it doesn't feel like the university anymore, and makes you feel kinda comfy, it's weird. so weird I like it. read more

I'm not much of an acoustic listener (unless it's jazz), but we decided to meet an out of town friend at Cactus Cafe last night. He's a huge fan of last night's opening act, Raina Rose. What a nice little bar right on UT's campus! I spent about 10 minutes lamenting the fact my college had nothing like this. And then looking at all the laptops on wi-fi around the Union, I got even more depressed about the time I was in college in the early 90s. Damn I missed all the cool stuff! Cactus Cafe is a dark intimate venue. Candles on the table and a small stage give it all an interesting atmosphere. It's small and tight. You have to be on friendly terms with your neighbors. After the show, it was really weird to walk out into the clean UT Union Building instead of some seedy-looking street somewhere in Europe! I'll be watching for more upcoming shows! read more

Really nice place to listen to acoustic music. One of the few downsides to this place could also be considered an upside and that is the size of the place. It is very small. For a sold out show everyone is packed in. They have tables for people to sit and listen to the music (chairs along the walls for crowded shows). The tend to bring in good artists and along the way have had some legendary ones. The biggest downside is that it is not the easiest place to find unless you are from Austin and know the set up. Not being from here it was kind of weird to have to venture into the student union or activities building to find this little hidden club. But they still serve alcohol so if it wants to be on campus let it be on campus. Overall review. Definitely go check this place out. Even if you haven't heard of the artist it is likely you will have a good time. read more

Part of the endearing charm of the Cactus Cafe is it's size, or relative lack thereof: it is the very definition of intimate, from the small stage tucked into the back corner of the room, to the bartender who seems that he'd love to serve you were it not for the fact that he doesn't want to interrupt the show. The lighting is ambient and personable, and the acts are regularly top shelf: I've seen a variety of shows here: the venue tends to cater to the singer-songwriter crowd (though not exclusively), and given the aforementioned size of the room and act stature, tickets can get snapped up fast. I'd recommend joining the mailing list to ensure a chance at all those shows you'll want to snare. read more

Great venue, very small and intimate. I love the low lighting, the bartender is cooler that the other side of the pillow and the drinks are reasonable. If you are sitting right in front you will feel like you are onstage with the band. You can literally touch them, if this closeness makes you uncomfortable sit in the middle it is still amazing but you have a little space. read more

The Cactus Cafe is as intimate and legendary a live music venue as it gets. In January, the Texas student union management (where the Cactus Cafe is located) announced they were closing it because it loses what was revealed to be about $30,000/year. Needless to say, folks aren't happy with this decision, nor the reasoning behind it. You can learn more about this ongoing story and support the fight to save the Cactus Cafe here: http://SaveTheCactusCafe.org read more

You will never have a more intimate relationship with a performer than at the Cactus Cafe. Go there on a second or third date. If they don't get it, then they aren't the one (if you don't get it, maybe you aren't the one either). It's the best place in Austin to fall in love or to be in love. If you are an English Major, go there on a Saturday night, and when you leave, the musician's life story will be the novel in your head. read more

Hard to find. (Hint, it's in the student union on the southern end.) Walked in and the place was packed with only room to stand. (Really small venue.) Musician was eh.(I didn't stay more than two songs.) No one serves alcohol while the artist is singing. (Come on!) Crowd was older. (50ish???) read more

The Cactus Cafe is one of the best places in Austin to listen to live music from singer/songwriter/acoustic types as there is not a bad seat in the place. The place only seats about 100+ people. In the last year, I have enjoyed Guy Clark, Slaid Cleaves, Todd Synder, Nancy Griffith, Graham Weber there. It is well worth looking at the cactus cafe web site to see what performers are coming to town. read more

Absolute gem of a live music institution in Austin. If you enjoy singer songwriter bands you need to catch a show at the legendary Cactus Cafe. The theater is located inside one of the UT commons buildings so you will need to look at a map before leaving so that you understand how to find it. There is a Starbucks outside the Cactus that is open until just before the doors typically open if you want coffee. A line normally forms before opening time. Once doors are open there is a full bar inside. Wine is reasonably priced at $6-$7 a glass. The room is very small so you really get to hear the music of the artist and in some cases it feels like you can almost get to know them. This is one of the things that makes the Cactus so great. Your best bet for parking is to park on the streets behind The Drag or find a parking garage off The Drag. My recommendation after seeing a show here is to walk the few blocks down to Freeman's Bar which is usually open until around midnight. read more

Cactus Cafe and Bar is a great place to catch some music, and very rarely do you get what you might expect. People show up to do acoustic sets with friends you'd never expect (like Steve Earle and Chris Knight sharing the stage). Most of the artists are geared towards folks in the singer/songwriter/sort-of-country vein, or at least folks who have material that translates well to acoustic, stripped down performance. The tickets are usually very affordable, even for "road shows" and although it's not a really large spot, only the top draws like Ani DiFranco ever seem to sell out. Parking is tough since it's down on campus, but other than that, there isn't much ill to speak of regarding the Cactus Cafe and Bar. read more

We saw Michelle Shocked at the Cactus last Saturday night. Our first concert in our new town. WOW, did we love this venue!! Intimate, good sound, nice staff, and the drinks aren't over-priced! We came home and immediately started going through their upcoming show schedule. We gotta get back there soon. read more

It's tiny, so no matter where you are sitting, you aren't very far from the performers. And you can def. see some great acts at the Cactus. Lately I've been going for the Views and Brews series by KUT - a donation only live performance of classic jazz music is a real treat, and especially in such an intimate venue. If Austin allowed indoors smoking, it would be your quintessential small smoky jazz club atmosphere. The 20th century was a different time, alas, but the Cactus is a good approximation of that live music-bringing-people-together kinda thing that is so cool about art. And the bartender is really nice. read more

This room has excellent acoustics and therefore is a place I enjoy hearing music in. It is a very intimate spot as well. The joint is small, so you're close up to the artists and shows here can be quite engaging. I have to give this at least four stars after being able to see Townes Van Zandt perform here shortly after I moved to Austin. read more

Visit the Cactus Cafe if you're on campus -- especially because there have been a handful of attempts to get the place shut down/converted into something else. A big piece of UT campus history. read more

You definitely wanna get here early so you can get a spot up close. There's a bar towards the back as well. Seats weren't that great but it is on college grounds so what do you expect, I guess. We had a hard time finding this place as the sign was super tiny. read more

My husband has been saying we need to see a show here for a while. Now I know why. When we saw that Citizen Cope was playing here we grabbed tickets for the whole family. This is one of those rare musicians that is so talented that I don't know who loves him more, me or my teenage son. We got there early and my husband parked himself at the front of the line while the kid and I strolled around the drag a a little. Getting there early ensures things like getting a front row seat. That being said this venue is so small and intimate there isn't really a bad set in the house. Maybe it's because we sat front row which felt like Citizen Cope was serenading us in our living room , but this place is nothing if not 5 stars. Now I see what all the ruckus was about when they talked about closing. You know what they say about the family that listens to Citizen Cope together. Yep, its true. read more

I can't believe the Cactus doesn't have more raving reviews on here. This is one of the best venues in town. They usually have a focus on Texas, singer-songwriter, folky bands, and have quite a musical history. Just check out all the old show posters on the wall outside the entrance. But they also have a spattering of good local bands too (that don't fit in the above categories), like {{{Sunset}}}, Balmorhea, Weird Weeds, David Garza, etc. I have seen Eliza Gilkyson play there 3 times, each time better than the last. It's such a small and intimate setting- almost as good as having a house show. Even if you get a seat in the back of the room, you're still not too far away from the stage. The audience is really part of the show. Each time I've been there, it seems that the audience is a lot nicer than the general show-goer, because there is a camaraderie among fans of artists who tend to play here. People also understand that the Cactus is somewhat reverent, so it's clean and not ever trashy. The Union is also a pretty neat building, and the Cafe preserves a lot of the older architectural details with its worn old interior. You can really take a liking to this strange, but cozy little bar on campus. The staff there is great, and Griff (the manager) is a character. He loves all things Bob Dylan and is really fun to talk to. The bartenders consist of a couple of old stalwarts, and a rotating cast of able students. The bar is decent, they've got a few good beers a tap, and you can get a pretty good cup of Irish Coffee on a cold day. They are cash only, so be sure to bring some or else pay a small fee to use the ATM in the Union. I frequented this place a lot as a UT student, since my best friend was a bartender there. I highly recommend it as a study or hang out spot in between classes. It's dimly lit by slatted windows in the day, so it's a welcome change from the awful glaring fluorescent lighting in all of UT's other facilities, and the bright sun outside. Good place to sit down with your lunch and a good book. And I actually met my fiance at a Cactus show, so it'll always have a fond place in my heart. read more

Oh how I wish every band/musician I loved would play at the Cactus Cafe. That would be a dream come true.

This place is about as intimate as you can get. The only weird thing about it, is the tables and chairs. It really feels like a more "mature" place to see a show. The sound was impeccable. read more

one of my favorite live music venues in the city. Reminds me of how Austin used to be. Great sound, comfortable seating and chill environment. read more

Perhaps they could put up some signs because we had to walk around asking people where it was. It's inside UT, by the way...which many people did not know. As for the venue, it's very nice. Small, quaint, and perfect for an intimate concert. The drinks are cheap and the bartenders relatively quick. The sound was probably the best part. All-in-all great experience and hope to go back again soon. read more

An amazing venue for a small show. The acoustics are fantastic and the Cactus Cafe has that nostalgic feel about it. The drinks were reasonable and the service was not bad at all. The best thing about this venue is the intimacy you feel. It feels almost like the show is in your front room with a small gathering of friends. If you want to really experience music- try a show at the Cactus Cafe. read more