One of my favorite bars in Austin. Some people might see it as a little divey, but that's honestly…read morepart of the charm. The atmosphere is always friendly, relaxed, and easy to settle into whether you're there for a quick drink or hanging out for the night. The drinks are consistently great, and they also have really solid weekday food specials. The sliders and tots are definitely the go-to items on the menu and always hit the spot after a few drinks. One thing I especially appreciate is how much effort they put into the themed décor during Christmas and Halloween. It really adds personality to the space and makes coming back during the holidays feel fun and memorable every year. Just an overall great neighborhood bar with good vibes and a lot of character.

I realize I haven't updated this review since relocating to Austin two years ago. As you may have…read morenoted from my previous review, I'd come here twice a year when visiting from the east coast. One of my stipulations for relocation was to be within walking distance of my beloved Nickel City. Guess what? I am! Less than a five-minute walk. I love this place so much. It's not always about drinking. In fact, quite often I'll do mocktails, water, or soda. It's about community and friendship. The vibe at NC can't fully be expressed in words. It has to be experienced. The staff treat locals and tourists like friends. And, if you're lucky enough, you actually become friends. They're like a family. Same can be said about patrons, whether regulars, sometimers, or tourists, everyone feels the love. Everyone just gets it! They have some of the best cocktails around. The frozen Irish coffee is incredible. Espresso martinis on tap? Yes, please! And if you want the best bar/comfort food ever then order from their food truck, Delray Cafe. Crinkle cut fries A+ Smashburgers A+ Hot Dogs A+ Grilled Cheese A+ Pizza Logs A+ Tater Tots A+ Everything on the menu A+ Be sure to give the gang in the kitchen (food truck) some love! They're putting out the real deal. Oh and let's not forget Steak Night! Much love to my fave neighbor, Nickel City!

I came into Latchkey early in the evening with a friend and I couldn't figure out why, in just a…read morefew hours, there's reportedly a line out the door. It seems like a great bar, but there isn't much going on. I like its signage and logo plus the decor inside is pretty sick, but the place to me really just didn't seem special. I'll have to come here on a busy night and hang to see if I understand the hype. For now, it's just another fun bar on East Sixth. RIYL: good branding

My friend suggested trying Latchkey, so off we went. This place was vibe but with popular music…read more It had deceptive looking space as well. You walked in turned right and then left while making your way to the back of the bar. Folks were dancing in this open spaced dance hall. A DJ was spinning tunes in lighted enclosure...almost like a home porch. In fact, there several women literally dancing on a table. Interestingly, one may man was dancing by himself with a pole as his dance partner. Perhaps he had too much to drink at this point. We stayed there for a short while and we were off to another one of my friend's favorite places. She ran into a couple of folks she knew while we were at Latchkey. So we chatted for a bit. This place is a whole vibe and then some.

The lost well became the found well…read more Rough opening for the neighborhood metal/punk bar is back. And in a location that's not extremely far away. This location almost seemed a bit larger. They even have a small parking lot this time. Street parking is still on the table. No food at this location yet. But I'm excited to see this place to its fullest.

They're back!!! Opening night was Friday, August 15th, 2025 & it was miraculous!…read moreNow located at the former Tropicana on Airport Blvd., this BELOVED bar & music venue is resurrected to its former glory. It's absolutely amazing that they were able to reopen in just a year. My only complaint is that we walked to the old location and now we have to make a five minute drive. Lol. Friday night was insanely fun, crazy, busy, & loud, which means perfection. Which also means I was too busy having fun to get pics. The new setup is rad, old school, & welcoming. The Lost Well has always been inclusive and continues to be. The bar staff are some of the best people you'll ever meet. Industry pros! The prices are affordable. The ambiance is "we're all family". The sound system is killer. Bands sounded amazing. Welcome back, y'all!

This place continues to rock and continues to be one of my favorite places…read more The staff and bar vibe are so chill & welcoming. Super friendly. The back patio is a perfect area for hanging with friends and sipping drinks. Nothing beats ice cold drinks on a hot summer day or night in Austin. They embrace the dive bar scene with cool swagger & flair.

They had a free crawl fish boil event here and the line was so long it went out the door. People…read morepreparing the boil were late on cooking and not prepared. The line was very slow and they let people cut in. Perhaps not entirely the bars fault. The drinks itself were kind of above average price compared to its neighbors. Beer selection was kind of basic and limited. Lots of better bars in the street i would rather return to than this one.

We came to lowdown lounge for the World Cup. We were hoping that they were going to be showing both…read moregames of the World Cup since Mexico and South Africa were playing at the exact same time and we were sure that all the bars on East. We're going to be playing Mexico instead of South Africa so we went there and it was so much fun and they were playing both games and we got a bunch of beers and we ended up playing the buzzer game that I had to videotape for my work and it ended up being just so much fun where every other bar was so unbelievably packed that you could barely walk, low down lounge was so chill and such a vibe we took a table. We ordered drinks and it was just a relaxed, relaxed vibes.

Low Down Lounge is one of those East Austin bars that makes you feel like you've stumbled onto…read moresomething cool--but not in a try-hard way. The vibe is effortlessly retro, with warm lighting, vintage stripes, cozy booths, and a playlist full of R&B and soul that sets the tone for a laid-back night. I came in for happy hour (which goes until 8pm--major win) and had the Tropical Depression, a passion fruit hurricane-style cocktail that was way better than its name implies. Their frozen drinks are also a hit--flavorful, strong, and dangerously easy to sip. They also do Jell‑O shots if you're feeling nostalgic (or just want something cheap and fun). The bar is small but super welcoming, with a good mix of indoor and outdoor seating. The patio is shaded and breezy, perfect for summer nights. There's even a pool table and a big screen outside if you're into low-key games or catching part of the game. Staff was friendly and efficient--shout out to the bartenders who kept the drinks flowing without any attitude. That said, it's a small space, so depending on the night, it can feel either perfectly mellow or a little too quiet. Not a party bar, but a great pre-game or chill hangout spot. If you're looking for a low-key lounge with strong drinks, good tunes, and an easygoing crowd, Low Down Lounge should definitely be on your East Side rotation.

The White Horse is the best East Side spot to do some country dancing or just listen to some good…read morecountry music. They have the bands who play the latest, so if you go somewhere else first, you can always finish your night at WH. My only gripes at the WH are the stuffy dancers who are sometimes jerks to people who don't dance the exact same way they do and that tables are so close tor he dance floor that it gets so crowded. There could be more of a dance floor if those tables were scooted back and people didn't have to stand in front of them to try to get a dance. Fun spot though and definitely somewhere I take/send out of town guests for an Austin experience.

White Horse is the quintessential Dive bar! It is located on the East Side in what appeared to be…read morean old house. White Horse also has an outside patio. This is the second time that I visited White Horse. During Zumba class on Friday we learned that our Zumba instructor's brother plays the drums in a band and that he would be playing at White Horse on Friday night. So I met our Zumba instructor and friends at White Horse to listen to the band. Let me just say I am not a huge country western fan, but I do branch out every once in a while to listen to country. Please note the twangy country is not for me. The Shinglers were playing on Friday starting at 8 pm. I really liked this band and was drawn in by their addicting sounds. I even managed to dance a couple of times. Needless to say, my two stepping is pretty rusty. However, dancing is always fun! The cover charge was $10 cash. Cash is such a rarity any more. Fortunately, I had $12 with me. Drinks were $9 for top shelf, which is quite cheap. The bartender was friendly and fast. We stayed for the first of three sets and then departed for home.

Updating to increase from three stars to four. Each time we…read morego the service is increasingly better. Still love the vibe too!

After spending the day floating the river south of Austin, we were looking for a place to grab a…read moredrink that felt like Austin, and Mama Dearest absolutely delivered. The first thing you'll notice is that this place fully commits to its weird, offbeat personality. The chopped-up baby dolls inside the Airstream lounge were delightfully creepy and fit the vibe perfectly. Between the vintage Christmas lights, bizarre decorations, and over-the-top hunting lodge aesthetic, there's something new to notice everywhere you look. Unsettling for some inviting for others at the same time. The main bar is exactly what I want from a neighborhood dive. Dollar bills stapled to the walls, dim lighting, and a crowd that looked like a mix of regulars and first-timers just hanging out. The backyard patio is much bigger than it looks from the front, with plenty of seating if you want to take your drinks outside. I kept it simple with a Lone Star and then tried the frozen Vietnamese coffee, which was a great way to cool off after a long day in the Texas heat. Both hit the spot. If you appreciate dive bars that don't take themselves too seriously but still create a memorable atmosphere, this is worth adding to your Austin list. It's weird in all the right ways.

Just visited High Noon for the first time, and this bar is seriously one of the cutest Austin dive…read morebars I'd easily return to! The vibe inside is dark, a little edgy, and effortlessly cool. Basic cocktails-- bleh. Craft cocktails--incredible. You're already spending the double digits, why not try one of High Noon's signature cocktails? My favorite: the espresso martini. I promise it's not basic, it's got coconut foam that makes this drink SO perfect!

Loved how they set up the space for SXSW Illegal Mezcal showcase of bands and speakers. There were…read more3 stages. Outside front, inside, outside back. Great weather on the day I went. I enjoyed the mezcal samplers on the porch after which I went to the bar and bought a Mezcal negroni which was yummy! Loved being able to walk around and see the different bands. I wasn't quite sure what the panel topic was in the backyard so I just stayed for a few minutes before wandering back to the front until the bands started. I was only able to drop by for a couple hours yesterday but was glad I did! They were giving away free vinyls so I grabbed a few for my friends because I don't have a player. They even had a little tattoo station set up for those who felt like getting a last minute tattoo. It was a chill vibe and good music. Great place to have indoor/outdoor events and gatherings. I was also able to find street parking just a couple blocks down, which is a rare find in Austin these days.

This little gem is on Webberville Road just north of seventh Street. I thought I knew all of the…read moregay bars in Austin, but happened upon this totally by accident. It has the vibe of a sports bar but is super friendly. The food here is amazing, especially their weekend brunch that features, southern entrées, like shrimp and grits, chicken, and waffles, and their very delicious poutine tater tots. The staff here is friendly and outgoing, and gets your orders out of the kitchen quickly. There's a very nice outdoor area shaded with misters and a large screen TV. For entertainment there's also steel tip darts and four lanes of skee ball. It's a great place to relax and enjoy yourself or with your friends. Highly recommended.

The Cavalier is one of those spots that just hits every time, especially if you catch them on a…read moreMonday. Buy one get one burgers is already a win, but the fact that the burgers are actually that good makes it even better. The vibe is laid-back and a little bit neighborhood bar meets casual hangout. It's an easy place to meet up with friends, grab a drink, and not feel rushed. The burgers are solid, satisfying, and definitely worth going out of your way for, especially when you're essentially getting two for one (even if you don'tsplit with a friend!

Love this place! We had so much fun Kate was amazing! She took great care of us and created such a…read moregreat exp for us!

Dirty Bill's (gotta love the name) is literally right next door to J. Carvers where we had dinner…read more Dirty Bill's was on and popping!!! We were drawn in by the music. They were spinning some popular tunes. The place was packed with a very fun crowd. It appears to be a bar you come to have drinks and chat. There was a small area where dancing could take place, but no one was dancing at the time. The staff including the general manager was super friendly. It felt like a wedding reception as you came into the club where you were greeted...very warm and welcoming. We had a drink and stayed a short while. It looked like a place you could come for a girls or guys night out or celebrating a fun occasion. Will definitely consider Dirty Bill's for a future fun evening...