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Was here for a wedding over the weekend and I was blown away by everything! This unsuspecting dive bar with the vintage sign was cozy, yet bright with vinyl mustard booth seating, retro tile, schlitz wall sconces and funky neon. The drink menu was off the chain! Started my festivities with a Banana split Boulevardier-sweet Banana cream on top, bitter, chocolatey bourbon on the bottom. What a showstopper! I also tried Tokyo in bloom-a refreshing effervescent drink in a big chilled mug. The bartenders were extremely talented and efficient in getting out these drinks in a timely fashion-just wow!! Water station and food truck on site. I loved this place!
7 years is a long time! 7 years ago I first came to Nickel City and didn't like it. I sat at the bar and waited for service while the bartender was chatting with their friends. Staff has turned over a bunch of times I'm sure, and the current staff is the best. Andrew, Kelly, and Scott are my favorites. $1 wing night on Mondays has become a must-go for my buddy Dan and I. Going to be dangerous when I live closer to here.
Once the kitchen closed at the Rosewood Social Club, we went over to Nickel City for some food. Fortunately, most bars in Austin don't require a cover charge. My Yelp friend struck up an energetic conversation about Australia and New Zealand with two out of town guests. It turns out Nickel City is considered a must-do activity when visiting Austin, and I've even seen it listed as a tourist attraction. My friend's boyfriend and I talked about various Texas cities, the bar itself, and details about East Austin. The bartender was making faces at the fur baby, causing its ears to perk up...there seems to be a playful love-hate dynamic between them, especially since the bartender gave the pet some treats. Although the bar was busy, it wasn't too loud; it was easy to hear people talk without any trouble. I've now experienced Nickel City both during the day and at night.
I have to say, I did not have insane expectations for this place, but i'd heard good things. And, well, it was better than expected. I had a solo evening while on vacation with family, as my parents had dinner with friends. I had just walked over from Cuantos Tacos (which, go there, delicious), and planned on being here for maybe two drinks. Welp, lets just say I ended up sitting at the bar drinking and taking in the environment for 3-4 hours. As you'll see in the photos, I got suckered into a frozen drink (whip-it-good) and the Miami Vice. I also had a beer and some whiskey (not photographed). I had a great time, some people ended up talking to me throughout the time sitting at the bar, bartenders were nice even as the shift changed (or one bartender went on break for a long time). Either way, when i'm back in Austin, this will be in my rotation. I can see this place becoming insanely hectic on a friday or saturday evening, but that wouldnt be my jam. On a weds at 6pm-10pm, it was great.
Spoiler Alert: If we lived closer to Nickel City everyone there would know our names. As others have mentioned this an elevated local dive bar with excellent strong cocktails, weekly drink and food specials, and elevated pub grub. We cozied up to the bar on a sleepy Sunday afternoon and within minutes we were drinking one of the best darn Palomas this side of Licha's Cantina. We did order food from the Delray food truck and our most excellent visit continued. My patty melt was a smashed cheeseburger on toast with pickles and was wonderful. Plus one ordered the spicy chicken fingers (yes I know chickens do not have fingers) they were huge, crispy, and spiced perfectly. NC has a full bar and some interesting combo meals that include shots and beers. I finished my NC experience with a Meanwhile Pilsner and Irish whiskey back. Service was excellent and beyond friendly. By the time we left we felt like regulars. We do anticipate returning with our Sunday Funday gang. What an easy 5 star review!
Fun bar with great drinks! Reminds us of the divey bars where we are from in Pittsburgh. Friendly staff and really good drinks! We visited mid day on Saturday in the Summer not expecting it to be busy. It was packed! The atmosphere was fun and we could still grab a small table. My fiance enjoyed their tiki drinks, and I had an aperol spritz that was on tap. Prices are right! They have a food truck outside and we shared tater tots with our drinks. 10/10 experience. We will be back!
Visited the pop up in Austin Halloween 2025 and enjoyed every minute. The space is smaller than FW, but even though we patrons were shoulder to shoulder everyone was acknowledged and received proper service. I didn't have food, but I suspect that it's like at home. Anywhere I am that there's a Nickel City I'll likely be there!
I really like this spot! We finally came here with some friends and it did not let us down! the bartenders were upbeat and friendly and if you had any questions they were more than happy to help! the ambiance is really cool and has a vintage touch! I will definitely com back here to try the food and other drinks! I got the Whip it Good drink and it was really good! i would likely get it again after trying a few others! I did try my friends drink that had a dragonfruit garnish and it was also delightful! I already cannot wait to come back!
We have had a more than couple of disappointing experiences before with holiday pop ups, decor being cheap, drinks being super cheap but crazy expensive, so we stopped going to such places, but after seeing a instagram post about nickel bar by someone who's reviews and posts are good (theatxdrinker), decided to give this place a try, and totally loved it. Place is tiny, and on Saturday evening people standing were way more than seated, it was shoulder to shoulder, but luckily we saw someone getting ready to leave and were able to get a table, we ordered holiday on ice and nui nui newyear, I like tropical drinks with rum, and was expecting I would like nui nui newyear, both the drinks were good, but holiday on ice blew my mind, it was perfect, kind of a dessert drink but still good amount of alcohol, orderd loaded fries with impossible meat, fries were crispy and the whole dish was good, that's a plus when you find a place with solid drinks and good food, liked the holiday decor and vibes too, definitely give them a try.
Cheese curds and amazing drinks regardless if you're visiting during one of their pop-ups or their regular menu! Their bartenders are great, friendly, and patient! The crowd and energy is fun with great music!
Sucker for a dive bar, and this one absolutely slaps, or whatever the kids are saying these days. Still thinking about the frozen coffee with my favorite whiskey of course (Tullamore) and easily lives up to the best frozen coffee drink in Austin. The tiki drinks are awesome too. Staff can be borderline unfriendly but are attentive, which somehow fits perfectly with the dive bar vibe. Gotta go y'all
My wife and I enjoyed our time at Nickel City. It's a small venue, but it feels nice and intimate. There's an outdoor patio as well if there's nice weather. We liked how they decorated the bar for the holidays. The drinks were delicious and we appreciate the holiday themed cocktails. The cups and shot glasses were nice too. You can also purchase them if you want to bring them home. And I'm a sports fan so I appreciate the TVs playing games while I enjoyed the vibes.
The Moe's experience was so spot on! As a Simpsons fan, it was exciting to see every nook and cranny packed with references. The low lighting and nostalgic feel really set the scene. The drinks were awesome, and of course, all themed. The menu was what you'd want from a dive bar... bar food! The only vegetarian option was a grilled cheese, which was pretty delicious and came with a ton of curly fries. I'll definitely go back next year for the event, and next time in Austin I'll visit just for the regular bar.
I realize I haven't updated this review since relocating to Austin two years ago. As you may have noted 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! read more
This place is what I would call a hidden gem. Service is good. They don't over charge for beers and the bar food is actually good. There's also cheese curds in the menu now! It's a spot to go to in a downtown adjacent area. Definite place to come back to. read more
Was here for a wedding over the weekend and I was blown away by everything! This unsuspecting dive bar with the vintage sign was cozy, yet bright with vinyl mustard booth seating, retro tile, schlitz wall sconces and funky neon. The drink menu was off the chain! Started my festivities with a Banana split Boulevardier-sweet Banana cream on top, bitter, chocolatey bourbon on the bottom. What a showstopper! I also tried Tokyo in bloom-a refreshing effervescent drink in a big chilled mug. The bartenders were extremely talented and efficient in getting out these drinks in a timely fashion-just wow!! Water station and food truck on site. I loved this place! read more
7 years is a long time! 7 years ago I first came to Nickel City and didn't like it. I sat at the bar and waited for service while the bartender was chatting with their friends. Staff has turned over a bunch of times I'm sure, and the current staff is the best. Andrew, Kelly, and Scott are my favorites. $1 wing night on Mondays has become a must-go for my buddy Dan and I. Going to be dangerous when I live closer to here. read more
7 months ago
Once the kitchen closed at the Rosewood Social Club, we went over to Nickel City for some food. Fortunately, most bars in Austin don't require a cover charge. My Yelp friend struck up an energetic conversation about Australia and New Zealand with two out of town guests. It turns out Nickel City is considered a must-do activity when visiting Austin, and I've even seen it listed as a tourist attraction. My friend's boyfriend and I talked about various Texas cities, the bar itself, and details about East Austin. The bartender was making faces at the fur baby, causing its ears to perk up...there seems to be a playful love-hate dynamic between them, especially since the bartender gave the pet some treats. Although the bar was busy, it wasn't too loud; it was easy to hear people talk without any trouble. I've now experienced Nickel City both during the day and at night. read more
I have to say, I did not have insane expectations for this place, but i'd heard good things. And, well, it was better than expected. I had a solo evening while on vacation with family, as my parents had dinner with friends. I had just walked over from Cuantos Tacos (which, go there, delicious), and planned on being here for maybe two drinks. Welp, lets just say I ended up sitting at the bar drinking and taking in the environment for 3-4 hours. As you'll see in the photos, I got suckered into a frozen drink (whip-it-good) and the Miami Vice. I also had a beer and some whiskey (not photographed). I had a great time, some people ended up talking to me throughout the time sitting at the bar, bartenders were nice even as the shift changed (or one bartender went on break for a long time). Either way, when i'm back in Austin, this will be in my rotation. I can see this place becoming insanely hectic on a friday or saturday evening, but that wouldnt be my jam. On a weds at 6pm-10pm, it was great. read more
Spoiler Alert: If we lived closer to Nickel City everyone there would know our names. As others have mentioned this an elevated local dive bar with excellent strong cocktails, weekly drink and food specials, and elevated pub grub. We cozied up to the bar on a sleepy Sunday afternoon and within minutes we were drinking one of the best darn Palomas this side of Licha's Cantina. We did order food from the Delray food truck and our most excellent visit continued. My patty melt was a smashed cheeseburger on toast with pickles and was wonderful. Plus one ordered the spicy chicken fingers (yes I know chickens do not have fingers) they were huge, crispy, and spiced perfectly. NC has a full bar and some interesting combo meals that include shots and beers. I finished my NC experience with a Meanwhile Pilsner and Irish whiskey back. Service was excellent and beyond friendly. By the time we left we felt like regulars. We do anticipate returning with our Sunday Funday gang. What an easy 5 star review! read more
Fun bar with great drinks! Reminds us of the divey bars where we are from in Pittsburgh. Friendly staff and really good drinks! We visited mid day on Saturday in the Summer not expecting it to be busy. It was packed! The atmosphere was fun and we could still grab a small table. My fiance enjoyed their tiki drinks, and I had an aperol spritz that was on tap. Prices are right! They have a food truck outside and we shared tater tots with our drinks. 10/10 experience. We will be back! read more
8 months ago
Visited the pop up in Austin Halloween 2025 and enjoyed every minute. The space is smaller than FW, but even though we patrons were shoulder to shoulder everyone was acknowledged and received proper service. I didn't have food, but I suspect that it's like at home. Anywhere I am that there's a Nickel City I'll likely be there! read more
I really like this spot! We finally came here with some friends and it did not let us down! the bartenders were upbeat and friendly and if you had any questions they were more than happy to help! the ambiance is really cool and has a vintage touch! I will definitely com back here to try the food and other drinks! I got the Whip it Good drink and it was really good! i would likely get it again after trying a few others! I did try my friends drink that had a dragonfruit garnish and it was also delightful! I already cannot wait to come back! read more
10 months ago
We have had a more than couple of disappointing experiences before with holiday pop ups, decor being cheap, drinks being super cheap but crazy expensive, so we stopped going to such places, but after seeing a instagram post about nickel bar by someone who's reviews and posts are good (theatxdrinker), decided to give this place a try, and totally loved it. Place is tiny, and on Saturday evening people standing were way more than seated, it was shoulder to shoulder, but luckily we saw someone getting ready to leave and were able to get a table, we ordered holiday on ice and nui nui newyear, I like tropical drinks with rum, and was expecting I would like nui nui newyear, both the drinks were good, but holiday on ice blew my mind, it was perfect, kind of a dessert drink but still good amount of alcohol, orderd loaded fries with impossible meat, fries were crispy and the whole dish was good, that's a plus when you find a place with solid drinks and good food, liked the holiday decor and vibes too, definitely give them a try. read more
9 months ago
Sucker for a dive bar, and this one absolutely slaps, or whatever the kids are saying these days. Still thinking about the frozen coffee with my favorite whiskey of course (Tullamore) and easily lives up to the best frozen coffee drink in Austin. The tiki drinks are awesome too. Staff can be borderline unfriendly but are attentive, which somehow fits perfectly with the dive bar vibe. Gotta go y'all read more
10 months ago
My wife and I enjoyed our time at Nickel City. It's a small venue, but it feels nice and intimate. There's an outdoor patio as well if there's nice weather. We liked how they decorated the bar for the holidays. The drinks were delicious and we appreciate the holiday themed cocktails. The cups and shot glasses were nice too. You can also purchase them if you want to bring them home. And I'm a sports fan so I appreciate the TVs playing games while I enjoyed the vibes. read more
The Moe's experience was so spot on! As a Simpsons fan, it was exciting to see every nook and cranny packed with references. The low lighting and nostalgic feel really set the scene. The drinks were awesome, and of course, all themed. The menu was what you'd want from a dive bar... bar food! The only vegetarian option was a grilled cheese, which was pretty delicious and came with a ton of curly fries. I'll definitely go back next year for the event, and next time in Austin I'll visit just for the regular bar. read more
Stopped by for a quick drink and to use the bathroom. Bartenders were all very friendly and dressed up like Simpson characters. People of all ages come here. I have to say for the bathrooms to be coed, they were the cleanest bar bathrooms I have encountered. I didn't have any food but my Michelob was nice and cold. read more
I went for The Simpsons themed pop-up bar! I had an amazing time with my friends. The service was phenomenal with everyone playing their part as a character and themed drinks /food! We got the crusty Burger. We got the patty melt which I can't think of the name off the top of my head of the menu. The Sunshine Burger, the lemon pepper wings and the gochu jung wings! Everything came out so so good and would definitely recommend coming for the wings with or without the pop-up! read more
Ok, I made a return visit and it is still just as advertised: a dive bar! Four dollar draft Coors and five dollar shots of Jim Beam. You come here for the drinks. They have some higher priced cocktails, but you can stay on the low end if you watch the menu. I got out with a bar tab of less than $24, counting the tip, which is pretty damn good. No dance floor, thank God, but they do play the music loud. Whenever I'm back in Austin, I will return. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I live visiting for their holiday decorations. Halloween Moe's Tavern and Tiki Christmas are unmatched. It's pretty crowded and gets the busiest on the actual holiday, so go earlier in the month if you are just wanting to see the decorations and are flexible. read more
This place was hopping on a Friday night. Great ambiance, fast service, and friendly people! We ordered the best tasting cheese burgers I've ever had. It's simple, no flair, just great flavor and juicy burger! The drinks were great, too! This is a place that you can enjoy with your friends! It's a must try when you're in Austin, TX. read more
2 years ago
Love the ambiance here. Slightly dark with a lot of red hues. Avoid sports nights here, it gets too chaotic and not fun to be around. Can't really have a decent date or conversation here when it does happen. Decent bar food here. Drinks are always reliable. The bartenders do get overwhelmed by orders so give them a little breather until they get to you. read more
I believe Delray Cafe Trailer services here since the wings are on the inside menu. Fantastic wings! Small, crispy, and the buffalo hot has a decent kick to it! You can also ask for extra-extra hot. Purchase by the pound, about 6 wings per LB - $13. One of the top, if not the best wings in Austin. Go grab some, now! Nickel City is Open noon - 2am. These aren't your oversized chewy Pluckers wings. IYKYK. read more
2 years ago
This place is a vibe ! Especially during the holidays! Dive bar meets eclectic Christmas fun! read more
2 years ago
Yes! Nickel City. Oops, I mean Moe's Tavern. Loved the decorations. Very Simpsons outside and inside. Moe greeted me outside. Checked my ID, and opened the door for me to go inside. Employees are dressed to impress with Simpson characters. TV was playing Simpsons cartoons. A lot of the customers there were dressed as well. Really had a great time here. Happy that I was able to experience it. read more
Nickel City is one of the most popular bars in Austin. Don't expect to come here on a Friday or Saturday night and be able to get a seat. You will wait in line for your drink. The drinks are great. The food truck outside is also great, burger and fries type food. I recommend trying to come mid week as soon as they open if you want to check it out. I'll do that occasionally when I have a random day off work. Good times! They decorate all out for Christmas and Halloween (Moe's Tavern) with delicious themed cocktails. read more
This is a fun neighborhood bar where you can get your drink on and order food from the food trailer. They bring it inside for you as well as supply the menu. A selection of various kinds of food. My friend and I got the spicy shrimp which is deep fried and covered in a tasty buffalo wing sauce. They also have burgers including an impossible burger and a bunch of other choices. The staff is super chill and friendly. The wooden bar must be at least 100 years old. It's quite spectacular! There's some history for sure. Lively crowd so the noise level is more of voices but they were playing some awesome funk music that could've been pumped up more but you can hear someone without having to yell. There's an outside patio with seating as well as inside at tables or at the bar. read more
8 months ago
This review is for their Simpson's Moe's Tavern pop up. I haven't been to Nickel City any other time besides this one time. The Moe's pop up is so cool and brought me back to my younger days when I watched The Simpsons! Be prepared to wait in line to get in since it was super popular and around Halloween when we went. The staff members were friendly and dressed up as well. The cocktails were on the pricey side but I feel like it is worth it since they put in a lot of effort for this pop up. Loved the ambiance it created with all the signs and interior graphics! read more
My boyfriend's parents were in town for a long weekend, and we took them to Nickel City. We found free street parking nearby and headed inside. There were a lot of people there, so no seating was initially available. However, a group of guys who stopped in after work left after a while and we took their booth. It looks like this bar services a pretty bit after-work crowd, which is great! Drinks were tasty and music was good, so I understand the appeal. The aesthetic inside is very old-school, which is so cool to see. I look forward to going back! read more
My wife and I had been here once before during Halloween when they dress up as Moe's Tavern from The Simpsons, we didn't stay long then but that is for later in the review. So having been once we wanted to return, we headed out a few weekends ago on a staycation/relaxing weekend. We took an Lyft due to both the fact we were drinking and that parking and driving downtown are things we both hate. We got there early this time, not long after then opened, which is noon, and got a nice seat in a corner booth, already several people and dogs there even with it being open only about 30 minutes at this time. There was one bartender and one guy running food most of the time we were there, both were really quick and fast considering it never really slowed down but bartender handled it great. There is a food truck and my wife got a coney island dog and I got pizza/pepperoni rolls that were cooked and made in a way that looked like eggrolls. All of it pretty good, but the fries don't come with the meal, they are bought separately just so you know. We each started off choosing drinks based on what sounded interesting while looking over the menu. My wife tried the Frozen Irish Coffee, she loves a place that has Irish Coffee already and frozen with triple digits? BRILLIANT. Sadly though it says a $1.00 off in triple digits for frozen drinks they did not do that. I got the Dr. Pepper drink and both of us enjoyed them. They have some unique lunch specials and combo's which I took a picture of, some cool ideas there. One big caveat that you may or may not care about, it is not a big place, and it is POPULAR. It didn't take long to fill up with people, it has groups come in of 3 to 7 people sometimes, this is the norm. Not many 1 person alone or a group of 2. The seating goes fast and people hang out for long periods of time, us included. In the time we were there it got to be where some people walked in and turned right around and others came in, walked through, and couldn't find anywhere to sit and left. It has tables, a booth near the entrance, bar seating and a small seating area on the other side of the door from the booth but it all goes fast. Also when it is filled it is loud. Just a heads up. We really enjoyed our visit, my wife got a tank top and we got a koozie. A 2nd bartender did arrive later in our visit which I am sure the current bartender was happy to see. Though props to him as he handled it all very well and you never felt like you were waiting too long or overlooked. We don't come down here a lot but it is worth the visit, but get there early or just hope and pray. It is not a hidden gem or overlooked location, people know it and they hit it up. But the food and drinks are good and the service was better then expected considering one bartender and one food runner. Kudos! read more
They have a large selection of whiskey that I enjoyed. They are obviously very busy and usually have a lot of people coming in and out. Ordering at the bar it wasn't necessarily someone trying to talk to you and help you choose but rather make up your mind and let me know. It fits the time but maybe if I went a little earlier it would be different. I like the way they set everything up and I'll definitely be back! I enjoyed the wings more than the burger but forgot to take a picture. read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
Perfect location for a dive bar when staying in the hotel next door. Open till 2 am, the "Ice Queen" is a must and the sliders are so good. The chef is so cool and the staff too! read more
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More info about Nickel City
1133 E 11th St
Austin, TX 78702
East Austin
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(512) 987-4294
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https://www.nickelcitybar.com
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