clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

The Best Hotel Bars in Austin

The Best Italian Restaurants in Austin

The Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Austin

More in Austin See more maps
A cocktail bar with shelves of liquor bottles.
Watertrade.
Watertrade

The Best Bars in South Austin

Where to drink cocktails, beers, and wines south of the Colorado River

by Nadia Chaudhury
View as Map
Watertrade.
| Watertrade
by Nadia Chaudhury

Generally speaking, most of Austin’s best bars are concentrated in downtown and Central Austin north of the Colorado River, which is great for people who live in those neighborhoods, but what about South Austin? In fact, there’s a great range of bars — fancy cocktail to the casual neighborhood to hella dive — found in the general South Austin area, if you know where to find ’em. To help make that quest easier, Eater Austin put together this handy map highlighting the best bars found in South Austin.

For the purposes of this map, we’re considering everything south of the Colorado River. For the city’s must-hit essential cocktail bars, Eater has it covered elsewhere, along with the best all-around bars and restaurant bars. And then there are guides to other specific drinks, like refreshing frozen drinks, those other Austin cocktail staples, margaritas and Mexican martinis, craft beer, wine, happy hours, bloody marys, and mimosas.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Gibson Street Bar

Copy Link

The Zilker bar is one of those everyday bars offering easy cocktails, frozen cocktails, and beers in a spacious room with a decent patio. The availability of sliders from on-site truck JewBoy Sliders doesn’t hurt either. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1109 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 386-1345
(512) 386-1345

Also featured in:

Tiki Tatsu-Ya

Copy Link

Feel like you’re miles away from Austin through the very immersive Zilker tiki bar courtesy of the team behind Ramen Tatsu-ya. The fun drinks include decadent creations with tropical flavors both classic and created, such as Painkillers, Zombies, and and the Banzai!!! Boat with a bunch of shots, served in creative vessels. And the drinks pair great with the related food menu. Reservations can be placed online; the second-floor area the Nest is available for walk-ins only; there are indoor dine-in services.

1300 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 772-3700
(512) 772-3700

Also featured in:

Equipment Room

Copy Link

One of South Austin’s few quality cocktail bars includes this Travis Heights spot found within the Hotel Magdalena. The listening bar plays records while serving up top-notch cocktails which take their cues from all sorts of musical inspiration in a space decked out to feel like someone’s very stylish living room. There’s also a nice menu snacky New American foods. Reservations can be made online; there is room for walk-ins; and there are indoor dine-in services.

1101 Music Lane, Austin, Texas 78704
(512) 520-5890
(512) 520-5890

Also featured in:

Hopscotch

Copy Link

Although its big sibling restaurant Elementary closed down in the summer, its spirit lives on with its Zilker wine and cocktail bar. The intimate space offers fantastic wines by the glass or bottle as well as an equally fun cocktail list (including martinis), plus New American bites and plates. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2032 South Lamar Boulevard, TX 78704

Also featured in:

Watertrade

Copy Link

Yes, another one of South Austin’s best cocktail bars is also in Travis Heights and also within a hotel. This time, it’s the hidden bar within the South Congress Hotel. The intimate space takes its cues from sibling restaurant Otoko, which means a Japanese aesthetic and a high-end cocktail menu along with whiskys and sakes. Bonus: there’s a special izakaya food menu available if you don’t want to book an omakase next door. Reservations can be made online; there is room for walk-ins; and there are indoor dine-in services.

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 994-0428
(512) 994-0428

Also featured in:

Kelly's Irish Pub

Copy Link

By far one of Austin’s best Irish bars is luckily found in South Austin in the Dawson neighborhood. Kelly’s is all about Guinness, Irish whiskeys, Irish coffees (regular and frozen), and boilermakers, rounded out with a classic Irish pub food menu. It’s so Irish that oh-so-Irish singers/musicians Niall Horan and Hozier watched a rugby game at the bar. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

519 West Oltorf Street, TX 78704
(512)-516-5753
(512)-516-5753

Also featured in:

The Jackalope South Shore

Copy Link

The downtown casual bar with the iconic Jackalope statue expanded into the East Riverside neighborhood, complete with cocktails, frozens, mixed drinks, and beers, with a big patio, indoor booths, general sports bar-esque food (think burgers and chicken wings), and a dedicated karaoke lounge, Showpony Lounge & Karaoke. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

1523 Tinnin Ford Rd, Austin, TX 78741

Also featured in:

Frazier's Long & Low

Copy Link

The East Riverside dive bar feels like it’s been there for forever even though that’s not true, but that’s just part of its charms. Find mixed drinks, cocktails, frozens, beers, shots, and a corresponding dive bar-esque food menu with corn dogs, burgers, and chopped cheese sandwiches. And yes, there are pool tables. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

2538 Elmont Dr, Austin, TX 78741
(512) 527-3082
(512) 527-3082

Radio Coffee & Beer

Copy Link

The South Lamar family- and pet-friendly neighborhood bar came to define what is an essential Austin experience — a breezy sprawling patio, picnic tables, food trucks (hello Veracruz, Dee Dee, and Briscuits), and well-made coffees, beers, and, for this map, a well-curated cocktail menu. There are classics, house drinks, frozens, and even THC drinks. Find a similar setup at its McKinney counterpart. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-7844
(512) 394-7844

Also featured in:

Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden

Copy Link

The idyllic Dawson coffee shop and beer bar also offers a nice family- and pet-friendly alfresco space to enjoy coffee, boozed-up coffee, cocktails, frozens, and beers, with on-site food trucks, a pretty garden, and loads of seating. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

121 Pickle Rd (S Congress Ave), Austin, TX 78704
(512) 481-0694
(512) 481-0694

Also featured in:

Still Austin

Copy Link

It would make sense that a distillery offers a good bar, and this St. Elmo Road bar in the East Congress neighborhood is no exception. Expect drinks made with its spirits, including whiskeys, bourbons, and gin. There’s also an on-site seafood truck Huckleberry with sandwiches and more. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

440 E Saint Elmo Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Meanwhile Brewing

Copy Link

Yes, the McKinney brewery focuses on beers, but it also offers up a nice drinks menu that makes use of hard seltzers, wines, and sakes, all the better to enjoy out on its huge family- and pet-friendly beer garden. There’s also a nice lineup of food trucks, including barbecue truck Distant Relatives, pizza spot Side Eye, and ice cream shop Besame. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
(512) 308-3659
(512) 308-3659

Also featured in:

Fierce Whiskers

Copy Link

South Austin doesn’t just have one but two whiskey distilleries. This McKinney one also offers cocktails made with its whiskeys, bourbons, rums, agave liqueurs, and gin in its sprawling space, There are also food trucks touting Chicago-style hot dogs and empanadas. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

5333 Fleming Ct, Austin, TX 78744

Daisy Lounge

Copy Link

The team behind New American restaurant Oasthouse and seafood restaurant Keepers turned the shared building space’s lobby into a hidden cocktail bar near the Circle C neighborhood earlier this year. It’s an elegant two-floor space serving equally as refined cocktails spanning classics to inventions from Patrick Nikel. Chef Amir Hajimaleki is also offering Iranian snacks and bites. Reservations can be booked online; there is room for walk-ins; and there are indoor dine-in services.

5701 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, Texas 78749

Also featured in:

The Little Darlin'

Copy Link

The far south Austin bar is one of those places that has something for everyone. It’s a perfect alfresco group destination with all sorts of drinks like cocktails, shots including M&M (mezcal and Montenegro), frozens, and beers, plus, actually great food. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

6507 Circle S Rd, Austin, TX 78745
(512) 814-0999
(512) 814-0999

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Sam's Town Point

Copy Link

What’s an Austin bar list without an old-school-styled live music venue and dive bar? That’s what this far south Austin bar and concert hall is all about: full of mixed drinks, icy cold beer, musical performances, and dancing with no frills at all. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

2115 Allred Dr, Austin, TX 78748
(512) 965-6028
(512) 965-6028

Also featured in:

Armadillo Den

Copy Link

This stretch of Menchaca in far south Austin is chockfull of drinking spots, including this one that focuses on draft cocktails (for quick service and which can be made without alcohol), beers, and food like smash burgers and chicken sandwiches from its on-site truck Biggie’s Yard Bird, all to be enjoyed out in its huge outdoor area. Keep in mind it’s family-friendly during weekend daytimes only. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

10106 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748
(512) 993-2998
(512) 993-2998

Also featured in:

Lulu's

Copy Link

Also in far south Austin is this Mexico City-styled bar serving up boozy aguas frescas and lots of agave spirit-based drinks in a pretty space that includes taco truck La Taquicardia. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

10402 Menchaca Road, Suite 3, Austin, Texas 78748

Also featured in:

Drinks Backyard

Copy Link

East Austin bar Drinks Lounge has not one but two bars south of the river. The newer addition to the family is this far south Austin bar with, per the name, a huge outdoor area, plus cocktails, beers, and food trucks like pizza spot Nocco’s Napoletana and barbecue joint Smokin’ Brew-B-Q. Find a similar drinks menu at its vibey Dawson neighborhood bar Little Drinks Lounge with a pool table, pizza, and a deep love of records. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

6328 US Highway 183 South, Austin, Texas 78744

Also featured in:

South Austin Beer Garden

Copy Link

And lastly, in far south Austin, this dog-friendly beer garden offers, yeah, beers, but also a solid cocktail, frozen, and shots lineup. There’s also food from trucks Achiote (tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, etc.) and Downtown Burger (duh). There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

10700 Menchaca Rd (Old Manchaca Rd), Austin, TX 78748
(512) 704-2787
(512) 704-2787

Also featured in:

Nadia Chaudhury is an editor for Eater Northeast and Eater New York and was the former Eater Austin editor, who often writes about food and pop culture.

More in Maps

© 2025 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Gibson Street Bar

1109 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

The Zilker bar is one of those everyday bars offering easy cocktails, frozen cocktails, and beers in a spacious room with a decent patio. The availability of sliders from on-site truck JewBoy Sliders doesn’t hurt either. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1109 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 386-1345
(512) 386-1345

Tiki Tatsu-Ya

1300 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Feel like you’re miles away from Austin through the very immersive Zilker tiki bar courtesy of the team behind Ramen Tatsu-ya. The fun drinks include decadent creations with tropical flavors both classic and created, such as Painkillers, Zombies, and and the Banzai!!! Boat with a bunch of shots, served in creative vessels. And the drinks pair great with the related food menu. Reservations can be placed online; the second-floor area the Nest is available for walk-ins only; there are indoor dine-in services.

1300 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 772-3700
(512) 772-3700

Equipment Room

1101 Music Lane, Austin, Texas 78704

One of South Austin’s few quality cocktail bars includes this Travis Heights spot found within the Hotel Magdalena. The listening bar plays records while serving up top-notch cocktails which take their cues from all sorts of musical inspiration in a space decked out to feel like someone’s very stylish living room. There’s also a nice menu snacky New American foods. Reservations can be made online; there is room for walk-ins; and there are indoor dine-in services.

1101 Music Lane, Austin, Texas 78704
(512) 520-5890
(512) 520-5890

Hopscotch

2032 South Lamar Boulevard, TX 78704

Although its big sibling restaurant Elementary closed down in the summer, its spirit lives on with its Zilker wine and cocktail bar. The intimate space offers fantastic wines by the glass or bottle as well as an equally fun cocktail list (including martinis), plus New American bites and plates. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2032 South Lamar Boulevard, TX 78704

Watertrade

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Yes, another one of South Austin’s best cocktail bars is also in Travis Heights and also within a hotel. This time, it’s the hidden bar within the South Congress Hotel. The intimate space takes its cues from sibling restaurant Otoko, which means a Japanese aesthetic and a high-end cocktail menu along with whiskys and sakes. Bonus: there’s a special izakaya food menu available if you don’t want to book an omakase next door. Reservations can be made online; there is room for walk-ins; and there are indoor dine-in services.

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 994-0428
(512) 994-0428

Kelly's Irish Pub

519 West Oltorf Street, TX 78704

By far one of Austin’s best Irish bars is luckily found in South Austin in the Dawson neighborhood. Kelly’s is all about Guinness, Irish whiskeys, Irish coffees (regular and frozen), and boilermakers, rounded out with a classic Irish pub food menu. It’s so Irish that oh-so-Irish singers/musicians Niall Horan and Hozier watched a rugby game at the bar. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

519 West Oltorf Street, TX 78704
(512)-516-5753
(512)-516-5753

The Jackalope South Shore

1523 Tinnin Ford Rd, Austin, TX 78741

The downtown casual bar with the iconic Jackalope statue expanded into the East Riverside neighborhood, complete with cocktails, frozens, mixed drinks, and beers, with a big patio, indoor booths, general sports bar-esque food (think burgers and chicken wings), and a dedicated karaoke lounge, Showpony Lounge & Karaoke. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

1523 Tinnin Ford Rd, Austin, TX 78741

Frazier's Long & Low

2538 Elmont Dr, Austin, TX 78741

The East Riverside dive bar feels like it’s been there for forever even though that’s not true, but that’s just part of its charms. Find mixed drinks, cocktails, frozens, beers, shots, and a corresponding dive bar-esque food menu with corn dogs, burgers, and chopped cheese sandwiches. And yes, there are pool tables. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

2538 Elmont Dr, Austin, TX 78741
(512) 527-3082
(512) 527-3082

Radio Coffee & Beer

4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704

The South Lamar family- and pet-friendly neighborhood bar came to define what is an essential Austin experience — a breezy sprawling patio, picnic tables, food trucks (hello Veracruz, Dee Dee, and Briscuits), and well-made coffees, beers, and, for this map, a well-curated cocktail menu. There are classics, house drinks, frozens, and even THC drinks. Find a similar setup at its McKinney counterpart. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-7844
(512) 394-7844

Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden

121 Pickle Rd (S Congress Ave), Austin, TX 78704

The idyllic Dawson coffee shop and beer bar also offers a nice family- and pet-friendly alfresco space to enjoy coffee, boozed-up coffee, cocktails, frozens, and beers, with on-site food trucks, a pretty garden, and loads of seating. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

121 Pickle Rd (S Congress Ave), Austin, TX 78704
(512) 481-0694
(512) 481-0694

Still Austin

440 E Saint Elmo Rd, Austin, TX 78745

It would make sense that a distillery offers a good bar, and this St. Elmo Road bar in the East Congress neighborhood is no exception. Expect drinks made with its spirits, including whiskeys, bourbons, and gin. There’s also an on-site seafood truck Huckleberry with sandwiches and more. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

440 E Saint Elmo Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Meanwhile Brewing

3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744

Yes, the McKinney brewery focuses on beers, but it also offers up a nice drinks menu that makes use of hard seltzers, wines, and sakes, all the better to enjoy out on its huge family- and pet-friendly beer garden. There’s also a nice lineup of food trucks, including barbecue truck Distant Relatives, pizza spot Side Eye, and ice cream shop Besame. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
(512) 308-3659
(512) 308-3659

Fierce Whiskers

5333 Fleming Ct, Austin, TX 78744

South Austin doesn’t just have one but two whiskey distilleries. This McKinney one also offers cocktails made with its whiskeys, bourbons, rums, agave liqueurs, and gin in its sprawling space, There are also food trucks touting Chicago-style hot dogs and empanadas. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

5333 Fleming Ct, Austin, TX 78744

Daisy Lounge

5701 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, Texas 78749

The team behind New American restaurant Oasthouse and seafood restaurant Keepers turned the shared building space’s lobby into a hidden cocktail bar near the Circle C neighborhood earlier this year. It’s an elegant two-floor space serving equally as refined cocktails spanning classics to inventions from Patrick Nikel. Chef Amir Hajimaleki is also offering Iranian snacks and bites. Reservations can be booked online; there is room for walk-ins; and there are indoor dine-in services.

5701 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, Texas 78749

The Little Darlin'

6507 Circle S Rd, Austin, TX 78745

The far south Austin bar is one of those places that has something for everyone. It’s a perfect alfresco group destination with all sorts of drinks like cocktails, shots including M&M (mezcal and Montenegro), frozens, and beers, plus, actually great food. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

6507 Circle S Rd, Austin, TX 78745
(512) 814-0999
(512) 814-0999

Related Maps

Sam's Town Point

2115 Allred Dr, Austin, TX 78748

What’s an Austin bar list without an old-school-styled live music venue and dive bar? That’s what this far south Austin bar and concert hall is all about: full of mixed drinks, icy cold beer, musical performances, and dancing with no frills at all. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

2115 Allred Dr, Austin, TX 78748
(512) 965-6028
(512) 965-6028

Armadillo Den

10106 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748

This stretch of Menchaca in far south Austin is chockfull of drinking spots, including this one that focuses on draft cocktails (for quick service and which can be made without alcohol), beers, and food like smash burgers and chicken sandwiches from its on-site truck Biggie’s Yard Bird, all to be enjoyed out in its huge outdoor area. Keep in mind it’s family-friendly during weekend daytimes only. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

10106 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748
(512) 993-2998
(512) 993-2998

Lulu's

10402 Menchaca Road, Suite 3, Austin, Texas 78748

Also in far south Austin is this Mexico City-styled bar serving up boozy aguas frescas and lots of agave spirit-based drinks in a pretty space that includes taco truck La Taquicardia. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

10402 Menchaca Road, Suite 3, Austin, Texas 78748

Drinks Backyard

6328 US Highway 183 South, Austin, Texas 78744

East Austin bar Drinks Lounge has not one but two bars south of the river. The newer addition to the family is this far south Austin bar with, per the name, a huge outdoor area, plus cocktails, beers, and food trucks like pizza spot Nocco’s Napoletana and barbecue joint Smokin’ Brew-B-Q. Find a similar drinks menu at its vibey Dawson neighborhood bar Little Drinks Lounge with a pool table, pizza, and a deep love of records. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

6328 US Highway 183 South, Austin, Texas 78744

South Austin Beer Garden

10700 Menchaca Rd (Old Manchaca Rd), Austin, TX 78748

And lastly, in far south Austin, this dog-friendly beer garden offers, yeah, beers, but also a solid cocktail, frozen, and shots lineup. There’s also food from trucks Achiote (tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, etc.) and Downtown Burger (duh). There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

10700 Menchaca Rd (Old Manchaca Rd), Austin, TX 78748
(512) 704-2787
(512) 704-2787

Related Maps