123 Best Nightlife in Texas, USA

Visiting Fort Worth and not seeing Billy Bob's isn't quite as bad as going to Paris and skipping the Eiffel Tower—but it's close. Built in an old cattle-pen building, the world's largest honky-tonk is a vast place—the almost 3 acres of indoor space include several bars, pool tables, a Western store, an arcade, a huge dance floor (in lieu of a disco ball, there's a spinning rhinestone-studded saddle), a stage that draws some of country's top acts, and a bull-riding ring (contests are usually held on Friday and Saturday nights).

A very cool bar with a friendly vibe and bright decor, Blue Box serves a good selection of house cocktails, house shots of pineapple serrano tequila and strawberry vodka, cigars, wine, and beer—including some good seasonal craft brews. The name comes from the blue box cooler that overnight "third shift" workers at the original Pearl Brewery would keep their beers in (brewery workers could drink on the job back then). Happy hour lasts all day on Sunday and Monday. 

This legendary honky-tonk is touted as the last of the true Texas dance halls. If live country music and dancing are your thing, then two-step down to this venerable venue, where Old Austin lives (and dances) on. The classic haunt boasts live music (with world-famous celebrities like Dolly Parton and beloved locals like Dale Watson) and lively crowds almost every night, with or without SXSW.

For an intimate live music experience unmatched by any other venue in Austin, head to this café on the UT campus and get in line for tickets. Texas singer-songwriter legends such as Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Patty Griffin, and Austin-renowned Bob Schneider have graced this tiny stage since the 1970s. It doesn't get much better than this.

If you find yourself in North Austin, Cap City packs quite a punch with its stand-up comedian lineup. It's been the city's premier spot for stand-up comedy for over 35 years and regularly attracts world-class headliners and sold-out crowds, in addition to heaps of local talent showcased at weekly open-mic nights and at the club's annual "Funniest Person in Austin" contest.

Craft cocktails are the focus at this stylish lounge set in a renovated house tucked off Fredericksburg's main strip. Go stiff and classic with a barrel-aged Boulevardier, get lifted with a riff on a classic with the Woodstock Mule (Houston's own Highway hemp-seed vodka infused with indica CBD flower, with ginger beer, fresh ginger, and lime), or go out on a limb with one of the bar's unique seasonal creations, like the Phuket Island (Thai iced tea, Monkey Shoulder Scotch, and Grand Marnier). Don't overlook the small but mighty food menu, which features bites like oysters and lamb lollipops, plus a short list of specials that rotates weekly.

Touted as Austin's neighborhood beer joint, this place has a true dive-bar atmosphere, complete with ice-cold brews, pool tables, and a killer jukebox. While not directly in the downtown scene, this music-heavy bar usually hosts a mix of bands during SXSW.

A hole-in-the-wall heaven, Donn's dance floor has attracted fans of Texas two-step, waltz, polka, honky-tonk, and swing since 1972. Tucked in an old train car just west of downtown, the Christmas decor–laden interior of this aging Old Austin beauty is as charming as its weekly lineup of local musicians. Don't feel like dancing? Belly up to the bar for some cheap drinks and complimentary popcorn while you watch everyone else groove. 

Jazz fanatics hold court at this basement locale, named one of the top 10 jazz venues in the United States by the famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. A long-standing Austin venue, it's one of the reasons the town lives up to its Live Music Capital status. Though the Elephant's not a festival hot spot, the jazz staple always hosts its share of musicians during SXSW.

Originally opened in 1933 following the end of Prohibition, the Esquire Tavern has a storied past as the oldest riverfront bar on the River Walk. The legendary locale even claims to be the longest bar in Texas, at 100 feet. The sleek, dark 1930s interior blends well with an elevated pub-style menu. The evolving seasonal classic cocktail menu is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. The intimate Downstairs area is directly on the River Walk and is open Friday and Saturday from 7 pm to 2 am.

There's really only one place in downtown Austin known for its rip-roaring comedy shows. Esther's has kept Austin rolling with laughter for more than 25 years. Reservations for their popular, award-winning variety shows are required. 

What really puts Gruene on the Texas map is legendary Gruene Hall, known as the oldest continuously operating dance hall in the entire state. Many famous musicians owe their success to performances on this fabled stage, including Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Dixie Chicks. A trip to Gruene isn't complete without a turn on the old hardwood floors of Gruene Hall.

It may be the hippest hotel in town, and the San José is also home to one of the best outdoor bars in the city. On nice days, grab a poolside patio seat and order a reasonably priced bottle of wine and the city-renowned cheese plate. Happy hour is all day on Tuesday. Year-round special events feature local bands, while weekly sets by a varied lineup of DJs can be enjoyed in the lounges. South By San José is one of SXSW's premier yearly events. The hotel, combined with Jo's Coffee, joins forces to showcase a huge variety of music in an outdoor setting throughout SXSW in the heart of South Congress. The event is free for passersby and open throughout the festival. 

Choose from the extensive selection of tequilas and margaritas here as well as nearly 30 tequila flights for the indecisive. They also have domestic, imported, and Texas craft beers.

This saloon and dance hall, made famous by the song crooned by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, was originally built by German settlers as a town hall, eventually growing into a post office, general store, blacksmith shop, and dance hall. In 1970, it was sold to a local humorist (and self-proclaimed “mayor of Luckenbach”) who turned the entire space into a music venue. Within a decade, the site was attracting musicians from all over to play against its rustic walls plastered with historic signs and relics. These days, Luckenbach features three stages for live music performances, a beer garden, a kitchen serving barbecue and burgers, and a food truck specializing in loaded baked potatoes. Photo opportunities abound, and there’s even a general store stocked with a wide variety of souvenirs. It’s an essential stop for any fan of country music, and Texas history.

This fun Rainey Street favorite within a charming Austin bungalow and attached courtyard is usually filled with patrons hula hooping or playing bar games. Lustre Pearl is one hot ticket during SXSW, always hosting some of the hottest free events and day parties of the festival (make sure to RSVP).

At this historic bar within the historic Menger Hotel (one of the city's great cultural treasures), listen to tales of how Teddy Roosevelt recruited his army of Rough Riders here. The bar was built in 1871, as a replica of London's House of Lords pub. It's a fun place to go with friends for a drink or to meet the locals. A small pub menu is served all day. 

An evening reservation at this diminutive cocktail club is an absolute must for craft cocktail lovers. The premises formerly housed an Asian massage parlor busted by local law enforcement for running an in-house escort service, and the club perpetuates a measure of mystique with a reservation-only policy and a low-key speakeasy-style entrance. (You have to press the buzzer marked "Harry Craddock" to gain access.) But the tableside cocktails are the main attraction, and for an intimate occasion with a couple of friends this is the perfect place for a nightcap. Reservations are available in two-hour time blocks and each table has a two-drink minimum.

By sheer force, this Red River District establishment is one of the best live music venues in Austin. With a cool, indoor indie-rock space complemented with a killer outdoor stage and the area's only rooftop deck and bar, these guys know how to throw a party. Expect serious jams and strong pours seven nights a week. "The Hawk" bleeds SXSW and hosts a festival within a festival.

From the owners of Austin's popular Nickel City comes the Texas tavern Old Pal Bar. Much like its predecessor, Old Pal gives off vintage dive vibes, but it has an incredible whiskey selection and a well-curated cocktail program. You'll reach peak Texan status when you enjoy a frozen Dr. Pepper alongside a beer-can chicken. Come hungry because this is better than your average bar food, and the fried chicken and jojos (seasoned potato wedges) are not to be missed. More nights than not you'll find live music or karaoke on stage and end up staying much longer than planned—just like you would at the home of an old pal.

For over 25 years, this near-campus joint established itself as the perfect coffee shop escape for studying sessions or catching up with friends. Recently, the full-service bar and café has consolidated and changed up its array of offerings with its adjacent Ballroom space and transformed more exclusively into a live music and event operation, with weekly lineups of local music, theme parties, movie screenings, and stand-up comedy. Their bar still serves hip crowds of locals who can also dine at the on-site food trucks.

One of the most elegant spaces at the Pearl—no surprise since it's inside Hotel Emma—the bar is named for the Sternewirth Privilege, the 19th-century tradition of giving brewery employees free beer during the workday. The cool, dark, inviting space has a 25-foot vaulted ceiling over a collection of softly lit seats, a fireplace, and a beautiful bar serving signature cocktails, beer, and wine, along with satisfying bar bites. 

One of the city's most highly touted venues, Stubb's is owned by C3 Presents, which books many of the top shows in Austin (in addition to producing the annual ACL Fest) and also manages an impressive roster of nationally renowned musicians. This massive outdoor venue (and barbecue joint by day) hosts an impressive lineup in downtown's Red River District. It's one of the hottest SXSW tickets in town.

This is an authentic Austin original—and one of the city's signature live music hubs, drawing a hard-drinking, music-loving crowd every night of the week. The club hosts a variety of live acts but specializes in country-fused rock, like local favorite James McMurtry. The upstairs gallery maintains an exclusive jazz club vibe. A full spectrum of acts is always hosted here during SXSW.

The old-fashioned bar at the Driskill is where history is made, from heavy-hitter political and business deals made over a handshake to Austin Film elite sketching out their next big idea. (It's also the very spot where future president Lyndon Baines Johnson proposed to his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, in his early political career.) Rich fabrics, dark wood, and cowhide aplenty give this iconic bar a warm and cozy appeal. Patrons enjoy live piano music throughout the week on the classic Steinway, an amiable vibe, and stiff cocktails in true Texas fashion. This historic luxury hotel and hotel bar reside in the epicenter of downtown Austin, so a VIP SXSW scene is definitely on the agenda.

This East Sixth Street dive bar has a huge back-patio space filled with picnic tables. The on-site food truck, the original location of East Side King, is one of the most famous trailers in town. Grab a beer before hitting the town, or end up here for a late-night bite. The Liberty also provides a great place to socialize during SXSW with its hip east-side address.

Looking for an authentic honky-tonk dive-bar experience? This Burnet Road haunt is an Old Austin favorite, though from the looks of the rather shabby exterior, you may not believe it at first. It's not glamorous, but the beer is cold and the service is friendly. Local music legend Dale Watson often takes the tiny stage here (there's live music every night), and the cast of regulars at this honored saloon is too good to miss. The claim to fame here is the riotous good-times had at the weekly Chicken Sh*t Bingo played every Sunday.

It's not just a cute name, this bar is actually home to llamas and donkeys who roam the 35 acres and visit with guests who are seated in the modern-rustic beer and wine garden. You might not always experience a visit from a llama, but at least you can be guaranteed a beautiful Hill Country view, incredible sunsets, and a fun time with friends playing yard games while sampling craft brews.

Cowboys, hipsters, and dancing queens mix and mingle with surprising ease at this honky-tonk for the modern age. The on-site food truck, Bomb Tacos, is open every day, live music is onstage every night, and newcomers can take free two-step classes before the main dance floor fills up. 

This immersive tiki bar is a melting pot of Asian, Hawaiian, and Polynesian influences that come together to create an adult Disneyland of delights. The drinks don't disappoint, but it's the theater and presentation that steal the show. Order fish-bowl–size drinks that serve four- to six people, try out an exciting cocktail that cues special lights and music when served, or take selfies behind the dry ice of your drink in your own theme booth.