Austin Nightlife
Austin, Texas, has become a popular destination for tourists and residents alike. This laid-back city offers a wide variety of activities for visitors of all ages. In addition to the many local attractions, Austin has many live music venues and bars. Some of the places to enjoy nightlife in Austin include The Roxy, House Party, and Red Door Lounge. These and other local places provide entertainment during the day as well.
If you want to check out Austin’s nightlife options, Sixth Street is your best choice. There are three sections of Sixth Street within Austin: South, Central and West. South Sixth Street is where locals refer to as “Dirty Six.” For the most part, the nightlife here ends at North Lamar Boulevard, which connects with Riverside Drive. The nightlife here is similar to that of downtown Austin, although there is less of it due to the proximity to the Ritz-Carlton.
South Sixth Street is home to many live music venues, bars and shops. The majority of South Sixth Street’s nightlife centers around the Ritz Carlton and its parking lot, which is located directly across from the Ritz Carlton. Other popular locations include the House Party, which are on Sixth Street between Riverside and Congress avenues; Mango’s, which are on Sixth Street between Riverside and Congress avenues; and Pure Bar, which are on Sixth Street between Riverside and Congress avenues. These businesses typically open around midnight.
Just a few blocks from downtown Austin, you’ll find the Drafthouse, which is an Austin-based chain of cinema houses. Drafthouse outlets include the flagship Drafthouse Cinema on 6th Street, which screens movies in the front of a screen and has several I-MAX screens inside. Other Drafthouse outlets are located in the Alamo Drafthouse, which is in the former Staple Foods building on Sixth Street between Riverside and Prospect streets; and the Silver Swan, which is a sister building to Drafthouse Cinema and is open year-round in the Alamo Drafthouse.
In addition to being one of the country’s leading cultural destinations, Austin also happens to be one of its most hip downtown locations. There are plenty of trendy clothing stores, boutique hotels, restaurants and bars for residents and visitors to enjoy. Downtown Austin is also home to some of Austin’s finest music venues. The Rodeo, South Side club scene, and the underground haunts of Alamo Drafthouse are all well-known Austin experiences.
Outside of the city, a growing number of people have come to appreciate Austin’s entertainment offerings, including live music performances, dancing and comedy shows. One of the nation’s largest music festivals, Austin City Limits, happens every August. This dazzling annual event includes renowned acts like Kacey Musselman, Gary Watson and countless others. Austin’s South Congress avenue is also home to a number of cool live music venues. For an up-and-coming band, you can check out Mango Mobile Music Theater, which has a theater and dance floor. Mango holds regular gigs at the House of Blues and elsewhere throughout the city.
If you’re interested in nightlife in Austin, one of the hottest locations to visit is Velveeta Room, which serves drinks and eats from a “Livestore Estuary” on Sixth Street. Established in 1998, Velveeta Room has a reputation for serving delicious food from the best local restaurants. If you don’t like live music, there’s nothing better than watching live events on a large screen TV. Dine at the “Dining Room,” a gourmet buffet that features a sushi bar, a wine bar and an upscale cocktail bar.
The “casino el Camino” is one of the newest additions to the Austin nightlife scene. It’s a great place to enjoy some high-end dress and gambling action with your date, friends or family. The venue is owned by the Black Star Company, which is an Austin-based company that owns casinos, restaurants and other entertainment properties throughout Texas and New Mexico. Black Star’s owners say they were inspired to open an exclusive casino in Austin because the state’s laws prohibit live casinos in the smallest cities.