Austin’s 8 favorite bars

Austinites are all about supporting their local watering holes and have a go-to for every occasion, whether it's a special date night or a casual hangout with friends. Luckily, this eclectic and creative city has a bar scene that aims to please.

A James Beard Award winner serves Oaxacan snacks and mezcal at a marble-top bar in South Austin. A funky homage to all things Texan—and the birthplace of the now ubiquitous Ranch Water cocktail—holds court downtown. In East Austin, a divey pub that embodies the city’s signature unfussiness is also home to one of the most dog-friendly patios around.

There’s a drinking place for revelers of all stripes in this quirky Texan town. Read on for a guide to Austin’s best bars to book right now.