Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World is not just a slogan. It is a daily reality built on decades of musical heritage, economic investment, and a culture that fiercely protects its artists. From dive bars with sticky floors to sprawling amphitheaters under the Texas sky, the city offers a sonic landscape as diverse as its population.
The sheer volume of choices can be overwhelming for both first-time visitors and long-time locals. You could spend a lifetime trying to see a show in every venue within the city limits and still not catch them all. The key is knowing which rooms consistently deliver the best sound, the best crowds, and the most authentic Austin energy.
This guide cuts through the noise. It focuses on the venues that define the city’s sound, offering a mix of iconic institutions and hidden gems that prioritize the live experience. We are looking at places where the acoustics are dialed in, the booking is thoughtful, and the connection between artist and audience is palpable.
Whether you are hunting for two-stepping honky-tonks, gritty blues clubs, or indie rock havens, the city has a dedicated space for you. Each venue on this list offers something unique, from historic stages that hosted legends to modern rooms designed with state-of-the-art sound engineering.
Understanding the layout of the city helps. The Red River Cultural District remains the beating heart of the underground scene, while South Congress and East Austin offer a more eclectic, laid-back vibe. No matter where you end up, you are never far from a world-class performance.
Below is the definitive list of the places you need to visit to experience the best of Austin’s music scene.
Austin City Limits Live (ACL Live & 3TEN ACL Live)
| Address | 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | (512) 404-1300 |
Intimate, premier concert experience with incredible sound quality in a polished, downtown venue. Almost every seat provides a great view, though the floor is standing-room-only for some shows. While drinks and food are pricey, its central location and amazing acoustics make it a must-visit in Austin.
On recent road trip we were passing through Austin and I love music so we made a quick stop to get a couple pics and visit the gift shop. Seeing a live show here is on my bucket list!
Nice small venue with accessible seating & great view from any seat. Good selection of drinks, unfortunately they don't have no food. Would definitely come back to a concert here 🔥
Every seat in the entire venue all these years is a perfect seat in the house.
By far in my top 3 favorite venues in Austin.
Staff and volunteers always so happy and just THE BEST!!
Good Evening Austin And Visitor's...here we go again, "Thank God!" Around the world 173,000 people didn't make it. So We All Need To Really "Appreciate This Fact." 👈🏽✝️❤️🔥
I havent been inside the venue but, I've seen many concerts on PBS. 😉😳🤯 GOSH, PBS has been around for decades and decades. 😁
Yes I'm telling on myself....
Have a great night.....
Good and Love To The World...🫂♥️🔛🌎✝️
The Continental Club
| Address | 1315 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM Thursday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM Friday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM Saturday: 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM Sunday: 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Phone | (512) 441-2444 |
Great stop for a beer! Real Austin TX! Band started at 6:30 on Sunday evening. Great music and very entertaining dancers. One fellow had on his Sunday best polished boot and could really dance!
We had a great time watching the band! Iconic place to visit.
Did not have any food, cannot provide a review for that. Server that came to our table was great! The service at the bar was just OK. Bartender wasn’t very pleasant to interact with when we ordered our initial drinks and when we were informed that we had to close out our bar tab to have the service at our table.
The band, bartender, and everyone else was great. Unfortunately the doorman soured the night. He was OK when I first went in. Wasn’t particularly friendly and more of matter-of-fact. Okay, cool, but when I went to leave he stopped me saying I cannot bring a non-alcoholic flavored water beverage with me bc there’s an open-container law even for flavored water beverages. I asked him again if he was sure bc this is not alcoholic. I then did lean in to make sure I heard him properly (the band was loud tonight), and he pushed me saying “Back off.” Weird how he felt threatened enough to put his hands on me when I was leaning over with a flavored water in my hand enough to push me. Note: he’s gotto be 300lbs and I’m 145lbs. He then told me it’s an Austin law that any container cannot be brought out of a bar even if it’s non-alcoholic. I then threw my drink in the trash and left. I later looked online that he is, in fact, mistaken. Non-alcoholic beverages can be taken from bars bc they won’t impair anything-it’s just flavored water. What a shame to end the night on such a sour night when the band was great, bartender was good, and everyone else seemed like they wanted to have a good time. As long as he hasn’t changed his attitude, I would not recommend going to this establishment.
A pocket of old Austin in the middle of South Congress. Best part about catching a good live show here is how intimate the space is. Friendly bartenders, and good ol' dive bar feeling!
My friend was feeling overheated so I was bringing him water to the back the back door guy Mikey said throw away my water cup and yanked it from me and threw it across the room saying I should know the rules. I never bring alc to the back infact he commends me everytime on leaving it before going to back patio, But when my friend was in a dangerous situation he threw a fit and screamed and threw the water cup I was trying to bring a friend across the room instead of hydrating a dehydrated person
Edit in response to owners comment:
I let him know the situation(that my friend was in need of WATER and he then proceeded to grab my water cup from my hand, scream “why is it so hard to understand” , freak out throw it across the room (the establishment had water jug with specific water cups). If he had said calmly “hey can your friend walk inside the door for a sip of water” things would’ve been different. I’ve heard multiple people have multiple issues with this same individual.🤷♀️
Elephant Room
| Address | Swift Building, 315 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM Thursday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM Friday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM Saturday: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM Sunday: 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Phone | (512) 575-2925 |
Absolutely loved my time at Elephant Room. The vibe was intimate, soulful, and full of character. What made the experience truly special was seeing such talented young musicians passionately keeping the live jazz culture alive. The energy and music made the whole place feel timeless. A must visit in Austin if you enjoy authentic live performances.
Fantastic place. I was there when Monster Big Band was playing so it was a lot to take in. The bartender was great, the beer was beering (I didn’t have food, hence no stars on the food category, I hope that doesn’t look like a 0 rating)
🍻 🎺🎹🥁🎤💃
Love the atmosphere here. Basement bar, good acoustics, attentive staff. Was warned at the door that a cover charge would be added at 8pm and that since there was two of us, we should expect two more at a table for four if the place started filling up. Limited number of two seat tables. You may or may not like this, but they DO warn you at the door. 5 star rating for food because they don't serve ANY food, but let you bring your own in, which we did from the food court nearby.
This place was recommended by an Austin local. Nice Jazz bar in downtown Austin. Drinks were good. The place was nice felt cozy and intimate. Jazz band sounded great. There was a line to get in but it moved pretty quickly. I waited in line for about 10 minutes and I arrived there right before band started to play. I'd say you will probably wait longer in line if you arrive once band starts. Overall great experience and exactly what I was looking for in a casual Jazz bar.
Amazing music, cool venue! Must see the Brew. Latin jazz at its best
Antone's Nightclub
| Address | 305 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Tuesday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Thursday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Friday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Phone | (512) 814-0361 |
I saw George Porter Jr last Wednesday night at Antone's...
Unbelievably great band!
And, that's the first time I've been to the new Antone's location. Very nice club, great sound system, really nice people.
Highly, highly recommended.
Antone's is an American treasure. Don't miss it.
Still one of the best venues in Austin.
Attracts big & small, famous & emerging performers,
Large but not enormous. Actually has a backstage.
Now has a functioning record studio where artists' performances are recorded.
Went here to watch a concert the place was nice the vibe was great only issue I had was that it was very warm and their wasn’t a lot of airflow im unsure if maybe it was bc the doors were closed but their was also a good amount of people so that is definitely a contributor to the warmth still I think adding a couple more fans would help significantly! Great time !
Antone's - An Austin Tribute to PRINCE. Wow! Is there a better way so spend a Tuesday night? Um, no. Fun venue and we always manage to find parking nearby. 20% gratuity on bar negates any fuzzy calculation panic. Just sign and say thank you. 🙂
My husband and I recently had our wedding at Antone's and we are so thankful we did. Sierra and her team ensured that our event ran smoothly and answered all of our questions. All of the staff was so kind and helpful. We went into our day with no worries, knowing everything was handled as it should be. All of the vendors they referred us to also did an amazing job. All of our guests were also commenting how well the day went. We are so thankful for Antone's and will cherish this space forever! We can't wait to come back for a show.
Mohawk Austin
| Address | 912 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM Thursday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM Friday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM Saturday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM Sunday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Phone | — |
Had a lot of fun with my wife and son! All ages welcome and since the music was clean, we went. Nobody was drunk and the security was great. They have a free water cooler with cups in the bar which I thought was nice for non-drinkers or someone who had too many can chill out for a bit. And waymo dropped off and picked up people all night which was good to see 1 less drunk person driving. Another awesome venue.
One of the best concert venues I’ve had the chance to experience. It complimented the artists (Shakey Graves and openers) very well and had such a great layout of stage standing, overhang viewing and standing layered viewing (similar to a baseball stadium beer garden).
If your artist is playing here - book it! If not, still try to catch a show
Atmospheric, rambling bar with indoor and outdoor stages and bars. They have an impressive terrace of patios upstairs with views up and down Red River Street.
They host fun events each week, including concerts, trivia, and benefits. The bartenders are welcoming and helpful about the many beers and cocktails they offer.
Loved it. Such a great venue. Small enough you can see. Large enough you're not sitting in someone's lap.
The staff was also very friendly, attentive, and helpful.
Email them early and they can help accommodate ADA needs.
So much fun.
Went there to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. What a great venue! They have 2 areas for bands to play. The larger one has multiple floors with seating on the second and third floor which by the way is all outside. You can take a break at the main bar which has air conditioning and TVs, but for those that don't need a break from the heat there are multiple smaller bars to get a drink from. I don't believe there is any free parking/ lot, just street parking. Will definitely be back!
Historic Scoot Inn
| Address | 1308 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | (512) 777-0873 |
Great venue. We saw Sons of Legion and had a great time. Outdoor venue with a historic feel in Austin Tx. Checkout Scoot Inn if you ever have a chance.
I had an absolutely wonderful experience at Scoot Inn for the Josiah and the Bonnevilles show on May 16.
As someone who is blind, accessibility and staff support can completely shape a concert experience, and the team here went above and beyond from the moment I arrived. There was always someone ready to guide me wherever I needed to go, and every interaction felt genuinely kind, patient, and accommodating rather than transactional.
I especially want to recognize Griselda and Jamie at the bar, along with Dave and Jupiter in the ADA section outside. Every one of them was incredibly supportive, attentive, and professional, and they helped make the entire night stress free and enjoyable.
Thank you to the entire team at Scoot Inn for making this such a memorable night. I will absolutely be back for more shows.
Went last night to see Thr Strumbellas. Great venue. They have an ADA area that saved me. I’m a disabled vet and can’t stand through a concert. The ADA area allowed me to be able to have a great time with my wife and daughter and not be in constant pain.
Thank you guys for this.
Love the venue. A little remodel on the inside since the last time I was there. Awesome lounge vibe inside. The stage outside is still great. A nice cleaned up area outback. The stage is set in the corner to maximize the area for the crowd and visuals of the stage. Cool upper seating area.
Great sound. Was happy to return here and see a great show.
Super cute venue that has a lot of space and easy to navigate. They had a lot of heaters for a chilly night and the stage could be seen anywhere you stood.
I’m giving 4 stars because literally every staff member we encountered except for those checking us in were SO rude. The bartenders were incredibly rude when asked if they had coffee and baileys (not a dumb question….. it was 30) then asked if they had a certain type of beer… again met with attitude. Just overall acted as if they didn’t want to be there. I get it. It’s cold. But it’s your job.
Overall, loved the concert. The venue is cute. But I wouldn’t choose to go here in my own volition for no reason.
Come and Take It Live
| Address | 2015 E Riverside Dr bldg 4, Austin, TX 78741 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM Tuesday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM Wednesday: 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM Thursday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM Friday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM Saturday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM Sunday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Phone | (512) 666-8365 |
Nemophila was absolutely incredible. This all-female Japanese heavy metal band delivered an unforgettable performance, and Come and Take It Live was the perfect setting for their energy and intensity.
I had such a wonderful time sharing the experience with my best friend. Great music, great atmosphere, and an even better night. Already looking forward to returning for another show here later this year.
Nice roomy little venue! It was my first time here and first time in austin! It was very well lit, sound was great! I've been to concerts where the speakers feel like they're blaring! But it was very subtle here! Definitely recommended! It has a top balcony bar area as well
HAD THE BEST EXPERIENCE HERE..DROVE IN FROM CORPUS CHRISTI ,TX TO SEE FERVENCE SOME FRIENDS OF MINE PLAY AT THE VENUE..
STAFF WHERE EXCELLENT , BARTENDERS WHERE EXCELLENT AS WELL..
BAND SOUND WAS PERFECT .
I STAYED CLOSE BY AT THE
Aiden Austin City Hotel
WHICH WAS NOT EVEN 5MIN AWAY...
ILL BE BACK AGAIN ...
Decent venue with a variety of shows, mostly metal. Some parking available but generally not an issue. AC works well even in the 100degF heat.
Good venue, went to see Felicity and other bands. People that work there are nice and friendly. It was hard to hear some musicians over the instruments. For instance all the bands vocals were good but was hard to hear with the competition especially of the drums. Just a little audio tweak.
Cactus Cafe
| Address | 2247 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78712 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 2:00 – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 2:00 – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 2:00 AM – 11:00 PM Thursday: 2:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 2:00 – 11:00 PM Saturday: 2:00 – 11:00 PM Sunday: Closed |
| Phone | (512) 475-6515 |
They desperately need a proper manager…. And at this point, I want my money back. I’m UT alarm and was appalled this past weekend when I came to see my friend seeing and then missed her entire set, which was a short set, but because they didn’t have proper credit card machine at the door it took like 10 to 15 minutes, just to get the ticket paid for. I was almost hit like really badly hit by one of their staff members with this giant Dolly going back-and-forth super fast because she was so dying to get out of there while we were all standing around talking. It was actually very scary and almost caused a bad accident…. This is one of our favorite music venues in the history of Austin UT can do a lot better and should be embarrassed and yes, I do want my money back
I know this place has been around for well over 50 years which for Austin is something to write home about but the actual café is a little too small. The sound system is definitely not good and while the chairs are comfortable, there’s just really no wiggle room it’s kind of dank and smelly and definitely needs an overhaul and renovation
If you want to listen to acoustic music in a small club, this is the place to go. No serving of drinks during the show. No chit chatting while the performers are on the stage. What a concept.
Legendary music venue in the University of Texas Union Building. Cool bar, tiny stage. The best of the best Texas outlaw players have been here. Tiny stage. Super cool venue.
The Open Mic on, Tuesdays, is soon fun!
Jack is a great host, and the drinks are pretty reasonable 👌.
The music is really cool too. They have a "no cover song" policy, which really keeps the performances real and very unique!!
Emo's Austin
| Address | 2015 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78741 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | (512) 777-0873 |
Cool place, came for the first time 03/20/26 got there pretty early for easy parking. Cool unique place inside. Liked the free water jugs. Made it feel more human.
The security group almost got a zero rating.
I left my earbuds in my car and before getting into the building itself. A few personnel were preventing me from letting me go back to my car to grab them. I even said I'll be coming thru the security line again. Finally a higher up let me. But for that much push back is crazy. Staff in the venue were a bit more chill but still the ones outside almost ruined it. Concert was dope. We shall see if I come to Austin again thou, you guys are crazy
We drove from San Antonio to see the Runarounds play at Emo’s on Jan 17th. The line outside wasn’t very long when we arrived via Lyft. The venue was packed but there was still space to move around. There was a hotdog vendor outside in the smoking area. The drinks were reasonably priced considering. Overall the sound quality inside the venue was great, we had a good view of the band from just about any area we moved which was awesome. We went across the street to Canes after the show like so many other concert goers, it was a perfect quick bite after the show. Can’t wait for our next show at Emo’s!
We came to see The Academy Is… play their 20th anniversary tour. I really loved that between sets, the staff passed out water cups to the people up at the front so we didn’t have to leave our spots for a drink. The nicest thing I think I’ve seen any venue do! Only complaint: a fight broke out during the opener’s set (Jon Walker) and when he saw it happen, he stopped playing and asked the crowd if they were ok, and they said they weren’t and that a guy was throwing punches. He immediately called for security to respond, but they were pretty slow about it. By the time anyone got to the front to deal with it, the guy had left the crowd and was pretty much out the door. If an artist calls to security, they’d better be quick about it because it’s clearly a problem. Other than that, great experience from start to finish.
Not a bad seat in the house because there are NO seats. As a disabled veteran, I would have loved a place to get off my feet for a minute, the only place for that was outside. I had a good idea of what I was getting into, so I'm not going to ding them for that. Overall, it was a great experience. I'd definitely go back, but I'll see if I can bring a portable stool next time.
I am writing to express my disappointment with the concert experience at Emo's due to the widespread use of cell phones to record performances.
I attend shows at Emo's regularly and currently have tickets for two upcoming concerts. However, after my most recent experience, I have decided that I will not purchase additional tickets or attend future shows at the venue unless meaningful action is taken to address this issue.
Throughout the concert, large portions of the audience held phones in the air for extended periods, creating a wall of screens that obstructed sightlines and distracted from the performance. Instead of experiencing the music in the moment, many attendees appeared more concerned with creating content for social media. The result was a noticeably diminished experience for those who came to enjoy a live performance rather than watch it through someone else's phone.
A cell phone recording will never capture the sound, energy, or atmosphere of a live show. Yet the constant recording negatively impacts the experience of hundreds of paying customers who are trying to enjoy the event.
I strongly encourage Emo's to adopt a stricter policy regarding cell phone use during performances, whether through a complete ban, phone-free shows, Yondr pouches, or other enforcement measures. Many artists and venues have successfully implemented such policies, and the audience experience is significantly better because of it.
I have always enjoyed attending shows at Emo's, have been a patron since it was located on 6th Street, and would like to continue doing so. However, unless this issue is addressed, I cannot justify spending money on future concerts where the view of the stage is replaced by a sea of glowing screens.
I hope management will seriously consider the growing impact that unrestricted cell phone recording is having on the live music experience.
Speakeasy
| Address | 412 Congress Ave D, Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM Friday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM Sunday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Phone | (512) 477-2789 |
Amazing show with the spazmatics. They were in costume for an 80s/90s tribute show and very high energy. Wish I could see them again before I leave. Bartender had good recommendations. Overall nice bar, cool games upstairs.
Awesome live bands. You have multiple floors with different styles of music and a DJ dance rooftop. One of our favorite cocktails was the lychee margarita. But you can’t go wrong with any of the cocktails. Fun vibes and great if you are visiting Austin.
Speakeasy was such a vibe! Perfect downtown Austin spot with a great atmosphere, hilarious comedy, and incredible drinks. The location makes it easy to explore the city after, too! Huge shout-out to the bartender—she was working solo and absolutely crushed it with her energy and service. Definitely coming back for more laughs and cocktails! 🍸😂✨
Such a fun memorable night was had at speakeasy! Music was awesome and danceable, drinks were reasonably priced and all the games are free which i LOVE! But the greatest part was the staff especially SHELBY 😊✨ it was July 4th and the patio was super hot and she had no AC but even so she was so sweet and patient with us she was amazing— definitely bringing all my friends here
I came here for a pre-birthday celebration, on a Sunday. The comedy event was nice, and the Skinny Margarita was divine. Highly recommend.
Saxon Pub
| Address | 1320 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM Thursday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM Friday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Phone | (512) 448-2552 |
My wife and I went to Saxon Pub for the first time and we definitely enjoyed our experience. We went to see Micah Edwards perform. Although we had not really listened to his music before, my wife saw some great TikTok videos of him performing and it drew us in. First, I’m a huge fan of small, intimate music venues. It’s one of those places where there are no bad spots to watch a concert performance. I would recommend getting to the venue early though. There are limited seats so the earlier you arrive, the better your chances are of obtaining a seat. We weren’t able to secure a seat, but we still had a great time and enjoyed the view. Secondly, the artist was phenomenal. Micah Edwards exceeded our expectations. We loved his storytelling and he provided details on when and why he wrote each song before performing each track. I felt like he let us into his life as he spoke about his wife, kids, and upbringing. He has an amazing voice and his band was fantastic. I always enjoying listening to live music. Third, my wife and I are taking some time off from drinking alcohol to live healthier lives. I was pleasantly surprised that Saxon Pub had some great non-alcoholic drink options available. I thought I was just going to have to drink soda or water during the show. But there were some great non-alcoholic options from breweries. Lastly, the staff were extremely friendly and responsive. They served you with a smile and danced as the artist played music. Just a great experience overall! After attending this concert, we will definitely return to Saxon Pub to see other shows and we are now fans of Micah Edwards so we plan to listen to more of his music as well.
Great place for a show and a beer. I food menu, but there’s a hot dog truck outside that delivers to your table.
Entrance fee, depends one the show (I paid for the 18:00 and the 20:00 shows, they were 17$ and 11$).
Drinks menus isn’t huge, but more than enough for most people.
The actual Saxon Pub on S Lamar is an amazing institution. Has great music every night and the old school Austin vibe. Very disappointed to see the reviews of the airport location clogging up the works. If you’re in Austin and want some high quality live music check it out. On S Lamar not the airport.
Just happened into this joint on a Tuesday, first night in Austin from Chicago, and heard an amazing guitar player and his band. They were rocking like an old blues band. Turns out the guy toured with some blues greats, particularly Buddy Guy. And four years touring with the Dixie Chicks. Nice chill crowd and friendly staff.
I feel a little like I shouldn't say how great the Saxon Pub is because I don't want it to get too crowded. That's my selfish side. We love going there, the music is great, the staff is amazing and friendly, and best of all, people are quiet and listen to the music and don't talk over it. If you just want to go out and talk to friends, go somewhere else. You will be shushed. Get there early if you want to sit down or find a parking spot. Other businesses in the area will tow you.
The Hole in the Wall
| Address | 2538 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM Tuesday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM Thursday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM Friday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM Saturday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM Sunday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Phone | (719) 266-2837 |
This legendary location is where many young UT freshman get their first alcoholic beverage some may prefer to refer to them as spirits when they come from this place. Back in my day, they didn’t seem to care much about IDs. I don’t know how they get the drinks today. But the first drink I ever had at this bar was something called a mind-eraser, which was recommended by the bartender. The enlightening beverage consists of a shot of Kahlúa and a shot of vodka combined. Since then, I’ve seen many great live music show and many a fantastic scene at this bar and live venue. The place is known for its very dirty men’s restroom. I think it has been mentioned plenty of times around these reviews and in movies or documentaries. It’s a lot of fun to see an upcoming musician play on the front stage with the street scenes and people walking by the large window. Also fun to see the medium bands in the backstage with a little more sound. While you’re there take a look at all the interesting street art on the walls at the hole.
Kick ass place! I love the vibes and the outdoor seating!
They always have great performers.. like two stages! And then another room with cute vibes and karaoke 🎤
Pool in between
Y’all should do the beer in Photo Booth challenge! (Take pic with full beer and then chug- - take pic with empty glass)
Need I say more?
If you don’t get your butts there
Had my first visit on a Sunday night and did not disappoint ! Wasn’t too crowded for a Sunday but was still lively. Sunday night was karaoke night, was so much fun you should go check it out. The headliner that night was good too!! There was two bar areas available to visit but both bartender were excellent and kind! Can’t believe it had taken me this long to visit this local gem!
I came here to get my americano coffee & the atmosphere felt so relaxing, with music 🎶 I decided to chill a while, there was filming in action 😎awesome! Work guys y’all made my evening i ❤️ it.
This is a really awesome venue. I went to go see one of my hair clients,Gus kelly,who i've been following for a long time and i think is amazingly talented. I mean I drove all away from san antonio and I got there halfway through a couple songs but I still felt it was a good experience. Sound system and acoustics seemed really good, i mean im not a sound and lights guy but they were far better tha almost any dive ive been to. The place was spacious and pretty comfortable. I like a place I feel like I can kind of lounge around and linger at this place felt like that. I found a pool table which I'm all about.I love arcade games where I'm out.Because that way , I don't have to talk to any creeper , guys who wanna bug me. And it looked like there was another more loungy bar area in the back behind the pool table. All the employees I spoke to seemed , cool and down to earth. I'd love to go and hope it doesn't change.
The Belmont
| Address | 305 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Open 24 hours Tuesday: Open 24 hours Wednesday: Open 24 hours Thursday: Open 24 hours Friday: Open 24 hours Saturday: Open 24 hours Sunday: Open 24 hours |
| Phone | (512) 476-2100 |
Hamid was the most accommodating person we worked with while planning and re-planning our wedding and it was an absolute pleasure getting to work with him. The Belmont was the perfect space to host our event. We were able to have our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception all at the same venue, but each felt like like they were all at a different location, thanks to the rooftop, in door bar, and outside dance floor/stage. There was also large spaces for the bride & groom to get ready in before. If you want a true downtown Austin experience, this is the spot!
This is the best menu in downtown Austin by far with the hardest-working staff that I've met who have held strong here now longer than most other businesses have been able to stay open for.
This is also one of the few venues left on 6th Street that can hold up to 500 people between the VIP room the bar upstairs patio, and sofa areas.
Did I mention they have nice cushion sofas!
Bartenders here know how to serve just about every single kind of rank and even serve me up my favorite non-alcoholic beverage made of different fruit juices!
Also thankfully they have water that's been verified served in the glass container at each corner of the bar
Getting parking here is thankfully easier to most places to downtown you could just park at either of the parking garages nearby and literally walk over.
They do their best to keep the restrooms clean here and keep up with all the people that come in and out of this venue which on some nights goes well into the night.
They also play healthy mix of music. 🙂
Sound system and they have people who know how the management do know how to operate the sound equipment which is a huge Plus I cannot say enough how hard it is to find a bar with people always on staff who know how to operate the sound equipment!
Every week there's something going on at this place especially as it continues to grow in popularity.
And thankfully just west enough on 6th Street to keep it accessible for folks like me who like to avoid 6th st going east past congress.
Very cool bar. I went to a 420 aerialists pol performance show by S&S Production. I had a great time and look forward to coming back to this bar and the future shows.
Saw a live show at the Belmont and it was a BLAST. The interior is very nice and well furnished, there is a huge balcony area overlooking the outside stage and an outside bar on the first level.
The Belmont has all the elements of a great bar/music venue and I'm looking forward to going back soon to experience more of the great atmosphere!
Venue was nice and the staff friendly so kudos on that. The parking situation was not great. I paid $25 for 2 hours and had to walk a bit in my 👠 😬.
3Ten Austin City Limits
| Address | 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd Ste 1A, Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | (512) 225-7999 |
Third time to ACL 3ten. It’s a cool venue to see a band and all 3 I’ve been to there have been fundraisers for various things, so very committed to community. Bar prices are what most of us think of as ridiculous, but are pretty much the norm: $12-14 beers, $14-20 cocktails, $8 soft drinks. As always, I wish there was a bit more seating (only a handful of stools inside), but you can always go out to the patio to sit and still see and hear the band.
My Husband and I went to see John Splinthoff, great show, especially since this talented artist brought just his guitars, a keyboard and his amazing vocals. Stripped down no band, or back up vocals just him. The sound was amazing and the venue fulfills its purpose.
We didn’t expect chairs but there were plenty if you get there early enough, we sat in the second row but looked behind just as the show was going to start and it was standing room only.
I didn’t buy any drinks nor use the restroom so cannot attest to those amenities but would return for future shows.
Went to a show there last night. Horrible acoustics, band starts 30 minutes late, Mix was bad, you could not hear the lead singer over the rest of the band. Standing only. We left halfway through. Totally overpriced and bad quality sound. This is ACL trying to profit off the well deserved ratings of Moodys Theater which is a great place to go to a concert. I will not return to any concerts at 3Ten.
What a wonderful venue with a solid sound system with no bad seats. Bar staff had a great vibe and went to the gift shop later to grab some cool merch to remember my time! Will be back for more shows!
Music and atmosphere were great, but it feels unfair to lose a front row spot because someone in a wheelchair came an hour and a half after. As someone that suffers from back pain I got there early to get a spot I could lean on for a reason.
The Concourse Project
| Address | 8509 Burleson Rd, Austin, TX 78719 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
The Concourse Project feels less like a place you visit and more like a feeling you step into. The music sits at the heart of everything — creating an atmosphere built on love, connection, freedom, and genuine community. Strangers become friends on the dance floor, conversations flow effortlessly, and every set feels like a shared experience rather than just a performance. There’s an openness here that invites people to be fully themselves, whether they come to dance, reflect, celebrate, or simply belong. It’s the kind of space where music doesn’t just fill the room — it brings people together.
I will forever be grateful for everything The Concourse Project has created.
The sound equipment is solid!! We went to see Purple Disco Machine, and the venue wasn't bad.
But I didn't have to use the restroom or purchase any alcohol, so I guess I cut the known bad variables of a club experience right off the bat.
However, the reviews I read were correct: parking is terrible 😕.
This venue's website warns patrons that parking in the area around this place is very likely to result in towing.
And it's true!!!
We got there early and found parking. But when we left, numerous vehicles were being towed.
I can only imagine what a terrible experience it must have been for those who left the concert only to find that their vehicle was gone ... 😰
I’ve been going to The Concourse Project for years and it’s honestly one of my favorite places in Austin. I’ve seen some of my favorite artists there and have made so many great memories with friends. The sound and production are always incredible, but what really keeps me coming back is the atmosphere. I’ve genuinely never had a bad night there.
Whether it’s a huge artist or a smaller show, the energy is always amazing. Austin is so lucky to have a venue like this.
Can’t get enough of The Concourse Project. This place is absolutely incredible and hands down one of the best EDM venues we’ve ever experienced. The sound system, production, positive vibes, crowd, and artist lineup are on another level. The staff and the crowd are always so warm and radiate good vibes.
Over the past months we’ve seen or booked shows with Max Styler, Yousuke Yukimatsu, Hugel, Sidepiece, I Hate Models, Odd Mob, Odesza, Camelphat, Chris Avantgarde, The Martinez Brothers, Lavern, Zhu, Noizu, Sonny Fodera, and Monolink... so much fun. Always!! And of course, we are already signed up for the next Seismic Dance Event.
I’m CEO of a SaaS company, and honestly it’s incredibly rejuvenating to step away from work, let go of the pressure, and just dance with this young and high-energy crowd. The Concourse is very special to my girlfriend Aga and me. Feeling very lucky to have such an amazing venue here in Austin.
If you’re into electronic music, The Concourse Project is hands down one of the best venues out there. The music is always on point, the crowd brings amazing energy, and the overall vibe is unmatched.
What really sets it apart is the production—top-tier lighting and sound that completely elevate the experience. Every show feels immersive and intentional. Easily one of my favorite spots to catch a set.
Tips for Enjoying Austin Live Music
Navigating the Austin music scene requires a bit of local knowledge. While spontaneity is part of the fun, a little preparation ensures you get the most out of your night without hitting common tourist snags. Here are the essential strategies to enhance your experience and support the local artists who make this city great.
Plan for the "Official" and "Unofficial" Shows
Austin is famous for its official schedules, but the magic often happens at the "after shows" or unlisted pop-ups. Always check the venue’s social media on the day of your visit, not just the ticketing site. Some of the best performances in history have happened at 1:00 AM in a room that wasn’t supposed to be open.
Respect the Sound Guys and the Venue
The quality of audio in Austin venues is a point of pride. If the room asks for silence during an acoustic set, honor it. Do not shout over the music near the soundboard. If you want to talk, move to the back or the patio; the front rows are for listening.
Utilize the Free and Cheap Options
You do not need to spend a fortune to hear great music. Many of the best local residencies are completely free, with artists relying on tips and drink sales. Buy a t-shirt or a vinyl record if you enjoy the show; it is the most direct way to fund the next generation of Austin music.
Embrace the Two-Step and the Mosh Pit Equally
Austin is not a monoculture. A country band might follow a punk band on the same stage in the same night. Be adaptable. If you are at a dance hall, watch the dancers’ feet before jumping in. If you are at a rock show, protect your drink and your teeth.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Tacos
The Texas heat is relentless, and even indoor venues can get sweltering with a full crowd. Drink water between every alcoholic beverage. Most iconic venues are surrounded by late-night food trucks; grabbing a taco at midnight is as essential to the Austin experience as the music itself.
The beauty of Austin is that the music never really stops. It is a city where the bartender might be a Grammy nominee and the person standing next to you in line might be a producer looking for the next big sound. The venues listed above are more than just buildings; they are the cultural archives of American music.
Take your time exploring them. Listen to a genre you have never heard before. The goal isn’t just to hear music but to understand why this city has earned its global reputation one show at a time.
