9 Best Bars in South Austin and South Congress District, Austin

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

A community beer garden of sorts—locals call it The ABGB—this collaboration of five friends operates as both a full-scale brewery and a beer grub restaurant and music venue. Throughout the year, they offer a rotating selection of craft beers in a wide variety of styles, including lagers, ales, IPAs, and pilsners. The outdoor backyard is shaded by oak and elm trees and is a perfect backdrop for evening rockabilly gigs featuring local artists. Enjoy crisp pizzas, an assortment of super-stuffed sandwiches, and salads while you sip a few suds.

Once a delightful home-style shop by day and wine bar by night, the former Aviary Lounge's multipurpose design concept now focuses exclusively on wining and dining. The contemporary decor is still a lovely backdrop here, but the main star is the international wine list. There's rooftop space, too, for when the weather is nice, especially during the weekday happy hour.

This happy haven of food and fun, a "restaurant and drinkery" as it calls itself, has kept up a steady buzz since opening in 2020. There's a fun but fratty vibe here, complete with full-size pickleball courts and lawn games, an area for kids and dogs, a rotating selection of food trucks, and a full bar. Guests can order from the picnic tables on the outdoor Astroturf courtyard via a QR code. Gam-day watch parties attract crowds during UT football season.

Once a classic Red River haunt in the middle of downtown, this indie rock and punk venue is now on East Riverside, where a much larger main stage hosts internationally acclaimed names in the music industry, including the likes of Blues Traveler and Lauryn Hill. A long-time player in the Austin music scene, expect plenty of SXSW showcases.

If you can get past the Saxon's low ceilings and sticky, beer-stained floors, then you'll find a phenomenal music experience. Bands play every night, usually from the local rock and blues scene. This is a small Austin classic with Shiner Bock on tap and a well-worn pool table that draws regulars from all over the city. The legendary venue always packs bands in back-to-back throughout SXSW.