Fadó
Photograph: Courtesy Yelp/Fadó
Photograph: Courtesy Yelp/Fadó

The nine best Austin pubs

Sip on some whiskey or beer and snack on bar grub when drinking your night away at the best Austin pubs

Advertising

It’s no secret that Austinites like to drink—stop by one of the best Austin pubs and you'll find plenty of imbibers nursing a Guinness or local craft beer while watching the big game. While you could hit up the best dive bars in Austin or one of the city's top cocktail bars, there's something familiar about hunkering down in a cozy pub. To find your perfect watering hole, look no further than our list of best Austin pubs.

Best Austin pubs

  • Rosedale
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
As proven by the thousands of scrawled messages carved into the wooden tables, this historic Hyde Park pub has been pouring some of the city’s best beer selections for the past 48 years—now from over 70 taps, including their own microbrew creations. Each day of the week brings different food trucks to the lot, where regulars bring dogs and folding chairs for tailgating. And the longtime Saturday tradition of free brats in the afternoon is still going strong.
  • Warehouse District
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

You’ll feel far from the hustle and bustle of downtown when you enter Fadó, where historic exposed stone walls, dark wood, curated sitting areas and an intimate patio make for an ambiance that is more Dublin than Austin. Choose from a wide variety of beers on tap plus cocktails, Irish coffee and shot specials. A large menu features daily lunch offerings, all-day Irish breakfast, corned beef and cabbage, smaller “drinking bites” and a massive “hangover sandwich” to cure what ails you... before starting to drink all over again. Be sure to check this place out before they close at their current location and open in a new space downtown. 

Advertising
  • Warehouse District
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
This pub with Houston roots features beers from around the world, served from a wall of over fifty rotating taps by knowledgable bartenders. Settle into one of the dark, cozy nooks, play a game of darts, toast in the tree-covered backyard patio and nosh on sandwiches and flatbread selections. Bring your own vinyl on Mondays and check the board for upcoming pint nights, tap takeovers and flight specials—there are always plenty.
  • Pubs
  • North Shoal Creek
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
This dark and dive-y North Burnet pub tucked into a strip mall features a good selection of well-priced local craft beers on tap plus imported and domestic bottles and cans. Diverse menu options range from the British (bangers and mash, bubbles and squeek) to the American (bacon mac and cheese, pulled pork sandwiches) to a surprising selection of Indian dishes (chicken tikka masala, curry vindaloo). Enjoy pool, ping pong and darts, settle in for a game or simply congregate with friends in one of the many booths or tables available in this spacious bar.
Advertising
  • Pubs
  • price 2 of 4
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Located just a stone’s throw from Austin, this Irish-pub-meets-Texas-watering-hole is housed in a historic brick building in downtown San Marcos. Wash down Irish egg rolls with a Black & Tan or feast on the sizable fish and chips platter alongside a famous $1.50 margarita. The bar is mounted with just as many game animal heads as flat screens, while the spacious covered patio looks out onto the town square.
  • Pubs
  • price 2 of 4
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
With its exposed brick, wooden furniture and tin ceiling tiles, Jack & Ginger’s brings the warmth of an Irish pub atmosphere to the otherwise sleek and industrial Domain entertainment district. Multiple TV screens mean you can view just about any game here while enjoying beer from over 80 taps (and 5 draught cocktails)—plus $7 flights and $5 whiskey towers during happy hour. The extensive menu features classic American, British and Irish dishes plus weekend brunch specials like a cheddar BLT waffle and Irish coffee cake French toast.
Advertising
  • Congress Ave District
  • price 2 of 4
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

If a lively pub scene is what you seek, B.D. Riley’s is the spot for you. With two locations (Sixth St and Aldrich St), this wood-paneled Irish pub (which they say was built in Ireland and assembled in Texas) features plenty of TV screens for games and live music each night of the week. Beer options range from local brews to pub favorites like Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s and a lengthy menu features snacks, sandwiches, lunch specials, weekend brunch and entrees like shepherd’s pie, Irish stew and bangers and mash.

  • Fireside Loop
  • price 2 of 4
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Both the north and south locations of the Texas-born pub feature a wide draught beer selection, interior wood-paneling, dog-friendly patios, billiards, darts and pub grub like fish and chips, burgers and wings. Live music, karaoke, bingo and pub trivia make these both lively gathering places for food, drink and fun outside of downtown.
Advertising
  • Pubs
  • price 2 of 4
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
This new no-frills Irish pub in Lakeway features live traditional Irish music on Tuesday nights, beer and cider on tap, food specials (like shepherd’s pie and Irish stew) plus a game room with pool, shuffleboard and darts. Long wooden tables and plenty of TV screens make it a good place to gather for game-watching—and USB charging outlets are built right into the bar.

Looking for more beer?

Recommended
    You may also like
    You may also like
    Advertising