Carousel Lounge

Painted in circus murals and boasting a David Lynch-ian vibe, the Carousel Lounge is quite possibly Austin’s strangest watering hole. Opened in 1963, the theme was inspired by New Orleans’ famous Carousel Lounge, which one donned a giant circus tent and massive pink elephant. The tent is gone and the massive elephant has been replaced with one that is merely large one but everything else has remained untouched. Despite the eccentric atmosphere, the warmth of the staff and regulars is unmatched and you may just fall in love with this quirky, circus-themed relic of a dive bar found in an unremarkable part of town.