Great Cocktail Bars to Grab a Drink in Austin this Spring

Austin has no shortage of happening bars shaking up quality cocktails. But as with any exciting city, Austin’s nightlife scene is constantly evolving. Here’s a look at eleven of the best places to grab a drink in Austin this spring.

Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden

With Texas’ third-largest draft beer selection and sausages worth writing home about, Banger’s is a place you can show up at around noon and easily stay until close. The German-inspired beer garden is just under a mile from AMLI Downtown and just over a mile from AMLI South Shore.

79 Rainey Street, 512-386-1656

Firehouse Lounge

Housed in a former fire station, Firehouse Lounge offers sophistication without pretension. Check out the schedule of events to find out when you can enjoy live music and other entertainment at this trendy Austin hangout. Firehouse Lounge is just a 10-minute walk from AMLI’s downtown Austin apartment rentals.

605 Brazos Street, 512-201-2522

Garage

This aptly named watering hole is one of downtown Austin’s more hidden bars. But if you use a map app on your phone and keep your eyes peeled for Garage’s neon-blue sign, you’ll find it. Once you do, reward yourself with a dram of high-end Japanese whiskey or an Indian Paintbrush cocktail. Garage is a five-minute walk from AMLI on 2nd.

503 Colorado Street, 512-369-3490

Half Step

Just four years into its tenure in a 1930s-style bungalow on Rainey Street, Half Step is already an Austin institution. It’s also been ranked one of the best bars in the country by Esquire magazine and featured on the television show “America’s Best Bars.” Half Step hosts captivating live jazz shows, and its cocktails are some of the finest in town. The Rainey Street bar is a mile from AMLI’s downtown Austin and South Shore apartment rentals.

75 ½ Rainy Street, 512-391-1877

The Jackalope

If you have a passion, or at least a nostalgic soft spot, for punk rock, The Jackalope may well be one of your haunts. If you haven’t been, expect the grit of a Dirty 6 dive bar and you’re unlikely to be disappointed. The original Jackalope is a 15-minute walk from AMLI’s downtown Austin luxury apartments. In late 2016, Jackalope opened a second location less than 10 minutes’ walk from AMLI South Shore.

404 East 6th Street, 512 472-3663

Las Perlas

Home to the trendy Mezcal Collective, Las Perlas is a relaxed mezcaleria and cocktail bar a 15-minute walk from AMLI Downtown. Visit the 7 Street bar to learn about liquor, drink delicious craft cocktails, and select your favorite tracks from the bar’s old-school jukebox. Las Perlas is a 15-minute walk from AMLI Downtown.

405 East 7th Street

Midnight Cowboy

You need a reservation and at least a small wad of cash to enjoy this swanky Austin speakeasy. But so long as you’re prepared for the experience, you’re bound to have a good time. Buzz in, browse the expansive cocktail menu, and consult your bartender before ordering. Midnight Cowboy’s classy cocktails are served in an equally classy setting, a 10-minute walk from AMLI’s downtown Austin apartments.

313 East 6th Street, 512-843-2715

Seven Grand

Step into a hip bar in Southern California, and there’s a decent chance it’s a 213 Hospitality project. The group is responsible for Seven Grand, as well as its sister bar Las Perlas and the beloved Half Step. Like Las Perlas’ Mezcal Club, Seven Grand’s Whiskey Society hosts weekly sessions for sipping and learning about whiskey. Seven Grand is a 15-minute walk from AMLI Downtown.

405 East Seventh Street, 512-520-4582

Small Victory

Around the corner from the Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin hotel, this small hideaway provides a cozy atmosphere for enjoying classic cocktails and bar bites. Small Victory is also renowned for its wine list. This popular second-story bar on 7 Street is a 10-minute walk from AMLI Downtown.

108 East 7th Street, 737-701-0500

The Roosevelt Room

Roosevelt Room co-owners Justin Lavenue and Dennis Gobis are talented bartenders known for their exquisite tastes, well-represented in the bar’s décor and expansive drink menu. The downtown Austin cocktail lounge is a nice place for a drink any day, but is especially lively around big drinking holidays like St. Patty’s and New Year’s. The Roosevelt Room is a five-minute walk from AMLI Downtown.

307 West 5th Street, 512-494-4094

The Townsend

Drink like a high-roller at this Congress District cocktail and music lounge. Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Ginger Smashes, and other classic cocktails feel right at home amongst the bar’s throwback décor. The Townsend is housed in a historic building across the street from the century-old Paramount Theater, 10 minutes’ walk from AMLI’s downtown Austin apartments.

718 Congress Avenue #100, 512-887-8778

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