5 late-night dives in Austin, editor-picked by TableJourney. All Austin nightlife.
Donn's Depot ★ 4.6
Clarksville / West Lynn · 1600 West 5th Street, Austin, TX 78703
Donn's Depot on West 5th Street in Austin is the converted railway-car bar with Donn Adelman at the piano since the 1970s, country and honky-tonk dance most nights to 02:00.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Live music nightly from 21:00, no cover; the rail-car back rooms are the quieter conversation spots.
Lala's Little Nugget ★ 4.5
Burnet Road / Allandale · 2207 Justin Lane, Austin, TX 78757
Lala's Little Nugget on Justin Lane in north Austin is the year-round Christmas dive open since 1972, boughs of holly on the walls and Santa on the roof every single day.
Tip: 21+ with valid ID. Open weekdays 16:00 to 02:00, weekends from 12:00. Cash and card both work; jukebox is the soundtrack.
Deep Eddy Cabaret ★ 4.4
Clarksville / West Lynn · 2315 Lake Austin Boulevard, Austin, TX 78703
Deep Eddy Cabaret on Lake Austin Boulevard by Deep Eddy Pool is the neighborhood dive open since 1951, cheap beer, jukebox and a long shuffleboard down the side wall.
Tip: Open daily noon to 02:00. Cash and card both accepted; the shuffleboard table at the back is the long-standing local pull.
The Liberty ★ 4.4
East Austin (East Side) · 1618 1/2 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78702
The Liberty on East 6th Street in East Austin is the dog-friendly dive with a picnic-table patio and the original East Side King food truck in the back, late beer and skewers nightly.
Tip: East Side King serves until close; patio holds the crowds on warm weekends. Cash and card both work, no cover most nights.
The Driskill Bar ★ 4.4
Downtown / Warehouse District · 604 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701
The Driskill Bar inside the 1886 Driskill Hotel on Brazos Street is the cattle-baron lobby bar with cowhide stools, longhorn over the mantel and live music through the late evening.
Tip: Live music most evenings, no cover. The 1886 Cafe across the lobby serves dessert later than most kitchens; valet through the hotel entrance.