P6 at the LINE Austin ★ 4.5
$$$$16 cocktails, smart casualDowntown / Warehouse District{'monday': '16:00-22:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-22:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-22:00', 'thursday': '16:00-22:00', 'friday': '16:00-23:00', 'saturday': '11:00-23:00', 'sunday': '11:00-22:00'}
P6 on the sixth-floor rooftop of the LINE Hotel in Austin pours Mediterranean shared plates and cocktails over Lady Bird Lake, the city's Congress Avenue bat-bridge view at sunset.
Tip: Reservations open on OpenTable; weekend brunch runs Saturday and Sunday. The west-side deck is the better skyline seat at sunset.
Geraldine's ★ 4.4
$$$$15 cocktails, smart casualRainey Street{'monday': '16:00-23:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-23:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-23:00', 'thursday': '16:00-00:00', 'friday': '16:00-01:00', 'saturday': '11:00-01:00', 'sunday': '11:00-23:00'}
Geraldine's on the fourth floor of the Hotel Van Zandt in Rainey Street Austin runs nightly live music on the terrace, cocktails and a Southern-leaning kitchen until 22:00.
Tip: Live music nightly with no cover. Reservations via OpenTable for dinner; walk-ins easier on the terrace bar rail.
Rio Rooftop ★ 4.0
$$$$16 cocktails, dress code enforcedDowntown / Warehouse District{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': 'closed', 'thursday': '18:00-02:00', 'friday': '21:00-02:00', 'saturday': '21:00-02:00', 'sunday': 'varies by event'}
Rio Rooftop on Rio Grande Avenue in downtown Austin runs Austin's only rooftop pool with cabanas and skyline views, DJs spinning Thursday through Sunday until 02:00.
Tip: Cabana service books out before 22:00 on weekends. The dance floor downstairs runs in parallel, one cover covers both rooms.
Edge Rooftop ★ 4.2
$$$$16 cocktails, smart casualDowntown / Warehouse District{'monday': '16:00-22:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-22:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-22:00', 'thursday': '16:00-22:00', 'friday': '16:00-23:00', 'saturday': '11:00-23:00', 'sunday': '11:00-22:00'}
Edge Rooftop on the seventh floor of the JW Marriott Austin frames the South Congress Avenue skyline, with shared plates, signature cocktails and a long pour-over wine list.
Tip: Smart casual dress, reservations via the hotel for cabanas. The southwest corner has the best Congress Avenue bridge sightline.
Midnight Cowboy ★ 4.7
$$$Downtown / Warehouse District{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': '17:00-23:30', 'wednesday': '17:00-23:30', 'thursday': '17:00-23:30', 'friday': '17:00-23:45', 'saturday': '17:00-23:45', 'sunday': '17:00-23:30'}
Midnight Cowboy on East 6th in Austin is the reservation-only speakeasy in a former massage parlor, tableside cocktails and parties of eight maximum behind an unmarked door.
Tip: Book on Tock; push the Harry Craddock button at the unmarked door. Walk-ins only when the red light above the door shows green.
Garage ★ 4.5
$$$Downtown / Warehouse District{'monday': '17:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '17:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '17:00-02:00', 'thursday': '17:00-02:00', 'friday': '17:00-02:00', 'saturday': '17:00-02:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Garage on Colorado Street in downtown Austin tucks inside an active parking garage, the former attendant booth converted into a candlelit cocktail bar with a circular bar at the center.
Tip: Resy reservations open four weeks ahead; walk-ins fine at the bar rail. The cocktail menu is built around car terms, classics through $25 GTOs.