Sagebrush ★ 4.3
$South Congress (SoCo){'monday': '15:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '15:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '15:00-02:00', 'thursday': '15:00-02:00', 'friday': '15:00-02:00', 'saturday': '15:00-02:00', 'sunday': '15:00-02:00'}
Sagebrush on South Congress in Austin is the south-side honky-tonk from White Horse owner Denis O'Donnell, with live country, dance lessons and pool tables seven nights a week.
Tip: Doors open 15:00 daily; dance lessons on Wednesday nights, live bands from 21:00. Food trucks park on the lot; no cover most nights.
Coconut Club ★ 4.3
$$Downtown / Warehouse District{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': '21:00-02:00', 'thursday': '21:00-02:00', 'friday': '21:00-02:00', 'saturday': '13:00-02:00', 'sunday': 'varies by event'}
Coconut Club on Colorado Street in downtown Austin is the tropical dance bar with five stages, a rooftop drag brunch on Saturdays and DJ sets running into the early hours.
Tip: Multi-level layout with a rooftop and four indoor floors. CocoCxnts drag brunch runs Saturdays 13:00 to 16:00 with no cover; weekend cover varies.
Rio ★ 4.0
$$$Downtown / 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 at 6th and Rio Grande in downtown Austin is the multi-level club with a rooftop pool, cabanas and DJs spinning hip-hop, Latin and dance until 02:00 most weekends.
Tip: Open Thursday to Sunday only. The rooftop pool deck is the draw; bottle service on cabanas books out before 22:00.
The Continental Club ★ 4.9
$$South Congress (SoCo){'monday': '16:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-02:00', 'thursday': '16:00-02:00', 'friday': '16:00-02:00', 'saturday': '20:00-02:00', 'sunday': '20:00-02:00'}
The Continental Club on South Congress in Austin opened in 1955 as a supper club, the city's historic landmark for roots, rockabilly, country, swing and blues bands every night.
Tip: Two sets nightly with a cover that varies by act. Toni Price's Hippie Hour at 18:30 Tuesdays is the long-running residency to know.
Stubb's Bar-B-Q ★ 4.6
$$Downtown / Warehouse District{'monday': 'varies by show', 'tuesday': 'varies by show', 'wednesday': 'varies by show', 'thursday': 'varies by show', 'friday': 'varies by show', 'saturday': 'varies by show', 'sunday': 'varies by show'}
Stubb's Bar-B-Q on Red River Street in Austin pairs a 2,100-capacity Waller Creek Amphitheater with a roadhouse music room, the city's biggest outdoor stage for touring acts.
Tip: Outdoor shows at the amphitheater run year-round, indoor stage holds about 400. Sunday Gospel Brunch with live music is the off-night move.
ACL Live at the Moody Theater ★ 4.8
$$$Downtown / Warehouse District{'monday': 'varies by show', 'tuesday': 'varies by show', 'wednesday': 'varies by show', 'thursday': 'varies by show', 'friday': 'varies by show', 'saturday': 'varies by show', 'sunday': 'varies by show'}
ACL Live at the Moody Theater in downtown Austin is the 2,750-seat home of the Austin City Limits public TV taping, the country's longest-running music television show.
Tip: ACL tapings are free but allocated by lottery. Public shows ticket through ACL Live; balcony and pit both have great sightlines.