Bats and barbecue, rockin’ rockabilly and swinging country – Austin revels in its nightlife. Get the full experience after the sun sets with this guide to the best of Austin nightlife.See rare showcases from major country and rock music stars at a taping of PBS television’s long-running program Austin City Limits. Tickets are first come, first served – it’s worth standing in the line see a big-name performer.
KLRU-TV studio, 2504B Whitis St.
Every night at dusk, thousands of bats flutter in smoke-like clouds from underneath the Congress Avenue bridge. Any spot on the bridge gets you a close-up view. Combine the spectacle with a seafood dinner and a view from the patio at the Shoreline Grill.
98 San Jacinto Blvd.
The live rocking sounds of country, rockabilly and rock pour out of clubs all around Austin. One of the best is the Continental Club, where red walls are pasted with posters of past performers. Catch one of tomorrow’s stars on his way to fame amid the relaxed, friendly neighborhood vibe.
1315 South Congress Ave.
Sip a margarita and toast with locals while watching the sun set on Lake Travis from the cozy hillside decks at the Oasis, a Tex-Mex restaurant in west Austin.
6550 Comanche Trail, near Lake Travis
On the first Thursday of every month, South Congress Avenue comes alive with a buzzing mix of jugglers, markets and live music. Shops fling their doors open for late-night shopping, while people stroll up and down the eight-block stretch celebrating the approach of the weekend.
Two-step your way through a rollicking evening of live country music at the Broken Spoke, one of America’s great country music dance halls. Dance up an appetite, then dig into a tasty chicken-fried steak and cool off with ice-cold beer.
3201 South Lamar Blvd.
Uncover downtown Austin’s ghostly mysteries on a haunted walking tour. The “Ghosts of Austin Downtown” tour tells ghostly tales based on real-life events, while the tavern-crawl “Haunted Sixth Street” tour takes you to the places where spirits like their spirits.
Every Sunday night, the Long Center for the Performing Arts hosts free symphony concerts along the river in Butler Park. Grab a picnic basket and soak up a warm Austin night under the stars, while listening to an orchestra play classical and jazz pieces.
From Congress Avenue to Red River, this five-block strip of downtown’s Sixth Street is Austin nightlife at its most rocking. From packed noisy saloons to low-key piano bars, there is something here for every music fan.
On a clear night, the waters of Town Lake shimmer in downtown Austin, reflecting the sunset’s orange glow. See it for yourself over a hearty fajitas dinner from a boat run by Capital Cruises, which plies up and down Town Lake.
