XL cover story

Greater Austin bar listings

A sampling of the more than 250 nightclubs, dives, sports bars and dance halls we've visited. Tough job, but somebody had to do it.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

What makes a bar a bar? In wet counties such as Travis, Williamson and Hays, you can get a drink almost anywhere: movie houses, restaurants, music halls, sports arenas, street fairs. But does having bar service make you a bar? It depends on who's doing the drinking. XL writers and contributors Michael Barnes, Moira Muldoon, Jonathon Goodsell and Jeff McCrary, with help from Adrian Zamarron, have made it their mission to visit more than 250 places where the alcohol flows and the good times roll. Some specialize in live music, some feature full menus and some invite you to dance or watch football. We can't say the list includes every possible place. But we're working on it. Enjoy responsibly.

Agave. 415 E. Sixth St. 469-7892.

Alice's Restaurant. 14100 Camino Real (Texas 21), Niederwald. (512) 376-2782.

Alligator Grill. 3003 S. Lamar Blvd. 444-6117.

Antone's. 213 W. Fifth St. 320-8424.

Apple Bar. 120 W. Fifth St. 322-9291.

Aquarium. 403 E. Sixth St. 499-8003.

Aussie's Volleybar & Grill. 306 Barton Springs Road. 480-0952.

Austin Karaoke. 6808 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite B-120. 323-9822.

Baby Blue's. 8440 Burnet Road. 454-8608.

Back Room. 2015 E. Riverside Drive. 441-4677.

Barcelona. 209 E. Sixth St. 236-0900.

Barfly's. 5420 Airport Blvd. 452-6455.

Bayou Lounge. 500 E. Sixth St. 499-0863.

B.B. Rovers. 12636 Research Blvd. 335-9504.

B.D. Riley's. 204 E. Sixth St. 494-1335.

Beauty Bar. 617 E. Seventh St. 391-1943.

Beerland. 711 1/2 Red River St. 479-ROCK.

Becks on Congress. 1321 S. Congress Ave. 445-4441.

The Best Wurst. Sixth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard. thebestwurst@yahoo.com.

Betsy's Bar. 301 W. Sixth St. 480-9433.

Beverly's. 8504 S. Congress Ave. 282-9142.

Billy's on Burnet. 2105 Hancock Drive. 407-9305.

Blind Pig. 317 E. Sixth St. 472-0809.

Bone Daddy's. 11617 Research Blvd. 346-3025.

Boomerz. 6148 W. U.S. 290. 892-3358.

Bourbon Rocks. 508 E. Sixth St. 236-1707.

'Bout Time. 9601 N. Interstate 35. 832-5339.

Brentwood Tavern. 6701 Burnet Road. 420-8118.

Broken Spoke. 3201 S. Lamar Blvd. 442-6189.

Brown Bar. 201 W. Eighth St. 480-8330.

Buffalo Billiards. 201 E. Sixth St. 479-7665.

Bull McCabe's. 714 Red River St. 478-4022.

Cactus Cafe. The Texas Union, 24th and Guadalupe streets. 475-6515.

Cafe Mundi. 1704 E. Fifth St. 236-8634.

Cain & Abel's Bar & Grill. 2313 Rio Grande St. 476-3201.

Carlos'N Charlie's. 5973 Hiline Road. 266-1683.

Carousel Lounge. 1110 E. 52nd St. 452-6790.

Casino El Camino. 517 E. Sixth St. 469-9330.

Cedar Door. 201 Brazos St. 473-3712.

Cedar Street Courtyard. 208 W. Fourth St. 495-9669.

Chain Drive. 504 Willow St. 480-9017.

Charlie's. 1301 Lavaca St. 474-6481.

Cheatham Street Warehouse. 199 Cheatham St., San Marcos. (512) 353-3777.

Cheers Shot Bar. 416 E. Sixth St. 499-0093.

Chrome. 419 E. Sixth St. 476-5654.

Chuggin' Monkey. 219 E. Sixth St. 476-5015.

The Cloak Room. 1300 Colorado St. 472-9808.

Club Carnaval. 2237 E. Riverside Drive. 444-6396.

Club De Ville. 900 Red River St. 457-0900.

Club Illusion. 2700 W. Pecan St., Pflugerville. 670-7411.

Club One 15. 115 San Jacinto Blvd. 472-4115.

Club Rodéo. 7601 N. Lamar Blvd. Suite A. 453-6615.

Club 21. On Texas 21 in Uhland. (512) 398-2901.

Cockpit. 113 San Jacinto Blvd. 457-8010.

The Common Interest. 8440 Burnet Road, No. 148. 453-6796.

The Continental Club. 1315 S. Congress Ave. 441-2444.

Cool River Cafe. 4001 Parmer Lane. 835-0010.

The Co-Op Bar. 400 E. Sixth St. 494-0639.

Copa. 217 Congress Ave. 479-5002.

Cork & Co. 308 Congress Ave. 474-2675.

Cotton Club. 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. (512) 859-0700.

Cowboys Nightclub. 1386 Texas 71 W., Cedar Creek. 332-2722.

Coyote Ugly Saloon. 501 E. Sixth St. 236-8459.

Crown & Anchor. 2911 San Jacinto Blvd. 322-9168.

Crú. 235 W. Second St. 472-9463.

Cuba Libre. 409 Colorado St. 472-2822.

Daddy's Grill & Bar. 218 E. Sixth St. 236-0778.

Dallas Nightclub. 7113 Burnet Road. 452-3456.

Dart Bowl. 5700 Grover Ave. 459-4181.

Darwin's Pub. 223 E. Sixth St. 474-7399.

Dave & Buster's. MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) at Research Boulevard. 346-8015.

Deep Eddy Cabaret. 2315 Lake Austin Blvd. 472-0961.

Desperado's. 9515 N. Lamar Blvd. 834-2640.

Dillingers. 127 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos. (512) 392-1111.

Dirty Dog Pub. 505 E. Sixth St. 236-9800.

The Dizzy Rooster. 306 E. Sixth St. 236-1667.

Doc's Motorworks Bar & Grill. 1123 S. Congress Ave. 448-9181.

The Dog & Duck Pub. 406 W. 17th St. 479-0598.

Doña Emilia's. 101 San Jacinto Blvd. 478-2520.

Donn's Depot. 1600 W. Fifth St. 478-0336.

The Draught House. 4112 Medical Parkway. 452-6258.

The Drink. 325 E. Sixth St. 236-0050.

Driskill Bar & Grill. 604 Brazos St. 391-7162.

Dry Creek Cafe and Boat Dock. 4812 Mount Bonnell Road. 453-9244.

Ed's Cucaracha. 406 E. Sixth St. 785-4960.

Ego's. 510 S. Congress Ave. 474-7091.

El Chile. 1809 Manor Road. 457-9900.

Element. 301 W. Fifth St. 480-9888.

Elephant Room. 315 Congress Ave. 473-2279.

El Sol y la Luna. 1224 S. Congress Ave. 444-7770.

Elysium. 705 Red River St. 478-2979.

Emo's. 603 Red River St. 477-3667.

Eternal. 418 E. Sixth St. 476-0000.

Evangeline Cafe. 8106 Brodie Lane. 282-2586.

Exodus. 304 E. Sixth St. 477-7523.

Exposé. 3615 S. Congress Ave. 447-5353.

Fabric. 101 W. Fifth St. 322-9333.

Fadó. 214 W. Fourth St. 457-0172.

Finn & Porter. 500 E. Fourth St. 493-4900.

Fino. 2905 San Gabriel St. 474-2905.

Firehouse Lounge. 605 Brazos St. 478-3473.

Flamingo Cantina. 515 E. Sixth St. 494-9336.

Flipnotics. 1601 Barton Springs Road. 480-8646.

The Foundation. 307 W. Fifth St. 472-4256.

Fox and Hound Smokehouse & Tavern. 401 Guadalupe St. 494-1200.

Freddie's Place. 1703 S. First St. 445-9197.

Friends Bar. 208 E. Sixth St. 320-8193.

Fuel. 607 Trinity St. 472-8557.

G&S Lounge. 2420 S. First St. 707-8702.

Giddy Ups. 12010 Manchaca Road. 280-4732.

The Ginger Man. 304 W. Fourth St. 473-8801.

Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon. 5434 Burnet Road. 458-1813.

Gino's Italian Grill. 703-A W. Stassney Lane. 326-4466.

Glass. 422 Congress Ave. 391-0500.

Graham Central Station. 1719 Grand Avenue Parkway, Round Rock. 252-0664.

Gruene Hall. 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels. (830) 606-1281.

Güero's Taco Bar. 1412 S. Congress Ave. 707-8232.

Hanover's. 108 E. Main St., Pflugerville. 670-9617.

Headhunters. 720 Red River St. 236-0188.

Hill's Cafe. 4700 S. Congress Ave., 851-9300.

Hi-Lo Bar. 301 W. Sixth St., 480-9433.

Hole in the Wall. 2538 Guadalupe St. 477-4747.

Horseshoe Lounge. 2034 S. Lamar Blvd. 442-9111.

Hotel San José. 1316 S. Congress Ave. 444-7322.

Houlihan's. 309 E. Third St. 474-5757.

Hula Hut. 3826 Lake Austin Blvd. 476-4852.

Iguana Grill. 2900 N. RM 620. 266-8439.

Iron Cactus. 606 Trinity St. 472-9240.

J's Bistro and Piano Bar. 202 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos. (512) 392-3031.

The Jackalope. 404 E. Sixth St. 472-3663.

Joe's Bar & Grill. 506 West Ave. 473-0885.

Jovita's. 1619 S. First St. 447-7825.

Joy of Austin. 3105 S. Interstate 35. 218-8012.

Karma. 119 W. Eighth St. 469-0504.

Kenichi. 419 Colorado St. 320-8883.

Key Bar. 617 W. Sixth St. 236-9389.

La Bare. 110 E. Riverside Drive. 586-2273.

La-La's Little Nugget. 2207 Justin Lane. 453-2521.

The Landing Strip. 745 S. Bastrop Highway. 385-2878.

La Palapa. 6640 E. U.S. 290. 459-8729.

Latitude 30. 512 San Jacinto Blvd. 472-3335.

Lavaca Street Bar. 405 Lavaca St. 469-0106.

La Zona Rosa. 612 W. Fourth St. 472-2293.

The Library. 407 E. Sixth St. 236-0662.

Light Bar. 408 Congress Ave. 473-8544.

Little Woodrow's. 520 W. Sixth St. 477-2337.

Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons. 98 San Jacinto Blvd. 685-8150.

Logan's. 200 E. Sixth St. 236-0300.

Longbranch Inn. 1133 E. 11th St. 472-5477.

Lovejoy's. 604 Neches St. 477-1268.

Lucky Lounge. 209 W. Fifth St. 479-7700.

Lucy's on the Square. 141 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos. (512) 558-7399.

Maggie Mae's. 323 E. Sixth St. 478-8541.

Malaga. 208 W. Fourth St. 236-8020.

Manuel's. 310 Congress Ave. 472-7555.

Mars. 1610 San Antonio St. 472-3901.

McCormick & Schmick's. 401 Congress Ave. 236-9600.

Mean-Eyed Cat. 1621 W. Fifth St. 472-6326.

Midnight Rodeo. 2201 E. Ben White Blvd. 443-2623.

Molotov. 719 W. Sixth St. 499-0600.

Momo's. 618 W. Sixth St. 479-8848.

Moonshine. 303 Red River St. 236-9599.

Mooseknuckle. 406 E. Sixth St.

Mother Egan's Irish Pub. 715 W. Sixth St. 478-7747.

MugShots. 407 E. Seventh St. 236-0008.

Nasty's Bar. 606 Maiden Lane. 453-4349.

Nat's Pub. 1310 RM 620 S., Lakeway. 263-2855.

Nephew's. 100 N. Guadalupe St., San Marcos. (512) 558-2337.

1900 Lounge. 1900 Rio Grande St. 495-1800.

North By Northwest. 10010 N. Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360). 467-6969.

Nuno's. 422 E. Sixth St., 833-5133.

Nutty Brown Cafe & Amphitheatre. 12225 U.S. 290 W. 301-4648.

Nuevo León. 1501 E. Sixth St. 479-0097.

The Oaks. 10206 FM 973 N. 278-8788.

Oilcan Harry's. 211 W. Fourth St. 320-8823.

Old Coupland Dance Hall. 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. (512) 856-2226.

One 2 One Bar. 121 E. Fifth St. 473-0121.

Opal Divine's Freehouse. 700 W. Sixth St. 477-3308.

Opal Divine's Penn Field. 3601 S. Congress Ave. 707-0237.

Paggi House. 200 Lee Barton Drive. 499-8835.

Palazio. 501 E. Ben White Blvd. 445-6655.

Paradox. 311 E. Fifth St. 469-7615.

Pardner's Night Club. 1100 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. 244-1204.

The Parish. 214 E. Sixth St. 478-6372.

The Parlor. 100-B E. North Loop Blvd. 454-8965.

Peacock Bar. 515 Pedernales St. 276-8979.

Pete's Dueling Piano Bar. 421 E. Sixth St. 472-7383.

Plush. 617 Red River St. 478-0099.

Poodie's Hilltop Bar & Grill. 22308 Texas 71 W. (512) 264-0318.

The Poodle Dog Lounge. 6507 Burnet Road. 465-9468.

R-Bar. 409 E. Sixth St. 343-9600.

Rain. 217 W. Fourth St. 494-1150.

Rainbow Cattle Co. 305 W. Fifth St. 472-5288.

Red Eyed Fly. 715 Red River St. 474-1084.

The Red Fez. 209 W. Fifth St. 478-5120.

Redrum. 401 Sabine St. 275-6575.

Red's Scoot Inn. 1308 E. Fourth St. 320-0004.

Red 7. 611 E. Seventh St. 476-8100.

Reed's Jazz & Supper Club. 9901 N. Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360). 342-7977.

Rhinos 'N Jocks. 2120 N. Mays St., Round Rock. 246-9444.

Ringers Sports Lounge. 415 Colorado St. 495-1558.

Ritz Lounge. 320 E. Sixth St. 474-2270.

Roaring Fork. 701 Congress Ave. 583-0000.

Romeo's. 1500 Barton Springs Road. 476-1090.

Room 710. 710 Red River St. 476-0997.

Ropers. 2113 Wells Branch Parkway. 990-5991.

Ross' Old Austin Cafe. 11800 N. Lamar Blvd. 835-2414.

Ruta Maya International Headquarters. 3601 S. Congress Ave. 707-9637.

Saba Blue Water Cafe. 208-D W. Fourth St. 478-7222.

Sam's Town Point. 2115 Allred Drive. 282-0083.

San Marcos River Pub & Grill. 701 Cheatham St., San Marcos. (512) 353-3747.

Saxon Pub. 1320 S. Lamar Blvd. 448-2552.

Scholz Garten. 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. 474-1958.

Shady Grove. 1624 Barton Springs Road. 474-991.

Shakespeare's Pub. 314 E. Sixth St. 472-1666.

Sherlock's Baker Street Public House & Grill. 9012 Research Blvd. 380-9443.

Shoal Creek Saloon. 909 N. Lamar Blvd. 474-0805.

Side Bar. 602 E. Seventh St. 322-0697.

Six. 117 W. Fourth St. 472-6662.

Ski Shores Waterfront Cafe. 2905 Pearce Road. 346-5915.

Sky & Vue Lounge. 416 Congress Ave. 477-3151.

Snuffy's Bar & Grill. 204 U.S. 79 W., Hutto. 759-1975.

Soho Lounge. 217 E. Sixth St. 236-1705.

South 40. 629 W. Ben White Blvd. 444-9329.

Speakeasy. 412 Congress Ave. 476-8086.

Spill. 212 E. Sixth St. 320-8005.

Spiro's. 611 Red River St. 472-4272.

Spokes. 635 Texas 29 W., Burnet. (512) 756-4100.

Star Bar. 600 W. Sixth St. 477-8550.

The Stardust Club. 11940 Manchaca Road, Suite 104. 280-8590.

Starlight at the Oasis. 6550 Comanche Trail. 266-2441.

Starlite. 407 Colorado St. 374-9012.

Stephen F's Bar & Terrace. 701 Congress Ave. 457-8800.

Stubb's. 801 Red River St. 480-8341.

Sugar's Uptown Cabaret. 404 Highland Mall Blvd. 451-1711.

Sullivan's Steakhouse. 300 Colorado St. 474-1870.

Tambaleo. 302 Bowie St. 472-3213.

The Tap Room. 129 E. Hopkins St., Suite 120, San Marcos. (512) 392-9824.

The Tavern. 12th Street and Lamar Boulevard. 320-8377.

T.C.'s Lounge. 1413 Webberville Road. 926-2200.

Texas Chili Parlor. 1409 Lavaca St. 472-2828.

Texas Showdown Saloon. 2610 Guadalupe St. 472-2010.

Threadgill's World Headquarters. 301 W. Riverside Drive. 472-9304.

300 Austin. 9504 N. Interstate 35. 834-7733.

311 Club. 311 E. Sixth St. 477-1630.

Touché. 417 E. Sixth St. 472-9841.

Treasure Island. 413 E. Sixth St. 476-4466.

Triple Crown. 206 N. Edward Gary, San Marcos. (512) 396-2236.

Trophy's. 2008 S. Congress Ave. 447-0969.

Troubadour Saloon. 503 E. Sixth St. 499-0350.

Trudy's Texas Star. 409 W. 30th St. 477-2935.

Truluck's. 10225 Research Blvd. 794-8300. Also at 400 Colorado St. 482-9000.

219 West. 219 W. Fourth St. 474-2194.

Vin Bistro. 1601 W. 38th St. 377-5252.

The V Lounge at Eddie V's Edgewater Grille. 301 E. Fifth St. 472-1860. Also at 9400 Arboretum Blvd. 342-2642.

The Velvet Spade. 912 Red River St. 482-8404.

The Vibe. 508 E. Sixth St. 474-0632.

Vicci. 404 Colorado St. 476-7799.

Victory Grill. 1104 E. 11th St. 391-0174.

Vivo Cocina Texicana. 2015 Manor Road. 482-0300.

Warehouse Saloon & Billiards. 509 E. Ben White Blvd. 443-8799.

Waterloo Icehouse South. 600 N. Lamar Blvd. 472-5400.

The Water Tank Bar & Grill. 7309 McNeil Road. 331-9831.

Whisky Bar. 303 W. Fifth St. 481-8599.

Whole Foods. 525 N. Lamar Blvd. 476-1206.

Wink Wine Bar. 1014 N. Lamar Blvd. 482-8868.

XTC Cabaret. 3501 Andtree Blvd. 929-3558.

Y Bar and Grill. 7720 Texas 71 W. 394-0220.

The Yellow Rose. 6528 N. Lamar Blvd. 458-2106.

Zax Pints & Plates. 312 Barton Springs Road. 481-0100.

Zero Degrees. 405 E. Seventh St. 474-5514.

Zocalo. 2003 E. Riverside Drive. 445-6888.

Z'Tejas. 1110 W. Sixth St. 478-5355.

BEER BARS
B.B. Rovers
B.D. Riley's
Crown & Anchor
The Dog & Duck Pub
The Draught House
The Ginger Man
Lovejoy's
North By Northwest
Opal Divine's Freehouse
Opal Divine's Penn Field
The Tap Room

LOUNGES
Apple Bar
Beauty Bar
Brown Bar
Club DeVille
Cuba Libre
Driskill Bar & Grill
Firehouse Lounge
The Foundation
Glass
Hi-Lo Bar
Karma
Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons
Lucky Lounge
Molotov
Peacock Bar
Red Fez
Sky & Vue Lounge
Speakeasy
Stephen F's Bar & Terrace
219 West

SPORTS BARS
Aussie's Volleybar & Grill
Buffalo Billiards
Daddy's Grill & Bar
Dirty Dog Pub
Doc's Motorworks Bar & Grill
Fox and Hound Smokehouse & Tavern
Gino's Italian Grill
Little Woodrow's
Rhinos 'N Jocks
Ringers Sports Lounge
Shoal Creek Saloon
Spokes
The Tavern
Warehouse Saloon & Billiards
Y Bar and Grill

GAY BARS
'Bout Time
Chain Drive
Charlie's
Cockpit
Fabric
Oilcan Harry's
Rain
Rainbow Cattle Co.

DANCE CLUBS
Agave
Barcelona
Boomerz
Bourbon Rocks
Broken Spoke
Chain Drive
Charlie's
Chrome
Club Carnaval
Club Illusion
Club Rodéo
Club 21
Cockpit
Copa
Cotton Club
Dallas Niteclub
Desperado's
Element
Elysium
Eternal
Exodus
Fabric
Friends Bar
Fuel
Graham Central Station
Gruene Hall
Hanover's
Karma
Latitude 30
Light Bar
Midnight Rodeo
Oilcan Harry's
Old Coupland Dance Hall
Paradox
Pardner's Night Club
Plush
Rain
Rainbow Cattle Co.
Red 7
Ropers
Sky & Vue Lounge
Soho Lounge
South 40
Spill
Spiro's
Vicci
Zero Degrees
Zocalo

LIVE MUSIC CLUBS
Alice's Restaurant
Alligator Grill
Antone's
B.B. Rovers
B.D. Riley's
Beerland
Boomerz
Broken Spoke
Cactus Cafe
Cafe Mundi
Carousel Lounge
Cedar Street Courtyard
Cheatham Street Warehouse
Chuggin' Monkey
Club One 15
Club 21
The Continental Club
Cotton Club
Dirty Dog Pub
Donn's Depot
Ego's
Elephant Room
Emo's
Flamingo Cantina
Flipnotics
Giddy Ups
Graham Central Station
Gruene Hall
Hanover's
Headhunters
Hole in the Wall
Jovita's
La Zona Rosa
Longbranch Inn
Lucky Lounge
Lucy's on the Square
Maggie Mae's
Momo's
North By Northwest
Nuno's
Nutty Brown Cafe & Amphitheatre
The Oaks
Old Coupland Dance Hall
Pardner's Night Club
The Parish
The Parlor
Poodie's Hilltop Bar & Grill
Red Eyed Fly
Redrum
Ritz Lounge
Room 710
Ruta Maya International Headquarters
San Marcos River Pub & Grill
Shady Grove
Starlight at the Oasis
Stubb's
T.C.'s Lounge
Threadgill's World Headquarters
311 Club
Triple Crown
Trophy's
Troubadour Saloon
The Velvet Spade