Pokémon Go Takes Over Austin Restaurants and Bars

Pokémon mania is taking over the country with the release of the new augmented reality addiction, Pokémon Go. The mobile game uses the smartphone’s camera and GPS to encourage encourage people seek out the fantastical creatures in the real world, which includes homes, parks, and, of course, restaurants and bars.

There are special locations where users can get Pokéballs (how else do you catch a Pokémon?) and eggs (to birth new Pokémon); there are also locations acting as gyms to battle other players called PokéStops. Those spots were determined through Ingress, a previous game from parent company Niantic, using attractions and other points of interest to create the sites.

Someone already started a list of Austin restaurants and bars acting as PokéStops over on Reddit, and there’s also an extensive user-generated map of various gyms and PokéStops. These include Moontower Saloon, Alamo Drafthouse at Slaughter, Barflys, Tacodeli, and others. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any PokéStops to be found in central Austin, which includes downtown and South Austin. Update, July 13: The PokéStop deserts have been cleared and now gyms and the such can be found in Central Austin.

There are even meet-ups and parties for Pokémon Go players, including one at Torchy's Tacos on Burnet on Friday, July 15, and trainer happy hour at Craftsman on Wednesday, July 13.

Spun Ice Cream co-owner Ashley Cheng told Eater that a customer stopped by over the weekend and yelled, "I just caught a Pikachu in your shop!" and the manager was confused. Chi’lantro owner Jae Kim, whose restaurants on South Lamar and Burnet have plentiful Pokémon outside, had to tell his staff to not play the game during work hours.

Black Star Co-op was turned into a poké gym! Come battle and enjoy a beer. + avenge me, beat this Jolteon. #Pokemon pic.twitter.com/KK1ziM7Ju2

— Black Star Co-op (@blackstarcoop) July 11, 2016

@wheatsville Check your salad bar I think you have a Pokémon infestation. pic.twitter.com/7DmEpoF4aB

— Nerd Jokes (@nerdjoke) July 12, 2016

Our co-founder, Lorenzo Perkins, helping a customer capture a pokemon. #pokemongo #fleetcoffee #eastaustincoffee #branding #coffee #nerdalert by @proegler

A photo posted by Fleet Coffee (@fleetcoffeeco) on Jul 12, 2016 at 3:19pm PDT

So we don't understand this internet thing too well, but sumtin' sumtin' we are now a Pokeman Gym? Come do beers and catch them? Are we doing this right? What is life? #ATX #Austin #Texas #BuzzMill #PokemonGo

A photo posted by buzzmillcoffee (@buzzmillcoffee) on Jul 12, 2016 at 5:03pm PDT

Have any other Pokémon Go-related stories or even funny screencaps of the creatures in Austin restaurants and bars? Hit up the comments or send an email through the tipline.

• How Restaurants Are Dealing With Pokémon Go Mania
• Can we make a list of all bars that are PokeStops/Gyms? [Reddit]
• Pokémon GO Austin [Google]
• Pokémon Go, explained