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Adrienne Breaux

38 Essential Austin Patios Near SXSW

Now is the best time to people-watch.

by Nadia Chaudhury
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| Adrienne Breaux
by Nadia Chaudhury
1 comment / new

Outdoor eating and drinking is where Austin excels. With everyone in town for SXSW, it’s time to dine and drink in the sunshine and fresh air while people-watching.

Here is your comprehensive guide to the best places to eat and drink outside near the festival grounds. Brace, the closer these are to the festival, the more likely they are to be frequently bought out for private events. But don't worry, there are always more patios out in the city.

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Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

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With patio right in the name, the Red River bar and restaurant offers big platters, burgers, sandwiches washed down with all sorts of drinks.

303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 236-9599
(512) 236-9599

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Micheladas Cafe y Cantina

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Drink the namesake cocktail with your dog in tow in the downtown Tex Mex restaurant’s rooftop patio.

333 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 320-0300
(512) 320-0300

Easy Tiger

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The massive beer garden overlooking Waller Creek has everything a person could need: ping pong, pretzels, beer. [Photo: Easy Tiger/Facebook]

709 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
(512) 614-4972

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The Container Bar

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Bridget Dunlap’s stacked shipping container bar offers plenty of outdoor space, including a large courtyard for drinks.

90 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-4120
(512) 494-4120

TRIO

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The back lawn at Trio offers straight-on views of the Colorado River.

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 685-8300
(512) 685-8300

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HandleBar

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The outdoor deck at the East Fifth Street bar is optimal for people-watching down below, plus there’s Jenga and a photobooth.

121 E. 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 344-9571
(512) 344-9571

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Chavez

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Sip on smoked cherry margaritas while dining poolside at the Radisson Hotel restaurant overlooking Lady Bird Lake.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-2991
(512) 478-2991

Corner

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Just in time for SXSW, the JW Marriott’s Corner restaurant boasts a wraparound patio plus outdoor bar.

110 E. Second St., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 608-4488
(512) 608-4488

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Parkside

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Dine on oysters and calamari while looking down at the crowds of drunk people on Dirty Sixth. [Photo: Parkside/Facebook]

301 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-9898
(512) 474-9898

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Hangar Lounge

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The airport-themed bar has an open rooftop deck with a beautiful downtown view.

318 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-4264
(512) 474-4264

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Half Step

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The craft cocktail bar includes an outdoor bar and big backyard. As the sign says, “you’ve earned it.”

75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 391-1877
(512) 391-1877

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Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden

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The beer garden’s brand new covered porch is ready just in time for the SXSW crowds. [Photo: Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden/Facebook]

81 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 386-1656
(512) 386-1656

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G'Raj Mahal Cafe

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Colorful al fresco dining at the Indian restaurant is breezy with Indian appetizers and curries with multiple patio spaces.

73 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 480-2255
(512) 480-2255

Craft Pride

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Residing on the corner of Rainey Street means there’s more room to drink some of the many beers on tap, plus there’s Via 313. [Photo: Craft Pride/Facebook]

61 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 826-1238
(512) 826-1238

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Shangri-La

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Another East Side enclave, the dive bar’s back patio is super dog friendly. And hey, Bill Murray worked the bar during SXSW once so maybe you’ll get lucky. [Photo: Shangri La/Facebook]

1016 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-4291
(512) 524-4291

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East Side Showroom

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The prohibition-style gastropub features a small but nice patio. [Photo: East Side Showroom/Facebook]

1100 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 467-4280
(512) 467-4280

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Wonderland Austin

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Find kegged cocktails and outdoor space in the front and back at the bar from the Bar Congress team, with the Chaat Shop trailer too. [Photo: Mike T./Yelp]

1104 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Bonneville

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The Bonneville's small patio is perfect to watch passersby on the Congress Avenue Bridge. [Photo: The Bonneville/Facebook]

202 Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 428-4643
(512) 428-4643

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Trace

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Grab a bite and drink at the restaurant tucked on the side of the W Hotel on Lavaca Street.

200 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 542-3660
(512) 542-3660

Gourdough's Public House

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The second brick and mortar location of the novelty doughnut shop features an outdoor space out front complete with one of their iconic trailers.

209 W 5th St Ste B, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 588-5222
(512) 588-5222

Lambert's Downtown BBQ

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Eating barbecue outside in the middle of downtown is possible at Lambert’s patio space. [Photo: Jessica C./Yelp]

401 West 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-1500
(512) 494-1500

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La Condesa

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Street-level patio eating and drinking right on West Second Street makes people-watching easier.

400 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 499-0300
(512) 499-0300

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Violet Crown Social Club

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A good night means cheap drinks, including that frozen creamsicle of a cocktail the Iron Whip, plus Via 313 pizza. You're welcome. [Photo: Eric T./Yelp]

1111 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 614-4461
(512) 614-4461

Kyoten

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The sushi trailer features a perfectly landscaped oasis in the midst of East Sixth Street.

1211 East 6th., Austin, TX 78702
(512) 888-7559
(512) 888-7559

The Hightower

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The large and shady patio space is perfect for all the frozen caipirinhas.

1209 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Licha's Cantina

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There’s Mexico City cantina food, lots of agave spirits, and front- and backyard dining. [Photo: Licha’s Cantina/Facebook]

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 619-0993
(512) 619-0993

The Silo On 7th

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Rooftop dining and drinking is possible in the East Side at Silo on the 7th, where the happy hour lasts from 3-7 p.m. [Photo: The Silo on 7th/Facebook]

1300 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-0866
(512) 524-0866

Takoba

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The cantina’s patio is a good spot on the East Side to drink margaritas and pisco sours outside.

1411 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 628-4466
(512) 628-4466

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La V

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Though small, the outdoor patio of the decadent restaurant is just as nice. [Photo: LaV/Facebook]

1501 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 293-6048
(512) 293-6048

QUI Restaurant

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Save the tasting room for a less frenzied occasion and go with the pulatan menu with Filipino small plates out in the open air patio.

1600 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 436-9626
(512) 436-9626

Blue Dahlia Bistro

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The cafe’s pretty patio features lots of greenery and tables.

1115 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 542-9542
(512) 542-9542

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The Liberty

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The backyard of the dive bar is great for beers, simple house cocktails, and food from East Side King. [Photo: Kim N./Yelp]

1618 1/2 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 600-4791
(512) 600-4791

The Grackle

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Grackle is home to a covered front patio and Red Star Southern’s delicious East Coast southern food. [Photo: The Grackle/Facebook]

1700 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-0133
(512) 524-0133

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Tamale House East

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For SXSW, the back patio of the Tamale House will be turned into Bar Frida, a pop-up bar, serving punch cocktails and a special bar menu. [Photo: Tamale House East/Facebook]

1707 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 495-9504
(512) 495-9504

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Yellow Jacket Social Club

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It’s all there at Yellow Jacket Social Club: friendly bartenders, incredible outdoor space, and great Bloody Marys.

1700 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-9572
(512) 480-9572

Whisler's

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The trek out to Whisler’s is worth it for their large al fresco space with an outdoor bar to boot, with handcrafted cocktails and the Thai-Kun trailer in the back.

1816 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-0781
(512) 480-0781

Weather Up

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Feel fancy with outdoor table service on wrought iron patio tables with superb cocktails.

1808 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702