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An outdoor beer garden with a building in the background that reads “Beer Hall.”
The beer garden at Central Machine Works.
Central Machine Works

21 Excellent Beer Gardens in Austin

Where to drink beer in its natural habitat

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The beer garden at Central Machine Works.
| Central Machine Works

With fall attempting to creep its way back into Austin, it’s the perfect time of year to sip a beer and clank steins together with friends in a proper beer garden.

While there are a handful of authentic beer gardens in the city, like the historic Scholz Garten and Draught House Pub, there are also plenty of amazing patios that essentially double as beer gardens as well, like Radio Coffee & Beer. Then there are other beer gardens offering a great range of food to go alongside those beers, like pizza at ABGB and kolaches and klobasniky at Batch. Finally, there are breweries with great outdoor spaces like Austin Beerworks, Live Oak Brewing Company, and Meanwhile Brewing, among many others.

For more beer needs, check out Austin’s best beer bars and Austin-area breweries and taprooms.

With updates by Nadia Chaudhury.

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Austin Beerworks

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The popular brewery just north of 183 offers a relaxed interior and a bustling patio, which is thankfully covered. Pick a pint or grab a flight of the usual suspects or order a seasonal beer from the wall. Plus the brewery runs its own food truck with an American/Tex-Mex menu.

Easy Tiger

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Although the iconic downtown Easy Tiger closed during the pandemic, there are now three locations of the Austin bread-and-beer staple around town. Head north for a traditional biergarten vibe, east for a spacious backyard, or south for an indoor-outdoor double-story patio. Don’t skip the beer cheese or enormous pretzels. 

The Brewtorium

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This mom-and-pop brewpub is nestled in the Highland area with a huge indoor warehouse space and a cozy biergarten tucked away out in the back. Pick a flight of brews ranging from lagers to coconut milk stouts and sample from an inventive menu featuring snacks like soft pretzels and bratchos (kettle-cooked potato chips topped with crumbled bratwurst, house beer cheese, cheddar cheese, and more), as well as large sandwiches and salads. 

Draught House Pub & Brewery

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This over-50-year-old institution has more than 70 beers on tap and a very laid-back patio. It’s perfect.

Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches

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While not a traditional beer garden per se, this small retail shop offers huge outdoor spaces and a great beer selection to pair with kolaches and klobasniky.

Sour Duck Market

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The patio at the Central East Austin bakery/restaurant/bar is jam-packed with families and beer drinkers alike.

A restaurant outdoor patio.
Sour Duck’s outdoor space.
Courtney Pierce/Eater Austin

Scholz Garten

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Scholz Garten, one of the oldest operating businesses in Texas — at over 150 years old, is one of the most iconic beer gardens in the state. Head to any of the establishment’s lively events, or grab a mug of brew and a giant pretzel and soak up the history.

Hold Out Brewing

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From the good folks behind Little Brother, Brew & Brew, and Better Half (which is literally next door), the Clarksville-adjacent brewery has quite the pedigree. Cozy up on a big picnic table outside and enjoy a variety of wild IPAs and craft beers available in taster to crowler-sized barware. Pro tip: Don’t skip one of the excellent burgers or the chana masala frito pie. 

Saddle Up

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The gathering spot from the Micklethwait Craft Meats team, which is conveniently located here as well, Saddle Up is tucked away in an old Rosewood bungalow and is reminiscent of Texas ice houses of a bygone era. The all-day hangout spot is home to the barbecue truck, and it also sells baked goods, natural wine, and other goodies made to be enjoyed out in its huge shaded beer garden. 

Lazarus Brewing Co.

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This East Sixth Street brewery is serving up beer, tacos, and coffee starting very early mornings on weekdays. With 16 taps of its own beers and rotating seasonals and a barrel-aging program, there’s bound to be something for everyone here. And, for good reason too — you can only sip the beer on-site since they don’t have distribution anywhere else. Grab a taco and head out back to the expansive pergola-covered kid and dog-friendly patio. There’s a second location up in North Loop.

Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden

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The all-day Rainey Street restaurant and bar stays buzzing from brunch to dinner and beyond. Non-beer drinkers can imbibe in the full bottle of champagne with a touch of orange juice, plus sausages, while those who love the hops will enjoy 200+ beers on tap.

Koko’s Bavarian

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Not every biergarten in Austin can claim to be owned by an actual Bavarian prince, but this Govalle restaurant can. In the former Brewer’s Table location in Govalle, this brew hotspot is co-owned by Konstantin Prinz von Bayern (née Konstantin Eugen Alexander Max-Emanuel Maria Ludwig Ferdinand Leopold, although he goes by the nickname Koko), whose fifth-great grandfather, King Ludwig I, held the first Oktoberfest in 1810, so he understandably knows a thing or two about beer. Fare ranges from classic Bavarian grub (think schnitzels) to sausages like rabbit-rattlesnake, along with German-style beers. 

A beer garden.
Koko’s Bavarian’s beer garden.
Mackenzie Smith Kelley

Central Machine Works

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This popular microbrewery in the heart of East Cesar Chavez is housed in an old 1940s converted machine shop (hence the name) and offers plenty of room to roam in its spacious outdoor area. Inside, the beer hall is all concrete in its warehouse space with plush, cushy brown leather sofas to sink into while you sip their suds. If beer’s not your thing, there are also wines and cocktails, while the usual pub fare of pizzas, burgers, and sausages are on the menu. 

The ABGB

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With a giant indoor warehouse space (which doubles as a live music venue), an inviting outdoor patio, and delicious pizza, this South Austin brewpub is great for families.

An indoor beer garden
The ABGB.
The ABGB

Radio Coffee & Beer

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Whether sipping coffee during the morning or enjoying a cold beer at night, Radio offers a relaxed environment and the delectable Veracruz All Natural, Dee Dee, and Briscuits 512 food trucks.

Jester King Brewery

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Located on 165+ acres of farmland outside of Austin, Jester King is the quintessential outdoor beer locale for those who love sour, weird, and farmhouse ales, plus animals (goats to cats to a rabbit). Farm tours are available too. Do not skip the pizza.

Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden

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Much like Radio, this South Austin coffee shop doubles as an animated beer destination by night in its lush permaculture garden. Bonus: new-school barbecue trailer LeRoy & Lewis and taco truck Pueblo Viejo are parked there too.

A beer garden.
Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden.
Julia Keim

Live Oak Brewing Company

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To get away from it all, head out to Del Valle and hang out under lush oak trees with buds while sampling from the longtime brewery’s beers on tap.

St. Elmo Brewing Company

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This award-winning brewery is nestled into the same plaza as distillery Still Whiskey and Austin Winery, so you could spend all afternoon sampling all sorts of tipples. But, plant yourself firmly in this biergarten for good people- and dog-watching, or head inside to enjoy the sports on the big screen. Sip a Carl Kolsch while munching on grub from trailer Spicy Boys Chicken, which also has great roti and curry.

Meanwhile Brewing

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Beer-drinking parents will love this spread-out biergarten complete with tons of playscape action for the kids, and stomachs will deeply appreciate the wealth of tasty food trucks at their disposal, such as taco fave Pueblo Viejo, ice cream Bésame, pizza truck Dough Boys, and one of Eater Austin’s best food truck of 2021 modern African American barbecue Distant Relatives. More than a dozen beers, from pilsner to imperial stout, round out the taproom menu. Bonus: There’s also a soccer field. 

South Austin Beer Garden

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The far south Austin beer garden (not to be confused with ABGB) offers plenty of outdoor space to enjoy any of the 60 draft beers, lawn games, and fire pits for those chilly nights.

Austin Beerworks

The popular brewery just north of 183 offers a relaxed interior and a bustling patio, which is thankfully covered. Pick a pint or grab a flight of the usual suspects or order a seasonal beer from the wall. Plus the brewery runs its own food truck with an American/Tex-Mex menu.

Easy Tiger

Although the iconic downtown Easy Tiger closed during the pandemic, there are now three locations of the Austin bread-and-beer staple around town. Head north for a traditional biergarten vibe, east for a spacious backyard, or south for an indoor-outdoor double-story patio. Don’t skip the beer cheese or enormous pretzels. 

The Brewtorium

This mom-and-pop brewpub is nestled in the Highland area with a huge indoor warehouse space and a cozy biergarten tucked away out in the back. Pick a flight of brews ranging from lagers to coconut milk stouts and sample from an inventive menu featuring snacks like soft pretzels and bratchos (kettle-cooked potato chips topped with crumbled bratwurst, house beer cheese, cheddar cheese, and more), as well as large sandwiches and salads. 

Draught House Pub & Brewery

This over-50-year-old institution has more than 70 beers on tap and a very laid-back patio. It’s perfect.

Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches

While not a traditional beer garden per se, this small retail shop offers huge outdoor spaces and a great beer selection to pair with kolaches and klobasniky.

Sour Duck Market

The patio at the Central East Austin bakery/restaurant/bar is jam-packed with families and beer drinkers alike.

A restaurant outdoor patio.
Sour Duck’s outdoor space.
Courtney Pierce/Eater Austin

Scholz Garten

Scholz Garten, one of the oldest operating businesses in Texas — at over 150 years old, is one of the most iconic beer gardens in the state. Head to any of the establishment’s lively events, or grab a mug of brew and a giant pretzel and soak up the history.

Hold Out Brewing

From the good folks behind Little Brother, Brew & Brew, and Better Half (which is literally next door), the Clarksville-adjacent brewery has quite the pedigree. Cozy up on a big picnic table outside and enjoy a variety of wild IPAs and craft beers available in taster to crowler-sized barware. Pro tip: Don’t skip one of the excellent burgers or the chana masala frito pie. 

Saddle Up

The gathering spot from the Micklethwait Craft Meats team, which is conveniently located here as well, Saddle Up is tucked away in an old Rosewood bungalow and is reminiscent of Texas ice houses of a bygone era. The all-day hangout spot is home to the barbecue truck, and it also sells baked goods, natural wine, and other goodies made to be enjoyed out in its huge shaded beer garden. 

Lazarus Brewing Co.

This East Sixth Street brewery is serving up beer, tacos, and coffee starting very early mornings on weekdays. With 16 taps of its own beers and rotating seasonals and a barrel-aging program, there’s bound to be something for everyone here. And, for good reason too — you can only sip the beer on-site since they don’t have distribution anywhere else. Grab a taco and head out back to the expansive pergola-covered kid and dog-friendly patio. There’s a second location up in North Loop.

Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden

The all-day Rainey Street restaurant and bar stays buzzing from brunch to dinner and beyond. Non-beer drinkers can imbibe in the full bottle of champagne with a touch of orange juice, plus sausages, while those who love the hops will enjoy 200+ beers on tap.

Koko’s Bavarian

Not every biergarten in Austin can claim to be owned by an actual Bavarian prince, but this Govalle restaurant can. In the former Brewer’s Table location in Govalle, this brew hotspot is co-owned by Konstantin Prinz von Bayern (née Konstantin Eugen Alexander Max-Emanuel Maria Ludwig Ferdinand Leopold, although he goes by the nickname Koko), whose fifth-great grandfather, King Ludwig I, held the first Oktoberfest in 1810, so he understandably knows a thing or two about beer. Fare ranges from classic Bavarian grub (think schnitzels) to sausages like rabbit-rattlesnake, along with German-style beers. 

A beer garden.
Koko’s Bavarian’s beer garden.
Mackenzie Smith Kelley

Central Machine Works

This popular microbrewery in the heart of East Cesar Chavez is housed in an old 1940s converted machine shop (hence the name) and offers plenty of room to roam in its spacious outdoor area. Inside, the beer hall is all concrete in its warehouse space with plush, cushy brown leather sofas to sink into while you sip their suds. If beer’s not your thing, there are also wines and cocktails, while the usual pub fare of pizzas, burgers, and sausages are on the menu. 

The ABGB

With a giant indoor warehouse space (which doubles as a live music venue), an inviting outdoor patio, and delicious pizza, this South Austin brewpub is great for families.

An indoor beer garden
The ABGB.
The ABGB

Radio Coffee & Beer

Whether sipping coffee during the morning or enjoying a cold beer at night, Radio offers a relaxed environment and the delectable Veracruz All Natural, Dee Dee, and Briscuits 512 food trucks.

Related Maps

Jester King Brewery

Located on 165+ acres of farmland outside of Austin, Jester King is the quintessential outdoor beer locale for those who love sour, weird, and farmhouse ales, plus animals (goats to cats to a rabbit). Farm tours are available too. Do not skip the pizza.

Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden

Much like Radio, this South Austin coffee shop doubles as an animated beer destination by night in its lush permaculture garden. Bonus: new-school barbecue trailer LeRoy & Lewis and taco truck Pueblo Viejo are parked there too.

A beer garden.
Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden.
Julia Keim

Live Oak Brewing Company

To get away from it all, head out to Del Valle and hang out under lush oak trees with buds while sampling from the longtime brewery’s beers on tap.

St. Elmo Brewing Company

This award-winning brewery is nestled into the same plaza as distillery Still Whiskey and Austin Winery, so you could spend all afternoon sampling all sorts of tipples. But, plant yourself firmly in this biergarten for good people- and dog-watching, or head inside to enjoy the sports on the big screen. Sip a Carl Kolsch while munching on grub from trailer Spicy Boys Chicken, which also has great roti and curry.

Meanwhile Brewing

Beer-drinking parents will love this spread-out biergarten complete with tons of playscape action for the kids, and stomachs will deeply appreciate the wealth of tasty food trucks at their disposal, such as taco fave Pueblo Viejo, ice cream Bésame, pizza truck Dough Boys, and one of Eater Austin’s best food truck of 2021 modern African American barbecue Distant Relatives. More than a dozen beers, from pilsner to imperial stout, round out the taproom menu. Bonus: There’s also a soccer field. 

South Austin Beer Garden

The far south Austin beer garden (not to be confused with ABGB) offers plenty of outdoor space to enjoy any of the 60 draft beers, lawn games, and fire pits for those chilly nights.

Related Maps