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22 Essential Austin Patios Near SXSW

Settle in for the very best people-watching at SXSW with food and drink at hand, from rooftop cocktails to beers in the shade

by Thea Newell Updated
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Easy Tiger
| Easy Tiger [Official]
by Thea Newell Updated

March in Austin was made for outdoor eating and drinking. The city is teeming with all sorts of patios to fit South by Southwest (SXSW) needs, from front-and-center places to see and be seen to little gems where you can hide away. Now is the time to take advantage of the city’s best patios near SXSW for excellent people-watching and celebrity-sighting.

Find rooftop views at Line Austin Hotel lounge P6. Embrace the shade at Tamale House East. Grab a quick drink while still staying in the whirling chaos at a place like Craft Pride. Check out low-key drinking holes like Violet Crown Social Club or stylish (albeit pricier) spots boasting creative cocktails and memorable meals like La Condesa.

Be warned and check ahead: these restaurants and bars might closed for private events and parties during SXSW.

For more dining and drinking ideas, check out the rest of Eater’s SXSW coverage. Then there are more patios, from essential ones to hot new ones.

With updates by Nadia Chaudhury.

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Parkside

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Dine on oysters and calamari while looking down from the New American restaurant rooftop at the swelling crowds on Dirty Sixth.

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

Also featured in:

HandleBar

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The outdoor deck at the downtown 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

Also featured in:

Easy Tiger

Copy Link

The massive beer garden overlooking Waller Creek has everything a person could need: ping-pong, pretzels, and really good beer.

709 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
(512) 614-4972
A beer garden space.
Easy Tiger
Easy Tiger/Facebook

Also featured in:

La Condesa

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Street-level patio eating and drinking right on West Second Street at the downtown Mexican restaurant makes people-watching easy.

400 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 499-0300
(512) 499-0300
La Condesa
La Condesa
La Condesa [Official]

Also featured in:

Shangri-La

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Another East Side enclave, the East Sixth 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.

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

Also featured in:

Wilder Wood Restaurant & Bar

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Gluten-free rooftop dining (get the burgers) and drinking is possible in the East Side at the East Seventh Street restaurant.

1300 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Troublemaker

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Under its new name and revamp, the large and shady patio space remains, perfect for enjoying burritos and cocktails.

1209 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-1448
(512) 524-1448

Also featured in:

Corner

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The JW Marriott is a major SXSW hub, so take advantage of the fittingly named downtown restaurant’s wraparound patio right on Congress Avenue, complete with an outdoor bar with plenty of lounge chairs and tables.

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

Also featured in:

Violet Crown Social Club

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A good night means cheap drinks at the East Sixth bar, including the Iron Whip, that frozen creamsicle of a cocktail, plus food from Cluck-n-Burger. You’re welcome.

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

Licha's Cantina

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Find Mexico City-style cantina food, lots of agave spirits, and both front- and backyard dining at the East Sixth restaurant. Plus, the $5 happy hour includes snacks and drinks to get you through that afternoon slump.

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-5960
(512) 480-5960
Licha’s Cantina
Licha’s Cantina
Licha’s Cantina/Facebook

LoLo

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The newcomer East Austin wine bar features a big back patio with a dedicated bar, picnic tables and plenty of standing room to enjoy natural wines and snacks.

1504 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
LoLo’s patio
LoLo’s patio
Courtney Pierce/EATX

Also featured in:

Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya

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Noodle soup experts Ramen Tatsu-ya opened up a Japanese patio bar complete with adorable feline decor, Chu-Hi cocktails, and Kirin Ichiban lagers with frozen foam caps and liquor floaters right on East Sixth.

1600 E 6th St B, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 893-5561
(512) 893-5561
Domo Alley-Gato
Domo Alley-Gato
Julia Keim

Also featured in:

The Liberty

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The dive bar’s backyard is great for beers and simple cocktails.

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

P6

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The rooftop bar and lounge from the Line Austin Hotel is right in downtown Austin, offers stellar views of the Colorado River as well as cocktails.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-1566
(512) 473-1566
Lounges at P6 at the Line Austin Chase Daniels

Also featured in:

The White Horse

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The east side honky tonk slash dive bar thankfully has an outdoor area to cool off from all that dancing.

500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 553-6756
(512) 553-6756
Kathryne B./Yelp

Also featured in:

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Carpenters Hall

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Tucked away off South Lamar is the Texas comfort food hotel restaurant, with a stylish, shaded patio.

400 Josephine St, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 675-5020
(512) 675-5020

Also featured in:

Whisler's

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The trek out to the East Sixth Street cocktail bar is worth it for the upstairs mezcalería, the cave-like inside bar, or large alfresco space with its outdoor bar, where handcrafted cocktails are served.

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

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

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The longtime downtown Austin hotel opened up its patio facing the Colorado River to the public, with drinks and plates from its lobby bar Live Oak.

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4500
(512) 478-4500

Also featured in:

Tamale House East

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Cheap and delicious tacos and tamales, plus drinks, make Tamale House East a good East Austin spot to set up shop.

1707 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 495-9504
(512) 495-9504
Tamale House East
Tamale House East
Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Also featured in:

EastSide Tavern

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The East Austin table-service barbecue and cocktail spot features both a patio and a rooftop deck with a dedicated bar.

1510 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 840-1799
(512) 840-1799
EastSide Tavern
EastSide Tavern
EastSide Tavern/Facebook

Craft Pride

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The downtown bar's prime location on the corner of Rainey Street means there is more real estate to drink some of the many beers on tap and eat Via 313’s celebrated square pies.

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

Also featured in:

TLC Austin

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Watch the comings and goings of all the SXSW film attendees at next-door Alamo Drafthouse with a drink in hand at the Texas seafood restaurant.

1100 S Lamar Blvd Unit 1150, Austin, TX 78704

More in Maps

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Parkside

301 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Dine on oysters and calamari while looking down from the New American restaurant rooftop at the swelling crowds on Dirty Sixth.

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

HandleBar

121 E. 5th St, Austin, TX 78701

The outdoor deck at the downtown 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

Easy Tiger

709 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

The massive beer garden overlooking Waller Creek has everything a person could need: ping-pong, pretzels, and really good beer.

709 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
(512) 614-4972
A beer garden space.
Easy Tiger
Easy Tiger/Facebook

La Condesa

400 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701

Street-level patio eating and drinking right on West Second Street at the downtown Mexican restaurant makes people-watching easy.

400 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 499-0300
(512) 499-0300
La Condesa
La Condesa
La Condesa [Official]

Shangri-La

1016 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Another East Side enclave, the East Sixth 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.

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

Wilder Wood Restaurant & Bar

1300 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Gluten-free rooftop dining (get the burgers) and drinking is possible in the East Side at the East Seventh Street restaurant.

1300 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Troublemaker

1209 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Under its new name and revamp, the large and shady patio space remains, perfect for enjoying burritos and cocktails.

1209 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-1448
(512) 524-1448

Corner

110 E. Second St., Austin, TX 78701

The JW Marriott is a major SXSW hub, so take advantage of the fittingly named downtown restaurant’s wraparound patio right on Congress Avenue, complete with an outdoor bar with plenty of lounge chairs and tables.

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

Violet Crown Social Club

1111 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

A good night means cheap drinks at the East Sixth bar, including the Iron Whip, that frozen creamsicle of a cocktail, plus food from Cluck-n-Burger. You’re welcome.

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

Licha's Cantina

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Find Mexico City-style cantina food, lots of agave spirits, and both front- and backyard dining at the East Sixth restaurant. Plus, the $5 happy hour includes snacks and drinks to get you through that afternoon slump.

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-5960
(512) 480-5960
Licha’s Cantina
Licha’s Cantina
Licha’s Cantina/Facebook

LoLo

1504 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

The newcomer East Austin wine bar features a big back patio with a dedicated bar, picnic tables and plenty of standing room to enjoy natural wines and snacks.

1504 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
LoLo’s patio
LoLo’s patio
Courtney Pierce/EATX

Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya

1600 E 6th St B, Austin, TX 78702

Noodle soup experts Ramen Tatsu-ya opened up a Japanese patio bar complete with adorable feline decor, Chu-Hi cocktails, and Kirin Ichiban lagers with frozen foam caps and liquor floaters right on East Sixth.

1600 E 6th St B, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 893-5561
(512) 893-5561
Domo Alley-Gato
Domo Alley-Gato
Julia Keim

The Liberty

1618 1/2 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

The dive bar’s backyard is great for beers and simple cocktails.

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

P6

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

The rooftop bar and lounge from the Line Austin Hotel is right in downtown Austin, offers stellar views of the Colorado River as well as cocktails.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-1566
(512) 473-1566
Lounges at P6 at the Line Austin Chase Daniels

The White Horse

500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702

The east side honky tonk slash dive bar thankfully has an outdoor area to cool off from all that dancing.

500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 553-6756
(512) 553-6756
Kathryne B./Yelp

Related Maps

Carpenters Hall

400 Josephine St, Austin, TX 78704

Tucked away off South Lamar is the Texas comfort food hotel restaurant, with a stylish, shaded patio.

400 Josephine St, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 675-5020
(512) 675-5020

Whisler's

1816 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

The trek out to the East Sixth Street cocktail bar is worth it for the upstairs mezcalería, the cave-like inside bar, or large alfresco space with its outdoor bar, where handcrafted cocktails are served.

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

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

The longtime downtown Austin hotel opened up its patio facing the Colorado River to the public, with drinks and plates from its lobby bar Live Oak.

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4500
(512) 478-4500

Tamale House East

1707 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Cheap and delicious tacos and tamales, plus drinks, make Tamale House East a good East Austin spot to set up shop.

1707 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 495-9504
(512) 495-9504
Tamale House East
Tamale House East
Robert J. Lerma/EATX

EastSide Tavern

1510 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

The East Austin table-service barbecue and cocktail spot features both a patio and a rooftop deck with a dedicated bar.

1510 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 840-1799
(512) 840-1799
EastSide Tavern
EastSide Tavern
EastSide Tavern/Facebook

Craft Pride

61 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

The downtown bar's prime location on the corner of Rainey Street means there is more real estate to drink some of the many beers on tap and eat Via 313’s celebrated square pies.

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

TLC Austin

1100 S Lamar Blvd Unit 1150, Austin, TX 78704

Watch the comings and goings of all the SXSW film attendees at next-door Alamo Drafthouse with a drink in hand at the Texas seafood restaurant.

1100 S Lamar Blvd Unit 1150, Austin, TX 78704

Related Maps