15 Best Nightlife in Austin, Texas

For an intimate live music experience unmatched by any other venue in Austin, head to this café on the UT campus and get in line for tickets. Texas singer-songwriter legends such as Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Patty Griffin, and Austin-renowned Bob Schneider have graced this tiny stage since the 1970s. It doesn't get much better than this.

Jazz fanatics hold court at this basement locale, named one of the top 10 jazz venues in the United States by the famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. A long-standing Austin venue, it's one of the reasons the town lives up to its Live Music Capital status. Though the Elephant's not a festival hot spot, the jazz staple always hosts its share of musicians during SXSW.

By sheer force, this Red River District establishment is one of the best live music venues in Austin. With a cool, indoor indie-rock space complemented with a killer outdoor stage and the area's only rooftop deck and bar, these guys know how to throw a party. Expect serious jams and strong pours seven nights a week. "The Hawk" bleeds SXSW and hosts a festival within a festival.

For over 25 years, this near-campus joint established itself as the perfect coffee shop escape for studying sessions or catching up with friends. Recently, the full-service bar and café has consolidated and changed up its array of offerings with its adjacent Ballroom space and transformed more exclusively into a live music and event operation, with weekly lineups of local music, theme parties, movie screenings, and stand-up comedy. Their bar still serves hip crowds of locals who can also dine at the on-site food trucks.

One of the city's most highly touted venues, Stubb's is owned by C3 Presents, which books many of the top shows in Austin (in addition to producing the annual ACL Fest) and also manages an impressive roster of nationally renowned musicians. This massive outdoor venue (and barbecue joint by day) hosts an impressive lineup in downtown's Red River District. It's one of the hottest SXSW tickets in town.

This is an authentic Austin original—and one of the city's signature live music hubs, drawing a hard-drinking, music-loving crowd every night of the week. The club hosts a variety of live acts but specializes in country-fused rock, like local favorite James McMurtry. The upstairs gallery maintains an exclusive jazz club vibe. A full spectrum of acts is always hosted here during SXSW.

One of Red River's hotbeds of music, Beerland serves the punk music scene and brings an eclectic mix of artist to the forefront. Expect a thrashing of sounds and sights most nights of the week, and stay tuned to their lineup for SXSW.

This place serves up a good time every night of the week, with live music from national and local bands. People love to catch the Spazmatics—a local '80s cover band—on Wednesday night as the courtyard becomes a playground after dark for revelers. Cedar Street offers one of the top SXSW showcases every year. RSVP and pick up your wristband early to catch a great lineup throughout the festival.

Once a classic Red River haunt in the middle of downtown, this indie rock and punk venue is now on East Riverside, where a much larger main stage hosts internationally acclaimed names in the music industry, including the likes of Blues Traveler and Lauryn Hill. A long-time player in the Austin music scene, expect plenty of SXSW showcases.

Lamberts offers a luxurious take on barbecue in its swanky Second Street historic district locale while offering live music almost every night of the week in their upstairs loft. They host a mix of popular local musicians as well as highly acclaimed acts in an intimate setting and offer a full spectrum of SXSW offerings, including an impressive music-infused brunch.

If you can get past the Saxon's low ceilings and sticky, beer-stained floors, then you'll find a phenomenal music experience. Bands play every night, usually from the local rock and blues scene. This is a small Austin classic with Shiner Bock on tap and a well-worn pool table that draws regulars from all over the city. The legendary venue always packs bands in back-to-back throughout SXSW.

This historic outdoor music venue, established in 1871, is tucked away on the east side and offers a funky and fresh mix of music and theme parties in a dive-bar–esque setting with an impressive outdoor stage. On-site parking can be tough to find, so ridesharing is encouraged. Be sure to check out their lineup during SXSW.

The grand dame of the trendy West 6th Street District, this fashionable bar and club has a swanky appeal with a lovely courtyard and Hollywood-esque waitstaff. It offers an impressive lineup, from indie rock to electronic dance music, and tends to bring an interesting mix of showcases to Austin during SXSW, partnering with several hot indie record labels.

One of the top spots for live music on the perpetually vibrant East Sixth Street since 1978, the Gibson Room is one of famed bar Maggie Mae's music spaces and has its own entrance on the other side of the building. Sponsored by Gibson Guitars, this exclusive music venue is an artful homage to some of the world’s greatest rock artists, styled with Gibson guitars associated with legendary musicians like Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. Regular shows are open to the public, especially during SXSW, but the venue also hosts private events.

This split-level bar and music venue offers an impressive lineup of musicians, DJs, and bands year-round on both its upstairs stage and its smaller, downstairs lounge stage at the bar. Aside from the music, the main draws for this Sixth Street locale are cocktails and good eats from the grill. Expect great things during SXSW. Hours of operation vary daily depending on their show calendar, so be sure to check their website.