Things to Do in Austin — Live Music, Nightlife, Honky Tonks & Neighborhood Guides
13 videos · Video guides covering Austin's best districts, dance halls, venues, and nightlife spots
Austin is a sprawling city with dozens of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character, food scene, and live music identity. From the bungalow bars of Rainey Street to the honky tonks of South Congress, the punk and rock clubs of the Red River Cultural District to the upscale shopping and nightlife at The Domain, there's a lot of ground to cover. These guides break it down neighborhood by neighborhood so you know what to expect and where to go.
The videos on this page walk through specific streets and districts across Austin — East 6th, West 6th, Dirty 6th, 2nd Street, Barton Springs Road, East 11th Street, South Congress, Rainey Street, and the Red River Cultural District — showing what each area looks like, where the live music is, and what food and drinks you can find along the way. Several videos focus on specific themes like honky tonk two-stepping, SXSW street-level coverage, and a citywide survey of 15 different live music venues and the local artists who play them.
Whether you're planning a weekend visit, scouting venues for a night out, or trying to figure out which part of Austin fits your style, the guides on this page give you a real look at what each area actually feels like on the ground — the crowds, the vibe, the music, and the food.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
Austin downtown during SXSW
In Austin downtown during SXSW, the video walks through downtown Austin on a Wednesday afternoon and evening during the final day of South by Southwest. It covers Congress Avenue leading up to the Capitol building, Sixth Street, and the Red River District, showing branded pop-ups, street activity, and live music. Food is featured at Casino El Camino, and live music is spotted at Sand Jack Saloon and other Sixth Street venues.
What to do in Austin: Walking Barton Springs Road, Pool, Food, Music and Zilker Park
What to do in Austin covers a walk along Barton Springs Road from South Lamar Boulevard heading west to Barton Springs Pool, passing through what's known as Restaurant Row. Early restaurants on this strip include Chuy's, which opened in 1982, and Green Mesquite Barbecue, which arrived in 1988 and hosts an open mic on Thursdays. Other live music spots mentioned include Juliet Italian Kitchen for jazz and a new venue called Love Lamp Matcha that was setting up a stage. The video also mentions playing music at Hole in the Wall.
2nd Street, Austin walking tour: Downtown Shops, Live Music (ACL Live) & Dining
2nd Street, Austin walking tour explores the six-block Second Street District between Congress Avenue and San Antonio Street, also known as Willie Nelson Boulevard. The district is part of the larger Seaholm District near Ladybird Lake, with over 50 shops and dining spots. The video highlights ACL Live at the Moody Theater as the major live music destination, where Austin City Limits is hosted and where a Willie Nelson statue stands.
The Domain, Austin: North Austin Nightlife, Live Music & Rock Rose Entertainment District
The Domain, Austin walks through The Domain in northwest Austin, off the Mopac Expressway, focusing on the Rock Rose Entertainment District within Domain Northside. Live music spots mentioned include Culinary Dropout, Dogwood, Kung Fu Saloon, and Jack and Ginger's. The video describes The Domain as a place locals consider good for date nights and nightlife with friends in North Austin, though many regard it as touristy and upscale.
Honky Tonk Country Dancing and Two-Stepping in Austin Texas
Honky Tonk Country Dancing and Two-Stepping in Austin Texas showcases the two-step and country dancing scene across multiple Austin venues. It features Sagebrush in the South Congress area with Emily Nenni performing, The White Horse in East Austin with Mayeux & Broussard and Croy and the Boys, ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company) with Rosie and the Ramblers, Highball on South Lamar with Johnny McGowan's Rugged Gents, Jo's Coffee on South Congress with Tina Rose, C-Boy's Heart & Soul with 8½ Souvenirs, and Copeland Dance Hall in the small town of Copeland with All Hat No Cadillac.
Austin Live Music Uncovered: 15 venues and artists
Austin Live Music Uncovered visits 15 different live music venues across the city featuring local Austin artists. Venues include Antone's in downtown (with its blues history tied to B.B. King, James Brown, and Stevie Ray Vaughan), Antone's Records on Guadalupe Street near the UT campus with Stalefish playing, Friendly Rio Market, Kick Butt Coffee hosting the Fem Rock showcase, Red Bud Isle House near Manor Road with a picker circle hosted by Sharita Perez, Sunny's Backyard on East 7th Street with Black Da Vinci and Meta, Parker Jazz Club in the Warehouse District with Chris Kimura and the Parker House Band, and Lambert's for barbecue and upstairs live music.
Places to visit in Austin: Exploring the Red River Cultural District for Live Music
Places to visit in Austin walks the full length of the Red River Cultural District during Hot Summer Nights, a free live music event across all the venues on the strip. The video covers 10 venues including Mohawk with And So I Watch You From Afar, Cheer Up Charlies with Middle Saturn, Stubb's BBQ with Creekbed Carter Hogan, Valhalla with Houses We Die In, The 13th Floor with The Daymares, Elysium (Austin's goth club) with Monster Mash, Empire Control Room and Garage with Daniel Fears, Swan Dive with Robert Parker Jr., Flamingo Cantina with Llamativa, and Vaquero Taquero.
Downtown Austin during SXSW (vlog)
Downtown Austin during SXSW covers a Saturday afternoon walk through multiple downtown districts during South by Southwest, including Dirty 6th Street, Rainey Street, the Red River District, and West 6th Street. Live music is found at Friends Bar, San Jack Saloon, and Tipsy Alchemist on Rainey Street. Along the Red River District, the video spots live music at Chess Club, Empire Control Room, The 13th Floor, and Stubb's BBQ.
Austin Tx Things to Do: East Austin's 11th Street | Historic Black Culture, Live Music & Food
Austin Tx Things to Do explores the East 11th District, a historically Black neighborhood near the Capitol building and the Rosewood neighborhood. The video covers Franklin Barbecue at the entrance to the strip, Hillside Pharmacy, Paper Boy, Nickel City, the Texas Music Museum featuring East Austin African-American musicians, and the historic Victory Grill, once part of the chitlin' circuit. The Victory Grill hosts the Blue Monday blues jam, and nearby Kenny Dorham's Backyard features a stage, food court, community garden, and outdoor gallery.
East Austin Nightlife: Bar Hopping & Live Music on East 6th
East Austin Nightlife walks along East 6th Street on a Friday night, the stretch east of I-35 that's become one of Austin's most popular nightlife destinations over the past decade. Notable spots mentioned include Cisco's Restaurant for longtime Tex-Mex, cocktail bars like Low Down Lounge, Grizzle, Liberty Bar, In Cahoots, Latchkey, and Whistler's, along with the Austin Garden and Studio Rooftop Bar. The video notes East 6th is more upscale and hipster compared to Dirty 6th on the other side of the highway.
Things to do in Austin: Trendy Bars, Live music and Nightlife along West 6th street
Things to do in Austin covers the West 6th Street bar district, a four-to-five block stretch of trendy, college-oriented nightlife. Popular bars spotted include Unbarlievable, Buford's Little Woodrow's Parlor, Yardley Bar, The Dogwood, Cat's Pajamas, Green Light Social, and Kung Fu Saloon. Live music venues include Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Ice House with a jam session, Rustic Tap with Callaway Rich and Dice, Devil May Care with jazz in their underground lounge, and Ranch 616 just off the main strip.
Rainey Street at Night (A walking tour of Austin, Texas)
Rainey Street at Night walks the historic Rainey Street district, where former single-family homes have been converted into bungalow bars. Popular spots shown include Tipsy Alchemist, Unbarlievable, Icenhauer's, Idle Hands, and Stagger Lee. The video notes that this is the fastest-growing area of Austin with nine skyscrapers under construction along the strip. Live music is found at Half Step, which was the standout spot on this rainy Wednesday night.
South Congress, Austin: SXSW Walking Tour of Shops, Food & Live Music
South Congress, Austin walks the South Congress strip during South by Southwest, covering its shops, food, and live music. The video features the SoCo Stomp at C-Boy's Heart & Soul with Dale Watson and His Lone Stars, buskers outside Allen's Boots, live music at Tejas handmade western boots with Katrina Kane performing, and music at Guero's Tacos. Shopping highlights include vintage clothing, antique stores, cowboy boots, and quirky gift shops. Restaurants mentioned include Torchy's Tacos, Magnolia Cafe, and Home Slice Pizza.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best honky tonks for two-stepping in Austin?
The top honky tonks for two-stepping in Austin include Sagebrush in the South Congress area, which is packed on most nights with multiple bands, and The White Horse in East Austin, which calls itself the best honky tonk in East Austin and has music every day with multiple bands nightly. Highball on South Lamar next to the Alamo Drafthouse has a big stage and dance floor. ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company) offers a more mellow setting with live country music, and Copeland Dance Hall outside Austin in the small town of Copeland has Friday and Saturday night dancing in a building dating to 1904.
What venues are in the Red River Cultural District in Austin?
The Red River Cultural District runs along Red River Street near 6th Street in downtown Austin. Venues include Mohawk (multi-level with indoor and outdoor stages), Cheer Up Charlies (a gay nightclub with outdoor music and drag shows), Stubb's BBQ, Valhalla, The 13th Floor (a psychedelic rock-inspired bar), Elysium (Austin's goth club), Empire Control Room and Garage (three stages), Swan Dive, and Flamingo Cantina (Austin's good vibes club since 1991). During Hot Summer Nights, all of these venues offer free live music.
What is the difference between Dirty 6th, East 6th, and West 6th Street in Austin?
Dirty 6th Street is the central stretch of 6th Street in downtown Austin, known for being rowdy with a lot of drunken nightlife and a somewhat shady reputation. East 6th Street, east of I-35, is more upscale and hipster with cocktail bars like Whistler's, Liberty Bar, and Low Down Lounge, plus food trucks and vintage shops. West 6th Street is the trendiest section with a college-age crowd, featuring bars like Unbarlievable, Cat's Pajamas, Green Light Social, and live music at spots like Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Ice House and Devil May Care.
Where can I find live music on Barton Springs Road in Austin?
Along Barton Springs Road, Green Mesquite Barbecue hosts an open mic on Thursdays and live music on other nights. Juliet Italian Kitchen features jazz music for diners. A newer venue called Love Lamp Matcha was setting up a stage and planning to start hosting live music as well. The road runs from South Lamar Boulevard west toward Barton Springs Pool and is considered Austin's Restaurant Row.
What is Rainey Street in Austin like and what bars are there?
Rainey Street is a historic district just north of the Colorado River and west of I-35, where former single-family homes have been converted into bungalow bars. It draws a younger crowd and is one of the most popular nightlife destinations in Austin. Bars along the strip include Tipsy Alchemist, Unbarlievable, Icenhauer's, Idle Hands, Stagger Lee, and Half Step, which features live music. The area is currently the fastest-growing part of Austin with nine skyscrapers under construction along the strip.
What is there to see on East 11th Street in Austin?
The East 11th District is a historically Black neighborhood near the Capitol building and the Rosewood neighborhood. Franklin Barbecue sits at the entrance and draws long lines. Along the strip you can find Hillside Pharmacy (an old pharmacy now serving food), Paper Boy, Nickel City, and the Texas Music Museum dedicated to East Austin African-American musicians. The Victory Grill, a former chitlin' circuit venue, hosts the Blue Monday blues jam. Nearby, Kenny Dorham's Backyard has a stage, food court, community garden, and outdoor gallery.
Where can I find live music during SXSW in Austin without a badge?
During South by Southwest, free and non-badge live music pops up across downtown Austin. The videos on this page show free live music found at venues along Dirty 6th Street including Friends Bar and San Jack Saloon, at Tipsy Alchemist on Rainey Street, and throughout the Red River Cultural District at Chess Club, Empire Control Room, The 13th Floor, and Stubb's BBQ. South Congress also comes alive during SXSW with events like the SoCo Stomp at C-Boy's Heart & Soul featuring Dale Watson and His Lone Stars, plus buskers and in-store performances at shops like Tejas and Guero's Tacos.