10 Best Bars, Live Music, and Nightclubs in Austin

Summit Austin is one of the places to go for an after-dark Austin dance party, offering great DJs and a rooftop bar that sits just below the city skyline. The DJs here include both the hottest local up-and-comers and world-famous visiting DJs from all over. The atmosphere is almost cyberpunk, with LED lighting along the walls and constant high-energy dance vibes. The cocktails are strong and tasty, mixed up by experienced mixologists, and there's a lively sense of fun.

You can get to this nightclub from the south side of downtown Austin. Bear in mind that 6th Street is closed to vehicle traffic at night on weekends.

Barbarella Austin is one of the most appreciated clubs among the city's party crowd, with a fantastic selection of music from 80's hits to modern dance vibes. Theme nights here are a major thing and go on several times a week, so be sure to check in to see what's going on while you're in town. Not only are the drinks mixed strong and tasty, the club offers specials on late-night drinks almost every night, so you can enjoy an experience that doesn't break the bank.

Barbarella is located in the heart of the Red River Cultural District. It's right in the heart of downtown, making for easy access.

The Rose Room offers a hopping atmosphere and a dance club and lounge experience that's a true spectacle of light and sound spread over three levels. This cavernous club offers a dance floor on the main level where you can groove to the beats of fantastic local music, a mid-mezzanine level with food and table service overlooking the dance floor, and the balcony level where you can enjoy a laid-back cocktail lounge vibe while still surrounded by the symphony of light and sound for which the club is famed.

The Rose Room is a newer entry to Austin's club scene, established in 2016, but is already a local staple. It's about 20 minutes north of downtown.

Antone's Nightclub is the place to go if you want to hear some fantastic live local rhythm and blues music in the classic sense of guitar and soulful vocals. During its history, this club has hosted such incredible names as BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Eric Clapton, among others. It's now partially owned by blues legend Gary Clark, Jr, who sometimes pops in to share the stage with whoever is playing. The music on any given night could be a local up-and-comer or an international superstar.

The drinks are good, the vibe laid-back and casual, and the music fantastic. It's on 5th Street, directly in the heart of downtown.

The Continental Club is a blues club that has hosted some of the most famous blues artists in the world and offers a cool vibe and great tunes. It's located in one of the city's most popular entertainment districts and has seen such rock n' roll, blues, and jazz legends as Link Wray, Robert Plant, and Stevie Ray Vaughan hit the stage. Many in the city consider this club a must-visit if you are a classic blues fan. Here, you'll hear famous international acts as well as hot young local groups making a name for themselves.

One thing is certain; you'll always get good tunes at the Continental Club. It's in the heart of downtown.

Elephant Room is an underground jazz club downtown that boasts live music every night of the week, covering genres from swing to blues to New York and Kansas City-style jazz. In addition, if you're a craft beer fan, this place doubles as a brasserie with 20 draft beers on tap every day. It also offers a well-curated wine list with wine available by the glass, and top-shelf spirits for craft cocktails. The club opened up in 1991 and is named for the massive find of mastodon bones uncovered on the site when they broke ground.

This is a no-nonsense club that draws a largely local crowd and is a hidden Austin gem. It's directly downtown.

The Skylark Lounge has offered live country, blues, and soul bands every night of the week for over 30 years and has become a staple of Austin's live music scene. It prides itself on having a dive bar feel but brings the finest in live musical acts. Both local and national touring artists grace the stage here, and it offers a dark lounge vibe with fantastic sound and acoustics. It's centrally located, but tucked off the beaten track as another hidden gem of the local scene. The full bar serves up delicious cocktails mixed strong.

This one is a throwback to the classic live music bars of days past. It's just 10 minutes north of town.

Lit Lounge is a premiere club for the elite crowd that seeks to offer a nod to the diverse local culture and an unparalleled nightlife experience with VIP treatment. This one is an upscale club where you'll need to dress to the nines and you're probably well advised to book your appearance in advance. It's a place to see and be seen as well as enjoy craft cocktails mixed up with top-shelf liquor and spirits, enjoy the latest hits, and get personalized treatment by a professional host.

If you're looking for the type of nightlife that makes you feel like a king or queen, Lit Lounge is the place to be. It's also in the heart of downtown.

Parker Jazz Club is a basement club opened by a local musician seeking to create a world-class lounge with incredible acoustics and only the top acts around. Owner Kris Kimura sought a few years ago to create a lounge that was designed for musicians by a musician, with unparalleled acoustics and hand-chosen sound elements entirely built to provide an astonishing soundscape. This club has since hosted such names as Kris Johnson, Butch Miles, Tom Scott, Eric Reed, Doug Lawrence, and many others. It's famous for its immaculate design and world-class presentation.

If you're looking for the kind of jazz venue you'd find in New York or Kansas City, this is it. It's also in the heart of central downtown.

Midnight Cowboy is the place to come if you want to have a classic 1920s speakeasy experience complete with a hidden door and plenty of advance planning. You'll need to locate the entrance and ring a bell to get in, and reservations are required in advance. Sometimes it's booked up weeks in advance. This place has a storied (and sordid) history as one of the most beloved hidden gems of the city's nightlife scene. Everything here is an experience, from unique craft cocktails to menus in passport folios.

This club is in the heart of downtown, but like all good speakeasies, it's hidden. Finding it is half the fun.