Things to Do
Things to Do across Austin, TX.
Showing 169–192 of 402 places
Bull and Bowl
Austin
Tucked into downtown Austin's West 6th district, Bull and Bowl pairs an American kitchen with a bar and event space, the kind of spot that leans into evenings rather than daytime crowds. Note the limited schedule—it's open Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5 to 10, so it's worth planning around rather than dropping by.
Hotel ZaZa Austin Downtown
Austin
Hotel ZaZa brings its signature theatrical, maximalist style to downtown Austin, with boldly decorated rooms, a pool deck, and event spaces just a few blocks from the Colorado River and the western edge of the warehouse district. Expect plush, eclectic interiors and an on-site restaurant, with the bars and music of 6th Street and the Capitol grounds within easy walking distance.
J Carver’s Oyster Bar & Chophouse
Austin
Tucked into downtown Austin on Rio Grande Street, J Carver's pairs a raw bar's worth of oysters with chophouse cuts, so you can go surf, turf, or both in one sitting. It keeps dinner-only hours, opening at 5 each evening, and the space doubles as an event venue if you're gathering a group.
Dart'em Up
Austin
Dart'em Up is an axe-throwing venue in northwest Austin where you'll get coached on technique before stepping up to the lanes, then spend your time trying to stick the blade in the wooden targets. Note the limited hours—it's closed Mondays and opens at noon the rest of the week—so it's worth checking the schedule before you make the drive out toward 183.
Purrfecto Cat Lounge
Austin
Purrfecto Cat Lounge pairs a relaxed café setting with a room full of adoptable cats on South Lamar, so your visit doubles as time with animals who are genuinely looking for homes. Note the limited schedule—it's closed Tuesdays and keeps shorter daytime hours—and reservations are worth checking before you go, since cat lounges typically cap how many people share the space at once.
Empire Control Room & Garage
Austin
Empire Control Room & Garage sits in Austin's Red River Cultural District, a multi-room music venue housed in a former mid-century building where the "Control Room" hosts smaller shows and the open-air "Garage" patio handles bigger crowds. You'll notice it pulls a steady mix of touring indie and electronic acts, with the patio doubling as a relaxed spot to catch a drink between sets.
Hi Sign Brewing
Austin
Tucked into East Austin's Shady Lane, Hi Sign Brewing pulls double duty as a working brewery and a daytime spot where the doors open at 9 a.m. for coffee and laptop-friendly tables before the taproom crowd arrives. You'll notice the easygoing, industrial-leaning space lends itself equally to a morning work session and an afternoon pint.
PINSTACK
Austin
Pinstack is a sprawling entertainment complex in north Austin where the bowling lanes share space with a sizable arcade, a full bar, and a restaurant, making it a reliable rainy-day or group outing rather than a quiet evening. Expect a lively, family-friendly atmosphere on weekends, with the lanes and games drawing a mix of birthday parties, leagues, and casual drop-ins.
Arcade UFO
Austin
Tucked into a North Austin strip mall off Research Boulevard, Arcade UFO is a small, after-dark spot beloved by Austin's fighting-game community, where rows of Japanese-style candy cabinets host regulars trading rounds in titles like Street Fighter and Tekken. The evening-only hours and tight-knit crowd give it more of a neighborhood game-room feel than a flashy entertainment complex, so come ready to put your quarters up and learn the local etiquette.
Cheer Up Charlies
Austin
Cheer Up Charlies sits on Austin's Red River Street, at the heart of the city's downtown live music district, with an indoor stage and a sprawling outdoor patio that hosts everything from local indie acts to dance nights. It's known as a welcoming, LGBTQ-friendly spot, and its bar leans toward kombucha and vegan-friendly drinks alongside the usual options, so plan for a late start since doors don't open until late afternoon.
The Butterfly Bar @ The VORTEX
Austin
The Butterfly Bar sits in the courtyard of The VORTEX, a longtime independent theater on East Austin's Manor Road, so your drink often comes with the buzz of pre-show crowds and the smell of dinner from the Patrizi's food trailer parked nearby. Expect a laid-back outdoor patio, a rotating lineup of local performers, and the kind of artsy, neighborhood crowd that East Austin is known for.
The Little Longhorn Saloon
Austin
The Little Longhorn Saloon is a small, no-frills honky-tonk on Burnet Road, the kind of room where the band sets up in the corner and there's barely a gap between the dance floor and your barstool. It's best known for "Chicken Sh*t Bingo" on Sunday afternoons — a long-running local tradition where a numbered grid and a live chicken decide the winners — alongside a steady lineup of country and roots acts.
Clutch-Em Arcade
Austin
Tucked into a storefront along the I-35 frontage road in north-central Austin, Clutch-Em Arcade is a spot to spend an afternoon working through a lineup of games rather than a flashy destination you'd plan a trip around. Note the slightly later weekday open on Tuesday and Wednesday—it doesn't unlock until half past noon—so a Monday late morning is your earliest shot at an empty room.
Novel Escape
Austin
Tucked into the Anderson Square shopping center in north Austin, Novel Escape runs story-driven escape rooms that lean harder on narrative and immersion than the average lock-and-key puzzle setup. Hours are limited right now, so check ahead before you go—at the moment they're only open Wednesday evenings.
Parish
Austin
Parish sits on a stretch of Red River Street in the heart of Austin's downtown live music scene, a second-story venue with warm wood floors and a reputation for sharp sound in an intimate room. You'll find it hosting touring acts and local bills most nights, and the same space doubles as a rentable hall for weddings and private events.
Rock House Bar and Trailer Park
Austin
Tucked along Ranch Road 620 in northwest Austin, Rock House Bar and Trailer Park leans into a laid-back, come-as-you-are atmosphere, with live music, casual bar food, and plenty of outdoor space to settle in. It's an easygoing stop if you're spending the day around the Lake Travis area and want somewhere unpretentious to hear a band and grab a drink.
Electric Shuffle Austin
Austin
Electric Shuffle puts a modern spin on shuffleboard, pairing tech-enabled tables that handle the scoring and toss out game variations with a full menu of cocktails and shareable plates. Set on Red River Street in the thick of Austin's downtown nightlife, it leans toward groups and evening outings, opening mid-afternoon and running late.
Duke's Adventure Golf
Austin
Duke's Adventure Golf sits on the south side of Austin off Slaughter Lane, with outdoor mini-golf courses winding through landscaped greens, water features, and the kind of themed obstacles that reward a careful putt. It's geared toward families and groups, with space that doubles as a venue for birthday parties and other events, so expect a lively, casual atmosphere rather than a quiet round.
King Bee
Austin
King Bee is a no-cover dive on the East Side that leans hard into its love of the blues, with live bands most nights in a dim, unpretentious room hung with velvet paintings and Christmas lights. Expect strong, straightforward cocktails, a back patio for when you need a breather, and a crowd that's there for the music as much as the drinks.
The Dead Rabbit, Austin
Austin
An Austin outpost of the storied New York Irish bar, The Dead Rabbit lands on the bustling stretch of East 6th Street with the same blend of proper pub hospitality and serious cocktail craft that built its name. Expect a menu that runs from Irish pub fare to weekend brunch, plus live music, so it works as easily for an afternoon pint as a late night out.
The Golf Club at Star Ranch
Hutto
The Golf Club at Star Ranch sits just outside Hutto in the rolling country northeast of Austin, where its tree-lined fairways and water hazards wind through a layout that plays longer and more strategic than first glance suggests. Beyond the course itself, it doubles as an event space, with a clubhouse and grounds that locals often book for weddings and gatherings.
Brazos Hall
Austin
Brazos Hall sits in a restored early-20th-century building in Austin's warehouse district, just off Congress Avenue, where its exposed brick, tall windows, and timber beams give it a character you don't often find in a downtown event space. It hosts weddings, concerts, and private functions, and the first thing most visitors notice is the way the historic interior opens up beneath the high ceilings.
P6 at the LINE Austin
Austin
P6 sits on the sixth floor of the LINE Austin, where the draw is as much the room as the plate — floor-to-ceiling windows look out over Lady Bird Lake and the downtown skyline. Open evenings only, it leans into cocktails and shared plates, so come for the view at golden hour and plan to linger.
Walter's Tavern
Austin
Set on South Congress, Walter's Tavern wears a lot of hats—coffee in the morning, cocktails and wine later, with a beer garden and a stage for live music—so it tends to shift in character depending on when you wander in. It's the kind of all-day spot that suits the SoCo stretch, where browsing the shops and lingering over a drink go hand in hand.