East 6th has it all...
Good food. Live music. Fun bars. But also ways to have fun without drinking. This area has easily become one of our favorite spots in town (and if you go on a Friday night, apparently everyone else's), so we've put together a guide of some of the spots you should check out the next time you find yourself on East 6th Street.
1300 E 6th St
A trip to the East Side is not complete without sipping on an espresso martini while seeing how many rubber duckys you can win from the duck claw machine. There's plenty more to do at Lucky Duck with games in the back, an upstairs speakeasy, and weekly recurring events like comedy, karaoke, and trivia. If you get hungry they have one of Austin's best food trucks, Tommy Want Wingy.
1502 E 6th St
If you're craving some live music, or just a place to meet friends for "a drink," Hotel Vegas fits the bill nicely. The venue hosts the best of Austin’s local bands 7 nights a week, and next door the Volstead Lounge features a variety of DJ talent and a respected cocktail program.
photo via facebook
500 Comal St
A honky tonk in every sense of the term, The White Horse is a great place to grab a cheap beer and learn you some country dancin'. And yes, they get pretty damn rowdy here. If you think country folk don't like to get down just as much as anyone else, visit The White Horse on a Saturday night. They give any techno club a run for their money.
1103 E 6th St
Do some "absurdly high quality donation-based yoga" right on East 6th at Practice Yoga. This is the perfect spot for when you're wanting to unwind from a long day in a super chill spot.
photo via instagram
1008 E 6th St
Stop by Prisma Vintage before your night out on the East Side to get a new fit. This vintage spot has some of the best clothes and jewelry you'll find in town, and it gets even better... they are open until 11 PM Thursday - Saturday.
2511 E 6th St Unit A
Riches, the only Black-owned art gallery in Austin, can also be found on East 6th. They have weekly events, painting classes, and you can also rent the gallery for private events.
WHERE TO EAT:
photo via facebook
1802 E 6th St
Right on East 6th you will find Via 313, one of Austin's most popular food truck's brick and mortar on the East Side. Purveyors of authentic, Detroit-style pizza, they offer a dizzying amount of choices, and each one is excellent.
1707 E 6th Street
When that Sunday morning hangover hits, Tamale House starts calling your name. Sometimes the best thing for a pounding headache is a nice plate of migas, a tall glass of water, and their famous Mexican Iced Coffee - a delicious mix of horchata, soy milk, and coffee.
514 Medina Street (Corner of E. 6th)
Japanese cuisine has officially come to East 6th, thanks to Fukumoto. The restaurant primarily focuses on sushi and sashimi, but they also have side options like monkfish liver, fried chicken, and tempura.
photo via facebook
1601 E 6th St
When that pasta craving hits, head down East 6th to Il Brutto for some authentic Italian grub. When the temps allow, we recommend sipping on a frozen Aperol Spritz and slurping up some Cacio E Pepe on their vibey front patio.
1306 E 6th Street
Licha's Cantina is a great place to have a birthday, or just eat and drink like you're celebrating one. With a snazzy interior and a patio that puts most other places to shame, Licha's is a prime East 6th destination to get some quality food and cocktails.
Photo via Instagram
1201 E 6th Street
Anyone who says East 6th doesn't have diverse options when it comes to food hasn't been to Buenos Aires Cafe. The Argentinian-focused cafe provides an authentic, ethically-sourced venue for the complex cuisine of South America. They also have a speakeasy downstairs called Milonga Room.
1511 E 6th Street
Another staple of the East Austin Mexican restaurant tradition, Cisco's is famous for their classic Mexican food. Cisco's has been around forever, and you'll definitely want to stop in if you haven't had the chance already.
photo via instagram
1600 E 6th St
Of course we can't forget Ramen Tatsu-Ya. Their East Side location has all of the same delicious ramen dishes as their other spots, but has something unlike any other location, Domo Alley-Gato. This tachinomiya-inspired patio bar has some different menu items as well as cocktails. Make sure you try their frozen cold cap beers!
WHERE TO DRINK:
photo via instagram
1308 E 6th St
If your friends are planning a rowdy night out on the East Side, chances are someone is going to mention stopping by Latchkey. This "bar and daycare for adults" is known for having live music, being the place to watch people dance on top of the picnic tables, and leading you to make some questionable decisions.
1701 E 6th Street
This brewpub is different than most of the bars on East 6th, with an open layout that stands in contrast to the majority of darkly lit dive bars that populate the area. Zilker Brewing specializes in American Belgo style beer, with indoor seating plus picnic tables on the patio. (Pro-tip: eat at Spicy Boys while you're there for some of the best, spiciest fried chicken in the city.)
photo via instagram
1816 E 6th Street
Whisler's is the type of bar where you can try a new cocktail upon every visit, and find a new favorite each time. The same could also be said for Mezcalería Tobalá, the mezcal-focused speakeasy upstairs. If a Hinge date has ever suggested "grabbing drinks on the East Side", chances are they brought you to Whisler's.
1016 E 6th Street
People that frequent this area know and love Shangri-La. It's a dive-y, friendly joint with two pool tables, a huge outdoor patio, and a photo booth for drunken memories. It also happens to be the place where Bill Murray inexplicably appeared and began bartending during SXSW a few years ago. Make sure to also check out their speakeasy, The Treasury.
1111 E 6th Street
Not to be confused with the movie theater of the same name, Violet Crown Social Club has some of the cheapest drinks and heaviest pours on East 6th. Of particular note is their famous Orange Whip, a delicious frozen drink that you'll have a hard time ordering only one of.
photo via instagram
1221 E 6th St
There are three new bars on East 6th, part of the Inn Cahoots East Side campus. You can find Austin Garden & Studio, a rooftop bar, as well as a cocktail bar. We recommend checking out all three while you're there, as they all have different vibes.
1618 1/2 E 6th Street
Liberty Bar looks a whole lot like Shangri-La, or maybe it's the other way around. With cheap drinks and a low key atmosphere, it embodies the real spirit of East 6th.
photo via instagram
1411 E 7th St
Right off of 6th, you'll find one of the newest bar to the area, Seven Spirits. This Mexican-owned craft casual cocktail bar serves both delicious cocktails and bites. They also have spacious indoor and outdoor areas, perfect for groups of any size.
1704 E 5th St
Yellow Jacket Social Club’s clientele includes everyone from bikers to college kids, and all are welcome at this laid-back spot. A large outdoor area invites both humans and pups to sit and stay a while. This bar also offers damn good brunch on weekends - the pork belly on hash cake is worth raving about.
