When it comes to Austin fun:
The more, the merrier. It's the truth! Little did you know, Austin is actually the best city to enjoy in a group setting. There is an immense amount of options for things to do in the city, and it all depends on what your group is in the mood to do. Whether you are with a large family or all of your college friends, Austin has something for everyone. Here are some of the best places for large groups in Austin.
Contributed by Keylee Paz
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photo via pins mechanical
4323 S Congress Ave
Pins Mechanical Co., the popular entertainment destination known for duckpin bowling, classic arcade games, and craft cocktails, has opened its first Austin location in the St Elmo district. This highly anticipated venue brings a 43,000 square foot experience, offering a vibrant atmosphere for guests to enjoy games, drinks, and fun. Pins Mechanical offers three bars serving craft cocktails, a selection of local and regional draft beers, and a variety of alcohol alternatives, including low- and no-proof options, as well as THC-infused seltzers and cocktails. The space is kid friendly until 9 pm and dog friendly inside and outside.
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photo via facebook
10106 Menchaca Rd
When you're dealing with a big crew, sometimes the last place you want to be is downtown. That's when you gather the troops and head to South Austin. Armadillo Den sprawls over three acres, making it perfect for accommodating any number of people in your party. This neighborhood bar offers craft beer and cocktails on tap, multiple delicious food trucks, live music, yard games, axe throwing, and is incredibly dog-friendly, featuring a large off-leash dog park. Take a rideshare there and they'll take 10% off your tab!
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photo via facebook
1701 E 6th St
Right in the heart of East 6th Street is Zilker Brewing. With large tables, a great selection of craft beers, and Spicy Boys (one of the best food trucks in town), this spot is ideal when you are trying to please a large group. Whether you have visitors in town and want to give them a glimpse of what Austin's all about or you just need a spot to meet up with a group of friends, everyone will enjoy the casual and fun ambiance at Zilker Brewing. Once your group finishes their spicy chicken sandwiches and crisp beers, bring them on a tour down the rest of East 6th which is full of other great spots suitable for big groups.
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photo via facebook
3235 E Cesar Chavez St
Luckily in Austin, having a big group doesn't mean you have to sacrifice getting a quality meal. One of our favorite spots, Jacoby's, serves ranch-to-table food with a rustic atmosphere, right on the Colorado River in East Austin. Their southern-inspired menu has classics like chicken fried steak, deviled eggs, and mac & cheese, as well as a damn good cheeseburger. They have lots of tables for big groups, and while reservations aren't required, it may be a good idea to make one just in case. Something to keep in mind is that most of their seating is outdoors on their spacious patio, so make sure you plan accordingly for weather. For parties larger than 12 guests, visit their events page.
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Photo via Punch Bowl Social
522 Congress Ave
11310 Domain Dr Ste. 100
Punch Bowl Social is the perfect place for adults to have fun playing games while drinking a nice cold drink. They have an endless selection of games and (alcoholic/non-alcoholic) beverages. Who wouldn't love playing life-size Scrabble while sharing their signature Watermelon Polo Bowl with your buds? The best part—they also host Karaoke nights! Secure your group's spot by making a reservation at either their downtown or Domain location.
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Photo via Yelp
121 Pickle Rd Ste. 111
1300 E 4th St
This lively beer garden features a wide variety of drinks — from specialty coffee to draft cocktails and brewed draft beer. They also host numerous food trucks! Their south location is huge and also practices sustainability such as composting and gardening, which is visible as soon as you walk through the gates. They also have a variety of seating options like outdoor long tables and indoor bar seating, perfect for your large group. If you're looking for a spot closer to downtown, check out their new location on the East Side, which has tables for large groups as well as a brick-and-mortar taqueria.
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Various Locations
Plenty of group seating, wine, AND fun murals? Besides its conveniently located taproom in the heart of downtown, the pour-your-own-wine bar has two more locations in East Austin and on Barton Springs Road. The downtown and East locations have over 80 wine taps to choose from, and we cannot emphasize enough how amazing all of the modern decor and art is. You can either visit Wanderlust and get a table on a first-come-first-serve basis or make your large-group reservation for a room/patio section.
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Photo via Facebook
7010 Easy Wind Dr
To shake things up a bit, here is a bar that focuses mainly on board games! Vigilante Gaming Bar is exactly what you think — a gastropub that offers all the board games you can possibly think of. From the NSFW Cards Against Humanity to the more classic Dungeons and Dragons, Vigilante has it all and will hand you a game menu based on the size of your party. Besides their oversized booths that can comfortably fit up to 12 players at a time, Vigilante also has themed "secret rooms" to take the fun up a notch.
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photo via facebook
315 Congress Ave
Yes, Swift's Attic is located in a literal attic on Congress. They specialize in modern American cuisine and have all kinds of special dishes like their vegan and gluten-free Fungus Among Us and delicious Lipstick on a Pig. Large groups can enjoy intimate dinners in their lounge area or request private semi-sections of the restaurant, while groups larger than 12 can reserve their area.
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photo via facebook
2115 S Lamar Blvd
Loro is slowly becoming an Asian gem in Texas (with locations now in Dallas and Houston), but Austin's Loro will always be superior. Created by the founders of the legendary Franklin Barbecue and Uchi in 2018, Loro is an Asian smokehouse that offers delicacies such as their Malaysian Chicken Bo Ssam and Crispy Szechuan Tofu. Their outdoor patio deck is also enormous, containing lots of table seating and heaters/misters depending on the weather. Their long tables are sure to fit your group. Bonus points if your boss pays! They don't take reservations, walk-ins only.
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Photo via Blazer Tag
1701 W Ben White Blvd
If you've driven on Highway 290, you've most definitely seen the cool building with a spaceship sticking out. Blazer Tag is considered the largest laser tag arena in Texas and offers all kinds of fun. Whether you actually participate in laser tag, play for tokens or go mini-bowling, there is never a dull moment. Groups should take advantage of their affordable deals for large groups. Bring out your inner kid and head on down to Blazer Tag, the best place to show off your competitive skills.
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621 Congress Ave
Caroline is the whole package - three unique spaces all in one place. This restaurant/coffeehouse/upstairs bar is the perfect combination that creates an all-day atmosphere as Caroline offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While all of their spaces welcome large groups, we highly recommend their upstairs area (or as Caroline calls it, "Austin's premier urban backyard party"). Grab some of their signature cocktails like the Watermelon Margarita or Seasonal Sangria and play some Foosball.
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photo via facebook
Various Locations
Want to take your friends to an adult playground? Look no further than Bouldin Acres. With locations in both North and South Austin, this fun restaurant and drinkery embodies their motto of "eat, drink, play." Besides their yummy food and extensive drink menu, they have a large selection of lawn games, including Pickleball Courts (book a time to play—we promise you won't regret it) and a playground. Bouldin Acres is a family and dog-friendly location, perfect to spend a Sunday afternoon with the family or gather with fellow Longhorns to watch football on game days. While BA does not take reservations, you can book your event with a minimum of 20 people.
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500 W Canyon Ridge Dr
Take the swing off North I-35 and you'll find a magic world of bowling, bumper cars, rock climbing, laser tag, a full arcade, and so much more. PINSTACK ain't your baby's playscape though - it's built for adults. With a food menu that puts usual arcade food to shame and all the drinks to accompany your group outing, PINSTACK is the perfect place to spend a day with your homies, fam, or even that awkward triple date you keep meaning to take.
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EVEN MORE PLACES TO TAKE A GROUP IN AUSTIN:
13187 Fitzhugh Rd
600 E Riverside Dr
Various Locations
4824 East Cesar Chavez St
111 Congress Ave
3901 Promontory Point Dr
1100 S Lamar Blvd
1305 W. Oltorf
Various Locations
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Did we miss your favorite group spot?
