rel="nofollow" href="http://www.motherscafeaustin.com">www.motherscafeaustin.comCASINO EL CAMINO Casino el Camino is one of the last punk rock dive bars on East 6th Street. They also happen to make the best burgers in town, no question. The wait can be excruciatingly long – sometimes over an hour on busy nights. But the cooks know what they’re doing, they’re angry as hell, and if they tell you your burger will be ready in an hour, it will be ready in an hour and not a moment sooner. Don’t despair, it’s the perfect excuse to down a couple tall cans on the back patio. 517 East 6th St, Austin, TX 78701, www.casinoelcamino.netHOT DOG KING “When you eat here you dine with the King” is this amazing hot dog stand’s slogan. At least I think it’s something like that – I’m a bit hazy on the specifics, because its location, right in the middle of Red River Street, means that I mostly frequent it when I’ve been out drinking all night and not had a chance to eat. The guy who sells the Chicago-style dogs (and excellent vegetarian option) goes by the epithet of King, and I’m not one to argue. 8th St and Red River, Austin, TX 78701SOUTH CONGRESS CAFE Weekend brunch is an Austin staple, and South Congress Cafe has always been my favorite place to go at the crack of noon on a Sunday. Bloody Marys and coffee abound and the food is always top notch. The wait can be shockingly long, but South Congress has some of the best shops in town to explore, and you’ll observe some real characters when you finally get to your booth. 1600 South Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, southcongresscafe.com
29 Austin, TX
30 Austin, TX
31 Austin, TXDRINK THE SIDE BAR No bar is closer to my heart than Side Bar – I've had so many great times here over the years. It's completely unassuming and utterly devoid of pretension, but what it lacks in decor, seating, and functioning bathrooms, it makes up for in atmosphere. The bartenders are glad you're there, and they show it by way of very friendly pours. Its convenient location on Red River makes it the best place to sneak into between sets at one of the nearby music venues. 602 East 7th St, Austin, TX 78701, www.thesidebaraustin.comLONGBRANCH INN Historically, East Side nightlife was all about jazz and juke joints. That era has sadly passed, but the Longbranch keeps the flame alive. It’s home to the oldest physical bar in Austin, which was relocated some time ago from the Driskell Hotel. The decor (and taxidermy) evoke that sense of history, and their jukebox is unparalleled in its mix of old and modern tunes. 1133 East 11th St, Austin, TX 78702DONN’S DEPOT Donn’s is more of a destination, rather than a usual drinking spot, mainly because the clientele skews way older. Retrofitted into an old rail car, Donn’s has plush carpet, a piano and, best of all, free popcorn. Walk in on a random night and you’ll see cute old couples two-stepping while the patriarch and namesake, Donn, tinkles on the ivory keys. 1600 West 5th St, Austin, TX 78703,www.donnsdepot.comTHE GOOD KNIGHT The last few years in Austin have seen a surge in mixology bars, serving the kinds of drinks your Grandpa made after a long day at the office. The Good Knight was at the forefront, whipping up Old Fashioneds and Pimm's Cup No. 1s, while most places were content with tossing you a Longneck. When I say this is also the darkest bar in the city, I mean it literally. It's quiet and moody, but its class is undeniable. The drink menu changes seasonally and they also serve great food off a very limited menu. 1300 East 6th St, Austin, TX 78702, www.thegoodknight.netCHEERS SHOT BAR 6th Street is home to more college bars than I care to count and, when taken as a whole, they can be a fun time. Are any of these bars actually good? Of course not. That’s really not the point. They are there to serve wild frat boys, bachelorette parties and any other 21-35 year-old. Only one 6th Street bar has managed to wrangle any genuine affection from me, and that’s Cheers Shot Bar. They have about 200 different shots, all with ambiguously naughty names – the Dirty Girl Scout is my favorite. It’s easy to dismiss 6th Street in favor of other areas (Red River, East 6th, etc), but despite the different subcultures, deep down everyone in Austin just wants to party and have a good time. 416 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701SHANGRI-LA Austin's East Side, particularly East 6th, is currently the hottest drinking district. Most of the owners of this new crop of bars cut their teeth at some of the heavy hitters on Red River, and Shangri-La (or the Shang as it is usually referred to), is the embodiment of what makes them great. It has cheap drinks, friendly staff, and a beautiful outdoor patio that's both expansive and intimate. Oftentimes Shangri-La is someone's first foray into East Side drinking, so the crowd can be thick and random, but that's usually part of the fun. 1016 East 6th St, Austin, TX 78702, www.shangrilaaustin.comTHE LIBERTY The Liberty is Shang's rowdier little brother and has a lot of the same great offerings. The inexpensive drinks, bartenders you'd back up in a fight, and nice patio space are all here. It's rougher around the edges and the crowd is a lot more consistent in terms of its tattoos, piercings, and penchant for roughhousing. But really, that's what makes this place so great. They also have Terminator 2 and Star Trek: The Next Generation pinball machines, which I have to admit are pretty awesome. 1618 1/2 East 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
32 Austin, TXSHOPCHEAPO DISCS AND FRIENDS OF SOUND There are so many great record shops in Austin that it pains me to highlight just one, but I’ll have to go with Cheapo, open 365 days a year. They have a great selection of used CDs and DVDs, but best of all is all the vinyl in the back half of the store. Obscure 45s, vintage international, and every significant musical movement of the 20th Century are at your fingertips. The inventory probably caters more to the crate digger than the curatorial, but there's nothing better than flipping through a few hundred LPs waiting to see what comes next. If you're more inclined to high-grade New Wave, electronica, and novelty, check out Friends of Sound. CHEAPO: 914 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78703, www.cheapotexas.com, FRIENDS OF SOUND: 1704 South Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, www.friendsofsound.comUNCOMMON OBJECTS Whenever I have friends visiting from out of town, I always take them here. It's hard to describe what Uncommon Objects is, and if you single out its parts you find it doesn't really describe what it is as a whole. It sells antiques, vintage furniture, signage, jewelry, clothing, old maps and woodpress type, anatomical posters, melamine flatware, and cabinets full of old postcards and photographs. All this stuff is cool, but what makes this place so special is the presentation. The entire inventory is divided into thematic nooks by color (like red, brown, or white), or subject matter (the ocean, the body, the occult). When I am looking for inspiration or want to be surprised by juxtaposition, this is where I go. 1512 South Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, www.uncommonobjects.comDOMY BOOKS If you're looking to blow a paycheck on art and design books, look no further. Domy not only has a stupendous collection of zines, design manifestos and print ephemera, they also have one of the better small art galleries in town. Their packed but impeccably organized space is always worth a stop. 913 East Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702, www.domystore.comFIESTA MART This is Austin's largest Hispanic market. It's a giant, culturally authentic grocery store and a flea market combined. It's the kind of place where you can buy really good peppers and a Scarface rug in one trip. 3909 N I-35 Service Rd, Austin, TX 78722, www.fiestamart.comSERVICE MENSWEAR AND BY GEORGE Austin fashion boutiques are mainly of the vintage variety (there are many up and down South Congress), but Service Menswear for men, and By George for women, offer great contemporary clothes. By George is definitely high-end ladies’ fashion, and exists in a
