Top 4 Music Venues in Austin, TX

Ah, Austin. Or as I like to call, Barbecue City. However, the music venues and the scene itself are just as memorable. Spoiler alert: one of these venues combine both excellently.

1. Barracuda

Comprised of an indoor and outdoor stage, this venue has the best of both worlds. If you go to a music festival such as Levitation, there will be bands playing in both areas at once, giving you a choice. The indoor stage creates a more intimate feel, as the space is smaller and the sound reverberates off the walls. However, the outdoor area is great if you’re smoking and prefer a little more space. It doesn’t hurt that the bar outside is slightly bigger than the one inside either.

611 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

2. Stubb’s Barbecue

As the title implies, this venue is mostly known for its fantastic barbecue food (you can even buy their sauce in grocery stores across the country!), it also doubles as a music venue with quite a large stage. Country music fits perfectly here because of the barbecue but you can find more indie-based bands, such as Ty Segall during this year’s Levitation festival, who draw quite a massive crowd. If you’re looking to meet new people, dinner or a show (or both) are perfect options to post on DownToDash!

801 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

3. Mohawk

Located right by Stubb’s and Metal and Lace bar (which was featured on Bar Rescue when it was called “Headhunters”), Mohawk is an awesome venue of its own. The walls are covered in graffiti and stickers when you walk in, giving it a punk vibe. When you think you’re walking into an indoor venue, the bar only takes up half the place, with the rest of it being outside, without any door attaching the outside and inside. Since the stage and venue are smaller than the others, the shows have a more private feel.

912 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

4. Empire Control Room and Garage

A mostly indoor venue with one half for the bar and the other half for the stage, with an outdoor area for smoking and merchandise sales, this venue has plenty of space for walking around. As you might have guessed, the place is garage-themed. And if you’re hungry, they serve the classic bar food as well, such as burgers and nuggets. Since the lighting is also quite dark in there, the bar is quite atmospheric.

606 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

Written by Sebastian Rubino