Parties in Austin

6th Street is the classic starting point — dozens of bars and live music venues line the pedestrianised stretch between Congress Avenue and I-35. Rainey Street offers a more relaxed craft-cocktail vibe in converted bungalows. The Red River Cultural District is the go-to for indie, punk and electronic shows, while East Austin's bars cater to a hip, local crowd.

Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater is Austin's most iconic outdoor venue for big-name acts. Emo's Austin hosts indie and alternative shows on Red River. For pure club nights, Kingdom and Elysium on Red River are the top electronic and alternative nightclubs. Parish on 6th Street hosts quality DJ nights in an intimate setting.

Texas law permits alcohol sales until 2 am, so most Austin bars and clubs close between 2 am and 2:30 am. The entertainment district around 6th Street stays animated until last call, and food trucks outside many venues keep the energy going a little longer.

Austin is lively year-round, but March's SXSW transforms the entire city into one enormous music festival. October's Austin City Limits Music Festival draws major headliners. The summer months are hot but the outdoor venues on 6th Street and Rainey stay open late, and the cooler temperatures of October through April make bar-hopping especially pleasant.