15 Rooftop Bars In Austin With Jaw-Dropping Views
Whether you’re visiting Austin for the weekend or you’re a local ready for a fun night, there are few things more magical than sipping a cocktail on a rooftop bar with a view of the city. The confusing part: where are all these amazing rooftop bars in Austin?
Well, some of them are a bit tricky to get into…they require advanced reservations, or an elevator within a restaurant within a hotel, or maybe just a good word-of-mouth reservation from a local. (Which is what you’re getting here.)
Thankfully, you’ve stumbled upon this guide to some of the most amazing rooftop bars in Austin.
1. Group Therapy
Located on the 7th floor of Hotel Zaza in Austin, Group Therapy is a restaurant and lounge that’s situated right next to their stunning pool. The outdoor bar has a western-facing view of the downtown skyline (gorgeous during sunset!) from comfy sofas and chairs.
There’s a full menu, but you could totally stop by for a drink. Tip: go early (pre-dinner drinks) to avoid crowds.
WEBSITE | 400 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
2. P6
There’s a theme to these rooftop bars in downtown Austin: many of them are located inside hotels, and P6 is no exception. Named after the 6th floor of the parking garage, which was converted into this stunning rooftop bar, P6 has sweeping views of Town Lake, the downtown skyline, and south Austin.
To get to the bar, walk inside the hotel and use the special elevator to the left. (You'll see a host stand outside the elevator.) Note that it's NOT the same elevator that gets you up to the hotel rooms! If you're having trouble finding it, just ask the someone at the front desk.
Enjoy their specialty cocktails alongside small mediterranean plates.
WEBSITE | 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
3. Edge Rooftop Bar
The JW Marriott hosts several great dining destinations, and Edge is their rooftop bar with stunning views of the epic Texas State Capitol building and South Congress Ave. It’s a great spot to kick off your bachelorette party evening (photos here during golden hour are *muah* perfection) before heading out to dinner. Or finish the night at Edge Rooftop Bar with a few cocktails.
The drinks here are pricey, and to be quite frank, you’re mostly paying for the view. The cocktails are adequate, and the food is “meh”, but the ambiance and views are unmatched. {Photo via Marriott}
WEBSITE | 110 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
4. Eastside Tavern
If you want some delicious Texas barbecue AND a rooftop cocktail bar in Austin, you need to try Eastside Tavern. It’s a fun spot in east Austin where you’re more likely to see a crowd of locals than tourists. The food is fantastic, the drinks are spot on, and the large rooftop patio boasts a great view of east Austin.
WEBSITE | 1510 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
5. Rules & Regs
This 7th floor poolside lounge at The Fairmont Austin is an epic rooftop bar for you to consider. They mostly serve specialty cocktails, but you can also find wine and bubbly by the glass, beer, and some small bites of food.
Make a reservation to be sure that you have a space saved for you. Or, try heading there early in the evening to see if you can do a walk-in for a quick drink. The view is absolutely amazing. {Photo via Fairmont Austin}
WEBSITE | 101 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
6. Upstairs At Caroline's
Located at the base of the Aloft Hotel, Upstairs at Caroline’s feels like a casual backyard party in Austin. While this open-air restaurant and bar don’t have sweeping views of the skyline (it’s just located on the second floor…), it does have turf, brisket tacos, great drinks, and yard games like cornhole and Jenga.
WEBSITE | 621 Congress Ave Ste 201, Austin, TX 78701
7. Azul Rooftop Lounge
Like we mentioned before, a lot of these rooftop bars in downtown Austin are located in hotels, and this is no exception. (Hotels have some of the best real estate in Austin!) Azul, located at the Westin in downtown Austin, has a view that will absolutely blow you away.
This is a great poolside bar in the summer with margaritas and ceviche, but it’s also a gorgeous spot to stop by in the evening to imbibe. {Photo via Westin}
WEBSITE | 310 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
8. El Alma
Located on the other side of the river from the bars that we’ve mentioned thus far, El Alma is a beloved Mexican restaurant that’s located on Barton Springs. What does that mean for you? The rooftop portion has a distanced view of the downtown Austin skyline, and it’s lovely.
Make reservations here and plan on drinks + snacks during happy hour, or a full dinner in the evening.
WEBSITE |1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
9. Green Light Social
This is a good late night spot to get a drink, dance, and enjoy a view of downtown. There’s a outdoor rooftop patio with an extra bar for quick drink access, music playing, and a lively crowd on the weekends.
WEBSITE | 720 W 6th St. Austin, TX 78701
10. The Tipsy Alchemist
There’s a sort of “mad scientist” vibe to this one, with drinks shooting through test tubes in the ceiling. The open-air concept is great for a warm summer night in Austin, and you can enjoy your cocktail with a view of Rainey Street below.
WEBSITE | 70 Rainey St Suite 200, Austin, TX 78701
11. Oasis Brewing
Want to get away from downtown Austin for a minute? Oasis Brewery, located about 30 minutes west of downtown Austin, has one of the best views in Austin. Order a beer and enjoy an unobstructed view of Lake Travis from their patio.
Oasis has won a few Great American Beer Festival awards for their delicious brews. Try the London Homesick Ale or their delicious Luchesa Lager.
WEBSITE | 6650 Comanche Trail Suite #301, Austin TX 78732
12. La Piscina
For poolside margaritas and sizzling fajitas on fresh flour tortillas, checkout La Piscnina. Located inside the Austin Proper Hotel, this poolside dining destination has views of downtown Austin and an upscale feel.
Order a cocktail and oysters for a short visit, or make a dinner reservation for the full experience.
WEBSITE | 600 W 2nd St 5th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
13. Terrace 59
This is a spot that local Austinites know about…it’s been around since the 1990s. While downstairs is dark with live music and drinks, the rooftop terrace (59 steps above ground…hence the name) has a great view of downtown Austin.
WEBSITE | 412 Congress Ave D, Austin, TX 78701
14. Zanzibar
This stunning Austin rooftop bar feels like a tropical oasis! Located in downtown Austin, Zanzibar is a poolside lounge with a lush feel, island-inspired food and drinks, and a world away from all of your troubles.
You might want to make reservations here - it’s pretty new and popular in Austin. {Photo via Zanzibar}
WEBSITE | 304 E Cesar Chavez St Unit 700, Austin, TX 78701
15. The Upside
It’s just a ride from downtown Austin, and East Austin Hotel’s rooftop bar is a fun (and slightly quieter) place to escape the craziness of downtown and enjoy a rooftop view. The menu offers snacks like smothered tater tots and a spicy gochujang queso, as well as classic drinks like an old fashioned or a pain killer.
WEBSITE | 1108 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
This post is part of the Austin Food Bloggers Alliance City Guide! To see more guides to the ATX food scene, click here.
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