The Prettiest Bars In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 20, 2025

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I am not a world-renowned mixologist or sommelier, but I know my way around a cocktail menu. A decade of food writing and city blogging has given me a front seat at some of the hottest cocktail bars in Austin and beyond. But do you know what I keep discovering, over and over again? It’s the prettiest bars in Austin that are often the most consistently popular.

Take that with a grain of salt, of course. The prettiest cocktail bars often have deepest financial pockets for developing a really cool buildout, which means they can hire the most talented bartenders, find the smartest menu developers, and invest in their own marketing to develop a sturdy buzz around the establishment. >>After all, it’s always the trifecta of food and drinks/ambiance/service that determines that worthiness of a restaurant or bar.<< A “pretty bar” alone won’t make it for too long in the competitive Austin bar scene.

That’s why I’m excited to share these places with you! Here are some of the prettiest bars in Austin, and they also have my stamp of approval of excellent beverage programs and impeccable service. Cheers!

About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheWacoThings.com!

The 13 Prettiest Bars In Austin

1. Prélude

Prélude opened in 2024 in an historic house on the western edge of downtown Austin. The design is INSANE. I mean…I just wanted to snap pictures of the entire space so I could try to replicate it in my own house. They serve cocktails and canapés, so it’s the perfect place for a swanky date night or a girlfriends’ night out. (Just show up, don't show up too hungry here…think of it as a pre- or post-dinner drink sort of place.)

WEBSITE | 707 W 10th St, Austin, TX 78701, United States

2. Daydreamer

A champagne bar? Yes please! Daydreamer started as an east Austin bungalow that was completely gutted out and renovated into this dazzling space with soaring ceilings, natural light, and lots of pink and white. They don’t rely on good looks alone, though; Daydreamer has an impressive beverage program with plenty of bubbly, some classic cocktails, and a wide variety of originals that you won’t find anywhere else.

WEBSITE | 1708 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702, United States

3. Bar at Lutie’s Garden Restaurant

Let’s not forget that you can go sit at the bar at nearly any restaurant in Austin! Lutie’s Garden Restaurant is not only one of the 30 best restaurants in Austin…it’s also one of the prettiest date night spots. And while reservations can be hard to get on weekends, anyone can pop in and grab a spot at the stunning bar and order a cocktail or glass of wine.

WEBSITE | Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, 4100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78751, United States

4. Watertrade

Watertrade is a speakeasy on the second floor of the South Congress Hotel. It has the most impressive selection of Japanese whisky in the city, and it also has some of the most knowledgeable, friendly bartenders. You can access this place by walking up the unmarked staircase in the South Congress Hotel courtyard. Make reservations if you can, but if not, you might be able to snag a bar stool. Just ask the host.

WEBSITE | 1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, United States

5. Equipment Room

Not only one of the prettiest bars in Austin, but also one of the coolest concepts. Equipment Room is an underground basement bar beneath the Hotel Magdalena on South Congress. They have vintage hi-fi equipment where they play a special collection of records which you can enjoy while you imbibe. Truly one-of-a-kind and so much fun…plus it’s just a beautifully designed space. {Photo: Chelsey C., Yelp}

WEBSITE | 1101 Music Ln, Austin, TX 78704, United States

6. Holiday on 7th

When the weather is nice, the bar at Holiday will be absolutely buzzing with Austenite's who want to eat and drink at one of the coolest new bars and restaurants in town. Holiday on 7th was an old auto mechanic shop that was renovated into this stunning bar. I adore the tree-shaded patio, but the indoor space is equally lovely. Take your pick! (Psst: the food here is phenomenal.)

WEBSITE | 5020 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702, United States

7. Goldie’s

Goldie’s is the sunken lobby bar at the Austin Proper, which was designed by Kelly Wearstler…can I just stop there? This is obviously one of the most insanely beautiful spaces in Austin. Prices are steep and the weekends get SO crowded with the wealthy downtown Austin crowd, but if you can swing by on a weeknight evening, this is a really lovely bar experience. {Photo: Goldie’s Sunken Bar}

WEBSITE | Proper Hotel, 600 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701

8. Nido

What about pretty rooftop bars in Austin? I’ve found that lots of rooftop bars rely on the view and don’t do much in the way of design, but Nido is an absolutely stunning place, inside and out. The prices are a bit steep to compensate for the real estate cost (you’re dining with an unobstructed view of downtown and Lady Bird Lake!), but if you’re not able to swing an entire dinner, it’s a beautiful bar for a pre-dinner drink.

WEBSITE | Rooftop, 1211 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704, United States

9. Here Nor There

I’ve shared a few Austin speakeasies on this list, and Here Nor There is the best one! I’ve yet to find another bar in Austin that puts quite as much care and energy into their rotating menu of cocktails. Seriously - the menu is fun to read. This is an underground downtown speakeasy and you have to make reservations in advance to get changing daily access codes.

WEBSITE | 612 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701, United States

10. The Long Goodbye

The Long Goodbye is fun because it’s a pretty casual outdoor space…but once you walk into the 21+ cocktail lounge, you’re transported into a different world! The cocktails here are creative (Oaxacan martini) and fun (edible glitter - but in a classy way!) and the adorable bar is a fun place to escape the heat and enjoy a drink at the bar.

WEBSITE | 2808 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722, United States

11. Comedor

Downtown Austin has its fair share of incredibly beautiful bars and restaurants, but Comedor is forever my favorite. Not only is it a Michelin-selected restaurant, it’s also one of the only free-standing restaurant buildings in downtown Austin. (Most downtown restaurants are built into the ground floor of high-rise buildings.) This means that Comedor was able to do some incredible architectural work with soaring ceilings and skylights. It has a very CDMX feel. This is a classic example of the perfect trifecta of food/service/ambiance. (Psst: they have a happy hour at the bar!)

WEBSITE | 501 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701, United States

12. Garage Bar

Garage Bar has the coolest mid century feel, some of the best cocktails in town, and…it’s built into a parking garage! It’s not quite a speakeasy because it’s clearly marked from the outside, but you’ll definitely be surprised by how gorgeous the interior is because it literally just looks like a downtown Austin parking garage from the outside.

WEBSITE | 503 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701, United States

13. Lulu’s

Lulu’s is one of the many spots on this incredible bar and restaurant district on Menchaca Road, and it’s STUNNING. It’s very much a CDMX-inspired space with lots of modern textiles mixed with woven textiles and interesting tiles. They mostly have tequila and mezcal-based cocktails on the menu at Lulu’s, but you can order pretty much anything.

WEBSITE | 10402 Menchaca Rd bldg C, Austin, TX 78748, United States

More ideas for you: check out the most beautiful restaurants in Austin or these romantic date-night spots in Austin. Also, here’s an incredibly popular guide to the all-time BEST places to eat in Austin, period.

Posted in FOOD and tagged bars