Gay bars in austin texas
48-Hour Austin LGBTQ+ Itinerary
LGBTQ+-Owned and Gay-Friendly Things to Do in Austin, TX
Austin is one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the land, with a flawless score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign. But you won’t find just one “gayborhood” here. The community is integrated throughout the city, which means that Queer visitors will discover a warm welcome wherever they wander.
Check out our two-day itinerary that will direct you to some of the most popular shopping districts, restaurants, nightclubs and gay-owned businesses in Austin.
Radio Coffee & Beer. Courtesy of Visit Austin.
DAY 1
Fuel up for the day with an espresso from Radio Coffee & Beer in South Austin. Then grab a hearty breakfast from on-site patio sustenance truck Veracuz All Instinctive, where authentic Mexican tacos are made with all instinctive and fresh ingredients. Also located here is DEE DEE, serving up authentic Northern Thai street food for lunch and dinner.
Austin is all about the outdoors, so why not unite fellow joggers on the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, which winds along Lady Bird Lake's shimmering liquid
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This vegan food truck turned inclusive performance venue and kombucha bar is a staple in the Austin music scene. Nuzzled into the limestone cliffside is their neon lit outdoor stage where you can glimpse phenomenal artists perform, as adequately as inside on the cozy and colorful stage facing the bar. Take a break on their back patio or travel satisfy your hunger at the popular vegan burger food truck, Arlo’s. They have a large range of events from DJs to Drag Queens, singers, bands, vendors, you name it. This place will lift your spirits as the name implies and they’ll provide some delicious drinks along the way.
Oil Can Harry’s
211 W 4th St
This is the daddy of Austin’s gay bars. Oil Can Harry’s was established back in 1990 and has become not just loved but legendary. They contain a huge 360° bar, a stage, and a dance floor laid under colorful lights dripping from the ceiling. Outside they have an extra bar and patio to catch some gas between songs. If you’re looking for something more risque, chief through the side door to the Dark Bar where you’ll find some of the sexiest dancers on 4th street. OCH is a quintessential queer Austin experience that you don’t need to m
Hurry, the party’s gotta end…sometime. Really. With Fourth Highway being bulldozed to craft way for luxury apartments, the LGBTQIA+ community has been in limbo in recent years as to when the last hurrah will be. Clearly, the gang’s been living each festivity like it’s their last, if those heaving downtown parties are anything to go by. Mainstays like Oilcan Harry’s, Rain on 4th, and the Coconut Club, are spilling in glitter, boys, and eyelashes like never before, and you know these queens will keep going till the cranes reach in. (The bars preserve having ‘farewell parties’, but they’re like Cher tours and they keep coming back.)
The good news is that relocation is in the works, so they needn’t head to the breweries yet (phew). Let’s worry about Google Maps later. Austin’s still dancing, and you’ll find a small but mighty selection of gay bars to quench whatever y’all are thirsting for. Perhaps it’s drag brunch with a heavy helping of Texan sausage, pop diva dancefloor showdowns a la Gaga and Grande, or if kink’s your thing, there’s that too. Here are the best gay bars in Austin for gender non-conforming
Explore One of Austin's Walkable LGBTQ-Friendly Neighborhoods
We like to state that the whole city of Austin feels like a gayborhood, but if you're looking for a walkable neighborhood with the largest number of Queer nightclubs, patio bars and basement lounges then Downtown Austin's Warehouse District is the place to go. There’s something happening all day and all night in this city center.
DuMont's Down Low. Credit Mario Andrade Photography.
Fourth Street
Coconut Club
This tropical-themed bar is also known as one of the gyrate parties in town. The rooftop nightclub hosts local DJs six nights a week and tunes range from disco funk to Afro to electric and everything in between.
Cuatro Gato
Sister prevent to Coconut Club, Cuatro Gato serves up Latin sounds along with a bevvy of beer, mezcal, wine and cocktails from South of the border. "Coffee shop by day, perreo by night," keep an eye on their Instagram for themed nights, drag shows and other extraordinary events.
Dumont's Down Low
For a calmer scene, check out DuMont's Down Low. The warm and inviting basement, covered with whisky barrels from local distillers