In the new millennium, Austin, Texas, has taken the title of the live music capital of America, with more music venues per capita than anywhere else in the country. Austin is also known for its beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation, with Lake Austin, Town Lake, as well as numerous lakes, parks, golf courses, and hiking trails in the area. Like most other areas of Central Texas, Austin offers a diverse range of dining options that cater to all tastes.
However, one more thing has become synonymous with Bat City: Austin rooftop bars!
Austin’s rooftop bars are a great way to enjoy the city’s beautiful weather. These rooftop bars offer a unique view of the city and are often located in high-profile buildings that give you great views over Austin’s skyline.
There are many different types of rooftop bars in downtown Austin, but most of them are open to the public. You can go up on any of these rooftops and enjoy the views from there.
Some of these rooftops have a bar area where you can enjoy drinks while you take in the scenery. There is also usually an outdoor space where you can lounge around with your friends or family members and enjoy the weather!
If you’re not sure where to start, try our guide below and browse our list of the best rooftops bars in Austin!
The 10 Best Austin Rooftop Bars
Upstairs at Caroline
621 Congress Ave.. Suite 201, Austin, TX 78701, United States // +15129826766
This one takes the cake as one of the best places to get cocktails on a rooftop in Austin. It’s located in a hotel but with such a different vibe.
You can enjoy great drinks while enjoying your outdoor space with friends or family members. Plus, you can play tons of games like giant Jenga, Shuffleboard, Cornhole, Shuffleboard, and Foosball.
They offer numerous weekly discounts, such as $2 Taco Tuesday, Sunday Yappy Hour, and Thirsty Thursday with $7 draft beverages from 4 to 7 pm.
Try a Blood Orange Margarita or a Maple Me Crazy made with bourbon, and order some of their top-notch tacos.
They also have an awesome coffee bar and restaurant on the lower level called Caroline Downstairs. Make sure to check it out. They allow you to take your glasses and plates with you.
Otopia Rooftop Lounge
1901 San Antonio St. Unit 1100, Austin, TX 78705, United States // +17372439040
If you’re looking for a place that is more upscale but also more approachable than most of the other options in Austin, look no further than Otopia.
It is located right on the edge of the University of Texas, perched on the top of the Otis Hotel.
The terrace is lush, bright, and fashionable. It features a stunning rooftop pool as well as a large, comfortable lounge space, both of which are surrounded by breathtaking views of the Austin skyline.
Visit Otopia during their “Golden Hour” promotion, which runs from Monday through Thursday from one hour before sunset to one hour after. You can get half-off a selection of appetizers, $2 off wine by the glass, and an $8 rotating specialty cocktail.
Additionally, you must order a day pass online if you want to use the pool between 12 and 5 pm.
Azul Rooftop
310 E. 5th St., Austin, TX 78701, United States // +15127925622
On top of the luxurious Westin Austin Downtown is where you’ll find Azul Rooftop Bar and Lounge. It is Austin’s highest rooftop bar, perched twenty stories up, and the roof terrace offers breathtaking views of the downtown skyline.
To ensure that you don’t miss a single detail of the views, the deck is surrounded by transparent panels. The deck also has a wading pool, cabanas, and fire pits.
Our server was phenomenal and helpful with everything. I had an espresso martini, and I went with the famous Fried Avocado Salad and chips, the perfect dish to enjoy by the pool.
If you want to have a relaxing day by the pool or catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunset, alongside a massive selection of cocktails and tasty food, this Austin rooftop bar is ideal.
Zanzibar
304 E. Cesar Chavez St. Unit 700, Austin, TX 78701, United States // +17377876969
Seven stories up, yet a world away. You will love this unique rooftop bar in Austin.
This tropical and lush rooftop terrace and oasis offer stunning views of downtown Austin but also give you the impression of being on an exotic island.
You can enjoy island-inspired small meals, such as fresh sushi, shrimp skewers, spicy tuna poke, and teriyaki sliders, while sipping specialty cocktails crafted with a tropical touch.
Order the frozen Tradewinds, a cocktail made with rum, Aperol, peach, coconut, and lime, along with the pulled pork on Hawaiian rolls with pineapple slaw.
The drinks and food were well made and reasonably priced, and the service was helpful and friendly. All in all, this is a great place to wind down after a long day, and it felt like a mini-vacation in itself.
The Rooftop on 6TH
403 E. 6th St. Ste. B2, Austin, TX 78701, United States // +15129427663
The Rooftop on 6th is an Austin bar located in the well-known Sixth Street neighborhood.
Its luxurious furnishings are replete with a striking burgundy wall, dark hardwood fittings, and a black chandelier at the entryway.
This location stands out from other bars, pubs, and nightclubs in the region because of its stylish crowd, cool live bands, and DJs, as well as the energetic dancing. Despite the excellent music, the volume is set low enough for people to have meaningful talks while sipping drinks.
It makes sense that it is the preferred bar for both meeting new people and spending quality time with friends.
Second Bar + Kitchen Rooftop at East Austin Hotel
1108 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702, United States // +17372058888
Established in 2016, the second location of the popular eatery in downtown Austin is located in the East Austin Hotel.
For sharable, casual meals, Chef David Bull blends seasonal ingredients with regional artisan products. He also offers a broad range of well-crafted cocktails, selected beers, and an approachable wine menu.
The short-rib dinner was tempting because it came with a large number of sides and appetizers. It served two for dinner. My favorites were the cheddar rosemary biscuits and the roasted Brussels sprouts. It was delicious.
You can find a seat where you can talk without fighting too much noise. The food was very good, and the service was exceptional. It is high-priced for what you get, but it still makes for a good place to meet and eat when looking for an Austin rooftop bar.
Highly recommended!
77° Rooftop Patio Bar
11500 Rock Rose Ave, Austin, TX 78758, United States // +15125892925
A three-story Austin rooftop terrace bar with a fantastic selection of drinks, vibes, and views, 77 Degrees Rooftop is located in the Rock Rose entertainment zone of the Domain Northside open-air mall.
The magnificent rooftop, which resembles a Vegas-style club, has swing seats and contemporary lounge chairs, all surrounded by great views of the Domain area.
The rooftop bar, which is named after the ideal temperature for mixing drinks (77°), offers a wonderful selection of signature-crafted cocktails as well as interesting tapas meals.
There is also a hookah lounge where you can try some of their flavors. Their hookahs are amazing. I had their pineapple hookah and another fresh-flavored hookah, and both were excellent. Their specialty cocktails, priced at $12 each, are also wonderful. We had several orders of Normans Cay. The bartenders are very social and easy to talk to.
If you’re looking for a great place for drinks and socializing on a rooftop in Austin, look no further!
Rules & Regs
101 Red River St., Austin, TX 78701, United States // +15125244700
This seven-story rooftop bar is a Latin-inspired rooftop bar and restaurant located in Austin Fairmont. Despite not being on the hotel’s top floor, the views of the Austin skyline are nonetheless breathtaking.
The rooftop bar serves unique cocktails, as well as a decent selection of tequila, mezcal, rum, wine, and sparkling wine available by glass or by bottle. They offer good bar bites, too, with fresh Latin flavors to go along with the cocktails.
Also, they have a cigar shop; how cool is that?
The atmosphere was absolutely amazing, and it all started with the hostess Carmen. She was so kind and professional and just overall provided us with great customer service.
Great place to visit if you are in Austin.
Edge Rooftop
110 E. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701, United States // +15126084503
Located in the heart of downtown, the JW Marriott Austin offers a stunning rooftop terrace on the fourth floor. It’s an elevated rooftop lounge with views of Congress Ave and Lady Bird Lake.
Stunning and unforgettable, this is an experience you won’t forget once you visit this Austin rooftop bar.
The bar is open to the public after 6 pm and offers a variety of craft cocktails, beers, and wines. The menu also includes tacos, salads, and other light bites.
I will definitely come back for the spicy shrimp lettuce cups with a specialty cocktail – the Mexican Candied Paloma.
El Alma
1025 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704, United States // +15126098923
El Alma, named after its longtime chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas, has lots to offer, both in terms of food options and drinks.
Here you can enjoy fun, casual, and authentic Mexican food or choose one of the nine Margarita choices, as well as other Latin-inspired cocktails.
I recommend the medium size crispy corn tortillas topped with shredded chicken, black beans, and slaw. Combine that with the famed Margarite, a frozen margarita with tequila-marinated mango puree served with El Chile rum.
Known for its vibrant atmosphere and friendly staff, El Alma rooftop is a popular spot among locals, especially during the daily 3-6 pm Happy Hour. Nevertheless, it’s worth a visit at any time of the day, whether for a sunny lunch, a weekend brunch, or a casual night out with music, food, and drinks.
Austin Rooftop Bars: Wrap Up!
If you weren’t sure where to go in Austin until now, I hope reading this post will give you some ideas. We made a great effort in selecting the city’s outstanding roofs, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
You can find such a variety of bars, many with amazing views, where you can explore local food, a wide selection of craft beer, bourbon, wine, and tons of live music.Austin has something for everyone. Without a doubt, there is an abundance of rooftop bars in Austin.
Visiting other destinations in Texas? Check out our other delicious guides:
- The 10 Best Mexican Restaurants In Austin
- 9 Must-Try League City Restaurants
- 11 Best Restaurants In Southlake TX
- 8 Must-Try Keller Restaurants
- 10 Best Restaurants in The Woodlands, TX
- 7 Must-Try Restaurants in Katy, Texas
- 10 Best Frisco Restaurants
- 6 Must-Try Amarillo Restaurants
- 7 Must-Try Restaurants in Katy, Texas
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever