Hotel San Jose and Lambert’s other Austin spot Hotel Saint Cecilia are colorful, cool and modern: sleek and chic with a tasteful touch of rock ‘n roll. Their garden courtyard patio is where you will drink the best michelada in town.” “She’s known for renovating Hotel San Jose on South Congress. “She’s basically Austin’s most famous and badass lesbian around,” said Austin dweller and writer Krista Doyle. We asked some Austin locals to give us the lowdown on where to eat, stay, shop and play while in town for SXSW, or any other time you might want to make the trip to the queerest town in Texas.įirst thing’s first: You’ve gotta know Liz Lambert. The out hotelier owns several different businesses both in and outside of Austin, but she’s a fixture of the city, and her hotels are the coolest places to stay or stop in for a drink in the Lone Star state. Notwithstanding Austin’s regular LGBTQ events and options during the year, SXSW is one of the best times to visit, as during the festival, the city not only bustles with interesting people looking to meet new faces, but serves up Southern hospitality in its everyday haunts. In a city known for its love of live bands and BBQ, Austin-philes also hail this musical mecca for its wonderful weirdness, which certainly speaks to its queerness. If you’ve never been to the famous festival (happening March 10-19 this year), South By (as locals and regulars call it) overlaps a week of Interactive (read: Internet and app-based panels, events and parties) with its film and comedy offerings (screenings, shows, even more parties) and its line-up of respected musicians and buzzed-about new acts, with every record label, lifestyle company, podcast and YouTube channel clamoring to cover who’s next. What we loved most about Bernadette’s…its BYOB.Every year, musicians, filmmakers, creatives, techies and the people that love them flock to Austin, Texas for SXSW. Not pretentious at all, this bar has an amazing outdoor space for when the weather is nice, and plenty of dancing space to to do the Dosey Doe! Rusty’s 405 E 7th St Austin, TX 78701įor all you Austin hipsters, Bernadette’s is a little piece of the East Village right in east Austin. When in Texas, do as the Texans do! We went to Rusty’s for some good ol’ country fun! The local country gay bar playing the latest hits in country music, as well as some vintage Reba! Rusty’s is a great spot for gay and gay friendly people. If I am going to Austin, I am looking for a big burly man! I found him, at the Iron Bear, obviously! Austin’s premiere bear bar, although small, is guaranteed to be filled with hot, beefy boys! Fun and cheap bear busts, and wicked strong drinks the rest of the time! Iron Bear 121 W 8th St Austin, TX 78701 For a Tuesday night, we danced till we dropped!!! Rain 217B W 4th St Austin, TX 78799 We made it just in time for their “Hey Cupcake” event on the last Tuesday of the month! They celebrate everyone’s birthday that month and give them “employee pricing”, whatever that means. Make it Rain!!! This little lounge on 4th street fits the description for small town, gay dance club. A frequent hub for Rupaul Drag Race contestants, Oilcan Harry’s comes highly recommended!! Oilcan Harry’s 211 W 4th St Austin, TX 78701 Friday and Saturday’s best for dancing, and Sundays come in for the $1 mimomsas.
![4th street austin gay bars 4th street austin gay bars](https://queerintheworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Gay-Bar-LGBT-Club-1024x684.jpg)
If not for the great music and cheap drinks, then Dane the bartender is reason enough to visit Oilcan Harry’s! This staple in the gay nightlife of Austin has specials 7 days a week. They say two things come out of Texas steers and queers! I traveled to Austin to keep it weird and check out the gay bars.