Summers are extremely hot and suffocating here and rooftops offer a privileged point of view to admire the metropolitan skyline while enjoying the cool shade at the same time, or sometimes, you can even swim in their swimming pool while sipping the signature cocktails of talented bartenders.
In Austin, there are quite a few glamorous locations to relax and spend time in good company.
Located in the heart of the city, East 6th street is an historic street as well as an eclectic mix of shops, bars, restaurants, clubs and various venues where you can spend wild nights.
You can let loose with live music and dancing: here you can easily find a club where to dance to Texas-inspired music and it is not uncommon to even see a few horses “parked” outside the venues as Texans do use horses for transportation still…it is not an urban legend!
The Edge, Azul and Otopia in Austin are regarded as some of the best rooftop bars for outdoor dining and drinking in the city. They are all located in Austin business and entertainment hub in downtown. Casual but refined restaurants by day, romantic yet open to all, elegant yet simple, their extensive menus feature house-made pastas, steaks and fish, as well as a variety of vegetable-based dishes.
You can also always drop by for just a drink ‘with a view’ or to impress someone for a date or even for a business meeting ‘in style.’
The dancing scene is great in Austin as it is a very young city, made by young people for young people.
There is even a newly created ‘secret society’ of promoters who have introduced a sort of ‘secret events list’ you can receive online where you can get invitations to the best and most exclusive parties (especially pool parties) in town.
It is good to know that in Texas, and all over the States, the nightlife is vibrant but it follows a complete different schedule compared to Italy for instance and perhaps to your country of provenience too.
If in Italy we go clubbing at around midnight and before that we have a drink and dine and chat for hours perhaps, Americans usually eat dinner very early (at around 6 p.m.) and head to the clubs shortly afterwards.
Pubs and rooftop bars get busy from 7 p.m. whereas disco clubs from 10 p.m.
Clubs close ‘early’ by our European standards as they close at 2 a.m. here.
Reason is bars and restaurants are allowed to serve alcoholic drinks only until midnight from Sunday to Friday and to 1 a.m. on Saturdays so it is not good for business to keep the nightclub open without selling drinks.
Last but not least, Austin claims to be the world capital of live music. And music is truly everywhere. It is impossible not to stumble upon a live performance. Artists perform everywhere and at all hours: on the streets, inside the airport, in clubs, in parks. It is not unusual to come across performances inside record stores and the most popular street for live music is East 6th Street, right in the center, a row of clubs next to each other where every night there is blues and people dance at all hours.
And for late nights grabs and after hour hang outs Austin is full of food trucks of all kinds and types, from hot dogs to tacos, ice cream,omelets, donuts and ethnic specialties. On the weekends on South Congress the line in front of food trucks never stops but I will write more about this in my next blog!
disco scene
