From swimming to sushi: Austinites share their favorite places at happy hour

Ask any group of Austinites what the top places in the city are, and you’re bound to start a controversial conversation. With so many great spots to enjoy, it’s hard to settle on favorites, but at a recent happy hour, that’s just what we asked guests to do.

Austin Google Places users joined us at Icenhauer’s for some after-work socializing and sushi from How Do You Roll. To RSVP, they had to tell us their top three Austin spots. After tallying up everyone’s votes, below is an unveiling of their top picks:

1. Barton Springs Pool - This gem in the middle of the city has been cooling Austinites for decades with its frigid waters — and it looks like we just can’t get enough!
2. Torchy’s Tacos - One of the veterans of Austin’s bustling trailer food scene, Torchy’s has a taco for every personality, including their Republican, Democrat, and even the Trailer Park Trashy.
3. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - From singalongs to feasts to Master Pancake, the Drafthouse taught us what going to see a movie should really be like.
4. Uchi - Celebrity chef Tyson Cole doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to high-class cuisine. Uchi topped many guest’s lists, with a strong showing also coming from Uchi’s sister restaurant, Uchiko.
5. Kebabalicious - When the bars clear out at 2 a.m., Kebabalicious knows what people want. It’s why you’ll see folks cueing for their delicious gyros into the wee hours, not to mention at lunch and dinner as well.

Missed us at happy hour? See a list of upcoming events at google.com/austin, sign up for our weekly newsletter, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to stay in the know!

Posted by Whitney Francis, Austin community manager