The Best Deep South Austin Bars and Restaurants – The Phat Phoodies Guide (Updated for 2024)

I’ve been in Austin for several years now, and I’ve noticed a fun little trend about where I live within the city. I keep moving further south. At this rate, I’ll probably be in the Gulf of Mexico by 2044. But for now, I’m still in good ol’ Austin, and have been very impressed by the growth of cool spots in Deep South Austin. So, being the curious boy that I am, I thought, why not compile a list of some of the best Deep South Austin bars and restaurants? And that’s where we’ve ended up, folks. Sometimes life is just that simple. There are lots of Austin things to do in the south here and I’m covering them as part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance City Guide. Let’s hop on in! And click the map below to find a spot close to you.

District Kitchen

5900 W. Slaughter Ln, Suite D 500, Austin, TX 78749

The first entry here is the most north, so it’s a lovely parallel to my Austin living experience. District Kitchen is in a big ol’ plaza with a lot of other fun spots, like Torchy’s Tacos and HEB (what, you don’t like grocery shopping as much as I do?!). 

I also used to live dangerously close to here, which meant access to VERY good food (Moroccan Lamb Kabobs and Wild Mushroom Mac & Cheese for the win). And perhaps more importantly, District Kitchen has a bomb dot com happy hour. 3:30 to 7 Monday through Saturday, and then they’re gonna turn your Sundays into a very fun day, with HH from 2 pm until close. The happy hour menu adds a few fun things, like Street Tacos, and it’s just a lovely opportunity to be merry.

Mangieri’s

5900 W. Slaughter Ln, Suite 460, Austin, TX 78749

Remember how I mentioned the other fun spots near District Kitchen? One of them is Mangieri’s, which offers a nice variety of pizzas, pastas, and salads. This pizza cafe only sources from small local farms and uses unbleached, unbromated, and non-GMO flour. They have several staples on the menu but also routinely rotate in a pizza of the month. I’ve tried said pizza of the month at least three times now, and no matter what it was, it’s always been a winner.

The Prima Pesto is probably my favorite “classic” option, a blend of basil pine nut pesto, artichoke hearts, organic roma tomatoes, mushrooms, and mozzarella. Your taste buds will be doing tangos together as you nom. And it makes sense to get two pizzas, as your second selection will be a few bucks off. That’s a nice little incentive!

Moontower Saloon

10212 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748

Moontower loses a point for checking your ID as you’re driving up to the parking lot and then invariably doing it again at the bar — they’ve also recently started charging $15 for parking, so be prepared to stay for the long haul.

Nonetheless, I’ve always had a blast here, whether I was just hanging out on the patio, catching some tunes, or playing sand volleyball. And while very few people are actually unfriendly in Austin, the random encounters I’ve had at Moontower Saloon are some of the nicest experiences I’ve had at any Deep South Austin bars – or really any bar, period.

Lustre Pearl South

10400 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748

Lustre Pearl is such a cool vibe. This has gotta be one of the more spacious bars in the entire city, and there’s so much going on. No matter what you’re feeling, you’ll find a spot in the bar to give you a good time. Perhaps you’ll hit the dance floor, sing some karaoke on Thursday nights, or maybe you’ll just grab something delicious from any of the food trucks. Special shout to Praxis Coffee Roasters, who delivers good coffee and extreme friendliness. This is also where I watched my alma mater, the Miami Hurricanes, advance to the school’s only Final Four, and that’s a fun nostalgic kick.

South Austin Beer Garden (SABG)

10700 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748

Not to be confused with the Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company (ABGB), SABG was one of the first “new” spots I popped over to when I first moved further south. It’s kind of a classic staple to the Deep South Austin bar scene, but it’s holding its own quite nicely.

With 60 draft beers, cocktails, and a big ol’ patio with games like cornhole, you’re in for a roaring good time. There are also tasty eats from HBQ, so you can get your BBQ and creamed corn on. Finally, this is the only bar in the entire city that I’ve found serves Malort, a truly atrocious drink that everyone should try at least once.

Teal House Coffee and Bakery

200 Main St, Buda, TX 78610

I am cheating here (Teal House is technically located in central Austin and Buda) and for that, I apologize. But at one point, they did have a location on East Slaughter lane. And OH. MY. GOODNESS. This is a bold proclamation, but I really do think Teal House has the best pastries in the whole city. Do yourself a favor and order multiple Cassias, which are basically croissants WITH cinnamon roll icing on top of them, with a little bit baked into the croissant, too. This is surely what Jasmine and Aladdin were referring to in “A Whole New World.” The kolaches are phenomsies, as well (shoutout to the stuffed brisket!). On top of that, the coffee drinks are incredibly yummy and innovative, with a salted caramel latte being my personal favorite. 

If you prefer an experience closer to downtown, Teal House opened up a brick-and-mortar location in early 2021 off of Congress and Oltorf. I can confirm it’s got some nice outdoor seating which is perfect for getting some work done on a gorgeous sunny day — in between bites of sweet treats, of course.

Armadillo Den

10106 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748

One of the benefits of venturing down south is a lot of spots have ample space for you to spread out. Even better when they let doggos come and join the fun, too. Armadillo Den is among the Manchaca barrage of bars, but they’re quickly becoming a go-to for a ton of locals (and visitors are welcome too, of course).

With 18 beers on tap, their drink selection is robust, the food options are solid (two food trucks in tow), and as concerts are starting to become a thing again, this location is set up really nicely for live music. As Armadillo Den itself claims, it’s “your neighborhood meetup for everything and nothing all at once.” The main negative is the parking lot is, frankly, pathetic for how large of a space Armadillo Den takes up. Plan to carpool or take a rideshare.

The Hive

10542 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748

The Hive moved into new digs towards the end of 2019, flipping from Old Manchaca to new Menchaca…yes, the name change is still very dumb. What isn’t dumb, though, is The Hive. This place once again makes me a bee-liever (because honey, get it? I’m so clever) in cozy coffee shops. They also hosted my book launch and whipped up some SUPER tasty, themed cocktails. 

On top of drinks crafted with care in very entertaining mugs, you can also grab a quick bite to eat and hang out in the coworking space. The Hive also offers childcare services and play spaces, so you can let your little ones tire themselves out while enjoying a beverage. Even better news: For people like me who need to have this report on Johnson’s desk by the end of the day, or I’m toast, the kiddos are separated enough that I’ve never been distracted by their far more fun shenanigans. 

Lulu’s

10402 Menchaca Rd., Bldg C, Austin, TX 78748

A new-ish kid on the block, Lulu’s opened in October 2022 but has already made an impression. The aesthetic is just lovely, and there’s ample space to unwind with a refreshing drink or grab a treat from one of the food trucks outside (either in the Lulu’s patio or at the neighboring bars). You might even be treated to some live music.

It’s a great spot for the “happiest of hours,” too — $2 off specialty cocktails and $1 off beer from Tuesday to Friday, with $3 mimosas available up until 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Drifters Social

10630 Menchaca Rd Bldg A, Austin TX 78748

Drifters opened up in 2024, and it caters to quite a few different crowds. If you’re an early bird, there’s a bevy of coffee options that will suit your caffeine needs (and be sure to pick up a punch card to score a free drink down the line). Should you be more of a night owl, the ample cocktail and beer selection will keep you well hydrated. The rotating food trucks are also impressive.

But the real highlight here are the two pickleball courts. You’ll likely need to reserve time on them, though you may find a trio that’s in need of an extra to make it a quartet. I play pickleball approximately once per year, and my most recent adventure was right here at Drifters. It was a grand ol’ time.

DK Maria’s Legendary Tex-Mex

1807 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78748

Drawing influence from South Texas towns, DK Maria and her family have had quite the wild lives. They’ve traversed with bandits, fed both sides of the Alamo, and drank with Ernest Hemingway. And as you may know, that man could DRINK. Perhaps that’s why the margaritas here are so absolutely fantastic.

But it’s not just the cocktails that’ll get your engine revving at DK Maria’s. All of the food is terrific, too. I’ve gone wild on fajitas and dabbled in items like chimichangas, burritos, and fried stuffed avocados, and I’ve yet to be disappointed. And…I may be thrown to the curb for this but…*looks around* DK Maria’s has among the best queso in town. Definitely come on in and go crazy.

Texas Keeper Cidery

12521 Twin Creeks Road, Manchaca, TX 78652

Okay, y’all, I’ma cheat juuuust a little bit here. Texas Keeper is technically in Manchaca, which is a tiny little unincorporated town a wee bit south of Austin. But it’s right on the fringe, and it’s certainly not going to put you out to get over there, so I have to include it.

For one, their ciders are FANTASTIC, and I’m not even a cider fan normally. Special shouts to the Cider Noir, which made it on a recent episode of Parks n Wrecked. Their food is also very good, with offerings like a pulled pork sandwich and a grilled cheese with prosciutto and some bomb jam. It’s also kiddo friendly, has copious outdoor seating (and sometimes live music), and has a converted home/church for an indoor bar and hangout area. Grab some friends, take a board game from the shelf, and just have yourself a grand old time.

There are plenty of things to do in Austin, and this guide to the Deep South neighborhoods will keep you happy. Now, let’s eat, drink, and be merry.

View other Places here.