In love! Big, parachute-shaded outdoor music venue on your right and on your left is an outside bar with intimate lounge seating and vegan food bar. Inside is another bar and a ground-floor stage. Organic juice blend cocktails, local beer, kombucha on tap. Came here with my coworkers for drinks and champagne after SXSW, and performed inside at a launch party for an Android app. Fun! Music nightly, rolling events all year long. Voted Best in Austin by the Austin Chronicle. read more

Cheer Up Charlies - Indoor stage. - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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THE SPOT to pregame before you go to any show in the Red River District. Staff is very friendly and they definitely make sure you are having a good time while you're there. Anyone who visits Austin, needs to stop by here and truly experience a bar that is accepting of all. Keep on rockin'! read more

Pretty amazing. Laid back and fun. Cocktail menu is more delicious sounding then actually was. I started with the gin one and it was just ok. Very weak drink. I went with vodka tonics after that and it was a better bet. We went to a qtpoc Fuego night and the music was amazing. So much good music, friendly everyone, lots of outdoor space, good room for dancing. Arlo's kitchen is right next door for some late night eats. Overall great. read more

Cheer Up Charlies - Cocktail menu - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Awesome vibe with decently priced drinks. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for indoor or outdoor spots.

Another highlight of our Austin trip. From the dance club inside to the chill courtyard to the outdoor art market, this place is just COOL. Drinks are priced well and taste even better. Staff was nice and service was fast. Sat for hours and chatted with friends. Hated leaving. Easily the best bar we visited on vacation. read more

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Cheer ups has grown up since I walked in the doors for the first time in 2014. New gravel, landscaped exterior, nice clean bathrooms....heckin' different now. I stopped in for a show on a Monday night and grabbed a drink at the inside bar and wandered outside where they now have picnic tables and ample seating. Sound was great and it was a small and easy going crowd. During the inside show I was able to grab a seat at the lone high top mid way through and still get a great view while I worked to convince myself not to hit the Arlo's food truck next door. Bonus: I feel like ride share drivers have to love stopping here because the ease of pickup/drop off. read more

I came here for a frose tour with some girlfriends and instantly fell in love with the place! I start this review with the caveat that it was a frose tour and it was not the first stop... Though my memories may be hazy, I remember enjoying the place. They had the best frose of all our stops because I enjoyed the hint of watermelon. There was some frose induced dancing, which led to the purchase of an activated charcoal Popsicle dipped in tequila and more dancing. Closed my tab and was delighted to know that my drinks only cost me about $10 and off to the next place. Unfortunately, we came during the day so I did not get to enjoy the live music, but now Cheer Up Charlie's is definitely on my radar and I cannot wait to return! read more

Didn't get a chance to try the food but the service and ambiance was a step above - the vibe changed several times but as one genre shuffled out a different crowd welcomed the next act. Everyone was Kool and there for the same reason, to enjoy themselves in a judgement free atmosphere. It was refreshing. Had a great time, will definitely return. read more

Cheer Up Charlie's is such a happy place! I've had so many good times with them at this location and the old one on the eastside. It's always a go to spot for me, my husband and our friends. I love the new drink menu and the stage inside. I have been lucky enough to catch some pretty cool shows randomly here. That's just the thing - you can always count on Cheer Ups for great music, fantastic drinks, wonderful people and an exceptional time all around! I will admit it has been nice to get to know the Red River area a bit too. Love you long time Cheer Up Charlie's :-P read more

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This place totally has cheerful vibe. Came here to check out the new bar in the neighborhood and was impressed. Love the acoustics from the granite, it's so nice that they are using the place as a music venue. The decor it's bright and inviting(bright colors everywhere), and its pet friendly! The bartenders were very friendly and had great cocktail recommendations. I had the kale margarita which was so good and refreshing..... totally a pool side drink. They also had a decent beer selection, but I think their forte is their cocktails. One thing that made me super excited was that they sold Jamaican food as well! We had a taste of their greens and jerk chicken and it was awesome! Oh, and make sure you check out the mural inside its hysterical! read more

Cheer Up Charlies - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Ive always appreciated Cheer Up Charlies name. Why? Because I did high school theater. Yep. And I played the mom in the Willy Wonka musical. And that was the song I sang. Google it. That's totally legit. Anyway, for that reason, Cheer Up Charlies has always held a special place in my heart. Well that, and Arlos vegan bacon cheeseburgers. I was really skeptical of the move. Could it possibly have the same charm? We moseyed in here to see the space post-club de ville and I dig it. It seems like it could have always been there. The drinks are legit and well priced. They've got cocktails in mason jars with fresh juices. There was a dog funeral there when we were there (RIP Weezer) and a very glamorous gay man who busted out a couple of lines of Ave Maria with me. All in all, the same Cheer Ups in a different spot. read more

Cheer Up Charlies - wifi password - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Amazing, relaxed, diverse, eclectic, eccentric, weird, house-music, local business, fun energy, casual, unique, gay straight and all of the others, good music, karaoke nights, good drinks, vegan comfort food on premise..... all around, this is my favorite austin spot to hang out on the weekends. I typically avoid the overcrowded clubs and bars... cheer Ups is always fun. read more

Great spot and vibe for drinks & dancing! Came here for their NYE event, and our group had a fun time! I like how there is an indoor and outdoor space, especially since the inside can get hot with so many people. The crowd didn't feel too claustrophobic and people overall were chill. Street parking is limited, especially on busy nights, so you'll probably end up ride sharing. Arlo's is right outside, and Cheer Up is in walking distance to plenty of other food options. Definitely a nice option if you're not in the mood for Sixth or Rainey. read more

In point of view as a band playing a show: Pros: -sound guy has an excellent ear and mixes well -stage is wider than most bar venues in ATX -drink tickets & pay out for show -food trucks in courtyard outside venue -unloading parking -speak with owner about rebooking very kind Cons: -little crowd (your fans) (touring acts none existent crowd except headliner) on weekdays -don't tell you your getting paid for show so make sure you get your fair share read more

Cheer Up Charlies - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I experienced severe inebriation while frequenting this establishment during SXSW, so my memories might be slightly altered, but I remember rather friendly staff, a delicious selection of alcoholic beverages, 17 strong men wearing victorian era circus clothing spinning plates in the corner, and a wide variety of delicious food to enjoy under the beautiful Austin night sky. Furthermore, the restrooms were unisex and I witnessed a woman relieving herself in a urinal. Her compatriots stared at me as I walked in, presumably from the fact that a member of the opposite sex was witnessing this bizarre coming of age ritual. I was proud to have been privy to such a significant cultural event. I wish her luck in her future journey as the head of that clan of women, and pray that her decisions in the future are blessed with the wisdom of the 8 foot gorilla that asked me if I had a cigarette from his perch on the roof. Thank you. read more

Our first time here was on Friday. It was amazing! Bartender was super friendly! She even remembered our tab and service was fast. The Stacks put on a great show! The outdoor area is perfect. The aesthetic was everything to us! read more

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Cheer Up Charlie's may well be the cleanest dive bar I've ever visited, if you can call it a dive. It's more like the cabana party house in the backyard of the coolest lesbians you've ever imagined. The decor is homey, cute, comfortable, and spacious. The drinks are reasonably priced. I had a Spicey Cuban, a little weak on the flavors, but the Michelada I had afterwards was tangy, tasty. The service is fast, friendly. The music is pleasant. They offer live music nightly. Cheer Up Charlie's has a definite female vibe, a nice change from the overwhelmingly male gay bar scene, everywhere else. read more

Cheer Up Charlies - The bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

What a fun little venue! We came by here for a drink right at the beginning of SXSW Music, and were lucky enough to enjoy a mellow night of music, top-notch drinks, and friendly conversation. I have to start with how good the drinks on here because THEY ARE SO GOOD! I started with a Rosie Cheek and proceeded to drink at least two more. It was so light and refreshing with a burst of watermelon flavor that completely hid that fact that it had alcohol in it. This is dangerous for me, as I love these kinds of drinks and will gulp them down happily until I'm finally forced to stumble our the door. But I digress... One of the coolest features about this place is the outdoor space. As a native Coloradan, the sight of an exposed, rocky cliff right in the heart of Austin in the least place I would have expected it nearly made me have heart palpitations of joy. With the cool lighting and welcoming picnic tables scattered around, this was the perfect outdoor seating area for relaxing and enjoying a drink. Thanks for showing us a good time Cheer Up Charlie's! read more

Cheer Up Charlies - Rosie cheek! Sooooo good! - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place was my favorite date night spot because they host the best Arlo's food truck in town and the bar's tolerable...but the stupidity we incurred tonight has totally changed my opinion on the establishment--I would have given it 2 stars before. Before tonight, no matter when we came, there has never been a cover to just enter and order food. Even when the door people were collecting for the bands playing, they'd let you in for food no problem (and even then I've never been asked for more than $5). Tonight, they wanted SEVENTEEN AMERICAN DOLLARS EACH just to walk in their gates and go to the Arlo's truck to order food from a different company). This weekend is Pride, so it's great to know they're perfectly ok with only charging an INSANE cover when the LGBTQ folks are celebrating (which is insane, since they were I guess at one time a queer oriented bar?). Super great optics, regardless. On an average day, the bar's ok for an insufferable hipstery-vibe bar. They don't serve your standard Pepsi or Coke beverages, so enjoy the questionable tasting sodas at like $3/pop (with the generosity of ONE refill). Their beer menu is small and unremarkable and they don't carry what the (extremely common) beer I drink when I indulge, and their cocktails are pretty pricey for what they are. The inside bar area is exceedingly poorly laid out and even when the bar's not terribly busy (like say midweek at 7), I've had trouble crossing the floor to get to the restrooms or making my way to the back to actually order a beverage. The best area, in my opinion, is the small outside area with picnic tables that's basically on the opposite wall of the inside stage. It's usually quiet and not nearly as densely packed, even when they're busy. Their parking lot is a joke and almost always inaccessible (when not blocked off entirely) because people will cram into it and park behind other parked cars, so good luck I guess. As someone who has a handicap and uses their permit parking from time to time, it'd be great if they at least ALWAYS had those spots accessible for myself and other crips, but nah. Basically this place has skated by with me because of Arlo's. Now that I know their crappy ethics regarding price gouging a marginalized group, I'll never return. Arlo's has lost my respect and my business, too, for cooperating with this clownery. read more

People calling this a dive bar must have much higher standards than me, lol. Cool, laid back bar with great indoor and outdoor seating areas. Awesome outdoor stage area for live music up against a cliff backdrop. I stuck with the theme of the bar and tried their Golden Ticket drink, not bad. Overall a fun place. read more

Cheer Up Charlies - Outdoor stage - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Had a bit of a hard time finding this place cause the Google address it's incorrect but Yelp saved the day with the correct address... Lol. Awesome drinks, cute environment, friendly service. read more

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Just a weird Grove half ass drink only thing cool was the doorman!And it's not my cup of tea and I'll never go back to this place ever good luck if you go there read more

I wish I could give Chups 10 stars. The way it's set up is cool in itself; there are patio areas on both sides; the smaller one to the left has a cute photo booth & an adjacent vegan food truck, Arlo's, which's so good that I'm gonna have to write a separate review for it. The larger one to the right has a stage set against a beautiful natural rock wall. There's also a nice sized stage inside with a cool painted backdrop, disco ball, etc. There's always a good show going on. They have a few signature cocktails listed above the bar, super easy to order. The violet palmer is my favorite so far. This is the most comfortable queer friendly space in Austin imo read more

This place is very rad! My brother walked in and automatically felt at home (Cali boy). The interior is decorated in many different colors which I loved! The price for drinks was very affordable ! They have outdoor seating with shade,tables, chairs and benches. We would definitely come back! read more

Cheer Up Charlies - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Was super excited to check this place out, and I was not let down! Inside and out this place is beautiful, and the drinks are so unique and delicious! You can't beat their amazing selection of $8 cocktails. read more

This is a cool bar with some good beer choices. It is a hole in the wall. The food truck that is parked here is bomb. Came during Happy Hour and was not packed at all. But I heard the place jumping off later that night. read more

Great vibe. The music is amazing! Lots of outdoor seating and two live bands. Only reason I didn't give it a five star is because the menu is vegan. More power to vegans -- but I really would have preferred cream in my drink over coconut milk. read more

If you look up "dive bar" in the dictionary, I wouldn't be surprised if Cheer Up Charlie's doesn't show up. Yep, it's a dive, but such a cool little dive. Great drinks are poured, people are friendly and the patio is.....well, it's just cool. People have their dogs out and everyone's chill. Plus, they've also got a pretty cool little food truck attached with a seating area. Great Happy Hour spot!!! read more

The former home of Club de Ville, Cheer Up Charlie's is a great part of the Red River bar and music scene. The outdoor stage is cut into the granite hillside backing the property and offers a very unique music-listening environment. A quick glance at their website proves that live music is very much still kicking on Red River. Drinks are cheap and the bartenders have always been quite friendly during all my interactions. This is a solid choice for hanging out prior to shows at neighboring Mohawk, especially if you want to sit down. There is usually a food truck parked out front if you get hungry. read more

Went in around 6pm on a Tuesday and enjoyed the vibe and atmosphere. Lots of outdoor seating, and eclectic Austin vibes. I had the tater tots from Arlos, and the kale Rita from the bar, and both were great. The bartender gave suggestions to my friend about which drinks to get. It could have been because I was there pretty early, but the bar seemed to have more straight couples/people then gay. read more

Cheer Up Charlies - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I should start off mentioning that I'm not really big into bars and even less gay bars. I say this as a gay man myself, please stop with the top 40 remixes you damned Austin DJ's! I've only been to the "new" location and I have to say I love it!!! Someone had told me it was a "gay bar" and I groaned internally. Yay, more remixes of Katy Perry's Fireworks to listen to all nigh night I thought!! I walked in and I couldn't be more wrong. At first glance it looked like a dance floor with a bar...and then I walked outside... Outside is where all the action is happening. Great live band playing on the stage and patrons chatting each other up. The variety of clientele is a huge plus for me here. It didn't really seem to cater to just one crowd. Looking around you could see people from all walks of life, it was fantastic. I found myself actually chatting up random people while I was here and I actually found myself enjoying a bar experience for the first time since I was like...21! Though it felt more like a music venue outside than a bar but that's a big part of the appeal I have with the place. They bar is a bit different than your garden variety I mean...they have kombucha on tap for crying out loud haha. So if you're looking for a bar that isn't like most other bars or a bar to go to with your friend who HATES bars [like me], THIS is the place to bring them. I'm kind of bummed I haven't been back, I think I need to change that soon. read more

I was super sad to hear that Cheer Up Charlie's had to move and then not long later I heard that Club Deville was closing it's doors as well. Imagine my pure happiness that the better bar gets to open it's doors in the better space! The granite creates such a cool sound and awesome backdrop for music or just lounging. Definitely a unique space and I'm so excited to see music here in the future. One of coolest things is that Cheer Up's has kombucha (wunder-pilz) on tap and has cocktails based on it. For some reason, this makes me think that the alcohol I'm ingesting is better for me? Sound logic. I had a bourbon drink with lavender and wunder-pilz and ginger and it was super tasty. Too bad I can't remember the name, but it's on the board of specialty drinks. Even tastier was the "Berry Good" - the juice tasted amazingly fresh for a bar. With the addition of Cheer Up Charlie's to Red River, I deem it my new favorite area for bar hopping. Take that east side! read more

My first visit to the new Cheer Ups location was for Bey Day (we all know that it's 9.4.81 - "B-Day"). The Beygency was in attendance. The kale ginger lime margaritas were in full effect. They FRESH PRESS their own kale, peoples. There were no air-circulating fans near the stage at all for this celebration, which is where everyone was dancing on each other because Of Course, and which also lead to the grossest, most fulfilling dance experience of the summer. Beyonce would have been there herself, had she known. My second visit to the new Cheer Ups was the next day, when I swore to baby Jesus that the aforementioned kale ginger lime margarita had to be tried, but the man instead opted for something with a little more kick. I immediately wanted his drink over mine. $6 for serious drinks? The staff is amaze (bartendress and I reminisced on watching En Vogue's Giving Him Something He Can Feel on repeat), ample outdoor seating, the bathroom operates, and the jams. They. Got. Jams. While waiting for the Bey Day DJ to start, we were blessed with some Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets. Wooo-eeeee. But they have got to get some fans near the stage because oh lawd if I didn't look fresh out of a sweat shower after an hour of boogie down. There were not enough napkins. Not enough. read more

Cheers Up's is one of my favorite places in Austin. There was an issue with my debit card and one of the bartenders went above and beyond to help. Love the vibes, love the people. read more

Club DeVille, you will be in my heart (cue the Phil Collins song) but I have to say that Cheer Up Charlie's fits in quite nicely in this new spot. If you happen to get pregnant here your baby will likely come out laughing with a big smile, and they will grow up to be a total hippie putting flowers in people's hair (and beards, like this: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/07/14/flower-beards-trend_n_5585519.html) which is a good thing if you really think hard about it. Which means you need to come here. Literally. Beyond the future peace of the human race there's the music. Which is totally in relation to what I'm talking about in the previous paragraph as music is the thread of life, and here at Cheer Up Charlie's they have it all the time and it's pretty good and free a lot of time. This can happen indoors. Or outdoors. Because Cheer Up Charlie's has lots of space. Space to be free. Space to be weird, and frolic. While frolicking here you can have a fruity beverage as the two coincide nicely. My personal favorite is banana hammock. Though they have other ones like mango flavored. They also have kombucha on tap. And if you are a true expert and are able to frolic while sipping fruity drinks AND eating food trailer food you.are.in.luck! Because Cheer Up Charlie's has 2 FABULOUS food trucks, one of them by East Side Kings that is brand new and is really amazing. Recap: come here, listen to bands, sip fruity drinks, braid hair, laugh with friends, lie on the dirt and look up at the twinkling stars, or just the twinkling rainbow lights surrounding this little slice of dream-land on Red River. read more

They fixed the women's toilet. Oh my god. We can build a hundred condo buildings in this city and three Trader Joe's and a Whole Foods in the Domain, but Club De Ville could never fix that damn toilet, no matter how many $8 well vodka drinks I drank there. Hurray for CUCs! They also fixed the vanity in the ladies room. It's a goddamn miracle of modern technology. Aside from these key upgrades, CUC has left the old Club De Ville mostly as it was, which is kind of a shame. Like at the old CUCs, the placement of the door and the stage and the bar is awkward and that is the case at the new place. Seriously, they need to move the door that opens right next to the stage closer to the bar. That door is all kinds of ill when you're watching a show there. I have some bad juju about Cheer Ups, the first couple times I came here were really disappointing / annoying (that damn door! clumsy clumsy children everywhere, drinks that felt overpriced). But last night, it was totally fine. Watched a show. Met some chatty Cathy who insisted on chatting me up while me friends were playing (seriously?). Bought a few drinks that felt well-priced for the area and quality. Staff was nice. I'll be back. read more

I'm from New York. This place was very strange to me but I guess that's why they say 'Keep Austin Weird'. It was very dark in there and they have live music (not very good to me). They have an outside area which is pretty nice. This is a chill spot but I wouldn't spend my entire night here. I wouldn't go back but you definitely get a taste of Austin at this place. read more

My bartender Cole was the dankist dank bro I have ever met. That stash. that service. . My dude suggested all sorts of criterion movies my way. Super clutch. michael mcdonald.....burt reynolds.....tom selleck step aside this is the era of Cole. Best bartender in town hands down. My bro crafting the best Rosie cheeks my way son. Best bar. Best bartender. FOREVER! "Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you" read more

My memory is hazy for... reasons but I saw har mar superstar here, who I haven't listened to since high school and had a great cocktail made with tap poured kombucha. So those are all positive things! The outdoor stage area is also set against this neat rock wall. read more

Interesting look to it. Friendly bar staff. Accepting people. Crowd seemed to be trying pretty hard to look bored... but otherwise I thought it was a really good time. House special drinks were pretty good, though they had a lot of sugar in them. Edit: my mistake, no added sugar... but still a bit sweet for me. read more