I never made it to this bar while I was going to school here, but my husband suggested it while we were driving around Austin Saturday afternoon trying to think of a good place to have a couple or a few beers. There was a much better beer selection here than what you would expect to find in a near-campus place. The DH had a couple of different porters and I had the (512) IPA, a good local beer. Overall, it was very relaxed and there was good music playing (a few Old 97's songs came on while we were there - a big plus). This place also seems to be dog friendly, which I will keep in mind if our dog ever makes the trip in with us. read more

I love the Crown & Anchor. It delivers exactly what you hope it will, and then some. Outdoor tables "anchored" in by a big, fat nautical rope, facing the lowering sun, delicious and huge burger-and-fries baskets for around $5, cold, cool beer selection, and ample condiments and napkins within easy reach . . . I'm a happy girl. Bottles of malt vinegar and Cholula can have that effect. When the sun is in just the right place, sparkling through the trees across the street, I want to pick the whole place up and drop it back down on a beach somewhere. The food doesn't need to be gourmet, it's delicious as it is. The service doesn't need to be any more attentive than it is. They set it up right. Best veggie burger I've ever had, it's crisp and flavorful, and I'm eating it by choice. I am no stranger to the meats. Crown & Anchor is a true example of a solid business plan, the fulfillment of a neighborhood need, and a group of people who care (fries that come out hot and salted . . . shouldn't be that rare but it is). read more

I love this pub! It is a beer lover's paradise. I wonder how many nights I could go here and drink a different beer each night? I bet I could go at least two months. Also, the location is fantastic! There's a smoking area with outdoor seating, and then there's an outdoor/indoor area with plenty of seating that you can smoke in as well. Then you have the inside which is smoke free. This place accommodates all. read more

Awful service. The website listed happy hour beer prices at $10.00, but when we arrived, the bartender rudely told us the prices had risen to $10.50 "a long time ago." While annoying, it was no big deal until the bartender grabbed her phone, changed the website prices (while we were sitting at the bar), and then brought the new changed website to try to "prove" that I was wrong. Totally classless move, especially after we gracefully accepted the change in beer prices. The bartender was oddly fixated on arguing and proving me wrong. Absolutely horrible service, it is a shame that a bar in a good location is dragged down by an insufferable wait staff. read more

Five stars for the huge beer selection and the jalapeno cheeseburgers. What can I say, sometimes a girl just wants a cheeseburger and to eat someplace with a laid-back atmosphere. While a lot of places in Austin are oh-so-hipster, this is a nice neighborhood joint. There's a dog-friendly patio for cooler days and warm nights. Inside, there's pool, darts and TVs tuned to the game. You'll often end up sharing a table with a UT grad student or someone else from the hood. For you newbies, just order your drinks and food at the bar. They'll bring it out to you. (They keep the food menus by the cash register.) read more

This place has a great beer selection and there is no doubt about that. They also have free pool on Sundays which is a nice plus. Even though these might be some great things for a restaurant to have, their food is pretty mediocre, they don't allow for small substitutions, and I have had hit or miss interactions with the cashiers there. One of them was really friendly, while the other one was pretty rude. I hope this place can step it up a little because if it did, it would see a lot more traffic come through. read more

I love Crown and Anchor and have been coming in for years. Substantial beer selection (dont miss the bottle case), reasonable prices and pitchers, and good place to watch sports in a convivial atmosphere. I enjoy the darts and pool table as well. Usually though I am coming here for the food, since the burgers and fries are some of the best around of this style. I especially like the veggie burgers, the patty gets crispy. The nachos and other fare are a little hit-n-miss but if you are a BLT lover, absolutely try their BLT, it's an amazing bite. read more

I've been coming to the Crown & Anchor regularly since I moved to Austin almost four years ago. I used to live in Hyde Park, and now that I'm in grad school at UT, it's still one of my favorite places to get a beer and sometimes dinner at the end of the day. It's a decent place to watch sports, although they usually play music and don't have the TV sound on (which some people probably prefer; it doesn't feel like a sports bar). The best thing about this place is the prices. Their beer specials are FANTASTIC. In my experience, any week night you can get a $3 pint or an $11 pitcher of something much, much better than Lonestar. I often go on Monday nights, when there are a lot of local Austin beers on special. I usually get two drinks and dinner, and my bill is under $20 even with a good tip. The food here is basic but good, if you know what to order. The tacos are a bit dry, although the chicken ones are a good, protein-heavy choice if you want something healthy. They come with corn chips and salsa, whereas most menu items come with fries. I usually go for the veggie burger with everything on it, which is easily the best thing on their menu. Really excellent, generously portioned fries and a hearty veggie patty with crisp vegetables for about $6. My fiance loves the beef burgers, which are even cheaper than the veggie version. I am so glad to see this place crowded and the prices consistently low. A lot of my favorite Austin spots have raised their prices multiple times over the past four years, but Crown & Anchor has stayed the same, as far as I can tell. Cheers! Edited to add that my parents both like this place for a beer when they visit. The crowd is more grad student-aged than college student-aged, which in my opinion is good. It reminded my dad of the dives he liked when he was in law school. Definitely a good atmosphere. read more

Crown has everything I like in a bar. They have a huge beer selection and everything is very reasonably priced. All the beers are listed on a big chalk board behind the bar. Everything is split up into three price tiers and they have pint and pitcher prices listed for each. This may sound trivial, but I love how legible and organized the beer menu is. Similar bars like Gingerman, Draught House, and Dog and Duck don't have all their beers listed in one place like this and I usually find myself ordering based on which tap looks the coolest without having any idea how much it costs. The crowd is younger but not too college-y and everyone always seems to be having a good time. Pool and darts are always fun too. My only complaint is that there can be a bit of a seating shortage on weekend nights, but most people don't mind if you share a table with them. Any beer fan with a few beer fan friends will undoubtedly love this place. read more

A low-key bar with kick-ass homemade veggie burgers and a killer beer selection? Plus pool tables and a huge patio?! YES!!! The beer is always cold, the people are always friendly, and the veggie burger is one of the best in Austin. Get it with jalapenos and swiss cheese - so good. Yum. read more

I have spent entirely too much money at Crown and Anchor over the last six years. It's my standard go-to, but it's hard for me to identify what makes me love it so much. There's not really one thing in particular. But I do love: 1. They only serve beer & limited wine=a chill crowd. 2. I usually like the music. 3. Super close to everywhere I have ever lived in Austin. Clearly I have not branched out in terms of neighborhoods. 4. Very affordable. 5. Good and cheap burger, great-for-a-bar chicken nachos. 6. Pretty empty in the afternoons=perfect place to have a beer and work remotely (if you enjoy a drink while working remotely...) 7. Can take a book or board game on weekend days without anyone giving you the stink eye 8. Shows soccer games 9. Dog friendly 10. For the sake of having an even 10 points, I also love that the two ladies restrooms have chalkboards and I refuse to pee without leaving a message. What I don't like, because let's be honest, there are very few places where I don't not like something: 1. Being mistaken for still being in college. For the record, I am not a 7th year senior just because I still frequent my favorite college bar. So what if I'm wearing the same old t-shirt and sperrys and carrying the same tote bag as the last time you saw me, in 2007? On second thought, I might need a new bar. read more

Chill neighborhood-ish bar perfect for an evening when you've got an itch to go out , but want to steer clear of downtown. Crown & Anchor is usually filled with students, many of whom may be winding down from a long day in the lab, a heart attack-inducing dissertation defense, or a kick-your-ass mid-semester exam. For those of us who aren't in school but wish we were, you'll find a nice constituency of young semi-professionals and middle-aged couples. The place is lively, laid back, and serves a great mushroom veggie burger. (I also have friends who swear by their jalapeno burger.) The food is typical pub-style and the beer selection is decent. Nothing to praise god over. They do have pool tables and dart boards, but you'll probably have to wait to get a stab at the bull's eye. Outdoor, indoor and semi-outdoor seating is available, but sit too long on their picnic-style benches and your bum will surely start to smart. As much as I enjoy a chill night at C&A, I get easily irritated with the noise level. It is NOT a good place to have serious conversations with friends. There are simply too many people trying to talk at once and not enough space to accommodate the dialogue. On top of that, the music is on, occasionally the TVs, and the wait staff announces every food order at the top of their lungs by the orderee's name. It's kind of comical to see everyone stop and turn their head at , "Jeff! Order for Jeff!!!!" As if everyone's name is Jeff. Stop by for a beer...don't stay too long. read more

The Crown & Anchor is a totally laid-back place to chill with friends. Lots of outdoor seating so you can enjoy the weather if it's nice (but: this means that people can smoke there, which is a bummer for us non-smokers who are used to breathing clean(er) air while eating now). We geeked out and brought some board games with us; staff was totally cool with that. There are also a couple of pool tables and dart boards for those who want to be entertained but don't want to get nerdy with the board games. Huge selection of both draft and bottled beers at reasonable prices; excellent, friendly staff; and good burgers and fries (bonus points: bottles of Cholula to douse your fries with) make this a terrific place to while away the hours. read more

Chuck Klosterman wrote a negative review of Coldplay based on that fact that a girl shunned him to go see them. I will take the same liberty here. Before I moved to town, I was enamored with an Austin gal. A group of us played a board game at C&A as she showed little interest in me. I fault the bar totally. It had nothing to do with chemistry, fate, or timing. It was all the Crown and Anchor. In actuality, it's a nice place to relax and have a beer. This is a no frills beer drinking establishment. Nathan simulated oral copulation on a pear cider bottle here, which made me laugh so hard that beer came out of my nose. read more

This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite lunch spots. They have cheap burgers (which are actually pretty damn good), cheap beer (plus a good selection on tap), and they are with-in biking distance from my office. I find myself here 1-3 times a week using their wi-fi, having some lunch, and watching a soccer game. Their porch is great if you enjoy a super cold beer in the shade on a hot Texas summer afternoon. It is also good for people watching because the crowd tends to be a bit more geared towards grad-students, which means that there are fewer annoying newly 21-year-old-frat kids roaming around. It's nothing fancy around here but that is exactly what I like. read more

I really didn't expect a crowd like this at Crown and Anchor. I expected a UT Frat party type situation. Not at all. This place just has charm. And if you want to break into the competitive darts scene, this is where its at. It also seemed as if they had my iPod playing on the jukebox. I almost never find music anywhere in public appealing, but how can you go wrong with the Buzzcocks and DK?? I had the pyramid apricot, which is a very nice $3, and rare that a place even carries my fave beer. My friend had a burger for $4.25 and I shared nachos for ~$5. Both were good for that price. read more

Great place to drink a beer and eat a burger (the veggie burgers are awesome too) before a UT football game. Pool tables, darts, outside patio. Lots of fun. Near campus. read more

Oh, memory lane, so sweet.... Crown and Anchor was my favorite college bar, always ready with a cold pint of shiner, and nothing beat hanging out here on random weeknites..... Many ,many nites of many, many pitchers of many, many laughs shared with friends, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, potential boyfriends.. Atmosphere is the expected coolness that just radiates from Austin in general - those who go, spend the rest of their lives trying to find their way back to the best part of Texas. Writing this makes me smile! read more

Only thing that makes me want to move back to Austin....well, I'd like to see the dead birds. Good vibe, fantastic beer, and even better Chz Fries. read more

This is overdue! I LOVE C&A Pub! The environment, the location (work on campus), the cashiers/waitstaff/main guy in charge-bad with names :( GREAT veggie burger! Love the homemade buttermilk,none of that bottled junk. I'll return again and again. read more

The Top 5 Reasons I Love Crown & Anchor: 1. Beer--They have an amazing selection and there's always something new to try. 2. Burgers--I just might kick a puppy to get one of their burgers. Damn they're good. 3. Prices--It's cheap. 4. Dive bar--Chill and relaxed. 5. Nostalgia--As an Aggie, it sorta reminds me of being at the Chicken. read more

I loved this place because it was (literally) right behind my apartment building. It made stumbling back home from a night of playing darts and downing beers so much simpler. Other than the selfish ease of access, I do like this place as a place to just chill out with people. There is a nice outdoor area, and nothing beats a pitcher of beer with some friends on a summer night - especially if you're just finished with finals, or just want to relax. read more

This is the unofficial pub of UT Law = lots o law students. I'm personally not a fan of law students, (I'm one myself), so, unfortunately I've frequented this place less often over the years. My decreased liking of Crown might also have to do with the fact that I associate it with law school and always will... I have memories that range from first year meet and greets to skipping class to get a beer to drowning the pain and anguish after being raped and pillaged by an exam in a pitcher... That being said, they have a great selection of beers and the food is piping hot, greasy and plentiful - just how I like it. My personal favorite is the mushroom burger in all its glory accompanied by a heaping side of french fries - mmmm.... When this place isn't crowded with students it's nice and relaxing. I usually grab a pitcher of Dos with Jake G. and we sit outside for a hour or two (during hotter weather try to get a shady area). The prices are reasonable, the bartenders are friendly and patient (I've been here with throngs of first year law students and trust me, patience is indeed a virtue) and they have great bar food. read more

Ah, crown, how I love thee. Even when you haven't got a single spot for me to sit or lean, I'll stick around, drinking and eating to my heart's content. This place rocks my socks. GREAT beer, awesome prices, and a really solid vibe. Every type of person is there, from your tattoed drag-rat-looking people to the granola 50 year olds, power suited businessmen, and every type of UT student you can think of. Want to sit down on a friday or saturday night? Better get there before 8. And on a game night? get there right after work, everyone and their mom goes there to see the games. This is one of the only bars that doesn't make me feel bad about going out night after night, because it's so wonderfully priced (granted I omit the comparison to grocery store prices), but in the scheme of bars, Crown hits the spot). The food is good, above average I'd say, and the portions are generous. I can always count on crown to have a local brewery beer (support the locals!) but also the good bottled stuff that I never crave until I'm out drinking. One day I'll learn to study there and not drink there, but right now, it just feels wrong. Prosit! read more

Never had a problem with staff, they are "cut-to-the-chase," and I dig it. The burgers are great, and so are the pitchers. It's a pitcher kind of place. The only problem is that its perpetually crowded, and that seems to be getting worse. If you want a roomier place for happy hour, try the Hole in the Wall. read more

I've been making an almost once a week trip to the Crown and Anchor for the past couple of years. The atmosphere is almost non-existent but is very comfortable. They have a great mix of customers from business men, students, animal lovers, to the sit and drink all day barflies. Great people watching! The staff is an eclectic but efficient bunch. I read some of the more recent reviews and they are totally underselling how good the hamburgers are. They are consistently great. My favorite is the bacon cheeseburger with jalapenos. Yum Yum! This is one of my favorite place in town for a burger. The fact that they are cheap doesn't hurt my feelings at all! The fries are included and go perfectly with the burgers. The selection of beer is great and they are more than happy to let you sample a few if you are looking to try something new. Hope you like meeting new people because you may have to share your table. There isn't much parking and I've had trouble getting a table the one or two evenings I've tried to stop in. For a delicious lunch or an afternoon enjoying a beer or two the Crown and Anchor is hard to beat. read more

Yessir, I liked this place. Watched my mom and uncle get into a heated pool series, drank Descheutes porter (love this beer, especially on tap) and just generally lounged out. Shit, I'm drunk as I write this review! I tells no lies Sampson! (bonus points to anyone who can reference the name in the last sentence) read more

Pure heaven = sitting on the patio, my pup under my feet, drinking a Fireman's #4 at about 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday. The veggie burger with swiss and mushrooms is just icing on the cake. I have been coming her since about 1993, before I was even able to legally purchase alcohol. I used to work at the UT School of Pharmacy, and we often walked over for lunch, or started Friday happy hour(s) there...usually followed by music at Hole in the Wall. This place has hardly changed (except for the fries!), and there's no reason for it to EVER change. The thing I find most comforting about this bar is the fact that the staff is full of "lifetimers". I've been seeing Terry, Mook and the others for years and years now. I've seen babies growing up on the walls and the tip jar. It's like your uncle's bar but with better beer. The only thing that would make it better is an off-leash dog park, but I think everything would be better with a dog park! read more

I love Crown and Anchor! They have a shockingly extensive beer selection, both on draft and in bottles. I always go with one of the three different beers on special every night. Specials are $3 for a pint or $9.75 for a pitcher, and they are always high quality beer. They have plenty of seating indoors and outdoors, which includes long tables great for groups, and lots of TVs. I will gladly go to Crown any day of the week - before going out, after going out, happy hour, or for lunch! It is a great, low-key place for college students to hang out, although you'll find an older crowd there as well. It can get crowded on the weekends, although I've never had any trouble finding a seat and it is never rowdy. Another great thing about Crown & Anchor is their high quality pub food! I had an excellent taco salad with so much ground beef that it was just as filling as having a few tacos. I do think it would benefit from a little queso (but what wouldn't?). Their burgers and fries are awesome, you really can't go wrong with any of the versions. My only complaint here is that it was SO MUCH delicious food that I couldn't stop eating, and then I was way too full to drink any beer! I suppose that is my fault though... Last but not least, the games! 2 pool tables and 2 dart boards....all FOR FREE!! You just have to exchange your ID for the game pieces. What's not to love about that?! Crown is a perfect fit for the UT campus area. Despite its borderline tacky nautical decor, it is a perfectly cozy place that I will come back to time and time again. My only complaints: Although service is always friendly and helpful, it can be a little awkward because the line gets really long at times and you order all food and drinks at the bar, which can get pretty disorganized and confusing. They seem to do a decent job managing it, but a better system might be worked out. Happy hour only lasts til 7 (except Sundays), and they don't have any beer lower than $3 ever. If they had any $2 Lonestar nights, or anything along those lines, I would be much more likely to make this a weekly trend. Warning: they only serve beer. No liquor to be drank here. It's time you acquire that taste anyway... read more

This is college. This is after finals carousing. This is the best kept secret in Austin -- this little place with all the great beer and all the great peope also has one of the best burgers in Austin. Go. Go. Go. Take an ID though they are very good about checking those. read more

Just went there this afternoon. Fairly nice, very dog friendly, which is fabulous. There really wasn't much of an ambiance or atmosphere at all, which is why I give it only 3 stars, because the food itself was not enough to make it or break it. The mushroom swiss burger and fries were pretty good. Not orgasmic, a little forgettable, but not bad. The staff was very aloof, and the service was virtually non existent. The music wasn't all that great either, but that's also a matter of taste, I suppose. All in all, if it wasn't dog friendly, I would probably give it two stars instead. My entire experience was really, "meh...." Pleasant enough, but not too impressed. If you want a quick burger and fries and don't care about a mediocre experience, the pub wouldn't be a bad choice. Will I be back? Nah. Probably not. read more

Crown and Anchor is a staple of UT Austin, especially for the engineers located on the northern border of the campus. They have a range of beers on tap and a variety of specials for pints and pitchers throughout the week. The only downside is the place can get really busy fairly early, especially during the hot summer/fall afternoons. I'm also a huge fan of getting burgers + fries for lunch here. And since it's less than $6 for the meal, it's absolutely awesome, especially near the campus. read more

Hands down one of the best burgers in Austin. I am never in this area of town but rarely I will think, "I just need a good burger." And I come here! Beer specials everyday ensure a cheap and cold beverage to accompany your burger. May I recommend the bacon cheeseburger with sliced mushrooms and a side of ranch? It is the bomb digs. read more

Crown and Anchor Pub - Bacon cheeseburger add sliced mushrooms and a cold pitcher of beer - Pubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Crown and Anchor sits right behind a good amount of campus laboratories and Engineering buildings. For good cause, right? Furthermore, there is another bar right next door, a coffee shop around the corner, and many a sandwich joint in close proximity. There could not be a better place to grab a pint or two, or a pitcher. The ambiance is very standard, with some seating, a couple pool tables, and a wooded bar. This is within an earshot of a bunch of more laid-back-than-West-Campus housing, so I feel like this is the Cain and Abel's of North Campus, sort of a quieter region. And how can you not like Cain and Abel's. Also, GREAT beer selection. Cheap pitchers, quality music, and, well... just a great joint to get sloshed at. After class, during class, between classes, and heck... if you are a night class junkie, BEFORE class. I don't advise you come before lab or research sessions though... that could get dangerous. Oh, and if you don't want to wander off of the premises, they do have food! read more

First time here and apparently it's a pretty popular place to hang out. The bar is BEER ONLY but they do serve food until pretty late (I think until around midnight). The staff was friendly and the beers are not very expensive ($9 a pitcher). There's indoor and outdoor seating with two dart boards in the corner. I think the fact that this place is near West Campus is what makes it popular. I wouldn't mind coming here again for sure read more

When I moved to Austin this was the first, and I mean first, stop. 2000 miles of driving - I35 - Crown and Anchor pub. You'll find me eating one of the best burgers in town, sitting next to someone I don't know, on pitcher number two.. read more

This is the best hamburger I've had in Austin. I'm a new convert to Crown and Anchor, but I've already been twice in a week. The place has a small outdoor covered and uncovered patio, inside is a couple pool tables and dart boards and some standup arcade games (Ms Pac Man/Galaga) and a bar. Staff is nice, food comes out fast, no frills. The burger is AMAZING. The bun is toasted (probably with some kind of grease or on a greasy griddle) and the burger is perfect. Fries are crispy and well salted. Like I said, I've been here twice in a week and will be sure to come back soon. read more

Crown and Anchor is my idea dive bar. Really, it doesn't get any better than this for cheap beer, relaxed/divey ambiance, and really cheap food. The two-dollar grilled cheese is incredible (for a two-dollar grilled cheese, it's not gourmet or anything). I've tried to replicate it at home several times: white bread, processed cheese product, copious amounts of butter - it never works. The only negatives is that it can get a little crowded and a little loud at peak times. But that seems to be true of any bar on campus. During nice weather the patio also offers an option that is a little less noisy. Oh, and did I mention the grilled cheese and cheap beer? 'Nuff said. read more

Crown will forever be associated with my time at UT. It's a campus bar but it's frequented by law students and engineer graduate students so think a (slightly) more mature breed of campus bar. The owner is incredibly nice and the place offers up a lot of charm. It's busy all nights of the week and if you have a large party you'll want to stake out a table early. They have a rotating happy hour that includes at least one beer every day that I really love. The menu is pretty typical pub fare and generally nothing specially except for the bacon cheese burger which exceeds all expectations. Strips of crisp, fried to order bacon on top of beef that actually tastes good. I've come to Crown just to grab lunch which is a pretty solid endorsement for a dive bar. read more

Great place to sit and have a beer. Went here late night on Sunday for some food and beer. Unfortunately, the kitchen was closed but they have great prices on imported beers on draft. Very friendly bartender, which is always a 5 star rating in my book :) Also, they have a patio and are dog friendly. read more