As loyal readers know, I am usually about bars for ambiance. I am one of those nerds who likes pretty bars that look like decrepit speakeasies and are probably more likely to be called "lounges," where they have special drinks named after silent film stars or something. Typically not a tavern girl. So I will readily admit, before anybody calls me a big hypocrite, that I have my own particular brand of preferred ambiance, and Hole In The Wall does not at all have what I am typically looking for. What they do have, though, is really awesome live music, pool tables, bartenders who are cute and super on top of everything, a really big patio area, decent acoustics, a local reputation, and a really friendly Texan regular who just so happens to know a great friend of mine from my days in California. They also pour kind of a small double Jameson, but by the time Austin's welcoming spirit had conspired to get me several of them, I think I stopped noticing and started singing along. read more

If I lived in Austin then I think I would have made Hole in the Wall a staple of my bar scene. As it stands I've only been there once. It was for a few hours after a conference on UT Austin's campus ended. So, keep in mind that the data that I am using to base my opinion is severely limited. Quintessential dive bar - which are, by far, my favorite types - with two bars (one in the front and one in the back) and ample stage space. Good choice of music to boot. My whiskey sour was delicious, and they gave me extra cherries without even having to ask :-* read more

Hole in the Wall - Music Venues Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I heart Hole in the Wall. Something about this place makes me comfortable and happy, even though I don't fit in with the crowd, generally. I'm way too plain jane for these folks, but I feel so much better here than somewhere like Union Park, since my Lexus is in the shop and my BCBG dress is at the cleaners. $9 pitchers of Shiner are awesome, even though I don't really like Shiner - I just like $9 pitchers of beer on which to get drunk. They also have pinball (which is sadly frequently out of order), a jukebox outside, you can open a tab at one bar and use it at all 3, and they have shuffleboard. I think there's a pool table there, too, but my memory is fuzzy - even though I've been there 20-odd times. LOL. I tend to think the live music's not very good, and for some reason, there seemed to be a large bitch factor this past Friday, but that's just life . . . ebbs and flows and whatnot. When the weather's nice, I love sitting outside here. :-) read more

I was in Austin for my birthday this past weekend. My sister had to study on Sunday night, so I headed out solo for a low-key birthday evening. (The evening prior had yielded a great deal of drunken hour-of-power debauchery, but even with my beer / Patron goggles on, I was shocked at the mediocrity of the 6th St / 4th St scenes. It was Derby weekend, which meant floppy-hatted-sluts galore. Wasn't going back there.) Anyway. So I started doing some hunting online and found The Hole in the Wall via Yelp. Mary Beth W.'s review sealed the deal and I headed out. I don't know the name of the bartender who served me, but he was friendly as could be. He gave me a birthday shot and put back one himself to boot, to which we toasted. (Note that this kind of generous, congenial behavior does not oft happen in the City of Angels, where I reside.) Everyone at THITW was very friendly, in fact, a nice change. There was live music, which was awesome; the beer was cheap; and the people were good. And I ended up running into people from my hometown and hanging out with them all night long. The night couldn't have gone better if I had planned it, frankly, and I can't think of another place I would rather have spent it. If I lived in Austin, this is where I would be hanging out. A+. read more

GREAT SERVICE. Visited this bar on a early Monday evening. Dennis the bartender was extremely welcoming. The happy hour music was a great 3 piece country band...wish I could remember their name. :-( This is a large bar and I am sure it gets crazy on the weekends with the college across the street, so I would probably only come on off nights. read more

This place looks like it's straight out of the backwoods, Alaska. Seriously, everybody in there was wearing flannel and had scruffy faces and shaggy hair. They could all have passed for mountain men from Alaska. It made me feel at home. Love how HUGE this place is, it goes on forever! There is a shuffleboard table, love this. Service is good if you get beer, but getting food took over an hour. I think they forgot about us, because when I went to check on the food, it was out within the next 5 minutes. Portions are pretty small, so if you're with a group, order your own. Happy hour prices look good, but they're only M-F 5-8 and all day Sunday. The music was good too, they've got two stages. I recommend this place, especially if you're into dive bars. Also, lots of good art/murals/graffiti around the bar. read more

It could be a normal weeknight. It could be the most boring of days. But on a day or a night where I find myself at Hole in the Wall, it turns into a party night. I hear people older than me saying, "Man, that place was old when I was in school...", and I love it. The Hole in the Wall means tradition, it means crusty, it means Austin, and it means the world to those who frequent it. Friendly faces, good local music, dingy bathrooms, and somehow, GREAT DRINKS. I will always love this place. Giving it a point-by-point review just doesn't seem right. Just go here before it closes. read more

I can't add much that others haven't said already, but this is one of my favorite bars in Austin. Even with the Junior's addition, it still rocks. And now, I can get onion rings whenever I want! I love the happy hour prices ($2 Shiner sounds good to me) and bathroom walls. But the thing that makes us come back time after time is Brooks - the coolest bartender in town. If you haven't met Brooks, go in for a happy hour this week - you'll know him when you see him. I recommend heading in around 5:00 to catch Jeopardy with the regulars. read more

If this place were on Chapelle's Show, it would be a case of, "When keeping it real went RIGHT". The best thing about this place is you get exactly what you pay for. No false advertisements here, folks. I love the atmosphere in this place. It's cozy, full of people who you could probably have a 30 minute conversation with and they serve cold beer at a cost that isn't outrageous. I've also eaten here for lunch a few times. Their food is terrible for you. But delicious. Try a burger sometime. read more

Cant beat it! Opens at 3, cheap beer and wifi. So i can smoke , drink and be a slave to the internet all at the same time! Guess i could do that at home but no smoking in the house when you live with nonsmokers. Boo Very chill during the early hours. read more

Stiff drinks, cheap prices, friendly staff, good music, great location - what else do you need in a bar? ...maybe some nicer bathrooms, but that's about it. I thoroughly enjoyed this bar when I was a student at UT. The only reason it's not five stars is because of the food selection. They have good chips and queso, but I'm just not a fan of the rest. Then again, it's a Hole in the Wall bar. read more

Hole in The Wall will always be a pretty cool little venue to me, with lots of history I don't completely appreciate, probably. I know some really big names played there. I think it was a blues bar. So all those Townes Van Zandt/SRV types I think played there. Maybe even Joplin. When I moved to town, it was a bit of a cowpunk bar. I saw acts like Clyde and Clem's Whiskey Business and The Beaumonts there. But now that that crowd has moved over to the White Horse on the East side, Hole has become a hipster venue. Lot of folksy, independent performers. Kinda 'Portlandia 1890's' almost... I still dig the place. It's always relaxing to go there and listen to the acts that play. I feel like this could become a big hippie place if hippies started trusting it again. The back is a kinda fru-fru restaurant, too... There's 2 stages and I've seen them both used at once. I've seen that place packed before, actually. Kinda sad to see what it is now, but it could totally come back. I also love the sideyard with its picnic bench-tables, semi-outdoor pool table, and jukebox! Great place to socialize, actually... read more

I'll admit, I was very wary of this place before ever entering it. But it's a fantastic little joint (that's actually bigger than it looks, since there's a back bar). The positives: it's walking distance from West Campus, it's got a good variety of cheap pitchers, and it's got free shuffleboard. Go early to get the table, then drink and play the night away. If anything, I suggest skipping the nights when they charge cover to get in. The bands have been decent during the times I went, but not worth paying $5 bucks for. read more

Hole in the wall is a must-do/see. The Hole is a great alternative to the downtown band scene as it is usually less crowded. Great live music in the evenings, and that which has already been pointed out - a rich history. Decent happy hour prices as well. Confirming the accuracy of its name, the bar is dimly lit and dingy. But who cares. Hole offers ample space for group gatherings and two bars for speedier drink ordering. Even though the dive sits insanely close to campus, (Guadalupe near Dean Keaton), an older crowd frequents this joint. I think undergrads are afraid of the exterior (don't be!) or just plain turned off by it (a mistake...we all know it's what's on the inside that counts). The bar now serves food, supplied by Juniors. Average burgers, but delicious greasy food (fried pickles, chips, steak fries, and queso). Perfect accompaniment to your draft (they offer just the basics on draft--Shiner, Miller Light, etc.). Every time I've been in there, the bartender (an older dude with a sweet beard) asks if I've gotten straight A's. If I have, he says, he will buy me a free beer. He also tells me that no one has ever taken him up on that. I wonder if he would take my grade report from 2 years ago. Hole in the Wall is a quality hangout. read more

Meh. This place usually has a cover, which to pay means its good inside right?? Nah.. :P it's just okay. Loud bands don't = good bands. Sure there is a slue of fawning women over the bands, just probably standard entourage. Enough about the bands. This place is large enough. When it's packed it's pretty great. Most of the times I've gone it has been around 10 percent capacity (Dead). Wait staff is friendly. Pretty Casual Dress. Good for meeting people, but there's better places. Pros: Large Groups Medium Groups Small Groups Good place on a Bar Hopping list Night-Time 1on1 Dates ( good for a last stop, or on a bar hop list ) Social Atmosphere indoor and outdoor seating Cheap Drinks Good location Friendly Staff Cons: Not my kind of crowd. read more

Went here today after an excruciatingly hot UT game to get some food and much needed drinks. Me and my friend walked in pretty dehydrated, and my first impression was "whoa, what a dive!" And being a dive kind of a person, I felt like home. The main bar where you walk in from the front door is poorly lit, but that was expected with a name like The Hole in the Wall. The adequately bearded bartender recommended the 5 mini al pastor tacos for food and drinks were cheap with $2 wells for their Saturday special. After ordering, we proceeded to the back back back of the bar where the games were. Shuffleboard, real dartboards and a pool table. Surprisingly, the place is rather huge! It's pretty much 3 small dive bars all in one area with an outside patio type deal. The shuffleboard table wasn't the greatest but did its job in passing the time until we got our tacos. Once the food came out, it was over... These tacos were really tasty and had a creamy guac/cilantro type sauce and another creamy orange sauce which made the tacos even better (good enough for another round of 5 tacos for each of us)!!! Apparently the guy who cooks the food has yellow taco shack or truck in downtown as well, so it looks like I'll be visiting that as well! If you're looking for a glam and glitz type of bar, this won't do it for you. If you want a dive, this is your place. read more

Terrible experience. Beer was completely flat but bar tender refused to accept what we had to say. Back and forth exchanges were made on the topic. read more

Every show I've seen here has been enjoyable. I've seen Scott Biram and Midori Umi there. One Monday night (I can't remember the names of the bands except that they were both some variation of members from the Asylum Street Spankers), we were so infused with the joyful spirit of The Hole in the Wall, that we started dancing tango, jigs, and we even attempted dangerous cheerleader splits in the air. Really, though, the acoustics work well enough, and if you need some quiet time, there are pool tables and backgammon in the back room. The beer is pricier than average, but pints are cheaper at the back bar - even if you started your tab at the front bar. Also, someone please answer me this: why are there two toilets, neither enclosed in a stall, in the women's bathroom? The line to the bathroom is so long sometimes, I wish someone would simply devise a curtain around each toilet. read more

You can't help but love Hole in the Wall! The laid back & chill atmosphere makes it feel like home. Everyone is a dog lover so my pup Bugsy has a blast every time he goes too! They have everything from delicious food to great drink specials. Not only that, but, the bartenders are all super rad as well as the rest of the staff. You can never go wrong going to Hole for the night if you have nothing else to do, unless you're an asshole who thinks to highly of themselves. Honestly though, in order to get a good feel of Austin Hole is the place to go. You get to experience live local music, shoot pool, pick songs from the jukebox, grab a couple rounds with friends & get first hand southern hospitality. read more

Hole in the Wall is alot better then the name sounds. Its the kind of place where people keep coming back over and over. When I heard that the Hole in the Wall might be closing, I figured I should check it out, and I sure wasn't disappointed. I remember at one time being jammed in during SXSW as this awesome man with an Australian accent played the guitar and told dirty jokes. I figured then that I liked this place. Ive also been here when a couple got married at the bar and then brought out a huge wedding cake to share with the customers. Something different and a little off the wall is always happening here. The place is cozy and dim, not too classy looking but it really doesn't matter. Need to grab a beer on the drag and lay low for an hour or two - this would be the place to go, especially during SXSW. read more

If I could leave zero stars I would. I've never been so upset over an experience. Our friends played a set that should've begun at 7:30 & was pushed to 9:30 without prior approval. Then during load in a waitress screamed at me and the lead singer for trying to come in the back (after several employees watched us load stuff in & chatted with us) claiming we were trying to "sneak in" a container to steal liquor & that it was "seriously pissing her off". I've worked in service for years & I know sometimes it sucks, but that's never a way to address a customer. We apologized several times & she stomped off after checking our IDs. Then at the end of the night the bouncer forcibly took a drink out of my boyfriend's hand and got in his face bc he thought he was underage (after all IDs had been checked multiple times at the door). Absolutely will never go back. Save yourself. read more

"Cheap music, fast drinks, live women." What more do you need in a bar really? That pithy statement pretty much sums it up. For being a bar across the street from UT's campus, Hole in the Wall is a DAMN GOOD BAR. Much bigger than it looks from the outside (and much cleaner), I hit up Hole in the Wall after class for some drinks and laughs. Equally as often I come because one of my favorite local acts is playing a show. What I'm trying to say is that this bar doesn't subsist only on its proximity to the university. It is neither West-Campus-y or divey or college-y; just a solid bar for anyone on any occasion. read more

Hole in the Wall is another ATX staple; cheap beers and good music -- so glad this spot is still here after all the turnover on the drag within the last 12+ years. read more

I am so glad it is still around. With everything changing in Austin all of the time, it is good to see something still around. The name says it all. It is a basic dive bar. Don't expect any craft cocktails or fancy shots. Good old fashion bar with some amazing music. On Sundays it is Happy Hour all day and the music is free for a large part of the day. Usually the only time I am here. No parking as it is on the drag so expect to park and walk. I hope they are here for 20 more years. read more

Good place to hear some random bands. Nice because people actually go outside (on the fairly large patio) to smoke. I go to play pinball. Pins at this location: - World Poker Tour http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=5134 Machine is in pretty good shape, but there seems to be a couple minor problems with the upper playfield. NOTE - The music stage moved to the back room so pinball/pool playing is now much louder while bands are playing. Strangely, the shuffleboard game has moved to the front room. read more

I swear I'm not a hipster! Really! And a lot of people who go here aren't either! Not that it's really a bad thing, because the outfits are entertaining and, although it's hard not to focus on Jorts, the conversation can usually be of good quality. You've gotta remember that most of the "hipsters" you see around town fall into a pretty simple formula: Take 1 part suburban white kid, add a fixed gear bicycle, take some perfectly good jeans, and now rip them in half! Throw in some Thrift shop/vintage shop accoutrement, a PBR or Schlitz, and voila! You have yourself a hipster. And that's not a criticism, it's just a fact of life. Seriously. And if you can't accept that, I'd say steer clear of Hole in The Wall. I, however, really like this place. The bands I've gone to see here usually put on a good show, and the crowd is usually really cool and respectful, something not every dive bar can say for itself. The bartenders are on lock, and as long as you're nice to them, they'll do the same for you. Don't go in there and be a fratty douche, because from what I observed, they won't have it. Don't want to tip on your $25 worth of booze? Ehhh I'd recommend otherwise. Don't be scared, you're welcome to come in. The bouncers are adequately intimidating, but if you engage them for a split second they lighten up pretty quickly. Bartenders are fast and nice, and the outside area in the back is what really deserves attention. Huge, HUGE seating area with shuffleboard and open-air awesomeness. As we start getting into Fall here in Austin, you'll see that seats in the back become prime real estate. Most weekends the cover, if there is one, will be 3 bucks, and honestly, the savings on the drinks match the cheap, cheap cover. Give it a try, you may begrudgingly come to love this place. read more

I dig. A lot of normal people drinking drinks. I can relate. The bar staff has always been nice. Whether its a night of pints or a few tequila shots after a hard semester, they are good people. If you go early you can eat, drink, and watch a movie with them. If you go later, you can hang outside and maybe play a game of chess. The only drawback is that late afternoons may have some odd "folk-singers" try and sing it up in the main bar area, which makes me retreat to the pinball machine or outside. Other than that, pretty good place. read more

The Hole in the Wall was established in the early 1970's and is still in the same place it always was. I have many fond memories of the Hole in the Wall. It's a good place to hang out during the day or see a cool local band at night. The jukebox is great with a good selection of punk and country. There is a game room in the back with several arcade games, poo and shuffleboard. I have always thought of this place as a good place to meet up with your friends, shoot some stick and catch a few tunes. read more

A-ok pretty much describes this place. It's not really all that great. It's just a decent place to hear music and have some drinks. If you're feeling hungry, allow me to guide you next door to Slices and Ices! If you feel like a good veggie burger, please move along and go somewhere else. Their's are terrible. Or at least the one I had was. Service is always good. Never had a problem. Full Disclosure: I mainly go here when our band performs here. They're very nice to us, and give us some beer. Not always enough, but enough to get started for the evening. So next time you see the Barebones Orchestra is playing at The Hole, come on out and rock with us! read more

Like it says in the photo Cheap Music, Fast Drinks, Live Women. Came for the North vs. South music fest. Great bar staff, three stages, good sound system. One small stage in the front room, good for acoustic or small band music. Lots of tables and some booths. Larger stage in back room for fast rockin' bands, a little booth seating. Outdoor stage covered. Picnic tables with overhangs. Bars in all three rooms. Great place to play and hear music. Didn't order any of the food. Can't attest to it's quality. read more

Hole in the Wall - Music Venues Near Me - Austin, Texas

A fine dive bar... lots of boozing, nice people and a chill atmosphere. Good times read more

Dennis makes some good drinks. They HAD vegan queso. It is gone now. Hence the lack of 5 stars. They have a good selection of tacos now - including multiple veggie options. Good people watching. Parking can be a bitch. read more

Hole in the Wall is pretty cool. The thing that sucks (which is very common in Austin) is parking. Usually can't get street parking because it's so close to UT, and I end up paying at the lot nearby. So there already goes some of your money. Bartenders...well, it depends. I've had some really cool ones (which was during the day usually) and some very rude and irritated ones. Music can get REALLY loud sooo I often can't hear what people around me are saying, but again, I think it depends on your bartender's mood lol. (Tip them nicely!) Drinks are pretty good, I don't drink much, so I don't really get a big variety, but what I have gotten is always pretty good. I really don't like the cover charge. I know it's because I'm from a small town (and that would just not work there) but after having to pay for parking, and then pay cover even though I really don't want to see the band...well...it sucks. Oh well. If you don't mind paying cover, and the music being super loud, you'll have an awesome time! They have a few pool tables and some arcade games too, which I think is pretty neat. :) read more

Happened to be near here the other night after a visit to the ER for stitches. After that ordeal, my partner and I needed a drink (soda for me), so we stopped in here after being enticed by the sign out front for "live women." While we discovered ourselves to be the only live women in the bar, we dug the vibe. The front room has a small stage and tables, while the back room has a larger stage and standing area. We wandered outside and found a cool patio and another back room that the bartender says is being turned into a restaurant. There were only a few dozen people there when we visited at midnight on Tuesday, but we'll be back to check out the scene and listen to some music. They have pool, foosball, and some other table games, and they do karaoke, bingo, and movie nights, too. We look forward to checking those out! The staff was friendly and the drinks were good. read more

Say what you will about Hole in the Wall, but this place has the coldest, crunchiest ice.

I know Hole in the Wall is primarily known to be a bar, but if you appreciate good mexican food, I would highly recommend ordering food there. The Tacos Al pastor is hands down the best in Austin. It's no coincidence that the owner of Hole in the Wall is from El Paso because every single item on the menu is delicious. BONUS: They have Real Ale's Full Moon Pale Rye Ale on tap read more

Hole in the Wall consistently books the best bands, and has the lowest cover charges of any austin venue. The owner, Will, has really spiffed the place up with a great staff, killer sound, and that intangible vibe of community that runs through every good dive bar. Pictures of Willie and Janis adorn the wall, paying homage to the great musicians that have graced the stage over the years. Nathan and Dennis are the best bartenders in the world, and are just as capable of man-handling ruffians and talking smack as they are at pouring stiff drinks. On Tuesdays, Whiskey Business or The Bread are always playing and Bulleit Bourbon is only $3. Their Al Pastor tacos are some of the best in town, and the nachos are pretty awesome too. Do not miss this legendary austin bar. read more

The Hole In the Wall is an amazing bar. Cheap beers, friendly staff and some of the best live music in Austin. There is a great Taco trailer out back for the late night munchies as well. Don't let the name fool you about it's size. There are two areas for live music and a total of three bars in the place. There is outdoor patio seating with REAL darts, a shuffle board table and foosball tables. This is a must see joint if you're coming through Austin or a place to frequent often if you live in town read more

This is such an Austin staple! They have live music more often than not and it feels like a dive bar but it has so much more to offer. They have a great draught list, a lot of local stuff. That's pretty ideal. Also, they have this drink called the Shitty Lemonade. Its amazing!! They press the lemons each time they make the drink. Its phenomenal. Also, the bartenders are always pretty nice which is great. They are connected to East Side King so you can enjoy that awesome food while you are there. Anyways, I love this place and wish I went there more often. read more

Arrive with group of 4 ladies (in our 20s) and are told of $5 cover charge each. We hesitate and guy at front door said we'll we can do two for one. I pay $10 and we get two bracelets thrown at us. I tell him that covers my two friends behind me and he goes yeah. Two of us walk in and turn around to see him forcing my other two friends to pay the cover. Not cool, we should have walked away then. Get inside & bar is empty and live band is yelling about fixing their sound equipment. We order 4 margaritas which were on "special". They were special, and not in a good way. 1/2 ounce of tequila and juice of one lime doesn't equal a quality margarita. Bar tender mixed each one, poured them back into mixer and re shook and poured again as if she was hoping for a better outcome the second time. Really just subpar and miserable customer service. read more