My wife and I are new to Austin so we are still finding our way around. Nickel City is located just of of I35 and in an area that can be tough to find parking, find a spot, it will be worth it. We were there on a Sunday night, the Austin soccer club was on their big screens and the crowd was made up of a majority of people interested in the game. My wife really wanted to see Moe's set up and have a Flaming Moe. Starting with the bartender's, all were great. The bar was busy and as the game ended it got busier with more fans coming in. This place isn't described as a sports bar, as soon as the game was over they raised the screens and had the music nice and loud. It's a locals place, a lot of repeat customers based on the greetings from bar staff. The drinks were good, a lot of Duff beer was flowing and the bartenders did a great job keeping people moving. The food, very good bar food. If it's been a while since you had a great cheese sandwich, stop here. read more

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Walked up with a beer in my hand, was told I couldn't go in because I've been drinking. My bad I thought this was a bar. Would've loved to give a better review if I had the chance to check the place out. read more

We love this bar and we drive pretty far to visit it. The vibe is "dive-y" and the ambiance is very neighborhood/everyone knows your name. The bar is extremely well stocked, especially if you like whisky. The bartenders here are legit and whip up some great craft cocktails. Their menu has fun cocktails and traditional cocktails and great frozen drinks as well as beer/wine/etc. This is a great pre party spot, or a sit all day and drink spot, or a night cap spot! There's a food truck if you want food. Come back at Christmas for holiday cocktails and they roll out the Christmas decorations too. read more

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The perfect bar doesn't exi..... well nickel city is pretty damn close. Hot damn I never have a bad time here! Literally everyone here is ready to party and in a great mood. In the heart of Austin so you always get an eclectic mix of people. Bartenders are super nice, quick and churn out delicious drinks. You'll have a great time! Pro tip: During the holidays they dress up the whole place for Christmas: Santa Tiki style. Check out my pics to see their cute beachy Santa drinks. A while themed cocktail menu! That time of year is a different experience and SO MUCH fun! read more

Really enjoyed this place. Everything hit the spot - the drinks, burger, service, vibes. Hidden gem on an otherwise quiet street corner on 11th. Love love! read more

I went there to see the Simpsons stuff for Halloween. Wow! They do a fantastic job!! Everything was related to the Simpsons show. So cool. All the food and drinks named after simpsons stuff. I had the Patty and Thelma Patty melt. It was really good. I had a couple drinks. One was a frozen drink which was the best. The bartender was fantastic!! He explained all the drinks and got into character as well. I had never been to this bar in the past but boy do I highly recommend it for Halloween if you love the Simpsons read more

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The best martini in town! I love the chill vibe of this place. They take their cocktails seriously but not themselves. The food truck out back is perfect bar food; I recommend the fried cheese curds. If you're in town around Christmas, make it a point to check out their decorations and seasonal drinks. read more

Hidden gem in the middle of nowhere. It looks like a dive bar, but you'll be surprised that they make some of the greatest drink concoctions. No cover to get in, but you do get ID'd at the door. Once you walk in you'll see some cool laid back furnishings. Chill crowd for sure. No need to be dressed up. Indoor has bar stools, and high table top seating. Outdoor has some benches and chairs to sit on. They do make some mean looking bar food, with a food truck attached to the outdoor hangout. read more

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I loved this place! Vibe: A good, nothing fancy dive-bar. The crowd seems cool too and quite chatty. Service: The bartender was really nice and chatted with me for a bit! Drink: It's a dive bar, they can make you whatever. Pretty good prices too for a mixed drink. Food: I am so sad I had already eaten. Their bar food looked sooo good, especially the wings. read more

Recently went for the Halloween weekend, and where can I begin? The place had a charming theme of Moe's Bar from the Simpsons which was about the only positive thing I can say about this. Very long line to enter, and I don't usually mind if it's worth the wait, but this was not. The place did not feel clean, it was beyond crowded. They had music playing, but near impossible to dance with the limited space. The DJ couldn't decide on a song and would swap to a different one every minute it felt. Smells I can't even explain. The lines for the bathroom were nearly as long as the line to enter this establishment. The service was horrendous above all. Staff was completely rude, and ignored many people for a long while. There was this guy with a hat who I think was trying to dress like Otto that was probably the worst of them all. If you're looking for a place to spend a horrible time then look no further! read more

We've been here before and it was okay, but after our return today, we were truly impressed. The bar has undergone a type of rebranding and has capitalized on the Simpsons theme everywhere including the new name of Mo's Tavern, and it's awesome. Who doesn't love watching Simpsons reruns? The drinks are strong, and it's a typical dive bar on a somewhat elevated level. Overall it was a great place to spend an afternoon enjoying great cocktails and retro music. And just as an FYI, the door marked Principal's Office in keeping with the Simpsons theme is actually a toilet. I had to ask. read more

This will always be my favorite bar in Austin. They're open every day until 2am (food is also served until they close). They're open on every holiday when everyone else is closed. You can get a $2 High Life or a pour of high end whiskey you can't find anywhere else. Bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly. I just love it. read more

Nickel City - Flaming Moe during the Moe's pop up in October - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

NC is always a fun vibe to chill with friends and have some tasty drinks after a long work day. My go-to is the Cadillac margarita. Service is great and you usually don't have to wait too long to get a drink. read more

Nickel City - Cadillac margarita - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

So I guess every october they makes this into a simpsons themed bar and they do SUCH a good job of it. I really love the simpsons (prime years only of course) and there's so many good little details. For instance, of the bartenders was dressed as side show bob and had a "die bart die" tattoo drawn on his chest. The other bartenders were dressed as Moe (duh) and the bouncer was an inspired ned flanders. Add all that up with one of the bst bar burgers I've had, as well as some great tots and wings and I have basically no complaints. Excellent execution and you can feel their love for the source material. read more

Recommended by a friend, Nickel City was my favorite bar to do some weekday drinking on my last trip to Austin and was definitely worth the walk from my downtown hotel (got a little liquored up and had to Uber back) No gimmicks, cheap and strong drinks, as well as a cool bartender are all that's needed. I'll definitely return on my next visit! read more

Nickel City - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Pretty decent dive bar located in Austin. I would recommend this bar over some of the more popular ones, like on rainy street. They have a full bar and there is a food truck outside that you can order from. You can place your order at the bar, or walk outside and order directly at the food truck. Nothing too fancy, just cheap bar food such as wings, cheese sticks, fries and tots. Staff is pretty friendly and the service was good. The have gender neutral restrooms that seemed to be in "ok" of shape considering this place is a hard core dive. Like a good dive bar? Check it out. read more

A must visit when I'm in Austin!! The cocktails on the menu are absolutely delicious! I ordered some late night food and was pleasantly surprised. Get the fries AND tater tots. You won't be disappointed. read more

So much fun during the holidays. It can get very crowded but everyone is there in good spirits! Can't wait to see what they've got planned for Halloween this year. read more

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The affordable and quality of the drinks can't be beat. This is one of my favorite bars to visit when in Austin.

Best place ever!! The most fun I have had in so long. If I had to choose to go to this place or get my license at 16, I might pick watching a game here. read more

Came here Halloween weekend and this short bartender was atrociously rude. He yelled at me for asking him for a drink menu and then continued to ignore me while taking the order of other patrons. I tried to wave him down and he turned to yell at me saying: "Are you waving that menu at me!" And then turned around and continued to ignore me. I was so confused and embarrassed at that point almost left. I tried to flag a different bar tender who also yelled at me for trying to ask him for help. WORSE EXPERIENCE EVER. Least to say I will never come back or recommend to anyone else. PS: place smelled like pee and this is not to be mean, but just a fact. read more

Great neighborhood bar with a fun vibe. It can get very crowded as it's a popular place. The food pays homage to the cities of Buffalo (wings) and Detroit (Detroit-style coney dogs). Big fan. read more

My wife Rachel and I have been hitting up NC during the holidays with friends for the past few - and what they say is true - this place is a can't miss for the seasonal drinks, whiskies and positive energy/vibe. Their XMas decor is simply awesome. You can't go wrong here with a Sippin' Santa, a Frozen Irish coffee, an Old Fashioned - or really anything for that matter. While it is always a good time at NC, it can get crowded, loud and hard to get a drink - despite some hard working and helpful bar tenders. read more

Nickel City is an essential dive bar in Austin, TX. Featuring a great bar menu and a full service bar. You will find this place bustling with people even on a weekday on a late afternoon. I went during the week of Halloween where it was decked out in Simpsons decorations where the bartenders were dressed a Moe and they called it "Moe's Tavern". I ordered a krusty burger, fries, and a flaming moe. The burger and fries were great and all had great flavor. My flaming Moe was great and packed a punch of alcohol. I had great service and just sat at the bar. They also featured many other simpsons themed items like a "Duff beer". I will definitely be going back to this bar for another round of drinks and food. read more

Nickel City has become my go to spot for drinks with friends and solo adventures. I enjoy it so deeply that I refuse to take dates here. The food? Scrumptious. The staff? Fantastic. The drinks? Award winning and cheap. If you're looking for a new spot to show your friends, don't. This place has plenty of bodies and the right ambiance. Keep the tourists/first dates away, and bring only the truest of homies. And order a nickel. read more

Nickel City - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Had the chance to visit Nickel City while staying in Austin this past weekend. Since it's during the holiday season, it's currently a Christmas Tiki Bar pop-up and is 100% transformed from the original aesthetic of Nickel City. There are so many photo op moments and I loved the floating river of presents and Santa chilling in a grass skirt. I opted for the festive version of a hot toddy and the mug it came in was so fun. You can actually purchase the mug for a flat fee. Beware you five finger discount folks, no matter how sneaky you think you are they are checking bags on your way out so don't embarrASS yourself and just buy the damn mug. Not sure if we were just lucky, but they allowed us to walk through the side door since we wanted to hit up the dedicated Tiki Bar towards the back. Bathrooms are unisex and private! read more

A great place to meet up with friends, colleagues, family, and just really anyone. The drinks are superb. Always good people watching and the food truck serves yummy food so you don't drink on an empty stomach. The bartenders really know what they're doing and always a fantastic selection of libations. read more

At Nickel City in Austin, they are celebrating the season with their Beach Bum Berry presents Sipping Santa...fun! . Nickel City is a really fun bar in east Austin! Their inside decorations for Christmas are always so creative, even in the restrooms. Many wrapped gift boxes are suspended from the ceiling and a grass skirt lines the full length of the bar's top edge. The restroom walls are totally covered with colorful gift wrap bows. The three of us enjoyed the big "Blitzen Bowl". Santa is soaking in the ceramic hot tub bowl that contains the drink. It's made from 2 Jamaican rums, allspice dram, apricot brandy, ginger syrup, lime juice, and 2 bitters. It was such fun to sip it with 3 straws. Their drink menu is so creative, with fun drink names and illustrations. Be sure to check out the very creative menu (below) & then stop by for some Christmas cheer!! file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/cc/12/D2A52483-787C-4569-8785-9A33D86EF6BE/NC_SippinSanta-2020_Menu.pdf read more

Nickel City - Nickel Cuty's creative decirations - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I swear I've reviewed Nickel City before. 1st--best bartenders hands-down in Austin minus Slavo at the Carillon in the ATT Conference Center. 2nd--ahh...the drinks...boilermakers, fufu stuff, highballs, Coors...ha ha--pure nostalgia. 3rd--Dog lovers...bring 'em! 4th--sorry it took so long, but the owner and ALL Bills fans rock! Last, but should be 1st--tasty foid truck options that you can order from the bar and add to your tab--Im talkin sliders the size of a normal cheesebuger w grilled onions, Chicago dogs, fried bologna sanwhiches--old school. Wait did I leave out I met Pete Coors here complete w 70s yellow sweater and towering near 7' tall? And guest bartenders serve every now and the somethin really interesting...like the Asian infusion crew. I can't get enough. read more

Nickel City - Pete Coors? Wow! - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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When I go out these days this is where I want to go! The drinks are fun and delicious! The bartenders are some of the best in the business in my opinion. They also have food which is a plus! The blue Hawaiian tiki drink on the menu is definitely a winner. I've had several of the other drinks and haven't tasted one I don't like. If you are looking for a good place to catch up with a friend or date night I think this is a great spot for that. They have a small, cozy patio too if you prefer the fresh air. Nickel City is doing a lot of things right here and I expect they will continue to be around for a long time. read more

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if you like buffalo wings and blue cheese, this is the place for you if you like the Buffalo Bills this is also the place for you. The service is pretty good. It was jampacked when I was there watching a game and the ambience is definitely there if you're a bills fan plus they have really cool Santa mugs if you're willing to buy one for $20. read more

Best bar in Austin! Best bartenders, Best Drinks, Best Bar Food! Every time I go to Nickel City I feel at home and like the bartenders are my local bartenders at home. The coffee drink is a must have but make sure you check out their ever changing cocktail menu. Great beer and shot deals also. Wish I lived here so this could be my local all the time bar. Vibe is always chill and love the back patio. read more

We stopped by for a Sunday Funday a few weeks ago and my husband ordered the Velvet Hammer and I the Dickel in a box. unaware the dickel in the box was like a shot glass full of booze for $10+ dollars, I would have 1) ordered something else, however it was delicious. I was so sad there was such a small amount of it. I kinda felt like I was drinking out of a thimble. My husband;s drink was so freaking good. Don't let the name, exterior or location fool you. This is Craft Cocktail Hour up in here. These bartenders and loaded with arsenals of making a damn delicious drink. WIsh I lived closer to this place. After leaving the east side to go back to the suburbs I dearly miss these kinds of places on the east side. definitely a cool place. Can't wait to try more cocktails and their wings. read more

Drinks: 5/5 The beers were cold and served in classic bar mugs. Service: 5/5 The bartenders were quick to work their way taking orders across the bar. The bar was packed, but the service was so fast it didn't matter! Environment: 5/5 The quintessential drive bar but also very clean and welcoming. Easily the best bar in Austin! read more

I was told this was a dive bar, and you totally get that feeling when you walk inside. But you can't claim to be a dive bar and sling $12 drinks, sorry not sorry. Now, before I receive any hate mail -- that's not to say that this isn't a MUST VISIT bar in East Austin. If you like whiskey then you're gonna want to come. There's a large selection of whiskeys that even I haven't tried or heard of. Also, on a hot Texas day you can't go wrong with of their frozen drinks. Overall, this is a great location to meet up for drinks and I look forward to returning. read more

Nickel City - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Is this the best dive bar in Austin? Pretty much, yea. Super chill, pet-friendly vibe, amazing food, the coldest beer possible and and a friendly staff all make this the place you want to be. It doesn't hurt that even the regular pricing is like happy hour everywhere else. I would consider moving to the east side just to be closer. Can't wait to go back. read more

This little gem of a place , the atmosphere is really awesome an the drinks keep going with totally great times.

Awesome old school bar vibe with great drinks. Bloody Mary was incredible and the bartenders provided great service read more

Nickel City - Hold out pale ale, frozen Irish coffee and a Bloody Mary - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Waste of a drive over there! In town for a few nights had friends recommend this place as well as 4 other bartenders in town.looking forward to grabbing a bite and having some Old Fitz and Boss Hog. Had a Lyft drop us off, told hey it will be like 15 minutes for a table OK no problem, there's nothing really walking distance so we will hang out outside and wait no biggie. So he magically finds us window bar seating....... where we sit and sit and sit some more for 37 minutes. People came in after us and were helped, cannot go up to the bar and order, couldn't get anyone's attention though 3 staff members made eye contact and acknowledged we were there. Thanks for nothing. read more

Good drinks. Good prices. Good people. Food truck is probably good, as well, although we didn't try it. Overall a great place. For entertainment, we were treated to an obnoxiously loud blonde (who kept asking if she was "being too loud"). Likely violated a couple of noise ordinances. 5 stars are reserved for true dive bars. read more

Nickel City - Ear splitting cackles! - Dive Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas