All right! For something more along Austin "scene" and not so much typical 6th St. mayhem, this little joint (and ones nearby it) are your best bet. East of I-35, but still on 6th St., this area seems to be far more local-centric. Not to say there aren't throngs of students, you just aren't as likely to run into any impromptu fratastic congregations, which I consider a pretty swell thing. So as other Yelpers have stated, this is a pretty hipster-dense bar. I guess this does qualify as a dive bar - dark, a bit dreary interior with the option of some pool playing - a large spacious courtyard to accommodate Natural American Spirits and Camel Lights aficionados. The courtyard is pretty freaking sizable, but don't be surprised if you are unable to reserve a seating area during the weekends - it gets pretty packed. There's also an outdoor bar stall which is just fine and dandy, but I think it may lack the variety the indoor bar does. Oh and the little trendy outhouses and outdoor sink station - very interesting and accessible for those who don't want to bother with waltzing back indoor to take care of business. Nice touch, but I was a little trepidacious about approaching closer to investigate. We observed a pretty interesting mix of people here - yes, mostly hipsters and a few groups in bizarre costume-like get-ups, but everyone seemed to be having a lovely time and kept mostly to themselves. I didn't spend too much time inside, other than acquiring adult beverages. I've only been here twice, but I didn't notice the bartenders being especially snotty or rude. Service was a bit frustratingly slow at times and I did receive a vodka tonic when I had specified a vodka soda, but I didn't bother rectifying the order for fear of having to wait another fifteen minutes to be acknowledged. I will say that as someone mentioned below - if you take it upon yourself to be chatty and friendly with the bartenders, they will return in kind. I can surely understand the deficits here and there, but I kind of like Shangri-La because it is nice laid back place and I have no real concrete complaints. I like the crowd, I like the bartenders, I like the casualness - will be back. read more

Shangri-La is a good place to go hang out. Open spaces and lots of tables out back make it easy to congregate with your crew. Prices weren't bad. The East Side King food trailer out back was serious grub. What was a drag? When we showed up at 10pm, all the taps were connected to kegs. By 11 or so, the choices had dwindled to only a few beers. What's up with that? read more

I arrived 4pm 12-22-17. To the Best Person. Emily. Not sure if spelt correctly. But She was Interactive. It seemed effortless to Her... Emily was Incredible! People started arriving... still on Her Game! I Will Always Wish Great People Well. Thank You, Darrin She Was the Bartender. read more

Atmosphere has potential, but service killlllllls it! We came on a Friday night, excited to try a new place with my boyfriend. Walking into a building that continues into a private courtyard-like setting was super cool. BUT the vibe was totally shot when the bartender called my boyfriend out for waiting at the counter with his debit card. (My boyfriend works in the liquor industry for 5+ years and has never had this experience). The bartender singled him out in front of everyone standing there and was completely disrespectful. Were willing to give this place one more try (only because they're dog friendly and the patio was cool). But don't expect polite service. read more

cute joint with retro vibes. was here for my bd with some peeps, and i have to say, this place has charm. there were food trucks in the spacious back yard. will definitely be back when im in the area! read more

Usually love this bar but, the door guy with the long curly hair ruined the entire night. He was trying to show off and act like he had much more authority than any regular door guy is given. Seemed like he was radiating small dick energy and killed the entire vibe of the night. I refuse to go there if he's the door guy. Great bar, maybe hire someone new to greet people as they come in. Poor reflection of the bar read more

Cool bar for hanging out, but all the staff seem very rude and unfriendly. My friends and I visited recently and from the time we walked in and met the guy with the nasty attitude at the door, to ordering drinks at the bar, the customer services experience was very lack luster. Like geez we came to have a good time. Be nice. The best part about this bar was the Cajun food truck in the back. The guys working the truck were super nice and made amazing food. read more

Oh Shangri-La ... you are one of my favorites for sure! You really are a perfect bar in every way. I love your location ... it's a quick getaway from dirty 6th. Your bartenders are awesome and always make a good drink. I love the new addition of the frozen drinks. As a girl with fancy tastes I am totally into that! You also have one of the best patios in all of Austin. Plenty of tables and trees about to keep you shaded. You also throw the best parties! Remember the Halloween pumpkin smashing thing - a total blast! I always end up at your sxsw parties too! So in conclusion y'all got a good thing going here and I will continue to partake in your booze and activities! Thanks for being great! read more

Shangri-La - The patio - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

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When hipsters have anemia they get an irony deficiency. I went to the soft opening of the East Side King's newest trailer in the back of Shangri La, which prove themselves, once again, to be as smart as they are hipster-ific. East Side Kings have introduced a menu that is founded in small sandwiches made from the addictive rice dough that makes all Asians look like Short-Round from Indiana Jones. Stuffed with homemade sausages of beef, chicken, & GOODNESS. I had a moment with the fried ice cream...I may have blacked out a bit. I think that desserts from an ESK trailer is a touch of perfection. But then again, I love it when two great addictions come together. read more

APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AT SHANGRI-LA. Please answer the following as accurately as possible: Do you have 3 or more tattoos and/or do your tattoos cover at least 30% of your body? Yes ____ No ____ Can you operate heavy eyeliner? Yes ____ No ____ Can you wear a size 00 pant that tapers down to a 4 inch diameter at each ankle, despite possible circulatory distress? Yes ____ No ____ Do you have at least 1 piercing that renders you unemployable by most people-facing positions at large corporations? Yes ____ No ____ Do you have the capacity to appear impossibly tough, but interact with others in a mysteriously kind manner? Yes ____ No ____ Do you shower daily, then mist yourself with equal parts olive oil and water? Yes ____ No ____ Would you keep your cool if Bill Murray, a parade of beard-havers/lovers, or a centipede materialized at the bar? Yes ____ No ____ If you answered yes to the questions above, come in for work. Thanks, Shangri-la (as for the other reviews, our girls' bathroom was surprisingly clean on a Friday night. yeah, we surprised ourselves.) read more

These are the bars that make you feel right at home, pretty much right away. After seeing the regular and effusive praise that's been heaped here, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. The best news is that a good bar is a good bar is a good bar, and the formula isn't miraculous: it's equal parts practical and stylish, and if you throw in a salt-shaker of slack, it seems at least reasonably apparent that there's love to be had by the locals. Among the highlights? Solid and interesting selection of brews, an absolutely terrific jukebox (one of my new favorites, actually), a current exhibition of what appear to be renderings of hand guns (there's a good story behind that, I'd wager), and an expansive patio aboveground where they have lots and lots of room. Don't expect huge band events here, as the owner explained that he's done plenty of that and it's not totally his thing any more, but the DJs and quirky events they regularly book (sock hop, anyone?) sound as if they always keep things interesting. These guys get it and they're not at all full of themselves. That's refreshing and reason enough to be a repeat offender. read more

What is paradise? What makes a good bar? Cheap beer. Pool tables. A wall of old arcade games. Friendly staff. Great jukebox. Girl in Olivia Newton-John pants. Running into old friends. Feeling like you're in someone really cool's den, and that you can come back any time you want. Walking distance from my house. Girl in Olivia Newton-John pants (!). Paradise. Good bar. Shangri-La. read more

Shangri-La? More like Hangri-La. Shang is the perfect place for a friend-hang. The divey, quirky atmosphere is perfect for a group of friends in the early evening. Long tables, outdoor bar, quick service. What more could you want in a East 6th Bar? They even have Porta-potties for the adventurous. Not only is it a great spot for groups, it's also a great nighttime joint, too. It should be part of everyone's stop-in list when doing an East 6th bar hop. read more

So, I know that people will hate me, but this bar is hipster heaven. Let me explain that statement, and why it's both a good and a bad thing. First, understand, I like hipsters. They're usually in their 20s, dress trendily, are skinny, wear tight jeans, and have ironic senses of humor. They also have good taste in music (mostly), and those things are all attractive to me. I like hipster boys, ok? But then the flip side - some hipsters, and this seems more prevalent here in Austin, take themselves WAY too seriously. Shangri-La doesn't seem like there are too many of those kind there, which is good. You enter on Medina, the side street that Shangri-La actually resides on, through a walkway of broken glass. Yes, broken glass. While it looks kinda cool under the spotlight, and none got in my or my companions' shoes, it seems like a very bad idea to mix broken glass and drunk people, especially when the amount of Austinites in sandals/flip-flops is considered. However, so far no harm no foul, but I wouldn't bring your doggie by unless you want an emergency vet visit. The back patio is very large - around the same size as the outside at Side Bar, with lots of tables and chairs scattered around. It's multi-leveled with moderately narrow stone steps between the levels, and a nice crunchy gravel underfoot. I spent most of my time on the patio, which I was very pleased with. It's well enough lit that you don't have to worry about seeing, but not so bright that you lose the mystique of being at a trendy bar. Warning - there's no real cover on most of the patio, so rain means stay inside! Speaking of the inside, watch your step! There's a large bit of frame that you have to step over on the steps, so it's actually a step up and THEN four down from the patio instead of just three down. Props to Shangri-La for the large painted notice on the door frame that's pretty hard to miss, but they really ought to have that fixed. And since we're discussing watching your step, be careful of the foundation seam that's risen a good four inches and splits the center of the inside area right down the middle. Seems like a nasty place to have an unexpected bump, and seems like the kind of thing that's a bad mix in a bar full of drunk people raised in a society where plastic bags have warnings that they're not toys. The beer selection is pretty standard hipster fare - a few good brews on tap outside, and a normal selection of about ten by can/bottle inside. I'll bet they sell more PBR tallboys than anything, though. I didn't pay much attention to the liquor selection, but it was a pretty big set of shelves, so it's probably decent. The decor is also pretty standard hipster far - kitschy chandeliers that are klassi with the K *and* the I, paintings of handguns on the walls, obligatory jukebox and HDTV playing old black and white movies, and even the vintage 80s and 90s arcade games. They've got Pac-Man, Asteroid Deluxe, Mortal Kombat II, Tetris, Guantlet, and Centipede, so you 80s vintage kids can whore away your quarters for some 8 and 16 bit bliss. The bartenders were fast and friendly, which was nice, and seemed to fit the decor, if you'll pardon my implication that they're decorative. Parking seemed easy, but it was a Tuesday, so I don't know how bad the weekends are, but there aren't a *lot* of night-time establishments right around, mostly a few restaurants and bars, so it shouldn't be too bad. So, I have to say, this is NOT a dive bar. Sorry, Chip A. Dive bars aren't INTENTIONALLY run down, cheap, or old. They are that way, like G&S Lounge, because they've always been that way - cheap, run down, old neighborhood bars. New bars that are freshly opened cannot, by definition, be dive bars. That's part of why it's a hipster bar. The kitschy decoration is fun, but intentional and mildly punny, since I'll bet the average income of their patrons is either student loans or yuppie downtown money. As JV rightly put it, this place is best-described as LO-FI. Where the music is a bit fuzzy and details don't matter as much the mood, which is relaxed and local. You won't find frat boys or sorostitues here, and there aren't going to be any Round Rock yuppies; just local, real Austinites having a great time to some good tunes. Alright, Shangri-La, you win. You're my kinda place, and I forsee my friends and I spending many nights in your embrace. Well done. But would ya put Smithwick's on tap for me? Cuz, really, you gotta have at least ONE Irish ale. That would get you that coveted fifth star. read more

When I think of this fascinating establishment, I think of a handlebar moustache. The reason being, the first time I ever visited this place, the bartender had one of these fine upper lip accessories. And that for some reason, reminds me specifically of the WIld West. It also makes me wonder how one achieves this look? Or if they actually score with it? Either way, I'm pretty sure I stared intently at it for much longer than acceptable. Whatever you do, don't go here if you have to relieve yourself often. One inside toilet (per gender), port-a-potties outside. Luckily, those spin classes have managed to come in handy. The outside patio is huge, just like other eastside bars with patios. Its chill, its becoming versatile, and the patrons aren't overly friendly or overly obnoxious. Don't get dressed up to go here, or else you will be stared at. Don't wear Magellan fisherman shirts here, don't wear kaki shorts, don't wear high heels, don't fucking wear Coach purses here & definitely don't wear cowboy/cowgirl boots here. The drinks are cheap & I like cheap drinks. I wouldn't make this a go-to spot for the eastside, but its okay. Its worthy of being part of an eastside bar crawl. There is nothing that really stands out about this place. Other than handlebar moustaches. read more

This is how it happens. It reminds me of Can't Buy Me Love when Patrick Dempsey turns into the popular guy and then emotionally abuses the girl who got him there. ShangriLa did this to me. In the beginning, I frequented there, raved about the Sunday Sock Hop and even tried to plan my birthday party there. Then it caught on, like wild fire and although it is good for the bar (i guess) it was definitely not good for me. They quickly turned from friendly, accommodating bar staff to "I'm too good for you and waiting is totally IN right now." When did it become cool to be snobby hipsters? I'm confused. I definitely didn't get that memo. Apparently it is fun to wait 20 minutes for a drink while being judged by an overcrowded bar? read more

I would like to open this review with a rendition of Jem and the Holograms' hit song of the same name: Shangri-La, Shangri-La Where are you hiding? Shangri-La, Shangri-La Where can you be? If I keep searching, I will find you Shangri-La, show yourself to me Are you just a fantasy? So it would seem But somethin' in my heart says You are more than just a dream Shangri-La, Shangri-La, I'm pressing onward Shangri-La, Shangri-La, I'm on my way Won't give up hoping, nothing will stop me Shangri-La, I will find you someday Shangri-La, Shangri-La, Shangri-La I will find you someday Shangri-La, Shangri-La For some reason that seemed appropriate. At first glance the hipster vibe of this place turned me off since I'm not a fan of jeans you have to be sewn into, glasses rims circa 1987 or ironically drinking PBR, but that might just be me. There was an intriguing assortment of gun paintings on plywood hanging on the wall, which may have held my attention just long enough to allow the vibe to be redeemed by the plethora of old-school arcade style video games in the back corner. If there's one thing I love, it's a little Mortal Kombat with my cocktails. They also get points for super-sweet bartenders, a special "Shangri-La Blend" hand soap in the ladies room, and for playing the music loud enough to hear, but not so loud that I couldn't carry on complete conversations with the people I was there with. Oh, and they played Tupac - whether intended as ironic or just damn good music that earns some points in my book. read more

I wouldn't give this place any stars if I could. Tonight was my first time there as I hears that trivia night was a lot of fun. My sister and I got there early to secure a table for our group. As members of our party arrived they were all carded (as is expected at any bar), but when one of our friends tried to show his temporary ID (which included a picture) the bartender stated that he couldn't accept it and wouldn't even look at it. Our friend proceeded to take out a student ID so that the bartender could verify that the picture and name matched, but the bartender wouldn't budge. Our friend walked over to our table and sat down to inform us of what was going on. Seconds later the bartender came over and told our friend that he could no longer be inside the bar. Our friend with the temporary ID left the bar with our friend that rode with him in tow (even though she had just purchased a beer). When the last member of out group arrived minutes later, she came straight to our table and was able to drink the left beer without being carded (since she never approached the bar). The rest of the group finished their beers and went to another trivia night where they would accept the temporary ID. I completely understand the right to refuse service to anyone, but this was such an odd situation. The temporary ID was a government issued form of ID that included a picture and the bartender refused to even look at it to verify its authenticity. He even snapped that he "didn't want to talk about it" at one of my other friends who came to talk to him and our friend with the temporary ID. It's also hypocritical that my other friend was able to enter the bar and drink a full pre-bought beer without being carded just after this whole situation occurred. In fact, this friend even drank the beer in front of said bartender as another friend and I closed out our tabs. Needless to say I will not be returning because of the way my friend was treated. read more

The bar is nice. I dig the outdoor scene. Great bartenders. But I feel completely geriatric here. Just chatted with a guy who reminded me of my boyfriend my freshman year in college. No wonder. He apparently just turned 21 two days ago. Great place if you're under 25 but whenever I come here I start doing the math and realizing I could have physically given birth to most of the people here. Makes me kind of want to go to the Poodle Dog, where I feel like a spring chicken. read more

I'm hearing whisperings of people comparing this place to the Peacock, (which is dead wrong, the peacock is boring) or that this place is the new hipster hang out ( also dead wrong, just because a few of the patrons may dress a bit more stylish doesnt mean the place is the new "hipster home"). If anybody can remember what Club Deville felt like back in 2000 - 2001, before they knocked the wall down, the Shangri - La has captured that feeling and transported it over a few blocks east and south. I'm usually there on Tuesday nights when I'm not DJing, and then Friday and Saturday and some point, and part of what brings me back is the feeling I get from the crowd. Its not just the "cool kids," its not just the "lofties", its not just the warehouse district people "slumming it up" for the night, and its not full of weird vibes an egos and people flexing their insecurities over fashion and music snobbery. Its just young Austin coming together and being Austinites; mellow, positive, creative, non judgemental, and most importantly, drunk. Sure, its a by product of gentrification, but i'll tell you this, sipping on my ice cold Dale's or one of the best made white russians I've had in awhile in their patio, it makes me proud to be an artsy kid in my late 20's early 30's living on the east side. I cant wait for spring here....mmmmmmm i'll put the lime in the coconut. read more

"Alright, who's gonna be Merlin?" "Aw, just one more quarter...C'MONNNN!" and "How the hell did you just make that side pocket shot!?" These are samples of the kind of time I've had playing quarter-run games in Shangri-La of the East on my last visit there for New Year's. *Bows* Commendable attributes I've noticed on other occasions: *Gongg* $4.75 pints of Bloody Mary and ATTENTIVE bartenders inside! I think we could have winked at the coasters and our Neil Patrick Harris look-alike server would have been recommending another concoction to give a go. If my group were instead chatting about more universal subjects I'm positive he would have joined in. A real cool cat, that one was. Two pool tables in the back (bring out yer quarters) plus a few old school game consoles in back of the back. Although, only 4 out of 7 of these work, including Tetris and a Gauntlet console whose Thyra didn't work and the Wizard firing button was jammed. Bummer! There's a good number of smaller, more intimate tables nearer to the jukebox. On a regular night the music isn't so loud that two people can't converse unless they're in each others' ear, but three people may have trouble hearing unless they sit close. Tell them to come hither, then. The upper patio level has a satellite bar that serves a good handful of beer on tap, but tabs at each bar remain separate. PLENTY more room on this patio. I'm talking mid-sized-dance-floor worthy. And did we *ever* see that worth during their first Sock Hop last night for New Year's Eve. I'm talking Grease-inspired, swing-skirt-but-also-Truman-Capote-encouraged attire with many shaking their tail feathers in Pumas for the very purpose to more easily scoot shuffle n' swing. Shangri-La: the paradise where East meets West. Golly, you better believe it, Mister. *Gongg* read more

Now this is a bar I can get behind. I get a lot of flack, because I just don't get what is so cool about the Rio Rita. But walk down the block to Shangri-La and I am one happy camper. I tend to be the kind of person who always picks out the same 3 songs on the jukebox, but here I was overwhelmed with great choices. Ended up going with a Talking Heads, The Cars, and Beatles trifecta. Lots of seating at the bar which is always fun, but in the corner are all kinds of cool arcade games. I seriously could play Ms. Pac Man all night. I'm looking forward to the summer when I can really take advantage of their huge patio and outdoor beer barn! Yes you heard me right. Beer. Barn. read more

So now that I've been here for more than SSSH, I feel like I can update my review! We were here for a SXShow with free Brooklyn Lager, food and music. Managed to have a little (ok, a lot) of fun there. You know, I really like this bar setup. The dual bars are useful, the outside is big and sexy, if dusty and it doesnt hurt that they have Mrs. Pacman. The one thing that I would note is that it would be useful if there was a railing for the death stairs that lead up to the top part. You could just set up a video camera there called "ShangriFail" and capture it all day long. Note: Ladies, don't wear heels, no matter how strong the temptation. read more

This is one of my favourite bars on the east side. Good sized inside space, with 2 pool tables. The bartenders are nice and attentive, and I've never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to get my drink, despite of the crazy crowds. They have a great outdoor space! Lots of picnic tables and you can usually just join people and have good random talks and drinks. There is also the eastside kings trailer here, which serves some of the best food! So great food, great outdoors space, great people watching, pool tables, great bartenders. What else do you really want? Oh and the drink are cheap, too. read more

Gentrification generally goes like this: 1. Area is inhabited by working-class minorities. 2. Artists, musicians, and writers, in search of cheap rent, descend upon said area. 3. Galleries, bars, and restaurants open in area in an effort to cater to new influx of artists, musicians, and writers. 4. Hipsters and young, urban professionals descend upon said aforementioned galleries, bars, and restaurants in an effort to sate a never-ending thirst for the next new joint. 5. Working class minorities wonder, "what the f*ck just happened?" Shangri-La is evidence of both 3 and 4 in the above scenario, but it's not necessarily a bad thing; it just IS. I wanted to like this place more, but its sheer cool-new-IT-place-ness perhaps precluded the opportunity. Might be the obvious theft of Peacock's decor and vibe. Next time I'm going on a Tuesday. read more

Had to drag my friends here after we'd been on a little bar-hopping excursion. It's the siren's song of $2 Tuesday. It calls to me. Finally figured out why the Snoop Dog is $2.50 on Tuesdays instead of $2; Echo informed me the juice is an extra $.50. The paper umbrellas are free and as I was trying to put mine in my hair it flew away :( Minus one star for vetoing The Strokes on the jukebox last night (and it might actually have been "Last Night") in favor of more David Bowie. When I yelled, "Play more David Bowie!" I was obviously joking since they had played like three in a row, then they played another three or four. Now I love David Bowie and I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be married to him, but I still appreciate a little variety from the jukebox. For instance, when "Rich Girl" came on and Sam was saying something about how he didn't like that song but he said for us to go ahead and continue dancing to it, and I had to charm him with my story of how when I was a kid and I loved that they said "bitch" on the radio, I thought that was so cool. And I still do. I don't know if Sam was saying he doesn't like Hall & Oates at all, and I might be with him on most of their stuff (I think "Maneater" is the song I hate the most in the world, although "Somebody I Used To Know" is edging up there). You'll have to wait until I go to bar that happens to be playing "Maneater" to get the full scoop on why I hate that song. Also, they have purse hooks. read more

It's an awesome place to hang out. Love their huge patio. Probably one of the most unpretentious bars/clubs to go in Austin. I'm not into going to the trendiest places. I went to the SECOND SUNDAY SOCK HOP and it was a great night with great tunes and groove. If you love retro music, this is the place to go. Unfortunately it is only held the second sunday of each month. But it is definitely worth going to. read more

When you go look Wikipedia of the Ancients, seeker, you find answer. "Shangri-La has become synonymous with any earthly paradise but particularly a mythical Himalayan utopia--a permanently happy land, isolated from the outside world. In the novel Lost Horizon, the people who live at Shangri-La are almost immortal, living years beyond the normal lifespan. The word also evokes the imagery of exoticism of the Orient. The story of Shangri-La is based on the concept of Shambhala, a mystical city in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In China, Tao Qian of the Jin Dynasty described a Shangri-La in his work Story of the Peach Blossom Valley (Chinese: pinyin: Táohu Yuán Jì). In modern China, the Zhongdian country was renamed to (Xinggéll, Shanri-La in Chinese) in 2001, to attract tourists. The legendary Kun Lun Mountains in Tibet offer other possible Shangri-La valleys. A popularly believed inspiration for Shangri-La is the Hunza Valley in northern Pakistan, close to the Tibetan border, which Hilton visited a few years before Lost Horizon was published. Being an isolated green valley surrounded by mountains, enclosed on the western end of the Himalayas, it closely matches the description in the novel. A Shangri-La resort in the nearby Skardu valley is a popular tourist attraction. Today, various places claim the title, such as parts of southern Kham in southwestern Yunnan province, including the tourist destinations of Lijiang and Zhongdian. Places like Sichuan and Tibet also claim the real Shangri-La was in its territory. In 2001, Tibet Autonomous Region put forward a proposal that the three regions optimise all Shangri-la tourism resources and promote them as one. After failed attempts to establish a China Shangri-la Ecological Tourism Zone in 2002 and 2003, government representatives of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and Tibet Autonomous Region signed a declaration of cooperation in 2004. Also in 2001, Zhongdian County in northwestern Yunnan officially renamed itself Shangri-La County. Shangri-la is often used in a similar context to which "Garden of Eden" might be used, to represent a perfect paradise that exists hidden from modern man. It can sometimes be used as an analogy for a life-long quest or something elusive that is much sought. For a man who spends his life obsessively looking for a cure to a disease, such a cure could be said to be that man's "Shangri-La". It also might be used to represent perfection that is sought by man in the form of love, happiness, or Utopian ideals. It may be used in this context alongside other mythical and famous examples of somewhat similar metaphors such as The Holy Grail, El Dorado, The Fountain of Youth, and to an extent "white whale" (referring to the white whale chased by the obsessed Captain Ahab in the book Moby-Dick)." Yeah. Shangri-La is a bar, dude, on the east side. It is quite cool - they have a huge outdoor patio thing, the entryway of which is lined with something those of us who have been are pretty sure is glittering mashed glass gravel. On the inside, they've got about 6 or 7 arcade machines right smack from the early 80's, all neary functional, still only a quarter [BLUE VALKYRIE IS ABOUT TO DIE!] 2 pool tables and many cues (hey, we all know the usual cue at a bar is gonna suck, but at least you can pick the least shitty one instead of one that is for somebody 3 feet tall). They have a functional jukebox with a bevy of soundtrax and the 3 tunes for a buck. I was there NYE, the drinks were strong, and they had the '2nd Sunday Sock Hop' going on with all night DJ, a $10 cover & free entry before 9. At least one ambulance showed up for a passed out girl, and as I've mentioned before, though I don't agree, Ice-T & Body Count once told me that unless 2 ambulances show up during a show, it's no good. Although Shangri-La mentioned 'bar food' for $1, which is nice of them (and we're still uncertain what the 'bar food' was) really the only thing keeping this place from being a 5 star for me is a grill a-la-Casino el Camino. So: we twisted and boogied until we could boogie no more, and the man in the fedora and tie tapped me on the shoulder and shook my hand on the way out, and said "Thank you for coming." Beat that, craptastic west-side 6th street bar. read more

Well, I like it. I will have to come back and rate the drinks... WHEN I CAN HAVE ALCOHOL AGAIN! (OUT BABY, OUT!!!) Otherwise, I heart the waitstaff and atmosphere. BTW, about the broken glass: I also have it in my front yard between garden beds. It's free tumbled glass from the city dump. It's not... really meant for barefoot romps, but there have been many an occasion that I've stepped in it and come out uninjured. And in case you're wondering, NO, I'm not a shoeless leather-footed hippie that can withstand broken glass shards all up in my feets. Oh, Shangri-La: I cannot wait to see what your cocktails are like! Also, the hand soap in the ladies bathroom is MAGIC smelling!! read more

To preface this review, I used to kind of enjoy this place. I'm just choosing to not go back after my most recent experience. I walked up to the bar and handed the bartender my card to start a tab. The bartender told my girlfriend and I that they'd hold the card for open tabs, we agreed and got our drinks. About 30 minutes later, I walked up to get some more drinks. I told the bartender my last name, and half started to walk away. The bartender that had served us was not there any longer, and the 2 remaining bartenders said they didn't have my card or a tab with my name on it. They looked through all of the kept cards at the bar, and checked the computer for any charges under my name. After a couple minutes of looking, the bartender suggested that I was in the wrong bar...and I had used my card at a neighboring bar for drinks. At this point I'm a little bit irritated, but not a big deal...surely someone knows what's going on. They sent me to the outside bar, the outside bartender (who was not the man who took my card originally) said it was silly of them to send me out there. I went back to the inside bar to speak with the people there again. After pulling up my bank statement and proving that there was a charge on my card, the bartender explained how charges generally don't show up that quickly. That's fine and I'd believe that...IF I WEREN'T LOOKING AT MY BANK STATEMENT. I asked my girlfriend to collaborate my story at this point, because it seemed like the staff didn't believe me. After about 15 minutes of standing at the bar, the bartender slammed a card holder down with my card in it. He explained to me closed out tabs have their cards left in a holder. I calmly explained to the staff that I had agreed to keep the tab open, and did not walk my tab. The bartender ended up giving us a few drinks on the house for our trouble, that is the only thing saving this review from a 1 star rating. I will not go back here again, there are PLENTY of other bars on east 6th street. TL;DR - I went to get a 2nd round of drinks for friends on an open tab, spent 30 minutes trying to find my credit card that the staff had lost. read more

Shangri-La is the jewel of the East 6th Nile.... well to me at least. I love the courtyard area, the steps are a little steep to get up and down but consider it an interactive drunk test. If you cant make it up or down the steps... you have probably had too much. East side King is there waiting for your order, or if you are so inclined to hobble down there steps there are many food trailers a stone's throw away. Where was I at? Ah yes the courtyard.. there are also port -o- potties if you want to use them and a handy dandy hand washing station right outside. I know what you're thinking, but they keep them unusually clean so you wont have an ACL Fest experience in these port -o- potties. At 10 o'clock they open up another bar in the courtyard area which makes your drink getting even more convenient. The inside is small but inviting, the bathrooms are clean, there is a pool table and i think a jukebox. Honestly I don't spend much time inside so I am not the expert on what is in there. Oh the best part, happy hour is until 9:00 on Friday so even if you get off work late you can still swing by and get a $2 domestic. Cheap drinks and nice place to chill outside, all is right with the world. read more

If I had to pick a "coolest thing" about Shangri-La it would be their patio. Why wait downstairs with the proles when you can chill on the spacious and capacious upstairs patio tables with your friends and deputize the soberest of them to chivvy more beers up to you? Sadly East Side King isn't the upstairs trailer anymore (as of fall 2013 it's "Royale with Cheese" - get it?), so the appeal of being in the top tier has been diminished somewhat. However, you can still enjoy $2 Lone Stars, ~$4 pints of other beers, and variously priced shots in the downstairs lounge if you feel like slumming. I've spent plenty of happy times either playing pool on their tables, just hanging around drinking, or cheering on friends as they hit on girls at the bar, since this place attracts a fairly cool spectrum of Austin personhood. Their Tuesday trivia is good, and their drinks are alright, so as an official East Sixth Bar you're practically mandated to at least check them out instead of visiting the teeming horror of flesh that is Dirty 6th these days. read more

I must have gone on the wrong night, because...I felt really old here. I think some other yelpers who have reviewed are my age and...I didn't see many of us there. I know I could have been a momma to many of these little ones, and got checked out a couple times by said clientele, so i got the peculiar feeling that moms must get when they get checked out by their son's friends, or their friends' sons. Not bad feelings, not good feelings...just feelings. But anyway, I should not judge a place on its clientele and certainly I'll take a titanic full of hipsters than a boat full of frat boys or suburban dads any day. The chairs are very comfortable, the drinks are very cheap (and poured well) and the jukebox is very good. Its big and the wait is short. Its a good place to go drinking, and fifteen years ago I would have been in heaven here. As it stands, I'll just enjoy being considered a cougar, which I guess is as close to heaven as my older behind might get. Oh, and the fact that they lend themselves out to rescues knocks them from my initial three stars into a definite four stars. read more

OK, lets get this straight for everyone complaining about the "hipsters". If you are complaining about them, then you are one. Just admit it. Also, the bar staff is EXTREMELY friendly if you are friendly. I have gotten to know most of them by simply saying hello when I see them and asking how they are doing. They are not snobs. If you are complaining about the bar staff being snobs, then you are one. Just admit it. One more thing, if you keep assuming everyone that you don't know is from California, even though you are too snobbish to find out, then quite frankly you probably are from California. The owner of this bar was born and raised in Austin. There are about 6 other people in this town that can also say that. This place is great, friendly staff, cheap drinks, they hold great events, the patio is awesome, always someone to talk to, good jukebox, and NO CLOWNS! One of the best bars in town. read more

You know those places you're scared to go because people always talk about how cool they are? I always refrain because sometimes the idea of things are so much better than the reality. Kind of like online shopping or that really hot person you know is a total douche underneath the suave exterior. I am happy to say that I was not let down. They have games, pool, a good jukebox, and a relaxed crowd. Plus, my rum and coke was 2.75 on a saturday night. Not bad my friend. Unfortunately, it was a bit chilly for my tastes to take advantage of the giant patio but the second it gets warmer, you'll know where to find me! read more

Dead atmosphere, drab lighting; just another dive bar. Chairs were pleasantly squishy, though. Definitely one of those places with arbitrary and invisible pricing of beverages that will increase and decrease drastically based on how cool they perceive you to be. So try not to piss off the dour Chandler-Bing-doppleganger of a bartender. Otherwise you'll likely find yourself paying more than your friend for a crummy cocktail, like I did. Painkiller, my arse. read more

Didn't spend much time inside but the patio was fantastic. Lots of seating and there was a separate bar out there as well as a food cart. Pretty casual atmosphere and would definitely come back here to hang out! read more

Shangri-La - Patio out back, love the lights - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

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From the moment you accidentally walk into the Tejano bar right next to it, to the time you leave Shangri-La a good time is waiting to be had. Everything this place is great. The outdoor "anteroom" covered by a corrugated tin roof held up by wooden posts, like something you'd find in a backyard. The half stairway that leads from the ID checkpoint to the lounge. The teal/sea-green colored walls of the lounge, and the chandelier hanging above the bar. In the lounge they have old school arcade games like Mortal Kombat II and Centipede, and others. In the same area there's two pool tables. The jukebox has some cool vintage selections like Booker T & The MG's - Green Onions. The bathroom has a lock on it, in case you need to do something, that I would only wish upon my worse enemy, while at a dive/downtown bar...and as a nice bonus appeared quite clean! The chairs and sofas looked like something out of a 50's malt shop or stag movie lounge. All this and we still haven't gone outside. From the entrance a small stone 1/4 stairway leads to the beer garden which is spacious, has a big old tree, and a great view of the rooftop. It may be tricky to find for first timers, so remember that the entrance is in the rear. read more

If you can resist being your typical judgmental, asshole self, you will be able to see past the obvious demographic of Shangri-la, and really start to appreciate what this place offers: a great patio, cheap drinks, and a kickass beer garden. Stop with all of your "ZOMG, the hipsters are here!" horseshit. If you don't like it, then either bug out or try being an open minded resident of a fantastically open-minded city. You all sound trite and petty going on and on about such a ridiculous premise. You'll be fine. The beer still tastes good and the setting is still glorious. read more

I'll cut straight to the chase. Shangri-La is my favorite bar in Austin. It's not for everyone. And, if you're not of the hipster persuasion, you may as well stop reading right now. If you are, though, and have never been here, what are you waiting for? Honestly, I don't even really feel all that great writing a review, because it's one of those places that you just want to keep to yourself and all your friends. I remember the first time I came here, I felt like I'd just walked into the best house party ever with hundreds of future friends to be made. I strongly prefer Shang to Beauty Bar and Creekside, and all the other stereotypical hipster dives, because the crowd here is usually a lot more chill, which is generally the case with most Eastside establishments. There's a huge outdoor patio with picnic tables where you can actually chat with friends and lounge around. There's also pool tables and arcade games inside. The drinks are strong and cheap. Bathrooms are decent, meaning they're not unspeakably gross...oh, and there's usually no cramped quarters...looking at you, Beauty Bar. If you know what I mean. I hate to stereotype, but here we go...if you're into nothing but djs, pretentious bs, and all dancing, no talk, then stick to the regulars downtown, but if you're looking for a relaxed bar to hang out with good friends, shoot the shit, maybe dance a lil and meet a cute indie boy or girl, this place is where it's at. read more