What is it? One of the 50 best bars in the world, it’s a low brow dive that raises the bar for retro watering holes.
Why we love it: There are plenty of reasons Austinites return for a visit to Nickel City, whether it’s for their annual full bar Halloween costume as Moe’s Tavern, complete with a false facade replicating the classic toon dive, or simply for a reliable cold beer and hot dog in an increasingly champagne and caviar kind of town. The love for this bar runs deep. The menu comprises offerings for whatever your taste buds desire, with the usual suspects of cold beer, cocktails wines and a few frozen mixed drinks that’ll help melt off some of the heat from the Texas sun. As the cost of living rises, it doesn’t hurt that Nickel City keeps things cheap without compromising quality.
Time Out tip: If you love Halloween, you must go to see Nickel City turn into Moe’s Tavern. Their own version of the Flaming Moe is the kind of cartoon cocktail you see and think, “I must taste that.”
Address: 1133 East 11th Street, Austin, TX 78702
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 12pm-2am
Expect to pay: $20-40, maybe more or less depending on drink of choice and food.