Hole in the Wall Reviews

This place was right next the hostel I was staying at while in Austin. The drinks were well priced and there was live music every time I went there. It's a very laid-back and quintessentially "Austin" establishment and I highly recommend.

The name says it all. It is a hole in the wall. I’m a fan of dive bars and this may be one of the “divey-est” I’ve been too. There are two bars within the space along with two different stages. The night we went it was pretty quiet and just a solo guitarist/singer playing. Bartender was nice but not overly attentive. We stayed for one drink but only because we had other plans for the evening.

This place has been here for years and if you go, you'll know why. Three bars in one-front bar that usually has live music, another bar in the back and a patio outside -again, with live music. You'll see regulars, college students and tourists. Bartenders offer good service. Drinks are strong.

Mimiclou has played here twice and both shows have been sooo good! The sound at Hole in the Wall? Immaculate. Crisp, clean, powerful. Whoever’s running the board knows what they’re doing, and it shows. Every note hits exactly how it should. The vibe? Total Austin. It’s got history, but it’s not stuck in the past. It’s intentional, elevated, but still relaxed. You feel like you’re part of something... whether you’re playing, listening, or just drinking a beer, playing pool or hitting up karaoke in the back. This is one of those rare venues that nails it on all fronts: sound, staff, space, and soul. If you're looking for that real Austin music moment... this is it.

good booze and fried food. what else do you need?

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.

After tipping an amount that recieved a thank you and being courteous enough to pay an unneccesary erroneous 2nd cover charge outside... I was lucky enough to be verbally assaulted and chastised with profanity until physically threatened, forced to leave, luckily managing to charm my way into getting my card back to close my tab prior to guys trying to physically attack me (Don and others working there) Avoid and boycott if you care for your well being and do not wish to endanger others that may naively assume the place is safe and or friendly to everyone. Waste of time, do not make that mistake! -Jeramy

Stumbled upon Hole in the Wall. 10 dollar pitchers of Lone Star Beer and local bands doing 40 minute sets. Cavernous space with an outdoor section. Elegant it ain’t. But it was some fun.

This place is grungy and dirty. And it’s a fun night out of you get off your high horse and make it about the booze. I haven’t gone many times and it’s not on my top bar list. But each time I’ve gone, it’s always been on of “those nights.” The kind where you suddenly get together with an old friend and just say “yes” to the fun. Yes to the fun always brought us back here. And now, it’s got some Austin pop culture history with the opening sequence of The Tonight Show being filmed here.

Great little dive bar with good local music! We went after school let out for summer and got to enjoy local music that was amazing!

here's why I'll never go back again..been there many times over the years..always had a great time in the past..but, this weekend changed all that. went there last Saturday night..paid a $10 "voluntary " donation for the music..had a shiner bock beer. asked the bouncer if it was ok to leave and get some dinner and come back without paying cover again..was told it was ok...I come back about 30 minutes later, different bartender behind bar and the guy refused to serve me..told to come back tomorrow...which really doesn't work when you're on a jet back to Florida in the morning..just wanted to enjoy some good live music on my last night in Austin..and after paying $10 to hear one song, drink one beer, and then be told to leave is enough for me to say I'll never visit this place again for as long as I live. There are hundreds of other places in Austin to go and hear good music and drink a cold beer...go to anywhere but here if you want to have fun in Austin.

After visiting the LJB Presidential Library and Museum we walked over to the university community looking for a bite for dinner. There are a string of restaurants along this roadway. We went into one but when we looked through the back window we saw another restaurant that appeared to have outdoor dining with a string of picnic tables lined up and string lights overhead. It was packed solid. We went looking for that place and it turns out you have to enter through a bar fronting the street and go out the back door to reach the restaurant called "Hole in the Wall". We proceeded to order a dish called "veggie meshie" salad and a beer. It was absolutely delicious! It was a brussel sprouts salad with jalapenos vegetarian style. Very, very good! It's a funky place appealing to the younger crowd but we enjoyed it very much. As I always say, "follow the crowds".

Great place for live music, and good and friendly service. A bit away from the city centre (the 6th Street) but well worth a visit!

The bouncer was rude and touched me over a misunderstanding. He did apologize and admit his mistake.

Best Austin bar ever. Spending time at the Hole in the Wall is like being in a big, friendly and..well, alcoholic and good-music-addicted family. The place is very big, has two stages for your daily portion of good live music, and an open backyard with also a juke box and a pool table. The people working here are the coolest ever, just like their habitual clients. If you're lucky, you can enjoy the gig of some of the bartenders' band, which definitely rocks, its name is Power Chief.

This place is good, not amazing, not poor, it is just an average place to grab some drinks. There is a food truck in the back on the patio in case you need some food to eat, and corn hole if that's your thing. Apparently, there are some regulars there almost daily that practice. Went with a friend that is at UT Austin and has a knack for local pubs, so this was very low-key.

The place is good, and there are many students of the UT around. The service and the food could be better

Super cool bar with great ambience, but unfortunately quite far from the city center, you have to travel by car ... but we still liked it very much and regretted not seeing a concert here. Perhaps on another visit from Austin ... Given the rather hip student environment, we would no longer have suspected a place like this, hopefully it will last and not be displaced

Great music, great, easy-going staff, and cheap drinks..... the bathrooms are a work of art...

We were on a spring break quest for the perfect dive bar in Austin, and after three days and two visits here we think we've found it. We went Tuesday at mid-day, and we were the only drinkers there. Most of the patrons were there eating lunch at the adjacent East Side Kings. There are picnic tables outside for both bar and dining customers. There are also two indoor stages for live music and room outside for a third band as well. When we returned Thursday for another round the SXSW crowd had moved in, and the vibe was considerably different than it had been earlier in the week. Even if you're not interested in the libations, go hungry and do not leave without ordering the brussel sprout salad. It will not disappoint.

Didn't eat, just did a Memory Tour for my husband who used to have lunch here with Willy Nelson oh so many years ago when he was a student and worked in the area. He insists it's added on but otherwise looks almost just as it did 35 years ago, so nice to see some things don't change too much. IF they still sold their "Reality Sandwich" we'd have ordered one to eat.

It's definitely a hole in the wall, but in a good way. I had Thai Chicken Kara-age and I really don't eat rice, but I downed it all covered in some sriracha!! Amazingly good with cilantro, basil and onions. You've gotta try this!

We arrived early to a dramatic comedic reading and free spiked drinks. We thought thats different but not what we were expecting. When we returned after dinner ( because they have no food) we were greeted with a welcome back- we wondered where you went! We found the pool table and asked how to get our spot. Same as we did in 1984! We didnt mean to run the table for 3 hours, but the UT students we played were nor only polite, they asked advice! Since we met playing pool back when ladies did play pool in bars our answer was universally to recommend that the guys invite a lady to play! The music was a nice backdrop, the alcohol college prices. We had a great time. You will to if you are looking for a hangout for the evening with college students who want to have a good time that they can tell their parents about!