B-day night in Austin

[CowtownHornfan]

My wife’s 30th birthday is coming up and we will be spending it in Austin. It’s been many a moon since I graduated and spent time in downtown Austin. I need advice on a place or places to go after dinner with 8-10 people. I am trying to avoid 6th at least until later in the night, but other than 6th and 4th I really have no clue. Help please!

 

[Smurfette]

Depends... what's your style? You can go to the bar in the driskill and it's really nice, or you could head east for something more down-played.

 

[CowtownHornfan]

I think the Driskill might be a little too low key. My wife and her friends want to cut loose and have a good time, however since I will be the tour guide I’m trying to avoid too much bar hopping. The ability to get a small table would be nice but since I won’t be downtown until 10 or so I’m not holding my breath. I just don’t want to show up someplace too young or crowded, at least until we get a few drinks in us. If things haven’t changed and 4th is where the “adults” go and 6th is where the “kids” go then I guess we will head to 4th. Any bar suggestions?

 

[WhoseHouse]

Cedar Street is almost always a good time, I remember the crowd as between 25 and 35. They usually have some type of band and they have good martinis and cherry-infused bourbon. There used to be a $5 cover but that's not that big of a deal. If you don't like it, you can move over to Six, on 4th and Colorado.
Do NOT go to old school downtown 6th street. If you want to go somewhere more upbeat later in the night, head to west 6th (take a pedi cab or something) to Molotov, J Black's, Key Bar, etc.

disclaimer: I have not been to Cedar Street in a few years.

 

[Smurfette]

I'ma big fan of Shangri La. It's on east 6th just about a block past El Milagro. It's a really down to earth place, but really cool at the same time. Definately they kind of place you can find a table at. Not fancy-- more like a hipster type of place.

 

[foxyhorn]

I am 27 and my husband is 30. Whenever we go out bar hopping with friends in Austin, we head to West 6th Street. These bars, J. Black's, Key Bar, etc. are in the age range you are looking for and you can easily bar hop among them. You could do dinner at Ranch 616 and walk to the bars.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

if you plan on finishing up dinner by 9-ish and get to W 6th by 9:30 or so I can have some tables reserved for you at J Blacks (assuming this is a fri or sat...if not anytime will work)

not "bottle service" tables, simply an area where you'll have a spot held for you

 

[CowtownHornfan]

We have dinner reservations at The Belmont at 7:30. I definitely think we can make it to W 6th around 9:30, a table would be great and thank you very much. I think W 6th is definitely the place we will be headed.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

PM me with your name and phone number

is this for tomorrow night?