i live near there off mesa. there is the bar at mesa hills cafe & the bar at el arroyo. but both are laid-back, sit at the bar while watching tv types.
i go to el arroyo every once in a while but mainly to eat. good drink prices though. took some friends of mine from dallas to the el arroyo off 5th street for dinner on saturday night. they were shocked that the margaritas were ~$4. they were telling me that in dallas they can't walk away under $6 for one.
El Arroyo is pretty cool-lots of hotties work there-but not a real hanging-out kind of place unless you bring your own group with you. My office is in the same strip center as the Boulevard Bar and Grill, and I like going there, but the crowd has kinda been dwindling lately, mainly because EA is getting some of their business, mine included. They have some kind of beer on special every night, but no liquor at all. Good food, too, and free wings from 2-6 every day. As far as Mesa Hills is concerned, it's VERY hit an miss. They have a full bar, and food is served until 2 so that is cool, but you never know what kind of crowd will be in there. If you work at a restaurant or bar, they do service industry specials every night, which is $1 off any drink. It's one of those places where you walk in, see if anyone is in there, then turn around and walk out if not and try somewhere else. That's about it for Far West, I'm afraid. PM me if you have any more ?'s! It's a very cool neighborhood--you'll like living there.
If you're a guy, shopping at the HEB over there can be fun on the weekends!!!
The wings are OK, nothing too special. The Bully has food specials every day--try the enchiladas on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, they're good and really cheap! 2 for 1 burgers on Mondays and Saturdays are good, esp. when you substitute chicken breasts for the burger patties. There is some sort of beer special every day as well.
I would organize a happy hour over there, but I don't like the owner so I don't want to increase his business that way. I would rather go somewhere that appreciates new business.
I'm usually in there just about every day, so if you go in say hello!
Boulevard easily has the best specials -- food and drinks specials -- in the area. Their burgers kick ***. Arroyo is OK, but it a restaurant bar feel, not a bar, but I used to watch some NFL games there on Sundays. Mesa has good food, but I wouldn't spend any time at the bar there. Legend's at the Holiday Inn at Mopac & 183 has piles of TVs and good atmosphere, but the drinks are pricey. Bar at Trudy's at 183 and Burnet may be your best bet, but unfortunately you'd have to brave the Worst Parking Lot in Austin. You're also close to the Alamo Drafthouse, but that's not a place where you sit at the bar and hang out.
I've lived in far West since 98. I have to concur on the Boulevard. I used to go in there about every Friday for lunch.
There aren't really any bars to speak of, but you're no more than five minutes away from about 15 different dive bars on Burnet, as well as Trudy's North. Sam's Boat, while hit and miss (and it's much more miss than hit these days) is just a few miles north, as wellas D&B.