East Sixth Street
East Sixth Street
3.5
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Neighbourhood: East Austin
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
81 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
19
Average
20
Poor
10
Terrible
6
Randy F
Pinckney, MI984 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
Ok i guess if your young and have no idea what quality means. All the bars are blaring extremely loud music. To the point even walking in the street you can't hear a thing. That type of bar has it's place but there are no other options. My wife and I are 58, we can party with the best. We just wanted a few drinks and food at midnight. We walked all over, no higher end places open at all. We found a quieter bar, that was filthy and had drinks but no food. Not impressed.
Written November 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa and Rob C
Sterling, VA112 contributions
Oct 2022
We walked around during the day and had lunch. the streets are very dirty, a lot of buildings empty or being renovated, homeless hanging out. I suppose it's better at night when you can't see all this, but while here Sunday-Wednesday we could not find any live music listed online to motivate us to try going back in pm.
Written October 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken J
2 contributions
Nov 2019
I used to enjoy Austin and Sixth Street. Unfortunately it has become a place overrunning with very aggressive homeless panhandlers, trash, and once nice restaurants a thing of the past. Not just sixth Street, but all over town. Even the once nice parks and greenways are now homeless camps with tents and garbage everywhere. Sad...a once nice city no longer a place to visit. Avoid...
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth M
Austin, TX21 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
East 6th street is east of Congress- so I will write this in two parts.
E 6th (west of 35): 1 STAR: If you love fighting your way through crowds filled with young men in button up shirts, and young women in pouffy super short dresses... this is the place for you. If you have been known to yell "shots!shots!shots!shots!" then this is the place for you. If you've ever said "beers brah BEERS!" then this is the place for you. If any of these things make your anxiety rise, and your chest clench- it's best to avoid it altogether.
E 6th (east of 35): 4 STARS: There are many much more laid back bars here, and some pretty decent food to munch on afterwards as well. The crowd is a bit more vinyl records and eyeglasses than 6" heels. Rio Rita has a darned good bloody mary, the Liberty has East Side King and there are places to park your single speed bicycle. Be careful walking across the street however.
E 6th (west of 35): 1 STAR: If you love fighting your way through crowds filled with young men in button up shirts, and young women in pouffy super short dresses... this is the place for you. If you have been known to yell "shots!shots!shots!shots!" then this is the place for you. If you've ever said "beers brah BEERS!" then this is the place for you. If any of these things make your anxiety rise, and your chest clench- it's best to avoid it altogether.
E 6th (east of 35): 4 STARS: There are many much more laid back bars here, and some pretty decent food to munch on afterwards as well. The crowd is a bit more vinyl records and eyeglasses than 6" heels. Rio Rita has a darned good bloody mary, the Liberty has East Side King and there are places to park your single speed bicycle. Be careful walking across the street however.
Written August 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
falconfling1
Austin, TX221 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
East Sixth Street in the 1960's was barbecue joints, dive bars and porno theaters. By the 1970's it began a gentrification which continued until it, perhaps, peaked several years ago. Waves of popularity have all but done it in.
If you are under 30 or so and/or into drinking and current music, you may find this attractive. There are still nice restaurants and a bar or two worth the effort, but the parking, the crowds and the threat of crime make it generally something I try to avoid. I have lived in Austin since my college days in the 1960's. I love big cities: Paris, and so forth, and some crowds, but this is Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras on weekends and holidays and a lot of other nights too. If you still feel you have to see it, go during the afternoon. There are no public facilities and parking, even during afternoons can be a problem. Do not park at the meters without feeding them. You will be towed. Do not be intoxicated on the street or the chances of your arrest are outstanding. Do not contribute to the panhandlers, if for no other reason, than they probably make an easier living than you do. An alternative might be South Congress, though it also can be very crowded.
If you are under 30 or so and/or into drinking and current music, you may find this attractive. There are still nice restaurants and a bar or two worth the effort, but the parking, the crowds and the threat of crime make it generally something I try to avoid. I have lived in Austin since my college days in the 1960's. I love big cities: Paris, and so forth, and some crowds, but this is Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras on weekends and holidays and a lot of other nights too. If you still feel you have to see it, go during the afternoon. There are no public facilities and parking, even during afternoons can be a problem. Do not park at the meters without feeding them. You will be towed. Do not be intoxicated on the street or the chances of your arrest are outstanding. Do not contribute to the panhandlers, if for no other reason, than they probably make an easier living than you do. An alternative might be South Congress, though it also can be very crowded.
Written January 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trisha M
West Palm Beach, FL73 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
We went to sixth street twice on your trip and sorry to say but there are far too many homeless people begging on each corner. It gets annoying after a while. The street itself does have plenty of bars and restaurants but you are harassed trying to get to them. They seriously need to clean the streets up.
Written February 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AForkinthePath
Satellite Beach, FL57 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
We strolled Sixth Street on two occasions during a recent visit to Austin, once on a Saturday afternoon just to get the lay of the land, and again later that evening after dinner at Eureka! (reviewed separately). In both cases, we got their by bike (our own in the day, and by pedicab later), so aren’t really sure about driving / parking around it, although it looked like maybe parts of it are closed to traffic at night (or maybe just part this night). I suppose Sixth Street is “world famous” in a sense, and in the same vein as Bourbon Street in New Orleans, albeit on a much smaller scale. It’s noted for live music, and that was evident both during the day and later that night, although much of that scene likely got going (admittedly) well after our bed time. (We stopped by Antone’s on a recommendation at about 9:30 and there was no band or crowd yet, but both were going on our way back to the hotel an hour later).
While there is mix of bars and restaurants along Sixth, they seem to skew toward the “dive” end of the spectrum, particularly at the east end, it seemed. Even during the day, the aroma of “dive funk” (stale liquor, vomit, and piss) was lingering around a lot of doors and corners. Panhandlers were also prominent, and somewhat aggressive, although diluted by the crowds later in the evening. As the night got later, the crowd certainly grew, although seemingly heavier on the streets than in some of the venues. We walked through Maggie Mae’s at the recommendation of our pedicab driver, and it was pretty empty except along the railing of the roofdeck overlooking the street). Although notably, Voodoo Doughnuts (reviewed separately), did have a line down the street.
As Chef on "South Park" once said, “there is a time and a place for everything, it’s called college.” Being long past that, we were “over” Sixth Street pretty quickly. And the crowd didn’t really seem much like college material: the gentleman who yelled “Trump 16” as the small group of latinos in front of us walked past him seemed pretty representative. It seems to be a place best enjoyed with “beer goggles” firmly in place, and without them, well, no thanks.
While there is mix of bars and restaurants along Sixth, they seem to skew toward the “dive” end of the spectrum, particularly at the east end, it seemed. Even during the day, the aroma of “dive funk” (stale liquor, vomit, and piss) was lingering around a lot of doors and corners. Panhandlers were also prominent, and somewhat aggressive, although diluted by the crowds later in the evening. As the night got later, the crowd certainly grew, although seemingly heavier on the streets than in some of the venues. We walked through Maggie Mae’s at the recommendation of our pedicab driver, and it was pretty empty except along the railing of the roofdeck overlooking the street). Although notably, Voodoo Doughnuts (reviewed separately), did have a line down the street.
As Chef on "South Park" once said, “there is a time and a place for everything, it’s called college.” Being long past that, we were “over” Sixth Street pretty quickly. And the crowd didn’t really seem much like college material: the gentleman who yelled “Trump 16” as the small group of latinos in front of us walked past him seemed pretty representative. It seems to be a place best enjoyed with “beer goggles” firmly in place, and without them, well, no thanks.
Written April 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anastassiu
Sofia, Bulgaria274 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Further down east after the pubs, there is a very pleasant area for a walk during the day. A part of town which is undergoing nice renovation and seems to become pretty nice for living.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony H
Austin, TX626 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
If you aren't interested in the college party crowds of 6th Street downtown, cross the freeway and check out the more down to earth East 6th street area. Several cool bars and restaurants as well as numerous food trucks provide for a more laid back flavor of the Austin party life
Written January 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth A
Augusta, GA19 contributions
Even though we are a young couple, we found the "free spirit" atmosphere and all those bars lined up to be less than savory. Too many lights, too many exposed boobs, and too little space to move down the sidewalk. Even in the middle of the day! I would hate to go there at night when I'm sure it's crazier!
Written July 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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