When you’re in the mood for loud laughs, live music, and late mornings, the Eastside brings endorphins served on silver platters or paper plates—you get to pick. From two-stepping at dive bars to stargazing at outdoor shows, this side of the city is basically a playground for grown-ups (with better drinks and louder speakers). Whether you’re catching a show at an iconic venue, shopping local art, kicking back at a brewery with a band, or pretending your dance moves are “interpretive art,” East Austin keeps the good times rolling.
Best Interactive Art
Wonderspaces
austin.wonderspaces.com
Wonderspaces makes creativity an experience. This isn’t your grandma’s art museum—unless your grandma is really into lasers. Wonderspaces lets you touch the art, walk through the light, and completely lose track of time. Go for the Instagram shots; stay to become one with the art itself.
1205 Sheldon Cv., #2A
Best Art Venue
The Cathedral
thecathedralatx.com
Once a historic church, now a holy temple of creativity, The Cathedral showcases local women artists, blending divine with killer design. Step inside and you’ll feel inspired, blessed, and slightly underdressed. It’s proof that art and community can absolutely share the same altar. 2403 E 16th St.
Best Art Gallery
Preacher Gallery
preacher.co/gallery
Part studio, part gallery, all heart, Preacher shines a light on Austin’s most captivating visual storytellers. Preacher Gallery doesn’t whisper art; it shouts it from the pulpit. Expect bold colors, big ideas, and the kind of creative sermons that make you question your life choices (in a good way). Drop by their next exhibit, and you might just be converted to the gospel… of good taste. 205 E Riverside Dr., Ste. 110
Best Art Classes
Cherrywood Treehouse Art Studio
cherrywoodtreehouse.com
If Bob Ross had a tree house, this would be it! Cherrywood Treehouse Art Studio is where imagination runs wild, and mistakes are just “happy little accidents.” Whether you’re a painter or pen warrior, this whimsical studio will make you feel like an artist again. 2802 Lafayette Ave., Unit B
Best Theater
The VORTEX
vortexrep.org
Where else can you catch a drag opera, a fire dance, and a sci-fi love story in the same month? The VORTEX doesn’t do “ordinary.” It’s experimental, explosive, and entirely East Austin. We like to call it experimental theater in the wild. Theater-
goers can also expect unconventional performances and boundary-pushing art. 2307 Manor Rd.
Best Music Venue
Antone’s
antonesnightclub.com
As one of the OG homes of the blues scene and the heartbeat of Austin’s sound, Antone’s has hosted legends, launched music careers, and made countless memories under its neon glow. Whether it’s Stevie Ray Vaughan or a new favorite band, this place never hits a flat note. 305 E 5th St.
Most Unique Place to Listen to Music
East End Ballroom
eastendballroom.com
With vintage chandeliers, smooth jazz, and cocktails that deserve applause, East End Ballroom feels like a fever dream from the 1920s with a modern twist. Whether it’s swing dancing or a secret DJ set, this spot proves Austin still dances to its own rhythm.
4715 E 5th St.
Best Intimate Music Venue
The Pershing
thepershing.com
The Pershing feels like your coolest friend’s secret club: moody lighting, velvet couches, and a stage that radiates magic. The Pershing’s live shows feel like Austin’s best-kept secret. The shows are small, the sound is huge, and the cocktails are dangerously smooth. Don’t tell everyone, though… this one’s sacred. 2415B E 5th St.
Best Cinema
Alamo Drafthouse Mueller
drafthouse.com/austin
It’s movie night Austin-style, and there’s dinner, drinks, and zero tolerance for talkers. Quote-alongs, cult classics, and queso-covered fries will make you never go back to “regular” theaters again. Alamo Drafthouse keeps cinema weird and wonderful. 1911 Aldrich St., Ste. 120
Best Public Art
HOPE Outdoor Gallery
hopeoutdoorgallery.com
HOPE Gallery (Reimagined) is basically Austin’s diary written in spray paint. Reimagined equals freshly opened in its new location this fall. It’s bright, chaotic, and beautifully unfiltered—just like the city itself. Whether you’re tagging, snapping, or just soaking it in, every wall tells a story worth standing still.
741 Dalton Ln.
Best Pickleball
Eastside Paddle Club
eastsidepaddleclub.com
Whether you’re a pro or just in it for post-game hang, this Eastside court is where the fun’s served and the only place where “dinking” is encouraged. Eastside Paddle Club serves up fun, friendly competition with a side of social hour. With the combo of courts, cocktails, and cardio, who says exercise isn’t fun? 979 Springdale Rd., #120
Best Park
Rosewood Park
austintexas.gov
As East Austin’s front porch, Rosewood Park has space to play, trees to nap under, and community events that bring everyone together. Their 31,000 square foot gym even hosts the occasional concert. It’s the kind of park that reminds you Austin’s best days don’t always need tickets or table service. Recently revamped, there’s bike trails, splash pad laughter, and that breeze that rustles through its rolling hills. It’s a place where swimmers, picknickers, and pickleball players coexist with zero expectations to impress. This park is where weekends begin.
2300 Rosewood Ave.
Best Comedy Club
East Austin Comedy Club
eastaustincomedy.com
No flashing marquees, no velvet ropes. Just punchlines and people who know how to laugh out loud. Hidden behind an unassuming Eastside door, East Austin Comedy Club is where humor gets handcrafted, and the drinks can be stronger than your ex’s excuses (because it’s a BYOB venue). Expect intimate vibes, sharp sets, and comics testing out jokes so fresh they’re still sizzling. Come ready to laugh, heckle (respectfully), and maybe even leave with sore abs from the belly laughs. 2505 E 6th St., Ste. D
Best Place to Watch Sports
B.D. Riley’s Irish Pub
bdrileys.com
Sports fans, rejoice; this is your holy ground. B.D. Riley’s has big screens, bigger sandwiches, and the perfect balance of chaos and camaraderie. Whether you’re yelling at refs or pretending you know what “offsides” means, every game feels like a win. 1905 Aldrich St., #130
Best Night Out Dancing
The White Horse
thewhitehorseaustin.com
This one’s a honky-tonk heaven where whiskey meets two-step magic. At The White Horse, strangers become dance partners, and no one leaves before midnight. The boots are dusty, the band’s on fire, and the only rule is to not spill your Lone Star. 500 Comal St.
Best Outdoor Music Venue
Waterloo Greenway
waterloogreenway.org
At the Greenway, nature and music live in perfect harmony. Waterloo Greenway hosts big names under the stars, framed by Austin’s skyline. It’s the kind of place where you dance barefoot, fall in love a little, and swear you’ll never move away (again). 1401 Trinity St.
