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Last Updated 10/23/2025

Austin Rainey Street

Sort of the one-stop shopping row of burgeoning neighborhood stops...all in the shadow of downtown.

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G’Raj Mahal
3.5
(493 reviews)
$$Indian, Food Stands
Austin, TX
Kevin’s 4-star review: Stumble in, sideways even -- and it's unlikely that the staff here will put on airs: I found these guys an affable distraction, from the gravel below to the dim lights above that capped a late evening stroll. This casual by-way-of-your-dinner experiment in evening Indian cuisine, was, in a word, a lifesaver. As we head into spring and the long days and cool nights of summer, I'm certain I'll be back for more of what I sampled here, namely, some warm curry over rice (sometimes it's best to sweat out the toxins), and some coconut bread to start. It was a tasty meal, and I had to rush my bite more than I'd have preferred. All the more reason, perhaps, to drop back in some time soon for round two.
Icenhauer’s
4.0
(373 reviews)
$$Bars
Austin, TX
Kevin’s 5-star review: It's a stunning build out, this latest stop to dot the Rainey Street district, and we finally made it in not a moment too late, it seems, to take advantage of a somewhat slower evening here. Heavy on the modern lines, ambient lighting and panoramic windows leading out to the patio beyond, Icenhauer's seems sure to see plenty of action in the foreseeable future. And who can blame those of us who stop by? It's a sleek by way of accessible arrangement. A fairly benevolent draft beer selection awaits, paired with a creative cocktail list - I'm a well documented beer nerd, but did take a sip of the Caroline, a St. Germain and champagne mash-up served in a stemless champagne glass. Surprisingly terrific. On the brew side of the equation, things are not unexpected but pleasantly diverse, and a Negro Modelo draft and Shiner Seasonal later the chatter at our table wasn't dull. The wines were a little on the pedestrian side, but I wasn't shocked by that idea. Icenhauer's fits in well among its brethren along the Rainey corridor, and I'm sure they'll see me again. Likely soon.
Lustre Pearl Bar
4.0
(246 reviews)
$$Bars
Austin, TX
Kevin’s 5-star review: Tucked at the edge of a neighborhood framing downtown, you could easily drive right by Lustre Pearl Bar and miss the place. Fortunately for us, we didn't. We stopped in last night to get a peek at the place, and I was amped to find that not only were they owned by the same folks that own Pearl Bar in Houston (a super cool stop in its own right), they were making this little corner of Austin their own. Among the highlights were the killer jukebox, wrap around patio and hula hoops that a couple of us put to good use. It wasn't dull, this Lustre Pearl, but it was plenty roomy with the promise of bigger crowds (no doubt) to come. Get by while they're not overrun. At the very least, I know I'll be darkening that door again one day soon.
Clive
4.0
(305 reviews)
$$Bars, Music Venues
Austin, TX
Kevin’s 4-star review: There's a tree that elevates through the roof here like some sort of Arbor Day shooting star, and were that the whole show, it'd be an interesting foray into architectural pseudo-pyrotechnics. But it stands to reason that the shingles -- or the ebbing patio beneath them -- aren't the entire show here. The Clive Bar seems to be a laid back road stop on the burgeoning crawl that's happening along the Rainey Street corridor. It's an evolving conversation, this batch of bars, and I feel certain that we'll not know enough the full effect until they're all in place. But for now, this second staple of the street seems interesting, advantageous even. And I for one will be more than pleased to lean into a cold one on a deep weekend night, if for no other reason than the idea that as I catch a glimpse around me, I just might find that trunk and the space between, and the moonlight beyond. With a beer chaser.
Bar 96
3.5
(172 reviews)
$$Sports Bars
Austin, TX
Kevin’s 4-star review: I think a number of the existing reviews of this bar are pretty spot on: take one part semi-sexy house bar facade, one part feminine friendly sonic backdrop, one part omnipresent flat screen television environment, and you end up with the kind of bar where you can sip a tall one and watch the game while your fairer company lounges to her content. Your mileage may vary, of course, and to the trained eye some of the common threads apparent at other like-owned Rainey Street stops are clear: clean lines, a few semi-hardscrabble (but not terribly rough) edges, and a decent selection of beers and other assorted booze. They seemed to (at least on the night I was in) attract the patio culture crowd, and there were very few of us in a hurry as a result. Bar staff was on top of refills but I've encountered more personal service in my day. That said, I'm sure I'll be back, if only to get to know this new addition even better.
Victory Lap Rainey
4.5
(26 reviews)
Sports Bars, Pizza
Austin, TX
Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden
4.0
(3k reviews)
$$Beer Gardens, Breakfast & Brunch
Austin, TX
Kevin’s 4-star review: Have been on a couple of occasions when in ATX, and I have to say, I really do love what they're doing here: it's straightforward but certainly not artless, a giant lingering hug to both the beer fan and the artisan sausage connoisseur besides. The expansive picnic tables beg a sort of community (albeit temporary), and the staff has been both on point and of hearty cheer each time I've been in. Suffice it to say that Banger's probably sees my grin coming a mile away. I adore the beer selection here, but it does seem to me that it could be more overt, somehow: and perhaps that's not a fair suggestion - I did notice that they claim IBU count on some of their beers that bring forward varying bitterness qualities, and that's a next-step level of information that beer nerds (at least this one) want. At any rate, I did still find myself wanting to learn more than I read, and maybe that's a good thing. Because at some point, all that's left is to taste. And that's what we do here.