This Is the No. 1 City in the U.S. for Nightlife

Back in 1985, the Austin Chamber of Commerce took out an ad in Billboard magazine, dubbing the Texas capital city the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Six years later, the Austin City Council passed an ordinance approving the use of the nickname. Today, the city continues to live up to that reputation, propelling it to the only American city on Time Out’s World’s Best Cities for NightLife list, released last week.

Time Out surveyed thousands of people in hundreds of cities. Respondents were asked about their favorite venues and experiences, and to rank the quality and affordability of nightlife. Austin earned the third highest quality score across the board from its locals, helping it earn the No. 5 spot in the world.

Though every part of Austin has its own persona after dark, Time Out said the most name drops in its survey still went to the popular downtown area around Sixth and Congress Avenues. With vehicular traffic closed off on Sixth Avenue Thursdays through Saturdays, the partying from the area bars and restaurants spills into the streets and onto the roof at spots like Maggie Mae’s.

Congress Avenue runs through the heart of the city, with one of the buzzier areas emerging in South Congress (known as SoCo) below the Colorado River. Here, colorful murals mingle with more eclectic bars and restaurants, including at The Continental Club, where the sounds of rock and blues fill the air.

While daytime highs so often stretch into three digits in the summer, it’s all about finding relief from the heat. “Nightlife can look a lot cooler out of necessity,” Jillian Anthony, Austin local and former Time Out New York editor, said.

In fact, the nightlife scene often comes with a splash nowadays. “On a Friday night, many Austinites feel the siren call of Barton Springs, the vibrant, giant, freshwater pool that stays at a brisk 68 degrees all year long,” Anthony said, noting that it doubles as “Austin’s sexiest dating pool.”

Another trending location: Cheer Up Charlie’s, where nothing is demure. “I suggest putting on your funkiest outfit,” Anthony said, explaining that this is the club “where every brand of sexuality gathers for drag shows, sold-out Saltburn parties, and sweaty dancing under the stars.”

Other top spots in Austin, from Time Out’s best bars list last year include the spiritually-themed Higher Ground, the intimate 40-seat DrinkWell, and the cocktail bar Garage, hidden in a parking garage. 

Time Out’s list included a total of 13 cities around the globe. Besides Austin, Guadalajara, Mexico, which ranked No. 4, was the only other North American city. South America also had a pair of hot nightspots. The home of the famous Carnival Rio de Janeiro took the No. 1 spot, while Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the south landed at No. 11.

The full list of Time Out’s world’s best cities for nightlife is at timeout.com.