Ah, Thanksgiving: It’s a time to gather with friends and family while eating great food. If you’re sticking around Austin — which occupies the ancestral lands of the Coahuiltecan, Comanche, Jumano, Tonkawa, and Lipan Apache tribes — or returning home or visiting the city for the holidays, you might be in search of an excuse to get out for a drink by yourself or with friends and family.
With that in mind, here are Austin bars that will be open on Thanksgiving day without any or at least much Thanksgiving hoopla on Thursday, November 28, listed in alphabetical order.
For related Thanksgiving guidance, there are Eater Austin’s Thanksgiving takeout guide, Thanksgiving takeout pie guide, and Thanksgiving dine-in meals map.
Barfly’s
5420 Airport Boulevard, North Loop
A dive bar that is open for every holiday, including Thanksgiving.
Bender Bar
321 West Ben White Boulevard, South Austin
The sports bar will be open on Thanksgiving from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. only for drinks (the kitchen is closed for the day).
The Cavalier
2400 Webberville Road, East Austin
The bar and restaurant will be open for Thanksgiving day, with the full bar serving from 6 to midnight p.m. The kitchen will be operating with a limited menu of gumbos through 11 a.m.
Chalmers
1700 East Cesar Chavez Street, East Cesar Chavez
The new East Austin bar will be open for its first Thanksgiving day from 6 p.m. to midnight.
The Driskill Bar
604 Brazos Street, Downtown
It’s always a guarantee that the hotel bar will be open for the holiday. Sit back and enjoy Texas-themed drinks in a classy space from 1 p.m. to midnight.
Drinks Backyard
6328 South US-183 Highway, Pilot Knobs Acres
The Southeast Austin bar from Drinks Lounge/Little Drinks will open at 3 p.m. while screening the Dallas Cowboys versus the New York Giants football game with pie.
Ego’s Lounge
510 South Congress Avenue, Bouldin Creek
The karaoke bar will open for Thanksgiving day with drinks from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. with singing starting at 8 p.m.
Gibson Street Bar
1109 South Lamar Boulevard, Zilker
The South Austin bar — which will be decked out with its holidayness — will be open on Thanksgiving from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The Grackle
1700 East Sixth Street, East Austin
The whiskey dive is open from 6 p.m. until at least midnight on Thanksgiving. If it remains busy at night, the bar will stay open through 2 a.m.
Lala’s
2207 Justin Lane, Brentwood
Another early Christmas spot, the very festive holiday-every-day bar will be open for Thanksgiving, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The Little Darlin’
6507 Circle South Road, Far South Austin
The patio bar with indoor space and a pool table will be open for the holiday starting at 4 p.m.
Workhorse Bar
100 East North Loop Boulevard, North Loop
Another neighborhood bar that is open for every single holiday, which includes Thanksgiving, from 11 a.m. to midnight for drinks, burgers, and the jukebox. (keep in mind the kitchen closes at 11:45 p.m.).
Yellow Jacket Social Club
1704 East Fifth Street, East Austin
The bar will be open starting at 6 p.m. and it’ll serve a Thanksgiving food plate too.