Rainey Street
Rainey Street
4.5
About
Rainey Street is a historic but bustling area in Austin, known for its bungalow homes, that have been converted into the coolest bars and restaurants. Grab some quick bites from the food trucks and sit down by a porch or picnic table to people- (and dog-!) watch in the day. By night, head to one of the bungalow bars or restaurants for great Texan food, delicious cocktails, and of course, amazing live music. Plan your visit in March to catch the SXSW festival, which takes over Rainey Street with cool events and celebrity encounters. For more history, guided walking and bike tours of Austin often make a stop here, too. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
247 reviews
Excellent
153
Very good
63
Average
26
Poor
5
Terrible
0
kevin j
Marathon, FL27 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Understanding construction, the place was dirty with lots of walking hazards. Considering this is a main party area and in other parts of the city we saw street workers cleaning up, this strip was kind of dumpy. Businesses were open late. Food trucks were hit or miss. Place looked like it lacked any business pride. Ask around to streamline your trip. Place is changing fast
Written 18 September 2023
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.
D B
1 contribution
Oct 2022 • Couples
We were there in the early evening. Power drinkers were out and trashed already. Trash everywhere and just a college frat house outside. I can’t imagine locals hang out there.
Food we had was horrible. We got two brisket tacos and a coke was 18 bucks and they have a tip screen on the credit card thing that starts at 18 percent and goes up from there. They were horrible. The greasiest tacos I have ever seen.maybe it’s because they see how much you tip before you get your food. It’s not like you were served eother. They give you a beeper and you go pick it up when it’s ready. No danger of us going back.
However , if you want live music and drinks and drinks I suppose you found a spot.
Food we had was horrible. We got two brisket tacos and a coke was 18 bucks and they have a tip screen on the credit card thing that starts at 18 percent and goes up from there. They were horrible. The greasiest tacos I have ever seen.maybe it’s because they see how much you tip before you get your food. It’s not like you were served eother. They give you a beeper and you go pick it up when it’s ready. No danger of us going back.
However , if you want live music and drinks and drinks I suppose you found a spot.
Written 23 October 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.
Scott M
Westlake, LA531 contributions
June 2021 • Couples
Kinda dingy, hard to walk to from central downtown. Narrow street with a lot of traffic, would be much better if it was closed to traffic. Had some odd bad smells hear and there reminiscent of Bourbon St if you get my drift.
Written 5 June 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.
Peg H
5 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Wanted to explore the food trucks on Sunday midday but most were closed. Meanwhile, the bars were hopping. The street itself reminded me of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Dingy and smelled like alcohol everywhere. Returned at night for the food trucks and got a great meal but it was huge time partying along the whole street. Not the scene for a a 52 year old couple IMO
Written 11 October 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.
Bob Angry
Melbourne, FL1,482 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
We arrived thinking this would rival Broadway in Nashville, but boy, our expectations were shattered. We found 2 spots playing live music. One had a decent band but overpriced watered-down drinks. The other had a band that just seemed to jam and had more reasonably priced but also watered-down drinks. Meh...
Written 24 February 2023
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.
BrianB32931
Cocoa Beach, FL254 contributions
Oct 2021
This is absolutely the Austin party place. If i was still 22-29 this is the place i would go. I did find a cool tiki bar at the end of the strip for a couple of cold drinks. i was there post game time on a saturday and the place was jammed. i can imagine the party really starts to roll after dark.
Written 12 October 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.
Mylissa R
Kansas City, MO203 contributions
Nov 2019
We enjoyed our time here a lot more than we did on 6th Street. A lot more music, better drinks, and a tamer crowd. Really good music! The drinks were good quality. Loved all the food trucks. We had a great time!
Written 24 April 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.
JeffB32
Bloomfield Township, MI4,120 contributions
Apr 2023
I really wanted to love Rainy Street but we thought it was just ok. We thought it would be a cute little quaint place with all those houses turned into restaurants/bars. What we found was every place had music that was way too loud so we could not have a conversation while enjoying a drink and some live music. Again, really wanted to love this place and thought it was just ok. We visited on Saturday afternoon.
Written 6 May 2023
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.
Tammy S
Little Elm, TX2 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Might as well have gone to Los Angeles or San Francisco. Homeless, trash and graffiti all over the place. Went to Rainey Street was was so disappointed. Was there 4 years ago it was great. The country feel is gone and high rises all around. The only good place was the Hyatt Regency. Great service and clean.
Written 24 April 2024
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.
ABQvolcanogirl
Albuquerque, NM415 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
There are plenty of food trucks, restaurants and bars for you to enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon. Several of the places have live music, which is an added bonus.
Most of the patrons here seem to be college-aged folks, but don't let that deter you from hanging out. They seemed to be doing their own thing to notice some middle-aged folks roaming around.
If it's a hot day, plan accordingly. Most places don't have air conditioning, or you'll be eating outside.
Most of the patrons here seem to be college-aged folks, but don't let that deter you from hanging out. They seemed to be doing their own thing to notice some middle-aged folks roaming around.
If it's a hot day, plan accordingly. Most places don't have air conditioning, or you'll be eating outside.
Written 9 August 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.
This isn’t a question but rather some info for parents. To those who think this is a fun family place in the afternoon, like I did, because of the multiple places with outdoor spaces and games, it isn’t. We literally couldn’t get in to play outdoor jenga, etc or sit in hammocks with our kids. Online it looked so family friendly (for a place to just hang out for the day) but you aren’t even allowed to come on and order an oj. I might have been naive expecting a family friendly, outdoor restaurant area in Austin since we’ve taken the kids to NOLA in the early daytime but no. It’s all about alcohol consumption here.
Written 27 July 2019
Yup, this is a playground for millennial's and no child should be exposed to a millennial.
Written 28 July 2019
what is the walk like from rainey street to 6th street. distance?. Is it safe?
Written 31 March 2019
Really good question! I felf very safe all over Austin, although it depends on how you feel walking in places you do not know. During the day I would say its a 15 to 20 minute walk and at night a faster walk, hahahaahhaah! I enjoyed both places but an Uber or Lyft ride at night would be the best to give your feet a rest! If this was helpful please give me a helpful vote and follow me to find out about amazing places in Austin. I visited for two months January and February 2019!
Written 2 April 2019
brinaajay
Houston, Texas
Planning on going to Rainey St soon. How is parking there? I’ve heard and read there is a place that you have to pay for at least 4 hours.. what about street parking? Is there any place for it? Or is it completely packed and almost impossible for decent parking? Is it better to just Uber there? Sadly the hotel is about 20-30 minutes away from the street
Written 8 September 2018
Or Uber, especially if you are drinking
Written 12 September 2018
If we go to Rainey street early (4-6pm ish) will there be things going on? Or is it best to go later in the evening?
Written 17 April 2018
I agree with needhleps anaheim. Nothing much going on early,The street gets busier later, but if you are just popping in to get the feel of each bar who cares
Written 25 April 2018
Where can we park, is there a parking garage or designated area for Rainey St?
Written 24 February 2018
There is a white gravel parking lot at the very end of the street, adjacent to Container Bar. We found, bough, that you must pay for a minimum of 4 hours at that lot. There is a public parking lot on the next street over/behind Rainey Street that was public parking by the hour. Or street parking.
Written 24 February 2018
I assume bars and music are also available during the week? We will be in Austin for one night on a Weds. I visited Rainey st 3years ago-loved it!!
Written 3 March 2017
Yes. Any day of the week. It was my favorite part of visiting Austin.
Written 30 March 2017
Is this a place that is friendly for under 21? Thinking of walking around during the day and eating with some kiddos, but not sure if they will be allowed into any of the bars/restaurants?
Written 14 February 2017
I would not take children at night. The bars were very crowded with partying young adults. The food truck part would be good durning the day. But again - not at night.
Written 15 February 2017
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