Who sets closing time, what a TABC permit costs, how outdoor sound is limited, what the bill and the team cost, and the nights that fill the city, for anyone running a club, lounge or bar in Austin.
What the State of Texas and the City of Austin ask of a licensed room, from the end of service to outdoor sound. Liquor licenses come from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Without a Late Hours Certificate, Texas ends mixed beverage sales at midnight. The certificate adds midnight to 2 a.m. on any day in a city or county of 800,000 or more, which includes Austin. Sunday’s hours begin with midnight to 1 a.m., then run from 10 a.m. to midnight, and drinks served from 10 a.m. to noon need food. Once service ends at 2 a.m., drinking in a public place is an offense from 2:15 a.m. The City sets no alcohol hours of its own; it limits outdoor sound instead, with later hours in the Sixth Street, Warehouse and Red River districts.
State law does not require staff to be certified, but TABC strongly recommends it and many employers ask for it. A certificate is valid for two years and the online course takes about two hours.
MoreIt protects the permit. If an employee sells to a minor or an intoxicated person, TABC takes no action against the permit when every seller and their managers were certified within 30 days of hire and the employer has written policies.
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage CommissionThe Texas Department of Public Safety regulates guard companies and security officers. Unarmed staff the venue employs directly are generally exempt, but staff supplied by an outside guard company are registered through that company.
MoreAn employee who carries a firearm needs a commission. Uniformed in-house staff who deal with the public can lose the exemption, so check your own case.
Source: Texas Statutes (public.law mirror)Anyone buying alcohol must be 21. TABC accepts driver’s licenses from any state, U.S. passports, military ID and other state or federal IDs.
MoreNo rule to scan IDs at an on-premises bar turned up. For off-premises sales, a seller is protected when the scan showed a valid ID and a buyer of 21 or older.
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage CommissionIt authorizes selling spirits, wine and beer for drinking on the premises. A conduct surety bond is required, and the permit lasts two years.
MoreA bar that wants food service apart from this also holds a Food and Beverage Certificate, which needs restaurant status or alcohol at 60% or less of sales.
Source: TABC permit typesA mixed beverage permittee with this certificate may sell between midnight and 2 a.m. on any day. It is open in cities and counties of 800,000 or more, which includes Austin and Travis County.
MoreWithout it, service ends at midnight. The fee is for two years, on top of the permit. The City’s own guide calls it a Late-hours Permit, but TABC issues it, not the City.
Source: Texas StatutesApplicants for a TABC permit or license for a place in Austin need certification from the City. It is the City Clerk’s signature on the TABC application, given after Development Services reviews the zoning.
MoreNew zoning review fees start on 1 October 2026. They are invoiced after you submit, and the application isn’t complete until you pay. The amounts and the processing time weren’t found.
Source: City of AustinNo alcohol sales within 300 feet of a church, public school, private school or public hospital. A business without a Food and Beverage Certificate also keeps 300 feet from a daycare or childcare facility.
MoreCity Council may waive the rule when enforcing it is not in the public’s best interest, or would waste land or other resources.
Source: City of AustinA new on-premises location not licensed for drinking in the last two years posts the 60-Day Sign outdoors for 60 days before TABC can issue the permit.
MoreOther signs: a complaint sign near the door or till, a pregnancy health-risk sign at each restroom exit in English and Spanish, and a human trafficking sign. Higher-revenue bars also post a red handgun warning at each entrance.
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage CommissionMixed beverages sell from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday. With a Late Hours Certificate, a permittee may also sell from midnight to 2 a.m. on any day.
MoreThe City sets no alcohol hours of its own, so the state hours apply. On Sunday mixed beverages sell from midnight to 1 a.m. and from 10 a.m. to midnight, and drinks served from 10 a.m. to noon need food.
Source: Texas StatutesIn areas with extended hours, drinking or holding a drink to drink in a public place is an offense from 2:15 a.m. to 7 a.m. It is a Class C misdemeanor.
MoreThe last call is 2 a.m. and the room should be clear 15 minutes after. Registered hotel guests are exempt in hotel bars.
Source: Section 105.06A commercial establishment that uses sound equipment in any space not fully enclosed by four solid walls and a roof needs this permit. It lasts one year and is renewed each year. The City writes a sound impact plan that sets the decibel limit and the hours for the venue.
MoreThe citywide ceiling is 85 dBA, and 70 dBA at most for restaurant uses. A permit can’t be issued for sound equipment within 100 feet of residentially zoned or used property. You notify owners and organizations within 600 feet within 14 days. The fees and the processing time weren’t found.
Source: City of AustinStandard hours run from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, to 11 p.m. Thursday and to midnight Friday and Saturday. In the Sixth Street and Warehouse districts, an outdoor venue of 600 people or fewer may use sound equipment from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. In the Red River district the hours end at 10:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, midnight Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
MoreWithin 600 feet of residential zoning the hours are shorter: to 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Austin’s code text itself couldn’t be read, so check the current limits with the City.
Source: City of AustinWithout any permit, amplified sound in residential areas is limited to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and up to 75 decibels. Sound may not be heard beyond the property line from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.
MoreStreet performers may play acoustic only, at 85 decibels or under.
Source: City of AustinThe Sound Enforcement Team answers 3-1-1 noise complaints and takes decibel readings.
MoreFor repeated violations the City may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew an Outdoor Music Venue permit.
Source: City of AustinSelling spirits, wine and beer to drink on the premises takes a Mixed Beverage Permit from TABC, the City Clerk’s certification, and a Late Hours Certificate if you want to serve to 2 a.m. The steps run in this order.
Complete onboarding in TABC’s Alcohol Industry Management System and choose the retail tier. Paper forms take longer.
Source: TABC stepsRegister with the Texas Secretary of State and the Comptroller, which each give a certification you will need.
Source: TABC stepsSource: TABC license FAQsApply to TABC in AIMS, then call the City Clerk at 512-974-2210 with the address, the business and LLC names and the license type codes. Development Services reviews the zoning, and the Clerk signs the TABC application by email, at a phone appointment or by mail. Zoning review fees are invoiced after you submit.
Source: City of AustinSource: City of AustinA new on-premises location not licensed for drinking in the last two years posts the 60-Day Sign outdoors for 60 days before TABC can issue the permit.
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage CommissionSend a complete, signed and notarized application with the required certifications and signs. Answer any TABC request within 10 business days.
Source: TABC stepsAsk for the Late Hours Certificate to sell from midnight to 2 a.m. Austin is over 800,000 people, so it is open to you.
Source: TABC permit typesSource: Texas StatutesSource: Census BureauTABC says a new license can take 30 to 35 days from a complete application.
Source: TABC stepsIssued by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
General information, not legal advice. Laws and license conditions change and vary by venue. Confirm with TABC or the City before acting on it.
How a table’s bill adds up once tax and a service charge are on it, and what guests pay at the door.
| Minimum spend | $1,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Service charge 20%, added by the venue | $200.00 |
| Mixed beverage sales tax 8.25% of the spend | $82.50 |
| Guest pays | $1,282.50 |
| Tip the guest chooses to add | No tax |
Texas charges an 8.25% mixed beverage sales tax on spirits, beer, wine, non-alcoholic mixers and ice served to drink on the premises. The customer pays it and the seller passes it on.
Source: Comptroller sales taxA separately stated mandatory gratuity is not taxable when it is 20% or less of the price of the drinks and goes to servers, bartenders and similar staff. Any part paid to owners, cooks, cashiers or dishwashers is taxable, and over 20% makes the whole charge taxable.
Source: Comptroller FAQThe venue also owes a 6.7% mixed beverage gross receipts tax on its drink sales. It is the venue’s cost: it can’t be added as a separate charge to the guest, though the amount may be shown on the receipt.
Source: Comptroller mixed beverageFood on the same bill carries the ordinary sales tax, 8.25% in Austin: 6.25% state, 1% city and 1% for the Austin transit authority.
Source: Comptroller city ratesRough estimates for tickets and bottle-service tables, from public listings and venues’ own pages.
$10 to $30
Typically about $20
No Austin venue publishes a club night price on its own page, so this is generalised from the Nashville and Atlanta guides ($10 to $30) and the Dallas and Houston guides ($20 to $50). Festival weeks run higher.
$300 to $1,000
A typical table, about $500
No Austin venue publishes a table minimum on its own page, so this is generalised from the published minimums in Houston, Dallas, Nashville and Atlanta, narrowed to the lower end for a mid-sized market. Before tax and a customary 20% gratuity.
Figures are estimates from the sources and samples listed. They change often and may be wrong. Check with the venue or the relevant authority before relying on them. Venues and events named here aren’t affiliated with VenueStack and haven’t endorsed this guide.
Hourly wages for the roles a night runs on, and the rules on tips.
| Role | Range, low to high | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Bartenders$7.98 to $30.84 | $11.38 | |
| Servers$8.70 to $27.76 | $13.10 | |
| Hosts$8.81 to $17.39 | $14.01 | |
| Security and door$13.85 to $26.10 | $18.23 | |
| Cooks$13.24 to $21.39 | $17.70 | |
| Managers$21.58 to $49.71 | $30.25 |
Minimum wage $7.25 an hourSource: U.S. Department of Labor
Bar: lowest to highest wage reported. Dot: median. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Texas follows the federal rules: a $7.25 minimum wage, and for tipped staff a $2.13 cash wage with a tip credit of up to $5.12 an hour, when the employee gets more than $20 a month in tips. No higher city rate was found.
Source: U.S. Department of LaborA mandatory gratuity or service charge is not taxable when it is separately stated, 20% or less of the price of the drinks, and paid to servers, bartenders and similar staff. A tip the customer adds is not taxed.
Source: Comptroller FAQ
The nights that fill a room, or empty it, month by month.
Hangover brunch trade, and a long weekend when it falls near one.
A long weekend.
A date night for lounges and cocktail rooms, though not a day off.
A long weekend.
The biggest week of the year for Sixth Street, Rainey Street and Red River: showcases, day parties and brand activations.
Official siteA bar night with strong Sixth Street trade.
No city-wide dates
Tex-Mex and tequila nights, busy in a Texas city.
A long weekend and the start of lake and pool season.
A long weekend when it falls near one, with themed events and local celebrations.
A fireworks night and a long weekend.
The biggest weekend for LGBTQ+ bars and clubs.
Official siteA long weekend, with football starting.
Saturday home games bring game-day crowds, with strong trade in West Campus and downtown.
Two weekends of visitors, with official and unofficial late-night shows.
Official siteA large international crowd at Circuit of The Americas and strong demand for premium tables.
Official siteA long weekend.
Costume nights, one of the top nights of the year, with big Sixth Street crowds.
An observance, with a light night and some promotions.
The night before is a big night, and Thanksgiving itself is slow.
A slow period.
The biggest ticketed night of the year.
Austin’s nightlife districts and the rooms each is known for.
Dirty Sixth and East Sixth, where music and dancing start at sunset and continue through 2 a.m.
Old houses turned into bars and restaurants, many with live music.
Live entertainment, restaurants and rooftop bars.
Food trucks, casual and quirky bars and options for live music, dancing and dining.
Ranked by monthly Google searches in the United States for each venue’s name with the city, as Ahrefs estimates them. Few rooms publish a capacity, so this measures demand, not size. Only rooms that their own site or the tourism board shows open are listed.
| Rank | Venue | Nights | Music | Published price | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ElysiumClubRed RiverSource: Search estimatesSource: Dance clubs guide | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 1,400 |
| 2 | Coconut ClubLoungeWarehouse DistrictSource: Search estimatesSource: Dance clubs guide | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 1,400 |
| 3 | The Concourse ProjectClubSoutheast Austin · 8509 Burleson RdSource: Search estimatesSource: The Concourse Project | Thursday to Sunday | DJ and dance nights | Not listed | 1,200 |
| 4 | BarbarellaClubRed RiverSource: Search estimatesSource: Dance clubs guide | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 900 |
| 5 | The Rose RoomLoungeThe DomainSource: Search estimatesSource: Dance clubs guide | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 900 |
| 6 | KingdomClubSixth StreetSource: Search estimatesSource: Dance clubs guide | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 600 |
| 7 | Mala FamaClubSixth StreetSource: Search estimatesSource: Dance clubs guide | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 450 |
| 8 | Cheer Up CharliesClubRed River · 900 Red River StSource: Search estimatesSource: Cheer Up Charlies | Thursday to Sunday, to 2 a.m. | Not listed | Not listed | 450 |
| 9 | OK CorralClubSource: Search estimatesSource: Dance clubs guide | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 250 |
| 10 | Highland LoungeLoungeWarehouse DistrictSource: Search estimatesSource: Dance clubs guide | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 200 |
Venues named here aren’t affiliated with VenueStack and haven’t endorsed this guide. Details come from each venue’s own pages and can change; a venue can ask us to correct or remove its entry.
Who lives in the city. These describe Austin and its metro area, not any venue’s guests.
Sell tickets, take table bookings with deposits, run the guest list and check guests in at the door, in one place. Built for clubs, lounges and bars.
State law does not require staff to be certified, but TABC strongly recommends it and many employers ask for it. A certificate is valid for two years and the online course takes about two hours. If an employee sells to a minor or an intoxicated person, TABC takes no action against the permit when every seller and their managers were certified within 30 days of hire and the employer has written policies.
Apply for a Mixed Beverage Permit through TABC’s online system. The steps are onboarding, registering the business with the Secretary of State and the Comptroller, the City Clerk’s certification after a zoning review, the 60-day sign for a new on-premises location, and a complete notarized application. TABC says a new license can take 30 to 35 days from a complete application. The City’s zoning review fee amounts weren’t published.
Texas charges an 8.25% mixed beverage sales tax on drinks served to drink on the premises, paid by the guest. Food on the same bill carries the ordinary sales tax, 8.25% in Austin: 6.25% state, 1% city and 1% for the Austin transit authority. The venue also owes a 6.7% mixed beverage gross receipts tax on its drink sales, which it can’t add as a separate charge to the guest.
At midnight, or at 2 a.m. with a Late Hours Certificate, which is open to Austin because the city and Travis County each have over 800,000 people. Sunday’s hours begin with midnight to 1 a.m., then run from 10 a.m. to midnight, and drinks from 10 a.m. to noon need food. Drinking in a public place is an offense from 2:15 a.m. to 7 a.m. when extended hours apply.
TABC charges $5,300 for a new Mixed Beverage Permit and $2,650 to renew it, valid two years. A Late Hours Certificate is $1,100 and a Food and Beverage Certificate is $1,100. These come from TABC’s chart effective 1 September 2021, and TABC says they should not be used to work out local fees.
A commercial establishment that uses sound equipment outdoors needs an Outdoor Music Venue permit, which sets the decibel limit and hours in a sound impact plan. The citywide ceiling is 85 dBA, and 70 dBA at most for restaurants. Standard hours end at 10:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 11 p.m. Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday, and Austin’s code text itself couldn’t be read, so check the current limits with the City.
An outdoor venue of 600 people or fewer in the Sixth Street or Warehouse district may use sound equipment from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. In the Red River district the hours end at 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Within 600 feet of residential zoning the hours are shorter, to 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Department of Public Safety regulates guard companies and officers. Unarmed staff the venue employs directly are generally exempt, but staff supplied by an outside guard company are registered through that company, and an employee who carries a firearm needs a commission. Uniformed in-house staff who deal with the public can lose the exemption.
Texas follows the federal rules: a $7.25 minimum wage, and for tipped staff a $2.13 cash wage with a tip credit of up to $5.12 an hour, when the employee gets more than $20 a month in tips. No higher city rate was found. In the Austin metro area, BLS data for May 2025 puts the median bartender wage at $11.38 an hour, with reported tips included.
Not when it is a separately stated mandatory gratuity of 20% or less of the price of the drinks, paid to servers, bartenders and similar staff. Any part paid to owners, cooks, cashiers or dishwashers is taxable, and over 20% makes the whole charge taxable. A tip the customer adds is not taxed.
Two taxes apply to a mixed beverage permittee. The guest pays the 8.25% sales tax on drinks. The venue pays a 6.7% gross receipts tax on its receipts and can’t add it as a separate charge to the guest. Both are due on the 20th of the month after the period, even with no sales.
VenueStack publishes this guide for general information. We take care to keep it accurate and list our sources and review dates, but we can’t guarantee it is complete, current or correct, and we aren’t responsible for decisions made on it. Nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice. Prices, minimums and wages are estimates from the samples described and don’t represent any particular venue. Venues, events and organisations named here aren’t affiliated with VenueStack and haven’t endorsed this guide.
Data gathered in October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
New YorkNew York, United States
Closing time, getting an SLA liquor license, temporary permits, the noise code, sales tax on service charges, door staff, wages and the year’s big nights.
Read the guide
MiamiFlorida, United States
The state closing default and city hours, quota and restaurant liquor licenses, City of Miami and Miami Beach business licenses, sales and resort tax, door licensing, wages and the year’s big nights.
Read the guide
ChicagoIllinois, United States
Closing times and the Late Hour license, the City and state liquor licenses, the amusement license and tax, BASSET training, sales tax, the tipped wage and the year’s big nights.
Read the guide
