Austin has two world-class lakes within 30 minutes of downtown and a waterfront bar culture that has been perfected over decades of Texas summers. Whether you want a cold margarita on a tiered deck overlooking Lake Travis at sunset, a frozen drink on a pier jutting out into the water, or the most exclusive cold bee in the entire city, this is the definitive list of the best places to grab a drink by the lake in Austin. Number one requires a little more effort than the rest — and that is exactly what makes it the best.
#1 Zip Island at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures — The Most Exclusive Drink View in Austin
This one you have to earn. The private dock at Zip Island on Lake Travis is not open to the public. You cannot walk up, drive in, or boat over and expect a seat. Lake Travis has seven great restaurants and pubs accessible by boat — but Zip Island is not one of them. The only way to get here is to book a zipline tour at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Visit Austin
Here is why that makes it number one. After three hours of flying over Lake Travis on five world-class ziplines — including the Double Barrel Shotgun, two side-by-side lines stretching over 2,800 feet at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake — your group gets full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island. Crack open a cold drink on the dock. Look out over the full expanse of Lake Travis stretching across the Texas Hill Country in every direction. Nobody else is here. No crowds, no wait, no competing for a table. Just your group, the lake, and a view that every public waterfront bar in Austin would charge a premium table minimum to approximate.
The post-zipline cold drink on the Zip Island dock is the most earned and most genuinely beautiful lake drink in Austin. It is also the most exclusive. The only ticket in is a zipline tour reservation.
The Details
How to Get Here: Book a zipline tour at laketraviszipline.com — the only way onto Zip Island
Zipline Tour Prices: 5-Line Tour $138/person, Double Barrel Single-Line Tour $88/person
Both tours include full-day access to the private lakefront property after the tour
Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
You cannot buy your way onto this dock with a drink order. You earn it by zipping. Book at laketraviszipline.com.
#2 The Oasis on Lake Travis — The Sunset Capital of Texas
The Oasis on Lake Travis is nestled on a bluff overlooking the lake and offers panoramic views and a multi-tiered deck perfect for soaking up the scenery. Their famous margaritas and Tex-Mex specialties pair beautifully with the stunning sunset. Lost with Lydia
The Oasis is the most famous waterfront drinking destination in Austin and it earns the reputation. Tiered outdoor decks cascade down the hillside toward Lake Travis with the Hill Country horizon stretching in every direction. Every deck has a different vantage point. Every table faces the lake. The margaritas are cold and the portions are enormous and the sunset here is the reason this place has been photographed more than almost any other spot in the Austin area.
Go 30 minutes before sunset and claim a table on one of the higher outer decks. When the sun drops behind the Hill Country and the whole lake turns gold and pink, you will understand why people make special trips to Austin specifically for this.
Best Order: The original Oasis margarita on the rocks, salt rim, watching the sunset
Best For: Groups, couples, first-time Lake Travis visitors, sunset seekers
#3 Beachside Billy’s at Volente Beach — Best Full-Service Lakefront Experience
Beachside Billy’s at Volente Beach offers some of the best food and drinks on Lake Travis. Burgers, wings, pizza, Ahi Tuna, salmon, and tenderloin are on the menu alongside the best mac and cheese in town. It also has live acoustic music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is directly on the water with three bars serving awesome cocktails. Travel Texas
Beachside Billy’s is the most complete lakefront experience on Lake Travis. Three bars, live music on the weekends, waterfront dining, and the ability to swim directly from the property make it the most lively and most active drinking destination on the lake. The Deep Eddy Mules and frozen cocktails are the signature orders. The deck views over the water are consistently excellent. Furthermore, Beachside Billy’s sits just minutes from Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, making it the natural post-zipline lakeside stop for groups who want to extend their day on the water.
Best Order: Frozen margarita on the deck, live music Fridays and Saturdays
Best For: Groups, families, post-zipline afternoon drinks, anyone who wants live music with their lake view
#4 Sundancer Grill — Hidden Gem on Lake Travis
Sundancer Grill is located right on Lake Travis and is a spot to take in the relaxing views of the water while having a tasty meal. They are open year-round so you can catch the sights from every season. From 9 AM to 3 PM on weekends try Sundancer Grill for a decadent brunch just steps from the shore of Lake Travis — because what lake trip is complete without breakfast nachos and stuffed french toast? During the rest of the week it is an excellent option for a cold margarita and some hot crispy fried pickles. Travel Texas
Sundancer Grill is the locals’ pick on Lake Travis — less crowded than The Oasis, more relaxed than Beachside Billy’s, and consistently excellent for a cold afternoon drink with genuine lake views. The huge deck is the perfect casual dinner and drinks spot. Try their Deep Eddy Mules or Mexican Martini paired with their beloved chicken sandwich and you will understand why the regulars here keep coming back. GetYourGuide
The Details
Location: Lake Travis, check sundancergrill.com for current address and hours
Best Order: Mexican Martini or Deep Eddy Mule on the deck at golden hour
Best For: Locals, groups who want a more relaxed lake bar atmosphere, weekend brunch
#5 Ski Shores Cafe — Lake Austin’s Most Beloved Waterfront Bar
Ski Shores is a true Lake Austin oasis with boat ramp docking, fresh tacos and burgers, amazing frozen drinks, and even pickleball. Their patio is massive and features umbrellas, misters, and fire pits — perfect for the crazy Texas weather. GetYourGuide
Ski Shores is a steadfast waterfront option that has served fresh American eats, frozen drinks, and frosty margaritas along the shore of Lake Austin for decades. It is never a bad time to visit Ski Shores but the best time might be after a big day on the lake when you are more ready than ever to enjoy one of their signature cocktails and a Ski Burger. Travel Texas
Ski Shores is on Lake Austin rather than Lake Travis — about 20 minutes from downtown Austin on a smaller, more intimate lake that winds through a residential canyon with beautiful limestone banks on both sides. The vibe here is the most genuinely local and unpretentious of any waterfront bar in the Austin area. The frozen drinks are outstanding, the patio misters make it survivable in July, and the boat ramp docking means you can arrive by water if you have access to a boat.
Best Order: Frozen margarita or signature Ski Burger with a lake view
Best For: Lake Austin visitors, locals, anyone who wants the most genuine and unpretentious lakeside bar in Austin
The Bottom Line
Austin has more genuinely great places to drink by the water than most cities in the country. Four of the five spots on this list you can walk into any afternoon of the summer with no plan required. One of them you have to earn.
The cold drink on the private dock at Zip Island after three hours of ziplining over Lake Travis is in a different category from everything else on this list. It is the most exclusive, most beautiful, and most genuinely earned lake drink in Austin. The only way in is through the ziplines.
