Highball

The Honest Take

What it's actually like

Highball is the Alamo Drafthouse's entertainment venue on South Lamar - a polished, well-produced room with cocktails, karaoke, and live music in a space that's considerably more finished than the average Austin honky-tonk. It's not trying to be a dive bar and succeeds on its own terms.

For two-steppers, Highball is a situational venue. When the booking includes acts like Red McAdam & Dan Whitaker or other Austin country players, the room becomes a legitimate dancing destination. The floor is good, the sound is excellent, and the drinks are well-made even if they're priced to match.

It's worth knowing about Highball as part of your weekly Austin music scan - not as a primary two-step destination, but as a place where the right act on the right night can be a genuinely good dance evening in a comfortable room.

The Dance Floor

Two-stepping at Highball

Highball has a proper indoor dance floor in the main entertainment room. It's a smoother surface than most Austin honky-tonks and a more produced environment, which means the dancing can feel slightly different - less dive bar improvised, more intentional. Both have their place.

The floor is best when the booking is explicitly country or honky-tonk. On those nights, the space works perfectly well for two-stepping and the crowd that comes knows what they're there for.

When to Go

Best nights for dancing

Practical Info

Everything you need to know

FAQ

Common questions