Horseshoe Lounge

If your looking for a good old dive bar that only takes cash, sells beer by the bottle and soda by the can then the Horseshoe is for you. It is very doubtful you will ever mistake this place for a swanky new trendy bar. That also means you will feel comfortable wearing your comfortable tee shirt and drinking good old American beer while you play shuffle board.

Going to the 'shoe is always an interesting experience. Decked out in furnishings and wall coverings that have most likely been there since the 1970's, the Horseshoe Lounge is the very definition of a dive. But here's the thing: the bartender is nice, it smells and looks pretty clean, the jukebox is incredible (think old country classics) and it's rarely crowded. The only drawback: you're only going to get beer in cans and bottles. That's it. But still, you can grab a group, come here, and have a good time here.

Popped in here for the first time last nice and was glad to find a nice casual bar in the area! It is cash only and no frills - no liquor and no draft. They have all the typical suspects you'd want - shiner, lone star, etc. The bartender, Dixie, was lovely and gave us great tips on other space to eat/drink in austin! The bar is also well designed, padded with lots of seating.

Came here to wait a couple hours for Barley Swine on a Friday night. This place is a Texas dive-bar, through and through. Super cheap beers, especially during happy hour. Cash only. Friendly bartenders. You'll have to compete for parking with all the other patrons in the little shopping area.

This is your typical Texas dive bar. Cash-only domestic beers by the bottle, shuffleboard, and a jukebox that features (to quote The Blues Brothers) "both kinds of music: Country and Western." This bar is nearly fifty years old and I doubt little has changed since it first opened. I hope it stays that way. It's a welcome contrast to the redevelopment occurring all over South Lamar.

This is a great place to come out and shot pool or play shuffle board with freinds. It's been open since 1965 and has remained open contuinously to this day. I like how it has the "old south Austin " feel to it. It's one of those places you can go to and everyone knows your name. truly an Austin icon if you get a chance to go see it for your'e self you should.

Great place to catch local legends, and also have some fun experiences, like blues potlucks. It's a down-and-dirty piece of history, where you can jam in and get to know some new people, hear some good music, and have a good time.

I'm a Damn Yankee from the Bronx. I moved back to Texas in 2012 after an UNACCEPTABLE 12 year gap. What was I thinking? Your silent Internet condemnation shames me. So I walk into the HorseShoe and Dixie gives me the best small town, "How 'ya doin'? (and actually means it!) greeting. Dixie is the bomb. The HorseShoe is the bomb. Texas is the bomb. Jim has spoken...

Time to give a slow clap to The Golden Goose because this bar is so much damn fun and you'd outta be ashamed if you haven't been here yet! This spot is such a moment throughout the year and I really love their programs. From daily specials to a mean signature cocktail program, you're in good hands here. If you're in the area you absolutely have to come here for a drink or three.

Discovered this cute bar at Lamar street. They validate parking. The decor and ambiance inside was really nice and aesthetic! We got $2 margaritas deal and were so happy with that! The vibe was fun inside, they have a small patio outside too. The service was good and there's plenty of space inside

It's alright! I didn't find anything special about this place - it's just another bar, which we have plenty of in Austin.

First I'll say that the drinks were very good. I don't like frozen anything but the frozen mule was soo good. And the desert pear was delicious, and very balanced. My biggest complaint was that they had a horrible movie on in the background, there were scenes of adult circumcising...not what I want on the tv while trying to catch up with friends

The bartenders are rude and they double ID only women. I used to go there all the time but tonight was unprofessional. They had some random person at the door pretending to check ids even though the employee could see him doing this. He also was still at the bar after. The bartenders just kept walking by us. We both grew up in Austin and loved playing shuffleboard here. We thought this was a good place to keep going to at 28 but the crowd is weird now. There are never enough bartenders so it takes what feels like an hour to get a drink.

We had a party of 11 people at this venue. All was great until the end. Be aware of the parking rules. You must register your car or you will be booted. No negotiation. Even if you have been at the bar, which we were. Their signage wasn't obvious on their door. The manager at Golden Goose was not very helpful. You might rethink your choice to spend your money.

Golden Goose never disappoints. I would give it 5 stars but it's lost a little of its charm now that it's grown so popular, which isn't a bad thing, and no fault of their own, but the secret bar vibe they used to have in the beginning is truly missed. I love the jukebox and various types of people that show up. We always have a good time and meet new people to chat with. If they are busy, ladies be ready to wait to use the bathroom as they only have one room/toilet for women to use, but understandable given the small size of this lounge. The bartenders are always attentive, ready to serve and fast. It's truly our go-to spot for a nightcap. I have mixed feelings about the patio (again because it kind of killed the intimate, secret lounge vibe they had going) but ultimately happy they have one, especially when COVID hit. GG will still always be one of our favs.

Cute local bar in south Austin. Nice place to meet with friends if you are in the area and are looking for something different than your average bar. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The parking lot is a shared space with other businesses. They also have different specials every day.

NEW LOCAL FAVE! I tried it out twice just to make sure it was love and I felt as I did before ! The ambiance kind of gives me similar to a speakeasy! Has a cute jukebox to play music, shuffleboard and cute Polaroids on the wall! They use paperback love story books to put your receipts, that's so cute ! First time going was on a busy Friday, kind of packed. Service was superior! Best cocktails I have EVER tried, & I have a lot of random drinks I love! Now this past Tuesday I went with friends who came into town & Danielle was a doll! She got us on board with all the deals for the day! One of my friends doesn't drink and she made her a super tasty Mocktail. I ordered The Southside & a Paloma which were both strong & flavorful ! Not sure what my last friend ordered but she was already a bit tipsy but Danielle had such great patience's an kept us laughing. Topping it off with giving me a free drink card for my next visit ! Didn't hesitate to make sure she was tipped !

While out bar hopping one Saturday evening a group of us stopped in here and it might look like a dive bar, but it's a legit cocktail bar with talented bartenders, a really nice cocktail program, and they have a juke box too!! The various drinks we tried were all solid and nicely done. Our bartender, the pretty blond with a hat and lots of ink was great... she didn't miss a beat if we ordered a cocktail that wasn't on their menu. There's plenty of seating and people always seem to be coming and going, so if you get there and there's no place to sit, a place might open soon. Highly recommend stopping in, it was one of the top cocktail bars we visited while in Austin!

Definitely NOT a dive bar. It's just a bar. Majority of the patrons drink beer but the bartenders are knowledgeable enough to make a decent cocktail.. Golden Goose you're weird. You don't know what you are. No one knows what you are. You're just a beer bar that can serve a good cocktail. I think why most people are challenged/confused about what kind of bar the Golden Goose is. But it doesn't want to be called a Cocktail Bar. And doesn't want to be known as just a Beer Bar either. They want to be a Dive Bar, but they're Not one. They aren't a Dive Bar. There's nothing uniquely divey about the Golden Goose. The food was trash, (overpriced trash) I guess that's unique. Or at least it was the night I went. It was just plain bar food, which is to be expected if you're acknowledging it for what it really is. It's NOT a cocktail bar. Stop calling it that! LOL

Just another bar with decent cocktails and nothing really stood out. Some of us left another party and wanted to get another round of drinks so we stopped by this place. It was tough getting the attention of the bartenders as the area was crowded by others trying to place orders. We had a male friend handle that for us and were promptly served. Decent cocktails, decent music, average service and limited parking space. Nothing exceptional .. can't speak for small bites as we didn't order food but I don't see myself visiting this place again.

This bar has a weird history: it used to be known in Austin as a hook up bar. Like the easiest place to walk-in, meet someone, and get laid, hence the name. That's why I never went there because I didn't want anyone to think I'd be into that. But with all the changes Austin's gone through, The Golden Goose too has changed, gotten revamped, and turned more into a neighborhood pub type bar for the surrounding neighborhood. Some of the patrons have a sort of hooligan like in a pub vibe, and to be fair, I think it's to keep things an in-group that's like their neighborhood regulars not just out of towners, that sort of thing, though because I did recognize a couple of them from when I lived around there and a bartender they softened a bit. And being a former Londoner, I love a pub vibe-oh yeah-and Jell-O shots and cocktails!

This is a great cocktail spot! There's a shared parking lot with other businesses in the complex but we've always found parking. You can tell the team here puts a ton of thought into each drink and it's all made fresh to order. The drinks are unique and delish! However, both times I've been there's only ever been one bartender, which means you are left waiting a while to order or get a drink. They do have a online ordering system but haven't tried it yet but might be a good option so you don't need to wait by the bar. The patio is amazing however limited space. I do wish the inside had more cool booths or seating vs. tables. For the most part, people hang by the bar. Glad I stumbled into this spot and can't wait to go back and try more on the menu!

Cool atmosphere, speakeasy style with cool seating arrangements! Pricey drinks though 15$. & up!!! Nice bar. a scream fest! But it IS SO DAMN LOUD!!! We all had to scream at each other to be heard over the ear bleeding music!! I had to yell at the bartender to order a drink ! It wasn't because it was crowded with people it Was crowded with LOUD MUSIC ! Ouch my eardrums hurt! WE LEFT !

Had a nice night here. The bartenders were friendly, the drinks and the music were good, and all all-around vibe was great. Definitely coming back here.

I've been to this bar a few times and really enjoy it. Their cocktails are really good, and you can tell they put effort into the overall cocktail. They also offer really good mock tail options. Best thing about this place is the vibes. The music playing isn't overbearing to where you can't hear your party and the decor makes it feel very homey. Great place to take someone on date, or grab a small group of friends and hangout for a bit.

A unique blend of dive and class. I was there early on a weekday with Billy Idol and NWA on the dial, Escape from LA on a small screen. Good vibes all around. Expensive but good drinks. Definitely feels like a place to get comfortable for an evening

This fun little dive bar in the Austin South Lamar neighborhood is perfectly quaint and so dramatic on the inside! It is nothing to look at on the outside which is why it took me so long to come try this place out. Needless to say, I'm going to keep coming back! They have excellent daily drink specials and their specialty cocktails are impressively concocted. The only reason for 4 stars - the last time I visited, the bartender did not acknowledge that me and my friend arrived and then served another couple who showed up after us BEFORE us. There were only 6 people in the whole bar so it was pretty noticeable and really unprofessional. Regardless of one bad experience, I'll keep coming back!

Classy for a dive'ish place with shuffle board/billllllliards and a cozy NE coast vibe.

Delicious cocktail options, vibey interior, great for date night or hanging with a small group of friends due to the layout/seating availability

Is this a destination bar? No. Don't go out of your way to come here. But we were in the neighborhood, on foot, and looking for a change of scene, so we headed in with minimal expectations. If you go in with that mindset, I think you'll end up pleasantly surprised. I love lavender drinks. I love a bee's knees. Combine the two, and make it a staple of your menu? Damn, you got me. Oh, and made with local Waterloo gin (which is seriously underrated)? Try this drink if you like something that's gin-forward, slightly sweet, and slightly floral. It's lovely. Definitely not what I expected to see on the menu here, but I hope they keep it!

Oh, how we miss the Horseshoe... The Golden Goose is a really great local bar with awesome chill vibes. Love the decor and seating. The patio outside is refreshing for some air and meeting new friendly folk. The old fashions are amazing! Definitely a favorite.

This is a really cool neighborhood bar that has some delicious frozen Moscow Mule's as well as some other signature cocktails. It is a really cool place to hang out and we will definitely be going back there to hang!

I went in to buy my first pair of golden gooses today, and I had the most amazing experience. They made it so pleasant, and I felt so welcomed, and there was no pressure to make a purchase. I also appreciated that they let me try on every single shoe I wanted in different colors and never got annoyed. And if they couldn't find a color in my size, they came out with a pair that they thought I would like and that is top notch service.

Towed my car after spending money at this bar and ubered home. Came back next day and it was gone

Everything I have come to expect in douchery in Austin in one shit-stained package. The bartenders are rude, and the clientele on this evening were more than happy with the uncomfortable seating and blaring music interrupting any conversation or thought in their head. I was brought here on my birthday by a clueless relative. The selection of beer/wine and even mixed drinks were very limited so even if I was patient enough to have gotten one I would have been underwhelmed.

Awesome bar off S. Lamar that is welcoming and dog friendly. Daily drink specials and the bartenders are attentive to make sure you are taken care of. Each table also has a QR code to order drinks off the app and bartenders will bring your order directly to your table. One of my favorite things is when receiving your check/tab at the end of the night in a chapter book! Super cute touch. The best drink here would be their frozen Moscow mule ($5 on Mondays & Fridays). They have both an indoor space as well as a smaller outdoor seating area that lights up in the evening. Great music, cute décor, and a working shuffleboard table inside as well. Highly recommend this spot for friends to conversate and have a great time.

Went here for a special crawfish boil event last weekend and it was free which was awesome. The staff was overall very friendly and the event was pretty organized. The bar itself inside was alright - nothing to rave about - a bit dark. There is not too much seating so expect to be standing but the drinks were good and reasonably priced.

Cool little spot, nice reprieve from the heat. Walked in and headed to the bar order a few mixed drinks. The hubby and I had a southside, we really liked it. My sister had the lavender bees knees and she also like it. We than switch to the lone star beers

Neighborhood casual bar with everyday drink specials. They have an old school music player where you can select songs to play. Good spot to meet up with friends and just have a few drinks. Dim lit inside but you can still see. Don't park your car in the lot and leave to go elsewhere. A lady at the bar told me that they will know and tow your car.

I met a friend here for drinks and it did not disappoint. Bartenders were top notch for making signature cocktails. They're not stingy on the liquor and they make really solid drinks. I've had cocktails around Lamar and these have been the most memorable. I loved the vibe and music - it was a chill time, I'll definitely be back.

I came here for their crawfish boil. It was stated it was free. So we came in got our wristbands with no problem at the bar and a couple of drinks. The line was long but the crawfish was delicious. They definitely anticipated the right amount of people and staffed appropriately.

Not worth it. The space was cool but the service wasn't great when there was a billing issue. She was very dismissive. We were visiting from out of town and the bartender wasn't kind in answering questions. I'd ask that in the future, they work on their customer service.

That michelada rocks my world every.single.time!! Service is great and it's just amazing

Angry, inattentive bartenders. Didn't like me because I was a man. Terrible drinks that are incredibly overpriced. Just go to Gibson or Black Sheep. Used to be such a good bar.

This is definitely a great hidden gem. If you are looking for a cool dim light, good drink date spot, this is your place. If you blink while driving down the street , you will miss it, but definitely turn around because it's a great spot. There is parking which is always a plus. We went on a weeknight, so it was not busy. The place is kind of small inside. Definitely check it out.

Good little dive bar that actually makes really good cocktails. What I like about the Golden Goose is that have parking, which we all know in Austin is hard come by. It's a cool low key spot that also provides you with the Austin vibe. The drinks are bit pricey, but delicious! Worth going to for sure!!

Okay, youse guys, I feel like this is a local secret. I came here on Friday evening, bout 8pm with a "friend". The first delighter is when I had to use the bathroom and the urinal trough was filled with ICE CUBES! I had flashbacks to my childhood--a young boy from Manitoba playing hockey with the dudes, with nowhere to pee at halftime but on the ice. Fast forward - A little live music made the experience great! I wasn't thrilled with my cocktail (Got an anjeo old fashion) but believe that's because the tastes were just not what I liked no fault of the place itself. Call me a Goose sympathizer. Okay now that I look at the menu again the drink is definitely something I WOULDNT like. My "friend" got a frozen Moscow mule. She was confused, as she usually is, and thought they have grapefruit Moscow mules. Well, it turns out they DONT. BUT FEAR NOT, the kind bartender simply added a shot a grapefruit vodka to her drink to remedy the situation. A little extra. So maybe they do have grapefruit Moscow mules. Ugh, confused. In summary, if you're looking for a good time, I personally recommend this establishment.

Great ambiance and happy hour. Different items on the cocktail list is discounted throughout the week. Loved the bartenders and their drive to help you pick out the right drink. Also, the boombox was awesome as well.

Extremely loud jukebox for such a small and acoustically challenged space. Must be the vibe they are looking for, too have to scream at the person sitting next to you. Won't be back until it cools off, so you can opt to sit outside at a seemingly spacious patio running along the outside if the space. Drinks were fairly priced.

Came in from out of town. Was waiting in line and when it was my turn at front, middle age lady at the bar yelled "YOU GOT TO TALK - WHAT DO YOU WANT" - I just got to the front - I answered her and gave her my order, and she said "and?!l"... it was just completely unprofessional, she wasn't doing it to anyone else, and I didn't appreciate her attitude especially on a vacation visit. We went out of our way to come visit from South Congress and it was a mistake. Stay away.

Love the name and aesthetic but this is not a lounge lol so loud and bartenders sooo strressed they forgot to properly poor drinks. #calmdown2020

Get loose at the goose. Classic neighborhood joint. Bring dollar bills for the jukebox which ranges from Otis to Bowie to Notorious BIG to George Strait.

Yes, it is hard to walk into the Horseshoe and know it's truly gone. Gone is the outdoor smoking/singing/hanging out area. Gone are the regular South Austin dudes and dudettes whom I had seen and had a cheap ice cold beer with. Gone are the tamales and funky HH food things. Gone is Dixie. I miss not getting my "Free Hug" from my Yelp check-in from her. I am just going to throw this out, if you used to be a Horseshoe regular, you won't like this place. There were some nice things, like the decor and the jukebox still had some good tunes on it. My Suzie stepped up and played a set and soon had the bar singing along to "Sweet Caroline". We two-stepped in the corner and drifted back in time to the old space. Drinks were well prepared and they certainly had plenty of bartenders to serve us. I asked for some matches and the bar keeper said they didn't have any and gave me his lighter. Dangerous, since those always seem to disappear in my pocket. If you are a trendy kind of person, you probably will dig this space. I was impressed that the band that played actually wasn't so loud you couldn't talk to each other. The biggest turn off is bartenders taking shots while on duty. For one, it's theft from the owner, unless of course they were the owners. Secondly, do I really want someone who is getting intoxicated serving me? Our friend mentioned that most bars do this now. Ok, fair enough, I guess I'm just a party pooper. They were getting pretty busy and all the beautiful people were arriving which was a our signal to close out and leave. I'm sure they will do well without my patronage in the future.

I guess this is a dive bar? Considering the location and decor, I cannot understand why a grumpy bartender dude would charge $6 (plus tip) for a single bottle of Austin Amber. That's more than you'd pay downtown. Heck, that's "hotel mini-bar" pricing. You can walk next door to the Black Sheep Lodge and have a $2 can of beer and the waitstaff will serve it to you with a smile.

I guess it shouldn't be a surprise when you go to a bar with room in their parking lot, but boy was everyone in our group shocked by our drinks. Each sip worse than the last. What the heck kind of juices are they using? All the sugar in the world cannot mask the repugnant flavors of these poorly mixed beverages. Not one to waste alcohol, but I've honestly never had a nastier sip of liquid in my life. Beers in the cans tasted okay though...

Is this a lounge? Is this a neighborhood dive? Who can tell? Seriously, it has the weird Crazy, Stupid, Love-esque vibe of what people think lounges look like, all backlit bar glass etc...but the vibe is casual and divey because it's south Lamar. Be a dive! Dives are the best! Great friendly staff and they let dogs in though, so that's a plus.

** Remember that day when I voice texted in a review and didn't check it? That was not my shiniest moment. Below is the more complete, spell checked, word checked version ** I was not prepared to like The Golden Goose. Mostly because I loved the Horseshoe in all of its dark, country-music, single-bathroom, cash only, shuffleboard glory. It was an institution and I look forward to the day when it resurrects. The Goose was a very pleasant surprise. It's still dark as hell but they've cleared out all the walls and various obstacles to give it some good flow. They've got plenty of seating, some of it church pews. The lighting is beautiful and they've got a cocktail-y menu that's not too fussy. Pickle martini? Frozen deep eddy lemonade? Sign me up. The shuffleboard table is still there and the bathroom is MUCH improved. Their happy hour could use a little work ($1 off feels like the slightest of nods.) I do think there should be a nod to the shoe somewhere -- like a drink named after it or a 90s country night -- but overall, I'm totally down with what this space has evolved into.