Key Bar

I was in line like everyone else on 11/02/25 and the plus sized African American door man said he didnt like my look and put his hands on me to throw me out of line . I gave him zero provocation and he told me my " white ass wasn't allowed in". I have been to this bar many times and never been treated this horribly.

Favorite bar to drink a crispy cold happy dad with the best music and service!

Only got to experience the outdoor area of Key Bar for one round of drinks, but the time we spent here was good overall. I likely wouldn't seek out coming back here next time I'm in Austin, but it was a good spot to stop at.

Whoever their DJ is on Saturday nights is the best I’ve heard….. and I’ve heard a lot. Vibes were immaculate all night

Great patio bar, not as crazy and busy if that speaks to you. Small group of bartenders who will quickly know you and your drink after going a few times. Nice misters and fans to keep you cool in the summer and a great fire pit to warm your toes on the occasional chilly night.

It was a cool place, but it gets one star because they literally change the total amount on the receipt that you sign when you tab out. I was there on Friday night, it was the start of my night so I was pretty sober when ordering my two rounds of drinks for my friends. My total amount were not even values so I know for sure I didn’t spend an exact $33.00 and $50.00 for my drinks, because I remember writing down the cent values on the bill. However when I checked my bank statement I see these numbers meaning they upped my tab after I signed it without my permission… which I’m pretty sure is illegal.

We came here while on my friends bach party and had a great time. It did get EXTREMLY packed on Fridays and Saturdays (a given but it was hard to stand without getting hit by people walking by). The bouncers were pretty good, very attentive. The bathrooms were dirty (also a given since it was packed). The bussers were very good at picking up trash on the floor people threw down, etc. The DJ......I do not know his name but this he was the BEST DJ I have ever heard at a bar. He blended songs perfectly and the transitions were seamless. He knew how to read the room and change up the vibe if no-one was feeling it. Drinks were standard pricing $8 for a beer, etc. We defiantly had a blast here and came back the next day for a few hours.

USC friendly on a UT home game day - thank you! Only getting 4 stars because the Moscow mules aren’t that great but fair prices for drinks and nice outdoor bar with fans!

Sure, here's a sample review for someone who owns a mobile bar service with amazing reviews: --- **Rating: ** I recently had the pleasure of hiring KEY BAR for my event, and I am beyond impressed! From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of exceptional. The owner, Keyanna truly knows how to run a top-notch service. First, the communication was fantastic. Kyanna was incredibly responsive and attentive to all of my questions and needs, ensuring every detail was covered before the big day. On the day of the event, the mobile bar arrived on time and was set up quickly and efficiently. The presentation of the bar itself was stunning and added a unique, stylish touch to the event. The range of drinks offered was impressive, with something for everyone - from classic cocktails to custom creations that were tailored to our theme. The bartenders were not only skilled but also super friendly and engaging, making sure every guest felt welcomed and taken care of. If you're looking for a mobile bar service that goes above and beyond, look no further than KEY BAR. I highly recommend them for any event - you won't be disappointed.

Key Bar is one of the busier bars on West Six that consistently draws a crowd. The DJ's set used to bring more energy, but lately, it feels a bit repetitive & outdated... but maybe it's also because I've been here too often and it's run its course. You can order your typical bar beverages, but it's refreshing to find they offer some nice seasonal options as well. They offered a Watermelon drink a few summers ago with real watermelon that I still rave about to this day. People always seem to be having a good time here. Unfortunately, since it's next to Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF), another bar that's always popping, the lines can be long!

I recently had the pleasure of working with Keyanna and her mobile bartending service, and I can't rave enough about the experience. From start to finish, everything was flawless. She is genuinely one of the most incredible people to work with. Her warmth and professionalism made the entire process incredibly smooth and enjoyable. She was so easy to communicate with and truly went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. But let's talk about the drinks--amazing doesn't even begin to cover it! Each cocktail was delicious, and she even accommodated a variety of preferences by creating a custom menu for our event. If you're looking for a mobile bartending service that combines exceptional service with outstanding mixology, look no further. Keyanna is the real deal and made our event unforgettable!

Keyanna did an AMAZING job with my bachelorette! She made delicious, cute, and boozy themed cocktails that were exactly what I wanted! She was timely, positive, and gave us great service!! 10/10 will recommend! I will definitely be using her for our wedding as well. I should have taken a picture but she made us tiki themed cocktails with the liquor I requested. They were so perfect and a hit even with my pickiest guests.

Not dog friendly, which is a rarity in Austin, and pretty rude and unclear about the pet policy in general

This place is a rip off for drinks. Went on a Thursday and the place was dead . Yelp incorrectly shows it's a $ for drinks when in fact it's $$ at a minimum for the most simple drink.

This was one of the most fun bars we went to during our Bachelorette trip to Austin. The DJ was awesome and he had the best time dancing! It was a little crammed for a big group but if a bar is busy on a weekend, it's a good sign. They had water for everyone which was so nice especially since it was so hot. We stayed here for a few hours just dancing the night away and it was so fun! The DJ had the best transitions from song to song which sounds easy but it's hard to do. Whatever DJ was working on 6/17/23 did a great job. We had so much fun. Next time I am in Austin, I would totally go back here!

Tony the manager made it so easy to get my phone back even when it was closed. A true legend.

Worst DJ I've ever heard. 5/26; what the freak was that! Usually a good bar but please don't ever hire this DJ again

Idk where my phone was left ln at the bar , but someone called end of the night and i got it back next day which is 5/5 stars anywhere but especially bc i recently went on best trip of my life n woulda lost a lot of the pics / vids potentially. Thank y'all fr!

Key bar is always a great venue for sxsw events. Great outdoor bar and seating area. Would I come here on a normal night out? I'm not too sure. It had the potential to be fairly "bro"-esque because of its location. It is nicer and cleaner than most bars in Austin. If that's your scene, you'll love it!

I asked the bartender for a water and she serves me a legit glass with iced water and then points to a water dispenser with plastic cups and lets me know that, next time, I can just get water from there -- she didn't have to serve me a whole water -- all she had to do was point me to the water jug, but she decided to serve me anyways. A+ service

My husband and I were visiting Austin on Halloween weekend. We wanted to explore the city and decided to take a walk down sixth Street. The area was very busy due to the holiday weekend. The Key Bar was not too crowded and had a great DJ playing so we decided to go in. The door guy was friendly and welcomed us in. (We didn't catch his name.) We decided to head to the bar area. When we sat down and immediately were greater by the staff. The bartender Zoe was friendly and fun. She got our drinks quickly and also attended to the other guests pretty quick. That night there was also another bartender Chris that was chatty and fun. The drinks were great and reasonably priced. The green tea shot was delicious. Combined with the great music and fun vibe we had a great time. The bar also has a food truck attached that has some really yummy sliders. We had the grilled chicken. They were amazing. We came back again a couple of nights later as well and had the same experience. If you are in downtown Austin and want to visit a great bar definitely come here. We highly recommend.

My host bro in Buda is a Washington State University Alumni, with the rest of us University of Washington Alumni. Yet we set out to find a Cougar-friendly bar, take that however you want, for the game on Saturday, October 12th. The Key Bar was advertised as WSU host bar. So ... we rolled up there to support the other Washington University. The bar had a separate attached room for us which was nice for everyone as I assumed every other patron was a Texas fan of some sort. The service was pleasant. I drank Shiner all damn day... when in Texas, ya know. The $5 chili cheese hotdog was sufficient to keep me from avoiding a complete liquid diet. The bartenders were super chill, efficient, and friendly - props to them.

We had asked a local from Austin where to go for drinks and she suggested Key Bar. Great recommendation! I loved the HUGE outdoor patio. Someone else said that cute guys with puppies go to Key Bar and I must laugh because there were cute guys with dogs (not puppies) there! The drinks were fine. We did not have food. I'm really rating the bar on the service. We had the most friendly bartender. She gave us lots of great recommendations on places to eat and drink while we were visiting. Stop by!

I don't understand why anyone who lives in Austin would ever go to this bar. Its pretty much the worst possible scenario for hanging out and having a good time. It seems like its a huge patio type screen porch thing. Its very smokey for a patio which I can deal with but non-smokers look out this is definitely not some place you want to be. I couldn't really find any signage or anything to indicate that key bar was actually key bar. I finally found my way in by seeing the doors guys t-shirt which may be the only sign that this place even exists. I could bash these guys for a while longer but lets be honest, drinks came slow and weren't particularly cheap. I was surround by people who dressed like they just got done with some sort of Frat / Sorority meeting. Maybe its just this side of the street but all of the bars in the neighborhood seem to have this same vibe. If your in college and looking to get drunk off shots and hook up with a fellow college student this might be the place for you.

Maybe I just have simple taste, I dunno...but I like Key Bar. In the several times I've been, they've only done one thing I found off-putting, which I'll refer to as the "Band Experiment." Fortunately that didn't take, and the popularity of this place among the trolling imbibers of West 6th has been considerate since, to the point where they ended up knocking out a back wall and opening the place up (itself already a grand patio) to a greater degree. Based solely on the ambience, it's likely a three and a half star joint, but we've always had terrific and personally attentive service here, which easily rounds 'em up in my book. Loads of beer options, I've seen them make a cocktail well, and there is usually some sort of miraculous breeze at play when I pull up a stool. Works for me.

I was here on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed. Ypu have to go to the bar to order a drink becauae they dont come to the patio tables. There were some pub crawls and other group parties going on. The have a decent menu of specialty drinks. I had the laid back because it was hot and the cold popsicle in the drink was too tempting to pass up! I really enjoyed the drink and they serve it with a whole shaker! The drink was on the expensive side but you are also paying for the location. I gave this 3 stars because I didnt really care for the overall ambiance and it just felt like a cookie cutter place that is selling itself on havibg an expansive patio.

Ordered a Bloody Mary from J.P. which, besides from taking 20 minutes to make on a slow Sunday, was solid ice all the way from the bottom of the glass to top. I took one sip from the straw and it went below half way. I explained the situation and asked him if he wouldn't mind remaking it with a lot less ice. He said sure. He then insisted I pay for the remade drink. So I did and left both at the bar untouched. Needless to say myself and my group of people I came with will not be returning to be ripped off again

There's not much special about the Key Bar for me. What's good? Nice location at a bumping corner. We were there on a Friday afternoon (of ROT kick off at that) and there was no shortage of street action. The service was good too, but we were there for a private event, so maybe we were being taken care of better than might normally happen? Good TV visibility if you're going for a game. What's mediocre? I had a bourbon and coke that tasted like water and watered down soda. That was strange. They have decent choices for beer on tap, but not a huge selection. Nothing bad. Just nothing that spectacular.

This is probably my favorite bar in Austin. They pour excellent drinks, they love the Cowboys, and it is so nice to get away from the crowds on West. Austin is lacking in good sports bars, but this place is perfect. The bartenders are great and they let you bring your pups in! Seriously. Best bar in Austin.

Can't say I'm surprised by the reviews I've seen. Came here with some friends and ordered a michelada and the bartender didn't ask me which beer I wanted and just put a splash of the draft beer into the tomato mix instead of giving me a full beer to add. Asked around and found out it was JP. If you get him as a bartender, prepare to pay for an overpriced mixer.

Where can you go in Austin to get a drink and listen to live music? Sooooo many places, but they are not quite as delightful as Key Bar on a crisp winter evening in the ATX when the Juke Box Heroes are performing. The drinks are well priced and if you feel like drinking a non alcoholic libation, Strange brew has moved in to the backside of the bar. You can get a coffee drink or do as Mr. Smidgens and his squad did and ordered up some hot water for our Roobios watermelon mint tea. Yeah, that's how we roll with South African tea on a Thursday night. Boom! Chill out by the year round fire pit or grab a seat at the bar or nearby tables and benches to chat it up with your lovely friends. You just might get lucky and see Robynn Shayne sit in with the Juke Box Heroes for some ear candy.

Was visiting Austin for work and was out with coworkers for the night, walking in unfamiliar territory when we were spotted by Michelle and Claudia who waved us down and welcomed our group into Key Bar. Loved our drinks and loved your service. Thank you for welcoming us into town with open arms.

I came across this bar while exploring 6th street. I needed a nice margarita and a break from all the walking. Jen was my bartender and she was super cool to chat with. The Margarita was ok and I had two for only $7 So quite friendly: next time I'm in town I would go back just for a nice chat

When my friend and I wandered into the Key Bar this week for the first time, I was a little skeptical. It was crowded and seemed really loud, and we wanted to be able to sit and have a conversation without screaming at one another. We were kind of standing in the middle of the patio wondering whether to leave, when two women sitting at a picnic table near us told us they were about to head out and offered up their table. So we stayed. And I'm so glad we did. Our server appeared almost instantly, the drinks came quickly, and they were potent and delicious. I was in a frozen margarita mood, and my friend had a Gibson martini. My margarita was perfect - not too sweet, not too tart, not too...frozen, if that makes any sense - it just went down smooth and I got a nice buzz from it and settled into a lovely Key Bar groove. After my second one, I felt like it was time to stop - they were, as I mentioned, pretty potent. I think my friend got a pretty good buzz on, too - and I don't recall ever seeing him obviously buzzed, and we've had a drink or two together. One thing I love about the Key Bar is that their happy hour goes from 4-9 pm! My margarita was just $3, and Bud & Miller light drafts are just $2 (pitchers are $7). All other drafts are $3 and all other pitchers are $10. Most of the seating is outdoors. It was beautiful out on the day we were there, so I can't comment on how well their various "outdoor climate control" methods work during less-than-perfect weather. If getting a nice buzz while enjoying the Austin weather sounds like the key your evening, the Key Bar is the place to be.

Sometimes you want to go where they not only know your name, but also your credit card number, your girlfriend's name, your favorite drink and her two customary drinks. Soon, maybe they'll learn not all Todd's drinks go on my tab. They also say, "get the hell in here" every time I give them a courtesy flash of the ID at the door. I think I am going to start putting pictures of monkeys over my ID if that's the kind of scrutiny they're going to give me. If I had to have a "place," 2007 Colby would pick the Key Bar. Probably because about 16 percent of my Gross Domestic Product for the year went here.

Key Bar has a surprisingly good happy hour. I was under the impression that only pretentious a**holes hung out here (which is partially true, judging from the crowd on Friday night), but I was pleasantly surprised to find decent bartenders and open seats. Also, they have a pretty sweet patio. HH is all day Sun-Tues, 4-9 pm Wed-Fri, and 4-7 on Saturday. $3 wells and key margaritas $6 margarita shakers $8 perfect shakers and shaker favorites $2 crappy beer drafts (and by crappy, I mean Bud Light, etc) $7 crappy beer pitchers $3 all other drafts $10 all other pitchers That's pretty amazing for West 6th. I will be back. Also, its close to Kung Fu Saloon, so I can play Buck Hunter afterwards.

I don't get it. I don't get why my friends like it here. And judging by the crowds, lots of other people do. More importantly, I don't get why I dislike it so much. It seems to take a longer time than it should to get a drink. But that doesn't explain the intensity of my dislike. The music volume is fine. It's generally easier to get a seat than a lot of other places. There's no punchline coming. I don't really care for this place, but I just don't exactly know why.

Minus one star for the offensive red wine! The Pinot Noir had to be returned. And this is coming from a girl who drinks box wine. Also, be warned of the popsicle drinks. While super tasty and the perfect drink on a hot summer night, all the sugar in those shakers will make you sick. At least it did for me, and truth be told I have been cutting sugar out of my diet for the last 6 six weeks, so it might have been a shock to the system. I now know, Key Bar is good for 2 things: Beer and margaritas.

I had "a first" happen to me at Key Bar, but not a good first. Has anyone else ever had a bartender tip themselves before? Well, neither had I before I visited Key Bar. We were having a ladies night this past Friday and wanted a cool place to drink, chill, and smoke. Key Bar seemed like it fit the bill, until Mr. Bartender With Major Attitude decided to show up to work. I asked for a pack of cigarettes and was delighted when they had several different options to choose from. Well, when the bartender came back to give me my change, he first dropped a dollar in his tip jar and then gave me my 3 dollar bills. WHAT?!?! I was in such shock for awhile that I didn't really believed that it happened, but - oh yes - it did. Be forewarned. P.S. The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because one of the girl bartenders filled my glass of wine WAY UP. That was cool.

This is really like a 3.5 because the service was a bit off. But I think maybe that was being busy and having to hassle with a bunch of difference tabs. But I dig the space. It's nice and open--great for large groups. Plus, the margaritas were cheap ($3) at happy hour and good, which isn't always the case when they're cheap.

Gotta hand it to key bar -- they have an incredible patio. The fire pit area is a nice alternative to hanging out in the crowded bar area and it hasn't fallen prey to the reality TV show crowd. Love a place that serves pitchers -- with a cold core no less -- for $7 at happy hour. They have a popsicle martini -- signature offering -- and two bars. The drawback of course, to having such a sweet outdoor space is that its often difficult to get a drink or your tab in a timely manner. Especially now that the weather is nicer, it might serve them well to up the number of staff members but overall, a pleasant experience on a sunny saturday.

The Key Bar is an outdoor bar on the rapidly growing West 6th street. Like all the new bars on West 6th, it is kinda upscale (not like those dives bars for the college kids down on East 6th). Most of the clientelle is 25 years old or upwards. They do have some of the most expensive misters in the world so you'll end up wetter than getting stuck in a giant sprinkler at the Key Bar (I always bring an umbrella so it does not bother me in the least). Drinks are a lot cheaper earlier in the week so go on Sunday thru Tuesday if you want to save a buck. Everyone seems to work at GSD&M so I tell them that I work there too (actually I don't work there) and try to let them figure out where my office is. I personally hate the Texas heat in the summer so I am not big on outdoor bars when it is 1000 degrees but look for me in the spring/fall at the Key Bar. Since I've reviewed more bars in Austin than anyone on yelp and I recommend this cool bar, you have to check it out. Há há.

Drinking at Key Bar is the way I would imagine drinking at a Mervyn's would be like ... generic, antiquated, sterile. Plop this bar down in Yuma, and you've got the same vibe except with less precociousness of the Grown-ups Sixth Street. For some reason, my friends LOVE coming here, which is a major burner for me because I suffer from potential lethal fits of "being spared" at Key Bar. I can't even get something decent to eat here, as it goes, it has about the same menu as Mervyn's, which is nada. But whatever. It could be a nice lead-in to other part of Grown-up Sixth Street, like Star Bar or Woodrow's, et al, but as a night-long destination, this place is less fun and more irritating than someone toying with your Genera Hypercolor shirt all night.

Another forgetful stop on a W 6th Street pub crawl. And what's up with the dead animal smells? Two X I've been here...Can't be the gumbo cooking at the bar...I hope. Dude...hard to digest the, admittedly, deliciously fresh made margaritas...appreciate that sort of effort... GREAT margaritas...fresh ingredients are key from my drinking them from Chicago to Costa Rica. Love it. Dated exterior bar area. Did love the 21 year old checking our IDs and then revealing she didn't work there. Best for early drinks....

It seems kinda funny that my past couple of imbibing experiences here have been on a major calendar holiday. First Halloween for some dancing with costumed revelers and then last night for New Year's Eve. I was here with a group of friends because A) they charge no exorbitant NYE cover - in fact, it was free and B) well, that's where they wanted to go, and I am a follower, not a leader. So there we were, hats and party favors in hand, and with my customary glass of pinot grigio (they get a star for HAVING said libation in the first place, and another for excellent bar service) I rang in 2008, in what hopes to be a continuance of the good tidings I had in the latter part of 2007. It was one of many toasts that night. The Key Bar is great because it never feels that crowded because of its huge inside-out patio, its splendifular sidewalk people-watching and its nifty trick of giving you your credit card back to you when you open a tab, which pretty much idiot-proofs you from accidentally leaving it at the bar (guilty, party of one, my table is ready). I should also say that I even got to witness a NYE party foul, in which some dude tripped into a heater and smashed his drink on the concrete outside. The staff was nice and prompt about cleaning up the mess. Can't speak for the humiliation of the dude, but obviously emotional counseling is not part and parcel of the bar's responsibility. Finally, I won't give this place 5 stars because a bar has to really, really impress me to earn that vaunted decoration, and I would not go that far when describing Key Bar, but it is definitely a great place for large parties and super laid-back and accommodating for holidays/events. I should know. So you can be sure I'll be back for President's Day, Valentine's Day and hell, maybe even Talk Like a Pirate day (Sept. 19, for anyone who is interested). They'll be sure to get the extra star if they hand out eyepatches. Arrrrr.

Key Bar is right around the corner from me and is starting to feel like an extension of home. It's a chill place where you can get toasty by a fire pit and strike up conversations with cool strangers. It's far enough away from dirty 6th to keep the annoyingly drunk people away and it's casual enough to keep west 6th d-bags out. The bartenders are nice. Good selection of beer and other drinks. The only thing that would make Key Bar better is if they sold marshmallows for roasting over the fire.

Came here with a girlfriend for their happy hour and was not disappointed with the margaritas: they pack a punch and for $2 each we were in Port Bliss. Jefe's testimony of the misters' mercy was validated - my friend's glasses didn't have a spot! It was entertaining to see her anxious about it though.

For years I thought this was just a place to get free koozies. Turns out it is a bar, and you technically aren't suppose to take the koozies, it is stealing. Still, if it is outside on the covered patio, in the uncovered courtyard, or the small inside, I have had fun at this place. Happy hour is good prices also!

This is my favorite bar on West 6th. Everytime I head that way, I'm heading here. With or WITHOUT you. When I'm here, I'm bound to have a good ass time. I'm also on a one way course to not remembering the rest of the evening. But can you blame me? My friends and roommate used to work here, they get hooked up & therefore they hook ME up. Now apparently I have expensive taste because when I grace Key Bar with my presence I have to get a popsicle shaker. Yes, thats a shaker with a flavored popsicle. My favorite is "All Good" and any other shaker with grey goose in it. 2 of these? Yea, you could say it gets the job done. I like this place for more reasons than just their popsicle drinks. For one, we all know its cold outside right now and Key Bar is mainly an outside bar. They've got ghetto plastic curtain/walls up and plenty of heaters outside. This way I don't have to take my jacket off, and I'm not breaking a sweat inside a bar with swarms of people providing me their unnecessary body heat. The music is what keeps me coming back for more. Why is their music so fantastic? Well because they don't play crappy music like Eminem and other lame crap like Katy Perry or Lil Wayne or whatever is played on the radio at a constant rotation of 10 times an hour. The second I walk in, I hear Chromeo.....Peaches.....Daft Punk.......New Young Pony Club just to name a few. Yes, I am in heaven everytime I walk in. Its like whoever is bustin out the tunes knew I was coming and put on something I dig. Key Bar, thank you for not being like all the other crappy bars with crappy music, crappy people and crappy made drinks. You're one of the main reasons I'll agree to venture West. Stay classy Key Bar.

So much fun was had on that Sunday. Started off at the Hangar lounge. Then went to the Yelp Event at the Rattle Inn. After the event we roamed around a little and tried to find the least crowded bar around there. We didn't know the name and just entered this bar with a lot of open patio space and a lot of those fan sprinkly things (misters?). The margaritas were on as a special for $3. So many were drank. I lost count after about 5 of them. At this point I figured I should find out the name of the bar (there were no signs with the name anywhere). KEY BAR!! Me and my buddy were hit on by a softball team of gay men from Portland. Me and my buddy are not gay. They were cool people though. The bartender was prompt and good with the drinks. In our drunken stupor we tipped generously (well more generously than I normally would :P). Will be going here again, if I want to feel hot and need space and well get wasted.

So I had pretty low expectations as I usually do not venture out on this side of town. I think due to my low expectations I was pleasantly surprised. My cousin was in town for the holiday weekend and he and his friends were hanging out at Key Bar when I got off work so I met up with them. I am pretty sure this place used to be a steak place. Anyway I had 2 Austin Beet Works Fire Eagles and a Strongbow. They were both tasty and cold. Hard to mess that up. The bar was crowded as it was opening weekend for UT football and I was expecting to have bad service and have to wait for ever just to order my drink. I don't think I really waited over a couple of minutes, which is acceptable in this atmosphere. The music could have been better - was not really my thing, but again not terrible. I did like the patio and hung out on it the whole time I was there. I was a little shocked by my tab, but I think that is because my fiance was doing some secret shots and I am not sure what all was on there. All in all this bar was OK by me. I think because I was expecting worse. I will however stick to the other side of town if I get to pick the place.

I'd consider this my "home bar" since my friends and I usually either meet up or end up there. The beer selection is fairly vast, and they carry a few of my fave brews (Fireman's 4 and Fat Tire). All in all, its a pretty kick-awesome place to meet up and hang out. My co-workers and I frequent here for happy hour, and the prices aren't too ridiculous no matter what time of day you go. They have some pretty great shaker drinks too, and most come with a popsicle. Sometimes they have free Gumbo, which is pretty damn decent. The bartenders are great folks -- speedy, quirky, fun. Some of them are smart-asses, but that scores points with me. The place is pretty much a giant convertible patio -- when its cold out they lower the walls and turn up some gas heaters, and when its warm, they throw open all the walls and sometimes turn on some misters. Great vibe and pretty decent music most of the time (depends on which bartender is playing DJ), and it doesn't define the venue, rather, it's more of a conversation starter or a soundtrack for the evening. The best part is that you can order food from Wahoo's and have it delivered to you at Key Bar. How cool is that? One of my fave bars in Austin, hands down.

A nice looking setting, but overall it wasn't my scene. They have beautiful chairs surrounding a fire pit. Flat screen televisions. A sleek looking bar. All great stuff. The crowd though was rather boring. Compared to some of the other bars in the vicinity this one was middle of the road. It's not the god awful crowd that's in some of them, but it's not as fun as some other either. Might be a night by night basis.

Oh Happy Hour with $2 BudLight and $7 Pitchers.... I might just have to turn Mondays into my designated night of the early week to drink. Usually I reserve such prestige for Wednesday. Clearly, drinking on a Monday is a surefire way to cure a "case of the Mondays" (hooray Austin/cinematic pop culture reference and homage to King of the Hill creator Mike Judge). Go to Key Bar. They have pint glass koozies.

In the interest of getting to the point, I submit the following reasons as an explanation for why Key Bar is awesome: 1) Free Gumbo. 2) No one gives me a strange look when I walk in at 6PM and order a bloody mary. 3) Free chips & salsa. 4) Never have to dig for my ID when entering - a nice byproduct of being here so often. 5) Wahoo's will deliver your food for you. 6) Ample seating - but you have to get over any issues you have with sharing a giant picnic table with strangers. 7) I can show up in heels, or show up in running shorts and a tshirt, and I feel equally comfortable and appropriately dressed regardless of the chosen outfit. 8) The douchebags never last long, particularly after they complain about the music selection. 9) There's always someone that I know sitting at the bar. 10) When 150 GSD&Mers descended on Key Bar on first day of the layoffs, we didn't have to explain or apologize - it was the only place in town where they already understood what we were feeling and what we needed.

Key bar kind of sucks. I met my roommate here for an evening drink and the waitress couldn't have been more of a snob. I ordered a well-priced beer and I will say that their cocktails looked really good, but this isn't a place for the Austin commoner. Perhaps this is by design? Had to make myself leave a tip but I really didn't want to.

Happy hour is a bit heavy on the young but stuffy guys who work nearby, but the deals are good and the drinks are even better. I'm a sucker for a good patio, and this is the best one in the West Sixth area ... which is good, because it's ALL patio. Margaritas on the rocks are the way to go, trust me. On New Year's Eve, the place was PACKED to a silly level (just getting to the bar was a feat), and the DJ was great fun. I hadn't planned on doing any dancing during my bar crawl, but the beats were so catchy (and almost all songs I'd actually heard) that I found myself enjoying my awkward half-swaying, half-dancing self a lot more than usual when live mixing is going on!