You’ve got tickets to one of Moody Center’s iconic concerts or a Texas Longhorns basketball game. Now, you need to find where the best bars near Moody Center are before you arrive.
Between I-35 construction, campus traffic, and limited parking, getting to Moody Center can feel like half the battle. Knowing where to eat, drink, and park before you head in makes the whole night run smoother.
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We’re located in West Campus, steps from the best bars near Moody Center in Austin. We know this neighborhood better than anyone, and that’s why we put this list together. Here are the best bars and restaurants near Moody Center in Austin, chosen for their proximity, atmosphere, food, drink, and parking access.
Upcoming Events at Moody Center Austin (2026)
Moody Center is Austin’s premier 15,000-seat arena on the University of Texas at Austin campus, hosting over 150 nights of entertainment per year. Here’s what’s coming up:
- Alex Warren — Saturday, May 30
- Monster Jam — Saturday June 6 & Sunday June 7
- Madison Beer (The Locket Tour) — Monday, June 8
- Charlie Puth (Whatever’s Clever! World Tour) — Thursday, June 11
- Summer Walker (Still Finally Over It Tour) — Thursday, June 18
- A$AP Rocky (Don’t Be Dumb World Tour) — Friday, June 19
- Nate Bargatze (Big Dumb Eyes World Tour) — Saturday, June 20 (two shows)
- 5 Seconds of Summer (EVERYONE’S A STAR! World Tour) — Sunday, June 21
- Louis Tomlinson (How Did We Get Here? North America Tour) — Monday, June 22
- Ariana Grande (The Eternal Sunshine Tour) — Wednesday, June 24
View the full upcoming events calendar at Moody Center.
Parking Near Moody Center Austin
Moody Center does not have its own dedicated parking garage. On event days, the streets around the arena and nearby I-35 corridors get heavily congested. Plan your route accordingly and arrive early.
Pro-tip: Park on the west side near Victory Lap West Campus on San Antonio Street and walk to the venue. You’ll skip the worst of the traffic, enjoy a proper pregame, and avoid the post-show parking chaos entirely on the other side of campus. Here are the six best parking garages near Moody Center and the surrounding bars:
San Antonio Garage (SAG) — Closest to Victory Lap West Campus
The San Antonio Garage is the UT Austin campus garage, steps from Victory Lap West Campus. Park here, pregame at Victory Lap, then head to Moody Center.
Manor Garage (MAG) — Closest to Moody Center
The Manor Garage is the closest UT garage to Moody Center itself. Parking can be reserved on Moody Center’s website.
Trinity Garage (TRG) — Best for Scholz Garten
The Trinity Garage is a 7 to 8-minute walk to Moody Center. This is the best garage if you’re pregaming at Scholz Garten. Reserve online in advance.
East Campus Garage (ECG) — Best for Sour Duck Market
The East Campus Garage is the second closest garage to Moody Center. Large capacity. Best option if you’re stopping at Sour Duck Market on MLK before heading to the show.
San Jacinto Garage (SJG) — Best for Crown & Anchor and Posse East
The San Jacinto Garage is the best if you’re pregaming at Crown & Anchor or Posse East. Centrally located between the bars and Moody Center.
Brazos Garage — UT Campus / Guadalupe Area
The Brazos Garage is a good general option for West Campus bar access with a reasonable walk to Moody Center.
For a full guide to parking near UT Austin, see: Ultimate Guide to Parking Near UT Austin.
1. Victory Lap West Campus — Best Overall Pregame Spot
Address: 504 W. 24th St, Austin, TX 78705
Parking: San Antonio Garage (SAG)
Photo courtesy of Victory Lap West Campus.
For West Campus residents and UT students, Victory Lap West Campus is the obvious first call before any Moody Center night. Situated at 504 W. 24th St., it’s one of the closest bars to Moody Center on the west side of campus. Getting here avoids the I-35 corridor entirely if you’re coming from the west. Park at the San Antonio Garage steps away, grab a round or two on the turf patio, and walk to the arena from there.
Wall-to-wall TVs, a turf patio built for sports fans, and daily drink specials make it the right energy to get the night started. If it’s a Texas Longhorns basketball game you’re heading to, the game-day atmosphere here is unmatched.
Weekly Specials:
- Daily: $2 Busch Light
- Tuesday: $3 margaritas
- Wednesday: $5 frozens
- Thursday: $3 wells
- Friday & Saturday: $14 beer pitchers, $12 liquor pitchers, $8 Busch pitchers
Follow @victorylapwestcampus for event updates and specials.
2. Sour Duck Market — Best Food and Patio
Address: 1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702
Parking: East Campus Garage (ECG)
Photo courtesy of Sour Duck Market.
Sour Duck Market on East MLK has one of the best patios in Austin. The all-day café and market from the team behind Odd Duck and Barley Swine has a large outdoor patio with picnic tables, a full menu of food focused on locally sourced ingredients, craft cocktails, beer and wine, and a daily happy hour from 3–6PM.
Park at the East Campus Garage on MLK and you’re a short walk away.
3. Haymaker — Best for Soccer and Sports Fans
Address: 2310 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
Parking: East Campus Garage (ECG)
Photo courtesy of Haymaker.
Voted Best Sports Bar by Austin Chronicle readers in both 2023 and 2024, Haymaker on Manor Road is an Austin staple. The indoor-outdoor layout with garage door openings gives the place an open, energetic feel, and the TVs and sound system are dedicated to whatever game is on. Dog-friendly patio, opens at 11AM daily, and the crowd that shows up here knows sports.
4. School House Pub — Best Neighborhood Pub
Address: 2207 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
Parking: East Campus Garage (ECG)
Photo courtesy of School House Pub.
Down the road from Haymaker on Manor Road, School House Pub is a neighborhood bar with craft cocktails, local drafts on tap, and pub fare worth sitting down for. The Fish n’ Chips are a standout.
5. Crown & Anchor — Best North Campus Bar
Address: 2500 San Antonio St, Austin, TX 78705
Parking: San Jacinto Garage (SJG)
Photo courtesy of Bryan C. Parker (Austin Monthly)
A beloved Hyde Park institution since 1987, Crown & Anchor is one of Austin’s most dependable bars with 30+ taps, multiple TVs inside and out, a dog-friendly patio, and a crowd that spans every type of Austin regular. It’s been around long enough to have served the parents of current UT students, and it carries that lived-in, this-is-the-real-Austin energy.
6. Scholz Garten — Best Beer Garden
Address: 1607 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
Parking: Trinity Garage (TRG)
Photo courtesy of Scholz Biergarten.
Scholz Garten is the oldest continuously operating beer garden in America that happens to be within easy walking distance of Moody Center. The outdoor Garten, the live music stage, and the crowd that’s been gathering on this patio for over 150 years give the whole place a sense of occasion that fits perfectly before a big night at Moody Center. Park at Trinity Garage and walk over.
7. Teddy’s — Best Cocktail Bar
Address: 2200 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
Parking: East Campus Garage (ECG)
Photo courtesy of The Infatuation (Nicolai McCrary)
Teddy’s is an East Austin neighborhood cocktail bar on Manor Road. If you want a proper cocktail before the show rather than a pitcher of beer, this is where to go. Great for date nights, small groups, and anyone who wants to ease into the evening at a relaxed pace. It’s right in the Manor Road corridor near Haymaker and School House Pub, making it easy to combine a stop here with another bar on this list before heading to Moody Center.
8. Posse East — Best for Texas Longhorns Fans
Address: 2900 Duval St, Austin, TX 78705
Parking: San Jacinto Garage (SJG)
Since 1971, Posse East has been one of Austin’s favorite places to watch sports, and it earns a special mention for Texas Longhorns game days specifically. Located at the edge of Hyde Park right next to UT campus and walking distance from Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium and Moody Center, Posse East is the kind of place you can actually feel the energy on home game days. Note that Posse East has beer and wine only (no liquor).
9. Victory Lap Rainey Street — Best Late-Night Option
Address: 85 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
Photo courtesy of Victory Lap Rainey.
Victory Lap Rainey Street is roughly 2 miles from Moody Center, best reached by a quick rideshare rather than on foot. But if you’re making a full night of it and want to extend the evening after the show, Rainey Street is exactly where to go. Open seven days a week with late-night hours, wall-to-wall TVs, a big patio screen, and Side Piece Pies inside for a late-night slice of pizza.
Follow @victorylaprainey for specials and event updates.
Tips for Attending a Concert or Game at Moody Center
Come from the West Side — Skip the I-35 Mess
With the ongoing I-35 expansion project, approaching Moody Center from the east via I-35 is a headache. Coming from the west side (parking near West Campus and walking) is consistently the smoother route. This is exactly why Victory Lap West Campus is the ideal pregame anchor.
Reserve Parking in Advance
On major concert nights, parking garages fill up fast. You can pre-purchase parking at Moody Center’s website.
Arrive Early
For sold-out shows, every bar on this list will be busy. Arriving 90 minutes before showtime gives you time to eat, get a round in, and walk to the venue without rushing.
Texas Longhorns Basketball at Moody Center
Moody Center is the home of UT men’s and women’s basketball. For game days, Victory Lap West Campus, Posse East, Crown & Anchor, and Victory Lap Rainey are the four bars on this list with the strongest Longhorns game-day energy.
Make the Most of Your Next Moody Center Night
Moody Center has one of the most packed and exciting event calendars in Austin. From the all-day patio energy at Sour Duck to the oldest beer garden in America at Scholz Garten to the game-day atmosphere at Victory Lap West Campus, there’s a perfect pregame spot for every type of show and every type of crowd.
Check out the full Victory Lap West Campus experience and follow @victorylapwestcampus for updates on specials and events all summer long.
And if you want to live steps from Victory Lap West Campus and everything else this neighborhood has to offer, get in touch with the Rambler ATX leasing team. We’d love to show you around!
