A popular bar in Austin has been named among North America's best bars — specifically, on the 51-100 section of the list by reviewers from The World's 50 Best. Nickel City was No. 70, and the New York sister bar of an Austin restaurant made No. 57.
The moody photo used by 50 Best makes Nickel City look like a venerated haunt for very serious drinkers — a good look, but not exactly what Austinites have come to expect of the space. The description is more apt:
"An historic bar site that’s been serving cold beer and mixed drinks since 1934, the current bar Nickel City is dedicated to keeping the location’s legacy alive under the stewardship of owner Travis Tober. With its neighbourhood vibe and laid-back atmosphere, the bar is as gimmick-free as they come, dishing up exactly what they promise: ice-cold brewskies, boilermakers, whiskey, long drinks and frozen Irish coffees. If you get peckish, head to the adjacent food truck for Detroit-style Coney dogs, chicken wings and tater tots."
This establishment does embrace the straight-ahead bar aesthetic, but its approachability is actually its strong point. No need to dress up or dodge selfie-takers; no need to settle for an overly serious drink. The bar's annual Halloween costume — transforming it into Moe's Tavern from The Simpsons — also earns it annual attention, as does its winter holiday decor.
Bar owner Travis Tober has also become hometown hero, mostly for Nickel City but also for the classic New York-style pub Murray's Tavern and the much more bubblegum-toned Swim Club.
Nickel City, which is itself inspired by sports bars in Buffalo, New York, now has locations in Fort Worth and Houston.
That's all for Austin on the 51-100 list, but the Dead Rabbit in New York City does bring some honor to Austin now that it operates a location here. The Austin spot opened in 2024 and is nominated for in two categories in CultureMap's Tastemaker Awards: Bar of the Year and Best New Restaurant. The latter category is open for fan voting now.
"A living legend in NYC, The Dead Rabbit was brought back to life after a fire in the summer of 2018," says the 50 Best write-up. "Downstairs, the Taproom in still in its original state and acts as a no-frills pub serving up whiskies, craft beer, the (self-proclaimed) best Guinness in the city and the bar’s world-famous Irish coffee. Upstairs, Parlour is a dedicated mixology space devoted to celebrating Irish heritage through the artwork that adorns its walls, the stools that have been hand-turned in County Antrim and the prevalence of Irish spirits across its menu."
Austinites who will travel for a great bar might consider visiting Houston's Bandista, which made No. 59 on the list. The steakhouse speakeasy laced with Latin flavors is relatively new compared to the two bars above, having opened in 2022.
The bars ranked in the top 50 will be revealed in Vancouver on April 29. Any Texas bar on the list would be a win, since the 2024 edition had none.
