Awesome bar with the best bar staff in Austin! Very friendly and welcoming to all.

It's great to see some unique places that stick around. They have it all. Music, reasonably priced drinks, BBQ, outdoor seating, parking. The service is great. The crowd is down to earth. Definitely a pleasant change from some of the nearby bars. I'm not even a huge country fan, but I like going here.

Are you June or Johnny? You need to know B4 you take your pee...,

A charming Johnny Cash themed bar with slammin' bbq. The crowd is mature adults looking to have a good time; a nice change of pace from many of the bars that are jam packed with wild young people. Loved all the art and decorations hung from the walls. Definitely think you should consider checking it out. Parking is available in the garage behind the bar, and it was free.

A great place to relax and unwind from a long week. Both Lauren's were great! (Hopefully they both spelled their name the way I did. Lol. Highly recommend! I loved the Johnny Cash vibe!

Unequivocally the best staff of any bar in Austin (The Tavern is a close second). Great atmosphere, great selection of drinks, and the patio is super chill. One of three places I'll hang out at in Austin. Go here, and you will have a good time.

Live this place. The Johnny cash theme is right in point. Beer selection is great, staff is amazing. And it's biker (patch) friendly.

Great atmosphere. Patriotic, Texas themed, lots of Johnny Cash memorabilia. We need more places like this in Austin. It’s sad for me to say that in the capital city of Texas. This bar is anything but woke.

Cold drinks, awesome BBQ. Friendly service.

+2

Loved this Johnny Cash-meets-saw-mill lil dive bar! The vibe was mellow (we were there on a Sunday early afternoon), the staff was attentive and fast, and the drinks were excellent. I recommend the Cash Fashioned, a tequila based spin on an Old Fashioned, or the Shades of Green mocktail. Outside on the patio is a GIANT tree named George, a gorgeous oak with enormous spreading branches providing great shade. And bonus, the bathroom was clean!

Great, “authentic” austin spot with a connection to Texas chainsaw massacre. Definitely recommend!!

First time here after 10 years in Austin and gotta say i love this little bar. My spouse works close by so waiting for them to leave work i stopped in for a few drinks. Paul and Tory at the bar were incredibly nice and helpful. I asked them a plethora of questions regarding eateries around the area and how business was with SXSW and they didn’t hesitate to humor me and answer my questions. They introduced me to green apple whiteclaws and didn’t judge me for my drink of choice. They said bye to every patron when leaving and had great attitudes. The atmosphere was fantastic with a very spacious patio. Only one pool table unfortunately but it’s not a pool hall after all. I think we may have found our new local spot. Thanks again Paul and Tory for making our first time great, will be back for sure!

Cool place to grab a few drinks and some grub! Our bartender (lady with glasses, didn't catch her name) gave us a warm genuine greeting and was very nice the whole time. The whole staff was very attentive and quick to serve us. They have an in house bbq restaurant and we were able to grab some spectacular brisket sandwiches and mac and cheese with no wait and got our food very quickly! Would recommend.

I love this bar. It's just a decent bar. Not too fancy, a bit dark, BBQ joint in the back. It had a lot of character, the staff are good, the beers are good, the prices are decent - what's not to love? They also have outside seating, play music and will put the game on if you like.

I love this place!! Nostalgia at its finest. I have been going here for years. Never disappointed! Johnny Cah fans beware you will be in heaven. Great selection of old and micro brews, selection of whiskies, tequilas etc. Engaging service always friendly! One of my top spots in Austin!!

Warning ⚠️- if you don't enjoy great cocktails, phenomenal service, or Johnny Cash, you're probably an incredibly boring person. But, you also won't love this bar. That's too bad because you'd be missing out. We had an absolutely fantastic time here. Do your fun self a favor and spend an afternoon here!

One of my favorite bars in Austin. The live music when it happens is really awesome. The service and bartenders will exceed any expectations you may have. Enjoy the rustic feel and laid back atmosphere.

I just wanted to take a moment to give kudos to Brad on my recent visit to the Mean Eyed Cat. I came here quite a bit in my 20’s and was back visiting Austin when I decided to revisit some old haunts. Brad was so kind, welcoming, funny, and all around just easy conversation that made it feel like home. I know Austin is changing, but the old Austin is still there if you know where to look, and I found it at Brad’s bartop.

One of Austin's best bars. Feels like a trip to the heart of the city every time you go. Couldn't be better.

Favorite! If you’ve ever seen this meme it’s right across the street

Super cool old dive. If you love Johnny Cash, you'll love this place. Staff was attentive and quick with drinks, really cool place to chill.

Great little bar, very cool Johnny Cash deco and loved the big covered patio.

Awesome Johnny Cash tribute bar with lots of history, this place also has really good BBQ. The staff is friendly and everyone is welcoming. Pet friendly too! They have a giant tree in their patio area that is very cool.

This place was such a great experience. The bar is very uniquely decorated. The drinks were great. The staff - bartender and cook - were both inviting and attentive. The brisket nachos were ah-freaking-mazing. Definitely a must visit in Austin!

Took my staff here for a happy hour. Such an awesome staff and atmosphere!!! Highly recommended!! Parking garage was very convenient for downtown bar also!!!

Nice beer selection with a friendly bar staff, stubbs bbq attachment right next door for brisket nachos: what else could you want?

This place is it! The atmosphere is great! The service is extremely pleasant and engaging. Paul was knowledgable and helpful, cheerful and extremely nice and Tory was extremely nice and engaging as well. The door guy Nick took my passport, read it like a pro (most have to ask me where the date is listed lol) and wished me happy birthday, it was a nice touch! appreciated the gesture. Will definitely be back and the service makes it feel like your new favorite hang out and very well will be for me!!! Check it out, drinks are great prices for its location but it’s far enough away from the craziness of your typical downtown bar!

Great dive bar quickly being surrounded by the new Austin. The staff is always friendly and helpful especially on game days. Lower your expectations for the bathrooms :) but otherwise a great place to chill outside or in for drinks and conversations.

awesome country bar, great bartenders awesome drinks

+6

Cool spot and looks like it would be a lot of fun in the evening. We stopped in for a few afternoon cocktails and listened to the locals carry on with one another. Everyone seemed very friendly and the Bartender was very welcoming and providing excellent service. Prices were very reasonable and the place has a ton of character and charm.

Went here with some friends after a work event. Super great place to meet up and have drinks, play pool. Zero wasted time and a great atmosphere. Will be happy to go back anytime I am in Austin.

Love the atmosphere and our bartender Brad was so friendly! Full bar, awesome hospitality.

Kind and friendly bartender. Drink special (Frozen Espresso Martini) was AMAZING!! Love the beer selection and atmosphere. Could live in a corner of this place forever - soundtrack was great and a/c did the job! We found it from their full page advertisement in the Statesman Cap10 newspaper. The race was amazing and we wanted to visit some of the sponsors!

I had some very great beer here! Get the Meanwhile brew on draft and they also have a dope blueberry blonde which you’d think would be fruity but drinks very solid and not what you’d expect at all! The patio is lovely and they offer BBQ, but I came on a full stomach so I can’t co-sign! The Happy Hour specials are really reasonable and if you like Johnny Cash, you’ll love this place!!! It’s like a shrine to the man but yeah great vibes and a dope dive setting! They’re dog friendly too!

They used to have Bbq by the pound and even though there is a menu online, they do not serve food. pool, patio with a large TV, and a parking garage in the back. You can see why it’s an Austin staple

My friend and I stumbled upon this bar and had a great time. Environment was great. Drinks were typical drinks. He wanted a merchant hat bc of how nice they looked. Bathrooms are clean with 2 stalls. There's so much seating but also it felt like on a packed night, there may not be enough. The spicy infused tequila 👏/ they killed that & its def not meant for the weak stomach. We had Shelby as our bartender last night and she was great.

So, I can't believe I've never left a review of the MEC. In short, I have known this place during both its current iteration and its previous iteration and liked both though the current operation and staff is a vast improvement on the original. The staff is friendly, professional, and attentive, even when the place gets packed during happy hour and after ACL. Personally, I love the decor and fact that they carry Lone Star Light. I miss the original tin roof that plinked when it rained, but the current layout is a vast improvement. Basically, this is a yuppy dive bar that can cater craft cocktails with the best of them, but manages to maintain a laid back feel missing in most of the hipster infested overpriced $#!+holes that dominate Austin. Even though it doesn't harken back to 90s Austin it definitely gets the vibe right. You can chill, talk with randoms, and generally just relax and enjoy yourself. Normally I'd say avoid it like the plague just to preempt what has become the inevitable @$$#0!€ takeove of such places these days, buy I actually have faith in the management and staff. Sometimes you just gotta shoot a man in reno just to watch him die after all...

+3

Our bachelorette party stopped by Mean Eyed Cat at noon on a Friday, our first stop on our pedal bike bar crawl and the first bar we visited over the weekend. We couldn't have had a warmer welcome to the Austin!!! The bartender was hilarious, fast, and charming - a true pro. We had an awesome time!

The wife n I was taking a Texas Chainsaw Massacre road trip to the film locations and found out this building was used in TCM 2 when it was a tool store back in the days. We decided to swing by and check it out, take pix, and grab some lunch it was actually just like it was when they filmed it, of course they turned it into a bar and added on to it, however the environment of the place was great and we had our date night later during our stay, people were amazing, service was GREAT, beer cold AF like it should be, and music was great. Just a great time to have fun. Definitely will come back when we get the chance. And yes they also had Chainsaws to pay tribute to the movie LOL.

Old time Texas, Johnny Cash themed watering hole in the heart of west Austin. Indoor and outdoor seating with live music on stage. Pool tables and plenty of parking in front or around back in a very large modern covered parking garage. A second location in Driftwood opened in 2024 that is within a block of a few other great places to check out.

Expected a scary dive, but pleasantly surprised by the relaxed, friendly attitude, great beer selection, and eclectic decor. My wife's pretty sure we sat on the same style of couch her grandmother had 30 years ago, and it was comfy. Can easily imagine this bar being here back when West 5th was on the outskirts. Old school to the bone. Get a bumper sticker - only those in the know will understand "MEAN".

1st timers. Absolutely wonderful. Great drinks, friendly (and FAST) staff. (Christi) Awesome environment.....see picture! 😆

+2

Nice atmosphere, bartender and staff are friendly and welcoming. Not loud college kids, no loud music. The Sunday morning come down shot is absolutely delicious.

My husband and I had the opportunity to stay in Austin for a few months. The Mean Eyed Cat is my favorite bar there. The decor and vibe is very unique. Helps that I'm a big JC fan. 😉 The staff is friendly and welcoming. And they make MEAN Old Fashioned.

One of the coolest bars I’ve ever been too. Awesome bartender with a nice beard took care of us.

Uniquely Austin and always rockin cool tunes. Tasty Bbq is available from Stubbs in the back and the ambiance is like being back in time. Good beer and full bar make this place a goto.

Great dive bar. Indoor and outdoor seating options. Love the decor.

+6

Cool spot, good drinks, nice staff! This is what I’m looking for in a bar.

Our bartender Naomi (I believe) was an amazing bartender!!!! So inviting and knew her way around a bar. We didn’t mean to stay so late but she was just so spectacular we couldn’t leave. Lol. The bar had a cute vibe. We are from Lafayette, Louisiana and I will definitely recommend this place to anyone of my friends and family back home to come visit this establishment. Will definitely return. The bartender definitely made our experience top notch!

After a long motorcycle ride, we pulled into the mean eyed car and had a great end to the day. Sorry about the previous 1 star review, I think I accidentally hit that when I dismissed the notification. I had a great experience this afternoon and I'll definitely be back!

The Mean-Eyed Cat is the perfect spot for an after-work happy hour or a laid-back night catching a game with friends. The Johnny Cash-themed decor creates a fun and unique atmosphere, and the staff is always welcoming. Whether you’re grabbing drinks, shooting some pool, or looking for a cool hang, this place hits the mark every time. Highly recommend for a chill, no-frills good time!

Fun environment. Eager, helpful staff. Big drink selection

Service is always top-notch; the bartenders who have been working there since I’ve started going have an astounding mental Rolodex of regulars, their habits, and their preferences. It’s a dive bar, and if that attracts you to the place then you will almost certainly feel at home. There’s no food there; the barbecue place they hosted is gone and that’s tragic. If you’re in the service industry and you should bring along some leftovers from work, you could be especially well-received.

Great place to have a cold one. The BBQ is sssmmokinnnn. Mac and cheese with meat on top or the amazing plate of nachos. A place to see for any old outlaw country music fan. Back at our favorite watering hole in the ATX

Absolutely love this place. Enjoyed meeting Brad, who is living the dream as the daytime bartender at this fun and quirky establishment. He gave us great tips for other places to enjoy around town. We tried a Bloody Maria made with Mean Juice!

thumbcrusher

This has become my most favorite bar in Austin. Servers are the best every time I've been. Great atmosphere and very inviting.

Tiffany Garnish

What a great time! Mario is probably one of the best bartenders we have met in our travels. He’s got that old school vibe with a fantastic personality.! The bar is exactly what you would expect. If I could give 10 stars I would.

MICHAEL MORGAN

This is probably my favorite bar in Austin. The happy hour cannot be beat. It’s very reasonably priced drinks. There’s a ton of TVs. There’s indoor seating and an outdoor patio as well. Definitely my go to spot.

George Burns

Gotta love a dive bar. A little out of the way, but Waymo delivered. Missed the music, but prices are cheap, beer is cold and a cool place to go see

Rich Figer

Great Austin authentic atmosphere with a really vibey patio. I would highlight how fantastic the bar service was ...impressively so. They didn't let anyone go long waiting for a drink no matter how many people waiting. Some of the best customer service at a bar I have seen in years.

Tracy Elizabeth

Been coming here for a handful of years! Always a good time! Fun & friendly staff, essentric, rustic old bar vibe. Patrons are of all kinds and everyone is always super cool. A really neat place to watch sports and have drinks with friends 🍻😎

Mitch Malone

Shelby was great. I came into the bar and she tried to sell me a timeshare in south Austin, but it was a great deal. After a couple a beers, I caved but it was overall a pretty decent deal. She waived her commission. 10/10 would recommend.

Charlie Browning

My absolute number one favorite bar in Austin and probably all Texas! Great atmosphere and super nice and fun staff! Always a fantastic time when you come here. Walls are so interesting with old Johnny Cash posters and art, stickers and stuff to talk about. Great merch too, get a hat or shirt!

+3

Jess Tuttle

Atmosphere is always awesome, def one of not number one fav bar in Austin, huge patio, huge! And always chill even when busy. Gabriel was great, made the weird drink request i asked for and chatted for a moment as i came in after work alone, cool to small talk with someone while unwinding, better than drinking alone! lol the other patrons seemed happy with Lauriel, i didn’t interact but she seemed to have a pleasant demeanor. Will always recommend this place to anyone and everyone!

Angie Pangie

This place is so cool! I'm a huge Johnny Cash fan so it was awesome to see all the Cash memorabilia. Shelby is such a great bartender, she went out of her way to chat with my husband and I, and tell us about the history of the bar. I will definitely make another visit on my next visit to Austin!

momocontramundum

What an absolute gem of a place! We visited one afternoon back in late May, during our first visit to Austin, and this was an oasis in the middle of a busy, hot city. We were immediately greeted by the friendliest bartender and entered an authentic space, the atmosphere just right. When asked for beverage recommendations, the bartender, whose name unfortunately escapes me, easily provided great options after asking a few key questions regarding our tastes. We initially sat inside to cool down and just enjoy our surroundings, but after a while, we moved to the outside area, which is also cosy, and, I suspect it would be even more so after sunset. I would have loved to visit again, but unfortunately we only had a short stay in Austin. But I can easily say that this is my favourite place in that city and one of my all-time favourite bar visits.

Kathryn C.

This. Place. Is. Amazing. The staff was so so nice. Decor in here is so cool. It’s mostly Johnny Cash but everything about it is great. If I lived in Austin I would frequent this place all the time. The outside seating is just as great. If you are in the area visit this bar!

+3

Noel Davenport

Man…this place is the best for the Johnny Cash everything. The “mean juice” is a nice option. And the staff is perfect - not too nice, not too mean. Oh, and the swag is spot on! Food; BBQ IS AWESOME SAUCE. Thank you. Just wish you had mobile ordering at the table…

+1

Amber Vail

Probably the coolest bar I have ever been to. Great outside and inside area, amazing parking, and a really authentic/real staff. Came here for a company HH and its a perfect setting for all. My favorite part is the decorations of past artists and the quotes that are everywhere. Absolutely the most welcoming place that makes you feel at home.

+2

Great dive bar and good company.

Great staff and beer selection. Only knocked it down to four starts as there seems to always be more people smoking here than other outdoor patio places we go to. Just have to stay upwind. Oh, a pro tip, you CAN park in the covered parking garage this place as the bar is part of the complex.

The first and only Johnny Cash themed bar I've visited in my life. I love the restrooms marked "Johnny" for the gents and "June" for the ladies. The large bar in the center of the main room is a great spot for conversation and perhaps making a new friend or two. I loved the overall vibe of this place. The service is superb. Be warned, it's beer and wine only. No hard drinkin' round here.

One of my absolute favorite bars in Austin. Great for a quiet stop during the day, or for "work" meetings!

Really fun place. It helps if you like Johnny Cash. Couldn't really figure out how to order barbecue but I would come back here for drinks. Really big outdoor space. The staff was friendly. Some of the drinks seemed expensive but this is an expensiv area.

An interesting find that is off the usual Austin city bar visit list. Beer selection is more limited than I’d like, leaving you with a selection of the basic drafts or bottled beer. The ambiance fits with that of “dive bar”, but it’s not sat at the bottom of the quality percentile, it’s pretty clean and there is plenty people watching to do. If you find this review useful, remember to like !

Chill place, great bartenders, great drinks. The Mean Juice is definitely mean. If someone tells you to try it, ask what it is before you slam back a shot. It's definitely dive bar themed more than it is an actual dive bar, but the friendliness and laid back vibe makes it.

It's a good bar has a nice patio Friday and Saturday is always packed

Love this place - great atmosphere, good selection of local beers and Stubbs barbeque served. Good music also. Bartenders friendly and helpful.

Nice place but have no clue of their drink quality - only had soda water.

Shelby is Awesome, she's the only reason this review isn't 2 stars. Another bartender on 9/21 made both mine and my friend's mixed well-drinks so light that it's as if he forgot to add anything... The weakest bar drink I've had in 5 years. We were forced to switch back to beers. If ever I'm there again, I'll order from this same bartender again, watch his methods, and if it's weak again, I'll report feedback to every review site and management email in existence. 2 drinks in a row with near zero liquor? I decided not to describe his height. Every other bartender that night made mixed well-drinks 4x stronger. If he doesn't walk the line better, guess he'll be in for a ring of fire. Thank you Shelby for the bar's story and offering great service. This bar is a great vibe because of you.

Cooliepops

Stumbled upon this place as we were just staying a 5 min walk away. Mix of bikers, hipsters and college bros. It was a good place for a drink and chill on the large patio. Order at the bar, no table service.

Ian Garbutt

Great little bar & barstaff especially laura grabbed a sweatshirt n tshirt

+6

Patricia Queen Ann Trevino

Went there last night for the first time. Had a great time at the Johnny Cash Birthday Bash. Definitely hard to find parking though. I had to drive around and around to find parking even in the garage. It was also standing room only but worth it. Band in Black was great!

+9

Beer and location are good. I didn't eat here but I heard they have Stubb's BBQ on site. The seating was super weird. Couches were so low we might as well been sitting on floor cushions. Honestly, that would have been better.

Awesome Atmosphere! It’s a shame that the bartenders are shady though. I was overcharged for a drink simply because I paid in cash while my friend who paid with a card (received an itemize receipt) was charged a different amount for the same exact drink. disappointing to see that the women bartender is taking advantage of customers like this. Be sure to ask for your hardcopy receipt if you go here, you might be ending up paying more than you should.

Victor Reznov

2 shots $55 premium liquor didnt tell us it was premium. Kinda scummy Edit: Well look harder. We did order a shot of scotch and a shot of casamigos. The scotch was $35 and the casamigos was $20. For two shots. Thats a rip off. Seeing as this is a dive bar in memory of Johnny Cash? He would roll in his grave.

Crooked bartender charged me $20 for a whiskey Coke and then charge the next person 12 disgusting I don’t remember her name but she’s fraudulent and gave that place a very bad name. I will never go back.

Love Love Love the Mean Eyed Cat!!!!! Been coming here for years. The BBQ place attached to the MEC has come and gone. Tonight’s Brisket Frito Pie was ridiculously expensive! $25 after we paid for it and before Courtney made it, see pic. We called her out on it and she said we were lucky she made it for us. Not taken!!!!

Trey Grant

I would give this place zero stars if I could. My friends and I went to this bar expecting a fun night, but unfortunately, we were met with terrible treatment and outright discrimination. Not only were we singled out, but one of our friends was kicked out for no reason, while others were allowed to stay. The staff seemed to treat us differently based on our appearance, which felt incredibly racist and unfair. We tried to maintain a respectful attitude, but it was clear the staff had no interest in providing a welcoming atmosphere. It’s disappointing to see a place that claims to be for everyone behave in such a discriminatory way. I would highly advise others to avoid this bar until they address their issues with fairness and respect for all customers.

Dylan Pruett

The bartender Ease dropped on a conversation and told me it’s weird shit to inform a friend I had met in the building About a personal conversation, she seems eye hungry