The Thirsty Nickel

Fun timea in Austin, this is a good place to have a drink and hear some good music. Lots of room to move around and lots of good drinks to choice from.

My girlfriend and I were walking down 6^th and stopped here because of the good music we could hear from the street coming from the band. The door guy told us they had $ 2 LITs so we sat down at the bar and ordered one but what we received tasted like straight up coke and sweet & sour and it was in a short glass. So I asked the bartender (who’s shirt said Cody) what he had put in it and he listed off the right ingredients and I told him I couldn’t taste any alcohol in the drink so we ordered a second round and told him we didnt care about the price just make it like a regular LIT. So he made another while i was focused on the band i didnt see what he poured in it but it still tasted like a coke and sweet&sour so i explained to him that I had been bartending for 5+ years and am not just a complaining patron, I just wanted a good drink to start off my night and he rudely replied «Good for you your a bartender so am I» in a mocking way. Not the way I would expect fellow industry to be treated. This guy could’ve made a good tip off of us and had some ladies in his bar but after his attitude my friend and I walked out without even drinking our poorly prepared drinks with a bad start to our night. The band was good, but don’t waste your money here when there are great spots close by with friendly service.

One of the best most favorite bars on 6^th. The drinks flow freely, there is a photo pith, plenty of space for dancing, and the owner is awesome. We come to Austin about twice a year and always always come here. You can also catch sports games here as there are tons of tvs. A lot of times, live music too!

This bar had a pretty laid back atmosphere and the band played songs which were more mellow than those at the other bars. The drinks were pretty good. We had a few glasses of Long Island Iced tea, which was quite good. There are games as well for those who like them.

I’m not one to give a really bad review for a specific incident w/​out first going to the manager or establishment. (I also *rarely* have such incidents occur in my life.) But I tried to contact The Thirsty Nickel several times at different times of day but no one ever picks up the phone, and I can’t find a manager, owner or other form of contact. So, this goes on Unilocal.
We went to TTN on Halloween night, around 10p-​12a. We had an absolute blast — great music, didn’t mind the $ 5 cover (actually think it helped take the crowd up a notch), good drinks, lots of funny costumes.
Unfortunately, right as we were finishing our last drink before moving on, a female bartender hurled ice into the crowd. The rumor was that a patron she knew walked up to the bar and threw a drink on her (ostensibly over some issues between the two of them). All we *know* first hand is that the bartender then picked up a fistful of ice and over-​hand pitched it into the crowd, aimed at the drink-​thrower, but hitting lots of other patrons instead. THIS HAPPENED TWICE.
My friend, who was visiting from Australia (not that it matters, but what a poor impression!), got hit TWICE. The first time, ice hit her hard just to the left of her left eye. Her eye was watering for the next two hours. She’s not prone to overreaction. None of us was wasted or disorderly.
When my friend approached the bar to speak to the bartender, the bartender 100% ignored her. Then the bartender threw the crowd the bird. We left immediately. My friend and her husband tried to talk to the bouncers on the way out — a heads-​up to the effect of «just so you know, this happened in there and things are on edge», but everyone at the bar closed ranks and made folks in our party feel like liquored-​up, trouble-​making patrons.
My friend is fine. We’re not litigious people. But GEEZ! Had the ice landed one inch to the right, on my friend’s eye… with the right kind of angry person, that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. I know Halloween is a sh*t show, but that’s *exactly* the reason you have to employ people with an ounce of anger management and impulse control. I really and truly hope that woman was fired.
The point of this (stupid long) Unilocal review is simply to let our story be heard, because no one at TTN that night was hearing anything any of us had to say about the incident, never mind (out on a limb here) making sure their patrons were okay. Never in my entire bar-​going life have I ever witnessed something so out of line.

So I took my time wanting to properly think this over before posting my review.
I went there for the Cubs /​Pirates Playoff game.
Great environment to watch the game, loved the watch party with my fellow Cub fans along with Blackhawk fans while we got to watch them as well and see the banner for last year Stanley Cup be raised. I highly recommend the watch party portion of this. Not only are you with your fellow fans, there is Chicago foods (Chicago Hot Dogs, Italian Beef, Pizza Puff, Maxwell Street Polish, etc). This is also used to raise money for charity, which I personally fully support.
So for the above I give it a 5 Star Rating
Now, unfortunately there is the down side of things
Had a hard time getting my first beer when I got there over an hour prior to the game start (and this is before the place was packed, I was still able to snag a seat at the bar for my group of three). Once I received it, it was mostly frozen and just spilled out of the bottle and took a good 10 minutes to get service again, at which time I was able to get a replacement thankfully. Not a big deal getting it, but taking that long to replace is no bueno.
— Strike One
During the bench clearing moment of the game, the bartender muted the game to blast DMX, I looked at him and told him that the game is on can we hear the game instead (I had two whole drinks, so I was not drunk and acting stupid). To this there was a very bad response because to the bartender the benches clearing with players on the field doesn’t count as part of the game. — to add to it, same bartender from when I first arrived.
— Strike Two
After the game, while trying to pay my tab (in about 4 hours I had 3 beers, so still not exactly intoxicated or acting stupid). While holding my slip in his hand, yet again the same bartender felt the need to use a stern voice to explain to me how I was in the wrong, and he was not only right but that I was going to listen to him debate this. I told him multiple times that it had happened over an hours ago, move on, and let it go (I had until he started up). After multiple times telling him to let it go, I finally told him I won’t be back, so this doesn’t matter anymore (I still was trying to sign my slip and yes I still left a 40% tip).
While walking out, he felt the need to run from behind the bar and not only jump in my face to continue this but (as I learned later) knock over two friends who I was with to do so (both ladies). Here I did lose my cool and told him to «get the fuck out of my face» as there was no need for this. I am proud to say I did keep my cool still and didn’t do anything stupid (a decade ago, I guarantee this would have been handled differently by me).
Finally, he gets out of my face, but then a few moments later, while I am waiting on my Über with my two friends, he comes bolting outside of the bar now to continue this. Again I tell him the same, and the bouncer for the bar just stands there watching on, doesn’t try to do a damn thing. Again I am proud to say I kept my cool and didn’t do anything stupid outside telling him to get the fuck out of my face.
— Strike Three
For this portion I give it 0 stars
Now, I would love to return and watch sports there with fellow Chicagoans, the environment was awesome from that perspective, and I can always get behind anything that helps charities, but as long as this bartender is employed there, I will not support the business with a single penny of my hard earned money. This is not how you treat a paying customer.
So overall, go there for the game, enjoy being with a group of Cub /​Bears /​Blackhawks fans — just don’t expect service that is worth a damn, and if you disagree with something, be prepared for a bartender to confront you multiple times in a very disrespectful manner.

One star for the live music.
One star for the super sized board games that they have in the bar.
The only reason I’d come back here is if I happened to stumble inside when I was drunk without realizing where I was. Awful service! Had a terribly rude and condescending bartender. Came here during the day because of a comedy show down the street. Recently just moved from NYC and was stunned by the low prices. But the cheap drinks (but awful shots) aren’t worth the hassle.

Dirty dive bar, cheap drinks, good live music. There’s better bars in the area. I guess it might be good for the college crowd that wants to watch a sports game on tv.

Great service, decent beer selection, Nasty bathrooms, divey atmosphere… great if a college student though.

This bar was okay. The music was good but there wasn’t anyone dancing really when we came in. Our group ended up dancing while we were in there but no one else did really there. The dance floor is a raised floor right at the windows. So that was cool. They gave us free rum and coke but some girls thought it was too strong and the bachelorette thought it was too weak lol. I thought it was okay, it didn’t taste weak or too strong. This place didn’t have too many people when we went in and when we left. We ended up staying here maybe about 20 minutes if that.

Super rude bartender a group of us walked because of a scavenger hunt contest. I ask her about clues that was supposed to be in the bar. She looked at me like i was crazy and kept saying «no, no, no» before I was even done asking my question. We were going to end the hunt by having a round of drinks since but thankful I did not give them even 5 cents of my money!

This was the first bar on 6^th street I ever went to and heard live music at (via the all girl rock cover band Guilty Pleasures who are awesome) upon visiting Austin for the first time.
6^th street can have more of a drunk college frat house filled with bros vibe, so nowadays when we go it’s normally to entertain out of town guests who want to do the touristy pub crawl. That being said there are gems to be found on 6^th occasionally. It’s all about which bands you happen to catch playing and what bar feels the least 18 and up that night.
Here it’s more of a standing room only place and usually always has a variation of either live music or watching parties for sports games. Last night it was for the Blackhawks game so we popped in only to quickly pop out when the place was so packed we would have had to fight people to get to the bar.
Depending on the night and your mood this place can be hit or miss. If the Guilty Pleasures still play here however, definitely check them out.

THE place in Austin to watch Chicago Blackhawk hockey games. And to be a Bro.
Casual college bar ambiance that is expected on this part of 6^th street. The musician working hard for his money was good and personable.
Our waitress was responsive and imaginative (she successfully created «lemonade» for a John Daley out of things I wouldn’t have previously thought would taste like lemonade).
Having said all of these things, I knew going i, that I was entering a Bro Cave and the Bro factor finally got to where Gal Pal and I couldn’t stick with the game and left at the end of the 1^st period of the Blackhawks playoff game.
If I am forced to, I can focus on the bar’s good points and make it through another visit, but I don’t see ever asking to go there.

This was our live music fix on 6^th. The young man that was strumming his guitar yesterday was incredible. The drinks were fantastic and the bartender was cool. The place is a bit dark, but then again — –can’t say that I didn’t expect it.

Loved this place for the music and nothing else. I went in to listen to the band. Super dark inside and total dive bar. I didn’t care because music brought me and no one else seemed to like the band. I asked the bartender the bands name and he Said he didn’t know. What? I ordered two beers and left after the guys took a break.

I thought I should share my story as my wife and I had a bad experience at this place. Between sets at sxsw my wife and I we sitting at the back bar (for our first drink of the night), and we noticed an inebriated immature adult dancing on the bar with a bar stool on his chest. Did I mention he was in ski boots and swim trunks? Come to find out through the bartender, Brendan, was the owner of the bar. After he slipped and fell on the bar and regained his footing he waited for his bouncers and approached us asking ‘who did it?’. After telling him there was nobody who assisted his fall, he kicked us out for being ‘laughing assholes’. I find his behavior unprofessional and a poor reflection of the 6^th street bar scene.

Great live music and nice open set-​up. A good option on the street of craziness.

I met here for a group even and overall I think it was a good experience. Here is my breakdown of the experience.
1. Parking was pretty solid as long as your willing to walk maybe a ½ mile or so. If you’ve ever been downtown then you know this is not too bad of a walk. It’s on west 6^th so it’s not the typical party scene, but it’s by no means boring either.
2. Ambience was cool. Very much a bar atmosphere but there was adequate space and there seemed to be enough bar space. Staffing seemed a little light but still sufficient.
3. Space was a but limited, maybe because of the size crowd we were with. There was actually 2 very large parties there at the same time so that may have contributed to the congested feeling I got.
I would definitely come back here and hopefully with just a few friends. It seemed run well and it was clean. I didn’t eat anything so I don’t know if they even serve food but as far as being a bar they do a nice job.

I’ve been here on a non-​weekend day, and the atmosphere is actually pretty decent. These fellas sport live music most nights, have a pool table in the back, and have Super Jenga, so as far as bars go, I’m all for it. If you go on a Saturday night, you might lose some of the atmosphere because Dirty 6^th is crawling with underage kids who are drunk off their faces. (Back up, I’m not judging. I was one of those kids a few years ago.) I suggest hitting up on a Wednesday night or something if you’ve got some time in the evening. Beat the rush and lose the puking drunkards.
Unless you’re into that thing, of course.
God, you’re a rascal.

I was walking by when I saw a crowd outside of The Thirsty Nickel. Inside was a band rocking out to some of my favorite songs I grew up with.
We sat at the bar, while trying not to sing a long to every song. The Band was really good and nailed each cover song. The set list was made up of the best of 90’s rock. It was a really fun night so far and I really wanted more of the live music in Austin.
As it’s getting later in the night, I order vodka with blueberry red bull. The new line of red bull was the whole excuse to order it. A bit sweet, but easy to drink.
We left after a couple drinks even though the band was still killing it. The night was nearly winding down and we wanted to sneak in one more spot.