Rowdys Saloon

OK LOOK, I am always up for some good ol country dancin’ ya hear but maybe because I wasn’t in Kansas anymore (JK, I mean Houston) but this place did not have enough boot scootin’ couples.
We walked straight to the back bar which to be honest, was my highlight of this place. The bartenders where so kind and nice, mixing our drinks on point! No one seemed excited to come here nor did anyone wanted to dance and it was 11 pm already by that time so before we left we did shake the local cop’s hands for their hard work and continue onto our dirty 6’s bar crawl.

Terrible. Understaffed and under trained staff in place. Took 30 minutes to get a drink at the bar. Ain’t no one got time for that!

My friend and I have been coming to Austin for years for work and have stopped in here each time. The music is always fun and the crowd is normal and not problematic. We arrived last Friday (¹¹⁄₂₁) evening and mostly stayed at the back bar and out of the crowds.
Our bartender was Glenda and she really made our night. She was fun and engaging and did a perfect job of serving drinks while also carrying on a conversation. Great bartender and a very nice person.
We will definitely return next year in August.

Don’t miss out on riding the mechanical bull! This place has been a go to place for me for years. Even if you’re not a country dancing kind of person this place is a lot of fun and worth checking out. The bartenders are fabulous also!

My boyfriend and I went on a Friday for a birthday of his co-​worker. Some of the guys were excited about 50 cent wells and later that night, there was a classy woman on the bull that took her bra off. Was it awkward for her when she got off the bull… It’s a very relaxed dressed bar. I left my card there and called later that night and spoke to KW. I asked him to close it out at 20% and that I would come the next day to pick up my card. I checked my account a few days later and it was exactly the amount I had requested. My friends have had bad luck at other bars where bartenders generously tip themselves so I was very happy he kept to his word. If friends wanted to go back, I would go but it wouldn’t be my top pick.

WORST PLACE IN AUSTIN. The bull operator named Dayqauan, verbally violated several women through the night, calling them «B*tch*s and throughing a drink in anthers face. It was hard to watch. When several people spoke to «the manager» he offered a free drink and brushed it off, really no one want a drink Never again. Austin overall was amazing.
I recommend going to white horse instead!

No stars. They put tw Samuels or some other well whiskey in their Jack bottles and that’s just wrong. I drink Jack and water religiously and neither the drink or the shot I had were Jack and I watched the bartender poor it straight from the bottle. I think I’ll be calling TABC as well.

I like the Rowdys idea but the dance lesson teacher gave me such a sour attitude

Do you want to country dance in downtown Austin? I don’t. But, if you do, then you’re in luck! I would have never set foot in this place, if it hadn’t been for my brother’s recent birthday celebration. For reasons unknown to me, we came out of the same womb and yet I am not into country music and I can’t two step for shit and he can. He’s awesome at it.
Okay so its called Rowdy’s now. But in case you’re wondering where this is, it’s formerly Rebel’s, FORMERLY before that: Rainbow Cattle Company AKA a gay bar. Do you know how much I enjoyed informing my brother that where he chose his birthday celebration to be at was a gay bar in it’s not too distant past?
In all seriousness, I enjoyed observing others two step, except for when these chicks tried to turn songs into line dances that are CLEARLY not line dances (some terrible rap song and FOOTLOOSE!). My brother and his BFF rode the mechanical bull (separately), unsuccessfully, and I got the proof. The service was decent, the beers were pretty domestic aka nothing fancy. I stuck to my Shiner. Little brother was given some Fireball shots. EEK. There was an attendant in the bathroom which I found odd in such a place. If you don’t have money to tip, you don’t get to wash your hands! Only kidding… but it’s awkward.
We had a blast people watching and the music wasn’t excessively loud so you could still converse. It’s not the best bar in town, but it’s not the worst. You’ll love taking your out of town/​out of state friends here to experience some country music and two steppin.

This place is a must see in Austin. Huge two-​stepping dance hall out the back, cowboy boots, danceable country music, and a mechanical bull!
Not the classiest establishment out but you’d be VERY hard pressed not to have a fun time. It was really refreshing to see people out there strutting their stuff on their dance floor rather than wall-​flowering and judging people, which seems to characterize some of the other bars on the West side. And the drinks aren’t super expensive either, which is a win.
My only real complaint would be about the bikini contest — I just can’t get around that and would rather have an awesome time without objectifying the lovely ladies who work there. But obviously there’s a market for that. I’ll just stick to watching the killer two-​steppers shred the dance floor!

YES and YES.
Not being a «Honky Tonk» kind of girl, I must admit that I wasn’t thrilled when I heard that my friends wanted to go here on a Saturday night out.
After going in and accessing the scene, I knew that we had made the right choice after-​all. The drinks are reasonably priced, the music is incredible (even if you aren’t a huge country fan), there is a mechanical bull which is always fun after a couple drinks go down the hatch and there is a large dance floor that seems to breed two-​steppers.
The bar area is pretty small compared to the size of the entire venue, but there is a beer girl right in front who sells ice cold brews out of her metal tub and there is a makeshift bar by the dance floor so that lines are never too long.
Although I don’t frequent Austin terribly often, when I do I will most definitely come to Rebels. It is a no nonsense, ass shaking good time!

Put a Honky tonk dance hall in the middle of Downtown Autin Tx. Sure. Why not?
The bf’s friends looove them some Rebels. My first time going, I didnt understand why. But I went again this weekend and kinda saw what they see.
You walk in and to your right they have the bar, and then the machanical bull. Of course they do. Its 5 bucks to ride the bulls, or free if you ride topless (which I’ve been told happens quite frequently, super classy). But Unilocalers you are in luck! Checkin through Unilocal and you get to ride the bull for free, with your clothes on. I unselfishly gave my free bullride to my friend, aka the birthday boy.
The dance floor is above ground and has somewhat of enough space for alot of dancing to happen. The play a good variety from old to new country music but the second they started playing taylor swift I needed a shot.
Drinks are cheaper than 6^th street but not the cheapest around. The bartenders do a good pour count for the mix drinks so you’re not getting cheated.
Wanna dance? Go to rebels. Wanna drink and people watch? Go to rebels. Im glad I gave rebels a second chance bc I had a good time!

Totally different from everything else downtown.
Buy some shots, ride the mechanical bull, and then two step with a cowboy. They also play non-​country, so even my country-​hating friends have fun here.
PRO TIP: If you do want to learn to two step, look up when they are having lessons!

It’s a cool place, but the bar screws you. I was ordering from a short blonde girl for my first three rounds and she charged me $ 10 for a Dos XX and a vodka water. My fourth round I had a different bartender and he only charged me $ 7 for the same order. What’s up with that? I feel cheated. I doubt I’ll be back.

It’s great to have something to actually do at a bar. Early in the evening it’s usually pretty empty. They even offer free lessons.

This is my country fix for downtown Austin. The dance floor just large enough, the country music mix is awesome; BUT the drinks aren’t that cheap and the beer selection is little bitty. The crowd is sparse most the time when I’m there and the mechanical bull is typically quiet and empty. I ain’t visiting any more, but I ain’t visiting any less.

OMG.
Hilarious.
We walked in here and immediately were taken aback by the assault on our senses. Line dancing music over here on the stage, big mechanical bull in that corner, cheap-​ass drinks all around, and lots of cowboy hats.
Mix in a couple turns on the dance floor with a real-​life cowboy, a bikini contest (by the «bikini team», because that exists), some girls going double on the mechanical bull — IN BIKINIS, one of the girls having gone to high school in Chicago with my friend who was with us, the BEST people watching, chatting up some semi-​professional dancers, and like 3-​dollar beers, and you’ve got QUITE the show!

There are good dancers here. The regulars are very snobby though. I’ve asked someone to dance with 3 times and each time, it’s the song, or not this dance. Comon… at least dance with me once. That’s just rude.
The other regular guys can’t be bothered. I’ve visited Rebels 3 times and been disappointed 3 times. If you’re going to watch, it’s alright. I’m not going back. I’m not going to support that stick up my butt dancer attitude.

Rebels doesn’t really bother me. Cheap drinks, nice crowd, usually a bunch of bachelorettes, and skanky girls that both seem to flock to the bar and also work there.
However, I would much rather deal with a nice girl wearing a small amount of clothing, than an asshole bartender.
The first time I came here I made the mistake of asking the bartender if they had line dancing (Yes, I’ve now learned that apparently this is an insult to two-​stepping, whatever) and he responded with «Uh, no, we’re a REAL honky tonk,» and promptly rolled his eyes and walked away. What the hell dude? I just asked you a question? And, most of the songs you play are TOP 40 RAP SONGS. Seriously. Yes, I do want to learn how to two step, but I can assure you it won’t be here after this jerk. The only time I frequent this place now is if I happen to be in the area and already had a few drinks in me.
Other than the rude bartender, if you want to ride a mechanical bull, or better yet, watch drunk people try to ride one, this is a good place to go.
However, make sure to tip the guy manning the bull… true story, if you give the guy an extra few bucks, he’ll make you look better than if you gave him nothing extra on the side.
It’s a good place to take visitors from out of town if you’re looking for a «honky tonk» and you’re downtown, but there are definitely better bars in the area.

I’M COMING BACK TO REBELS!!!
I don’t care if my friends don’t like country music, the people in Rebels do and I love it. The drinks were cheap which is probably why I can’t remember how long I danced for, but it was so fun.
I’m not sure why I didn’t ride the bull, probably because I was too caught up with dancing. Anyway, if you like country music, or if you like dancing or watching people dance then this is the place for you.
I much rather prefer a random man teaching me the two step and spinning me around then one up on my backside… so go to rebels!!! wooO!!!