Cheer Up Charlies Bars & Clubs in Austin – GayOut Guide
Gay Bars & Clubs Verified by GayOut

Cheer Up Charlies

Google (584) 4.6
Tripadvisor (18) 4.4
Been here? Rate it in 3 clicks
What reviewers say

Visitors frequently praise Cheer Up Charlie's for its diverse and talented live music, fun and accepting atmosphere, and reasonably priced drinks. Some reviewers noted that the inside space can be rather small.

90
/ 100
GayOut Score
G4.6 🦉4.4
✅ Link copied!
Address
900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
📞
Phone
+1 512-431-2133
🌐
Website
cheerupcharlies.com
💰
Price Range
$$

Hotels near Cheer Up Charlies

via Stay22
Hotels near Cheer Up Charlies
Loading map…

About this place Cheer Up Charlies

Cheer Up Charlies is the Austin venue that most fully embodies the synthesis of the city's two defining cultures: live music and LGBTQ+ community. The bar-venue in the Red River Cultural District operates as an outdoor music space as much as a bar — there is a covered outdoor stage, a large patio area, food trucks serving the queue and the crowd, and a programming calendar that mixes live acts with DJ nights in a ratio that changes week by week. The queer community has claimed Cheer Up Charlies as one of its own, and the venue has reciprocated with programming, hiring, and a general atmosphere that is explicitly inclusive. The Red River Cultural District is Austin's live music corridor — the neighbourhood of venues that has maintained the city's identity as a live music capital through the pressures of development and gentrification that have affected other entertainment districts. Cheer Up Charlies sits within this tradition while adding the queer character that distinguishes it from the surrounding venues. On a warm Austin spring or autumn evening, an outdoor set at Cheer Up Charlies is one of the better experiences the city offers.

Opening Hours

Open Now · closes 02:00
Monday 16:00-02:00
Tuesday 16:00-02:00
Wednesday 16:00-02:00
Thursday 16:00-02:00
Friday 16:00-02:00
Saturday 14:00-02:00
Sunday 14:00-02:00

Features

Gay LGBTQ+ Happy Hour Live music Food served Outdoor Patio Safe space Walk-ins welcome Mixed LGBTQ+ Themed parties Outdoor terrace

Insider Tips

Community Reviews

Write a Review

Google Reviews

Verified by Google
4.6
584 reviews

Based on 584 Google reviews.

Friday Brown
Friday Brown Jul 2026
Dan G
Dan G Jul 2026

Great hideaway bar! Beverage service was great!

Colorado 1500
Colorado 1500 Jul 2026

Came to see a friend’s band perform here and felt extremely uncomfortable. I get that this is a lesbian forward bar but that doesn’t mean you need to treat cishet people with contempt

Michael Allen
Michael Allen Jul 2026

I went out to Cheer Ups with a group of friends last night and had the best time I’ve had in years. The bar had several mocktail options and the bartenders were friendly. Both DJs were phenomenal to the point that I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be outside or inside. Sooo much fun!

Rachel
Rachel Jul 2026
Rebekah
Rebekah Jul 2026

Ah! Cheer Up Charlie's, our beloved cultural mainstay that's perpetually mismanaged. I used to visit a lot when I still lived in town, and I still make the trek out when I'm in town visiting friends.

Russ
Russ Jun 2026

Phenomenal drinks and a beautiful vibe

TripAdvisor

Powered by TripAdvisor

Write a Review

Join 20 travelers who shared their experience here

Last updated on 16 September 2026

Stay in the Loop

Get the latest LGBTQ+ events and venue openings in your inbox.

Enter your email to receive Pride event updates and new-venue alerts.

Already a subscriber? Unsubscribe

Your privacy choices. We use cookies to run GayOut and, with your consent, measure usage. Learn more