SAHARA LOUNGE

Sahara Lounge on Webberville Road in East Austin is one of the most eclectic and welcoming music venues in the city. The booking ranges from Afrobeat and world music to rock, hip-hop, Latin, funk, and just about anything else that brings people together on a dance floor. The name gives you a hint of the international flavor, and the weekly Africa Night showcase has become a beloved institution, drawing a diverse crowd that is there to dance, not just stand around. The venue has an indoor stage and a backyard area, with enough room to move around and enough intimacy to keep the energy concentrated. Cocktails are solid, and the bar knows its way around the kind of drinks that pair well with the music. Free parking, which in Austin is not something to overlook. Sahara Lounge occupies a unique space in the city's venue ecosystem. It is not trying to be a rock club or a country bar or a jazz lounge. It is a place where cultures mix on the dance floor and the music reflects a world bigger than the Austin city limits. If you have lived here long enough, you know that the city's diversity does not always get reflected in its music venues. Sahara Lounge is a genuine exception.