SCOOT INN

The Historic Scoot Inn has been standing at 1308 East 4th Street since 1871, which makes it one of the oldest continuously operating watering holes in Central Texas. It holds Austin's fourth-oldest liquor license. The place started as a grocery and mercantile store serving railroad workers and settlers arriving on the newly built Houston and Texas Central Railway. Over the decades it built a reputation for gambling and bootlegging before Aubrey Ivy, nicknamed Scoot, bought it in 1940 and turned it into a proper saloon. The current owners took over in 2006 and transformed it into a live music venue, and a major renovation in 2016 preserved the historic character while upgrading the space. The indoor area, now called Ivy's Room in honor of its former owner, has a speakeasy feel with a piano and intimate seating. Outside, the beer garden and patio stage open up into a shaded space with plenty of room to spread out. There are two full bars, a food trailer, and enough eclectic charm to keep things interesting. The booking is all over the place in the best way, you might catch indie rock one night, hip-hop the next, and a bluegrass set on Sunday. Scoot Inn is also an official SXSW venue, which brings a whole different energy during festival season. The vibe is casual and unpretentious. You can play skee-ball inside, grab a local craft beer, and watch a band you have never heard of become your new favorite. It is the kind of place that makes you understand why people fall in love with East Austin.