Barton Springs Saloon

By Leo Sipowicz

Barton Springs Saloon is situated at the most lively intersection in the city, right on the corner of Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard.

When sitting outside on the covered patio you’ll witness 2 road rage incidents per 3 beers drank. The interior is adequate, a cool haunt with standard dive decor and a pool table but the star of the show is the expansive outdoor seating right off the street.

The bar used to be a Texaco Gas station and you can feel its motoring roots. The central location and easy access caters to bikers stopping by on a ride for a beer or ten.

It’s no coincidence that the Baton Springs Saloon has so much flavor. Opened by the late Jim LeMond, the same local legend that opened the Cloak Room 30 years before, LeMond was an artist that knew all the right tricks to make a bar feel right: a little flavor, no fluff and friendly bartenders. It’s a combination he stuck with to keep his bars filled for over 50 years.

Sitting outside at the Saloon on a hot Austin night and drinking a cold beer out of the can makes me stop to appreciate all the nice people that put their hearts into opening the long standing hangouts that make this city something.