The ZaZa’s are beloved in Texas and Group Therapy on rooftop deck seven is where its fans congregate. Both indoor and outdoor poolside seating offer all-day dining, snacks, and drinks—and there’s a lot to love about the beverages here because they are huge (everything’s bigger in Texas, after all). We’re talking full wine glass-sized pours of bubbles and pitchers capable of quenching a thirsty gang of four. Views overlook Republic Square and there’s usually live music on weekends and Wednesdays.

For plenty of breeze, music, and sunshine, head up to Rules & Regs on the Fairmont. The restaurant and bar serves brunch, frozen treats, and colorful tropical cocktails. They also have non-alcoholic ‘hangover cures’ teeming with trusted recovery agents like Kombucha and coconut water. Best for when the heat is too much to bear downstairs, Rules & Regs keeps things chill thanks to a cluster of shady palm trees.

El Alma’s casual rooftop patio is a summer escape from the city, with prices that make you feel like you’ve been airlifted to a neighborhood cantina in Guadalajara. The menu stars seasonal margaritas and mojitos alongside queso fundido and tangy ceviche, and the happy hour runs daily between 3 and 6 pm with discounts across the board including on the famed Mangorita, a frozen margarita swirled with tequila-marinated mango purée and served with an el chile rim.

After a long pandemic-fueled closure, Maggie Mae’s is back to hosting legendary live music performances—as it’s been doing since 1978—and serving fun-lovin’ patrons once more across the twinkly rooftop deck, indoor bar, and courtyard (that’s 15,000 square feet of comfortable social-distancing, y’all). The 6th Street location places Maggie Mae’s in the thick of the action and best of all, it’s right by a Voodoo Donuts if you need to satisfy a late night sweet tooth.

Upstairs at Caroline is a crazy fun urban backyard party overlooking Congress, with picnic benches, astroturf, bar games like foosball, shuffleboard, cornhole, and giant jenga, koozies, and, of course, plenty of cocktails. Weekly specials include $2 Taco Tuesday, Sunday Yappy Hour (bringing along your pup gets you 25% off your bill), and Thirsty Thursday with $7 draft cocktails from 4 to 7 pm.

This three-story rooftop patio atop The Rose Room is a Vegas-style dance party, complete with dancers and DJs. There’s an outside dance floor and plenty of seating to enjoy tapas, cocktails, and bottle service. Soak up the bright lights, hard beats, and big crowds on weekends—in other words, it’s a post-vaccination celebration.

The rooftop of the JW Marriott is open to the public after 5 pm, and features a wide selection of crafty cocktails (the Piña colada is everything), beer, and wine plus a full menu of tacos, salads, and other light bites. The vibe is stylish yet laid-back, with comfy lounge chairs surrounding fire-pits in case the temperature takes a dip. One side has views of Ladybird Lake and the other overlooks the city skyline.

There ain’t no party like a W party. The WET Deck downtown is accessible to non-hotel guests who purchase a day pass on the W Austin’s website. Time it, if you can, to catch the Happy Hour, which runs Monday to Thursday from 12 pm to 4 pm. Slurpy delights include frosé and frozen cola, and cabanas and daybeds are reservable for a fee and minimum spend. DJ Sundays and Drag Brunches are currently in the works, so stay tuned.

Transplants missing LA, Vegas, and NYC make a beeline to this open-air, bottle-service-style bar. The swank interior sports a posh feel that, combined with a huge glitzy dance floor, evokes a vibe that is quite literally the opposite of Austin casual—meaning, of course, that guests arrive dressed to impress. The experience is high-energy, with an emphasis on EDM, so plan accordingly.

20 floors above the pavement, Azul Rooftop boasts some of the best views in town alongside a massive selection of cocktails to help enhance the panoramic sights. The deck also has a wading pool, cabanas, fire pits, and plenty of space to snap those coveted sunset selfies.

The Proper’s poolside rooftop restaurant and bar is arguably the most happening place in town at the moment. La Piscina serves fajitas and family-style Tex-Mex platters alongside frozen margaritas, small-batch tequila, and choice mezcal. The crowd is international glam without compromising the relaxed Austin charm (in other words, you won’t get in trouble for wearing flip flops), and summers bring Saturday Sundown Swim sessions with live DJ sets.