Buddy’s Place

Like the laid back feeling. Cheap pool and drinks. I will for sure go back.

Overall it’s good for being a dive bar. The bartender was friendly and the people there were a bit redneck (but, that goes with the bar and they seemed cool overall). The g/​f and I got a Corona each, and each was $ 3.75. Not bad for a corona and it seems like when it’s busy it could be an interesting place!

A Real Dive

If youre a redneck youll love it. If youre like me, and not a redneck, youll like it a lot regardless.
Good people, cold beer. Bring your liquor and buy mixers at the bar. I was shocked at how clean and well stocked the bathrooms are for a place like this.
If you like old country, youll like the jukebox. Only thing that makes this less than perfect is a gravel back parking lot. I usually park on the street.

Classic Austin.
A real neighborhood dive bar with an exceptionally friendly staff. The jukebox is flawless given the setting; classic country up to some outlaw 80’s stuff. Beer and wine only, but they provide set-​ups of you want to bring a bottle of booze along. The clientele is 80% regulars, which is a comfort in a city that had become dominated by generic bar hopping pit stops. This is a place to post up and relax at. The atmosphere is classic saloon, with all the beer promo posters, quirky décor, a pool table and free shuffleboard.
It’s all cans and bottles at Buddy’s so beer snobs beware. But if a Pearl and some George Jones sounds like a perfect afternoon to you, you have found your spot.

For me Buddy’s is that flash back to the 70’s low ceiling smoky smelling honky tonk juke in the corner dive bar where you can come chill shoot and have a good time. Nothing special here at all and all the beer selections are hanging from a wire above the bar. Makes you think you’re in a chainsaw massacre moment.
Its dingy. It’s dungy. It’s definitely divey. Cielings are low so can be the personalities dependent the time of day you are in here. It’s just an ok place for me. I’m sure if I went in here with a group of friends we could force some happy times on this place, but, going as a solo, it’s just ok. Regulars sitting around talking their smack and occasional pool challenge with some good country tunes belting off the juke. No taps, and, beers are not that cold. Just an ok honky tonk dive.

We walked in and the group at the bar says, «where ya’ll been?» Steve H and I immediately knew we had walked into something special. This type of hospitality does not happen often or ever in my experience. That might have been the first time I walked into a bar … did not know anyone … and they all immediately wanted to be my friend. The name Buddy is very fitting here.
This bar is complete dive. They only serve beer and wine, but you can bring your own bottle and they sell all kinds of mixers and snacks if you need them. I sat at the bar conversing with the regulars and getting to know them. They were cool dudes. If you want pool, shuffle board or the game on TV they got if for you too! The tunes were awesome! The bartender knew everyone’s name and what they drank. The bathroom freaking awesome! I wish my bathroom at home was decorated like the ladies bathroom there. This place was truly a dive bar paradise and the slogan on the outside of their building is perfect … Buddy’s Place Home of Happiness.
This is absolutely a special spot. I can not wait till my next trip up north to visit my new friends!

This beer only and sometimes «wine» establishment allows BYOB on the hard stuff and you can purchase setups with mixers for $ 3. They tout themselves with the best hung beers in Austin with actual bottles of all their beer offerings hung from strings on the ceiling over the bar as a drink menu of sorts.
They have cheap pool, shuffleboard and darts if you are bored. They offer live music on some nights and a jukebox that plays old country songs from the likes of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Pardon to name a few.
The music selection, along with the pool tables, neon signs and cheap paneling, that has seen better days, creates a nostalgic feeling of the bars I remember as a child in Truth or Consequences and El Paso. I know that sounds strange, but in the 70’s you were allowed to accompany your parents to the bar. This all comes with a friendly bartender and the perfect local flavor in the regular customers.
As I was leaving, I ran into a man, who could be my grandfather. I asked him how he was doing, and he said, «better than you are, because you won’t have me there with you.» I love that!
The walls are covered with kitsch, from old country photos, flags and memorabilia. Don’t forget to say hello to the permanent regular — Jasper. He’s the stuffed quiet cowboy on the chair that keeps everyone company and poses for photos.
This is one of the last of the great country and western dive bars and should be a Texas landmark.

After the place we wanted to go to was closed, we found Buddy’s by accident. It turned out to be better than the place we originally had in mind.
This is a dive bar. For those of us who have Austin memories 20+ years or more, you will appreciate this place.
Friendly folks, cold beer, classic country on the jukebox and more cold beer.
It’s a great find.

I’m a lover of all things dive bars, and am kicking myself for not visiting this gem of an establishment earlier. As you pass the John Wayne graffiti, you know this place is gonna be a good one.
From the time I entered, I could not keep a smile off my face, as it reminded me of every small town bar that I have loved. They only serve beer, so it is BYOLiquor and they sell set ups to keep it easy. Grab a table and play some shuffleboard or pool, or take a picture with the amazingly creepy cowboy mannequin, as you get stared down by all the regulars. Don’t worry, they will eventually warm up to you and you’ll be shuffling across that tiny dance floor to a sad Gary Stewart song in no time.

If dive bar is what you seek, seek and you will find. Buddy’s Place is the diviest of dives! The epitome of what a TRUE DIVE bar is… starting right when you step in the front door and that slight interesting smell of the combination of stale beer, urine, and decades of cigarette smoke waft up your nose. Okay, maybe not the best way to positively sell Buddy’s, but there are reasons worth hanging around a while… and coming back for more.
First, Buddy’s is BYOBooze. They sell a pretty impressive selection of beers by the bottle and wine from a box (just guessing; I joke), but they don’t have a «hard liquor» license. So, walk in with your bottle of choice and ask for a «setup» — No! Not that kind silly! Buddy’s is way classier than that! You get a cup of ice and bev of choice sold by the can or bottle… and then poor until your little heart is content.
Buddy’s of course has tons of locals, old and young alike. All the friendliest folks anywhere on Burnet of course. I hadn’t taken more than two steps in when a gentleman with a ten gallon hat greeted me with a jovial «Howdy darlin’!» Kick back at the bar or take a seat on one of the tattered chairs at the many tables in the adjoining room and simply enjoy the country crooners howlin’ form the jukebox or local live music on select nights. For those of you with a more adventurous side, there is shuffleboard, dart boards, and a few pool tables.
Is Buddy’s a place I would take my grandmother to? Mmmm… probably not. But I LOVE it! The overall «bar tab» is cheap, the people are great, the ladies is clean (they even painted it pink and stapled fake flowers to the ceiling; very frou-​frou), and where else are you going see a cutout photo board stand thingy with a cowboy and a sheep (how did I NOT take a picture of that; or with me head in that?! — Next time!)?!
If I haven’t already convinced you to visit Buddy’s, and you’re the touristy type or just a huge Mathew McConaughey fan, part of the film Dazed and Confused (1993) was shot at Buddy’s Place. «Alright, alright, alright.» Bottoms up ya’ll!
*Thanks KellyS — I probably never would have never found such a rough in the diamond. ;)…and a special thanks for bringing your infectious spirit… and supplying the «spirits!» :-D

I fancy myself a connoisseur of «dive» bars and Buddy’s is one of the best in North Austin. It has, to paraphrase The Simpsons, the perfect amount of «dank» needed for the perfect hang out bar. It’s unassuming, not pretentious and perfect for an old school evening out with your pals.

Eight beers for $ 25? Old country on the jukebox? And dogs allowed inside the bar?!?
I’ll be back.

It’s small, dingy, and smells like old stale cigarettes. Basically the feeling of my childhood. Come for the cheap beer, stay for the old-​timey jukebox/​people.

Thanks for the fish fry. That was really fun. This place is a community of folks from all ages.

This place is a shithole, it’s dirty it’s dark. Usually there is only one bartender here, and her name is Melissa. There isn’t anywhere to smoke but a gravel parking lot with crap plastic chairs setup like you shouldn’t be there. They don’t have much on tap, and only a bit more in bottles.
The shuffleboard is in desperate need of repair, it only has sand in the middle. Hell, everything here is in need of repair, sometimes you feel like the place is held together with the tar from all the cigarettes smoke from when it was legal. It’s a bar frozen in time, that has no place belonging in the 21^st century, and the jukebox isn’t any more modern.
And this is why it’s my absolutely favorite bar, not in Austin, but in world.
Melissa is the best bartender in Austin, full stop. Not only will you not wait for a drink, you won’t even finish it before she has the next one ready. The jukebox is the best jukebox in Texas, maybe the world. You could dump 100 bucks into that thing, push random numbers and nothing but the best country and honky tonk will come out.
You will always feel welcome and always leave with a smile on your face.

Randy, Dahrling, bring the car around would you, please? I am in DESPERATE need of a beverage. It is so unbearably hot and bright outside! Yes, dear, please just drive me down to my favorite bah on that BurNET Rd and do hurry. I am positively SWELTERING in this midday heat! I need someplace cool and dark to rest my eyes and my bones. Oh, and I mustn’t forget my tiara! After all, I AM the Duchess…
Ahhh, here we are. Be a dear and get the door for me. There now, this place is just absolutely fabul…
HOWDY YA’LL! How you gentlemen doin in har? Make room for the Duchess of Buddy’s! *giggles** Now, I know you «boys» have been coming here and probably sitting on your same stools for 30+ years and yet have neglected to «check in» on your phones or else you’d all be DUKES! You know, your «smart» phones??? Why you lookin at me like I’m a furreignor? I’m speakin Ainglish, ain’t I???
Yes, hon, I WOULD love a cold beer. Hmmm, so many to choose from! Lemme try one of them there Lemon Shandy’s! No, thank YOU, Sugar! You Bartendresses here are just the SWEETEST! Yes, here’s my credit card for the tab… I’ll be over thar in the shuffleboard room, under the wall unit, afeedin the jukebox!
Ahhhhh, this is music for the soul! Music my Daddy raised me on! When a grown man can sing of cryin in his beer, his dead dog or killin somebody and he’s a HERO. Amuricah!!! Waylon, Willie, and the boys… let’s see, I’ll need some Conway and Ray Price and oh yeah, Gearge Jaones! (but seriously, can’t I get more than THREE songs for my dollar??) Baby, let’s us cut the rug thar on the dancefloor!
Sigh…this has shore been what I needed! It’s so nice and dark and cool in here… almost like time has stood still. In fact, I’m thinking about proddin some of them men in thar to see if they’s alive! But still, a girl can lose herself in here… don’t wurry about yer troubles or the heat or the traffic. What day is it again?
I LOVE being the Duchess of Buddy’s, Home of Happiness (ahh, the irony)…the sad music, the old, weathered regulars, the cheap bear, that lingering smell of cigarette smoke soaked into the flooring like Honky Tonk tears… I aim to keep my title forever! (or at least until Mike L remembers to start checking in!)

When I was scouting for a place to have my double quince, this was not on the list…
But when I met some friends here for some beers one random Saturday, I fell in love.
Maybe it was the John Wayne image on the front, maybe it was the promise of happiness… maybe it was the presence of so many confederate flags. But it probably was the bathroom wall covered in a birthday balloon table cloth and the jukebox that only blares country tunes. And the wood paneling.
The friendliest, most attentive, wonderful bartender in all of Austin– Melissa. Seriously, go meet her Wednesdays-​Saturdays. She’ll be there, remembering your name or calling you ‘love’ or ‘sweetie’
Check it out, love it. Tip well.
BYOB, they serve bottles of beer and wine.
Two pool tables, open til Midnight.
& Expect to see a dog or two in the bar.
$ 10 minimum on cards

And this one night (And this one night)
There was a cake (There was a cake)
The tastiest cake (The tastiest cake*)
That you ever did eat (That you ever did eat)
Well, the cake on a plate
And the plate for a birthday**
And the birthday for a friend
And the friend getting the backroom
And the backroom just for us
And us hogging the jukebox
And the jukebox almost free
Almost free were our set-​ups
And the set-​ups making drunks
And the drunks hollerin’ at us
And us at the hole
At the hole in the wall
And the friends had drinks all around, all around
And the friends had drinks all around.
* Thanks Rezrie
** Awright, Dolomike

My beer was so cold it was hard to hold. That was the first indication this place was going to rock my life. Wait, actually that’s a lie. The first thing was the fact that you walk into this blue cinder block building and are immediately stared down by the regulars.
I adore places that have regulars — ten gallon hat, five gallon mustache, i love my country and god bless america regulars. My friend and I open the door, not knowing what to expect and BAM! a pool table, regulars, shufflboard and a mannequin cowboy. Holy hell this is my kinda place.
In addition to the above, there’s a roxanne red light in the bathroom, beer signs and photos all over the walls, BYO, sad country songs and a cut out plywood picture opportunity of a farmer and a sheep. Much like Buddy’s, you have to see it to believe it. Sooner, rather than later