Austin's Nickel City breaks into North America's best bars 2025 list. See where it ranked.

Yahoo

16-04-2025

For the first time, Nickel City has landed at number 70 on the extended ranking of North America's 50 Best Bars 2025. The East 11th Street establishment, which has occupied the same historic site since 1934, is lauded for its commitment to serving cold beer and classic mixed drinks in a laid-back atmosphere. Under the stewardship of owner Travis Tober, Nickel City has become a beloved Austin bar, even gaining attention for its elaborate annual Halloween transformation into Moe's Tavern from "The Simpsons" and its festive Christmas bar pop-up.
The news comes following the recent announcement that 50 Best, the organization that annually ranks the best restaurants in the world, is launching its own North American spotlight.
Nickel City is not about the bells and whistles. It is about the feeling. The kind of feeling food critic Matthew Odam had captured in the Statesman's 2024 Best Bars Guide, dubbing it "Rust Belt porn." That yearning for the unpretentious corner bar, the brick walls whispering stories under the glow of vintage beer signs, the flickering black-and-white TV a silent observer. Nickel City, with its roots digging deep into the soil of Buffalo and Detroit, embodies that authenticity. The tap highballs, the cheap beers served with a shot – a reward for a long day, a prelude to a longer night.
But Nickel City is more than just a consistent neighborhood joint. It has a playful side, a willingness to embrace the unexpected. For two glorious weeks every October, the bar sheds its familiar skin and transforms into Moe's Tavern. It's uncanny how perfectly the corner location lent itself to the role. As the Austin air (attempts) to chill in December, Nickel City morphs once again, this time into a cozy, slightly off-kilter Christmas bar. Twinkling lights adorn the familiar brick walls, tinsel draped across the beer signs. Festive-themed cocktails, some delightfully tacky, others surprisingly delicious, replaced the usual standbys.
Seventy. It is not the top spot, but it is recognition. A nod to the unwavering dedication to keeping it real, to serving up exactly what they promised: classic whiskeys, long, easy-drinking concoctions, and my personal favorites, ice-cold Miller High Life ponies (the champagne of beers, of course). And when hunger pangs struck, the glow of the food truck next door promises mouthwatering smashburgers, crispy chicken wings, and a comforting pile of tater tots. Number 70 is a recognition of the enduring appeal of a place that knows exactly what it is and isn't afraid to be itself.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: North America's best bars 2025: Find out Nickel City Austin's rank