What it is
The White Horse is an East Austin honky-tonk at 500 Comal St, and it's the real version of what every Downtown bar is trying to fake — actual regulars, actual bands, no theme-park polish. It's open Monday through Saturday from 3pm to 2am, Sunday from noon, so it works as an afternoon stop or a proper night out. There's a live band most nights, and Texas Two-Step lessons run Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm.
The lessons aren't free — they're donation-based, so throw a few bucks in whatever jar or hat is going around. Then, on most nights, a $5-10 cover kicks in after 7:30pm, cash only, so budget for that if you're showing up for the later crowd. A taco truck parks outside most nights if the group wants food without leaving the bar.
Why it works for the group
This is the move if the group wants live music and a real bar instead of another overpriced Downtown spot with a line out front. It's cheap by Austin standards — a few bucks for the lesson donation, a modest cover later, drinks priced like a neighborhood bar, not a tourist markup. The two-step lesson is optional but easy to jump into if the group's up for it — nobody's going to care if you're bad at it, half the room is learning too. Otherwise just grab a table, watch the band, and work through a round of drinks.
It's low-key enough to fit before or after a bigger night out on Rainey or Sixth, and it doesn't require any advance planning — no reservation, no dress code beyond "don't look out of place in a honky-tonk."
Planning tips
When to go: For the two-step lesson specifically, arrive by 7pm Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. If you're just there for a band and drinks, any night works, but check thewhitehorseaustin.com since the live music lineup rotates.
What to budget: $ per person (2026) for drinks and the lesson donation. Bring cash for the $5-10 cover that typically applies after 7:30pm on busier nights — card-only groups should hit an ATM first.
Time to set aside: 2-2.5 hours covers the lesson, some dancing, and tacos from the truck outside.
Good to know
- Where: 500 Comal St, East Austin. Phone: (512) 553-6756.
- Hours: Mon-Sat 3pm-2am, Sun from noon.
- Duration: ~2.5 hours.
- Price: $ per person (2026) — donation-based lessons, plus a $5-10 cash cover most nights after 7:30pm.
- Lessons: Texas Two-Step, Thu/Fri/Sat at 7pm, donation-based.
- Booking: No reservation — check thewhitehorseaustin.com for the band schedule.
- Vibe: Real local honky-tonk, not a Downtown tourist bar.
