The best bars near Q2 Stadium to eat and drink
One of Austin’s top destinations is located in an industrial area north of downtown. Q2 Stadium, a 20,500-seat venue off Burnet Road, is home to the capital’s premier league football team, Austin FC. On game days, this section of North Austin crawls green shirts
While the location of Q2 Stadium may not seem ideal, it is conveniently located within a mile radius of a large concentration of award-winning breweries and other watering holes serving up some tasty Texas food. (Another bonus is that the stadium is easily accessible by train from downtown on Austin’s MetroRail service.)
If you’re looking for bars near Austin’s Q2 Stadium, read on for a list of places that won’t disappoint if you’re looking for a drink or a bite to eat before or after a game, sorted by distance from the stadium
Circle Brewing Co.
Distance from the stadium Q2: 0.4 miles
Simplicity is at the core of Circle Brewing’s lineup. Founders Ben Sabel and Judson Mulherin follow the German purity standards of 1516, meaning the only ingredients in their beers are water, malt, hops and yeast. No fruits, spices, chemicals or other additives are used, making it an ideal Austin FC pre-game bar for beer purists.
Sabel and Mulherin are childhood friends and homebrewers originally from Nashville who moved to Austin in 2008 before hanging up in 2010. Soon after Circle Brewing opened, the awards started rolling in: the Archetype The brewery’s Historical IPA won gold at the World Beer Cup, while Alibi Blonde and Doppel Blur Imperial Hefe have also won major awards. If it’s your first time at Circle Brewing, start with the brand’s first beer, Envy Amber, and follow it up with their first award, Alibi Blonde.
The on-site food truck is Norte Taco Truck, serving authentic northern Mexican tacos. Outside dining is also allowed, and kids (and dogs) are allowed in the tavern if you’re going to the game with a little one.
find it: 2340 West Braker Lane, Suite B, Austin, Texas 78758
HopSquad Brewing Co.
Distance from the stadium Q2: 0.5 miles
This colorful, dog-friendly brewery is a must-see in North Austin. Cousins Alex and Cesar Limon opened HopSquad in late 2019. Alex Limon had an unusual start as a home brewer more than a decade ago, when he moved to the United States from Mexico in his 20s. Because he suddenly couldn’t legally drink anymore, his father gave him a home brewing kit to solve the problem.
The brewery’s name refers to the fact that each beer is its own character on the staff, and each has an Austin reference in the name, such as Oltorf’s Duchess and Dr. Montopolis, both named after local roads. Lord Zanate’s must-try West Coast IPA has the most interesting name: “zanate” is Spanish for “grackle,” a nod to the capital’s infamous blackbirds. The spacious 4,100 square foot tap room is a great place to relax and grab a bite to eat before an FC Austin game.
HopSquad also has its own on-site food truck, Doughsquad, which specializes in pizza, pies and corn dogs. You can also grab something from Mexican food truck Botanitas Los Tres Reyes if you fancy a good taco before football.
find it: 2307 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758; 512-351-9654
Fairweather Cider Co.
Distance from the stadium Q2: 1 mile
Although North Austin is a brewery hub, this cider maker has carved out its own niche near Q2 Stadium. Fairweather Cider’s colorful Tavern is an excellent place for a drink before or after a game. Former roommates and FedEx drivers John Staples and Michael Gostomski White opened in 2017 and focused on making dry cider with Oregon fruit. The duo started out as beer drinkers and used brewer’s yeast instead of wine yeast to make their ciders more beer-friendly.
If you’re stopping in for the first time, you must try Common, Fairweather’s classic dry cider, as well as Tejano Dreams, a dry cider infused with Anaheim chiles. In addition to their own ciders, other wines and ciders are also available, as well as coffee from Austin’s own All Gimmicks. If you’re hungry, try Spicy Boys Fried Chicken.
Oh, and did we mention that Fairweather has a karaoke room available for rent? Sounds like a brilliant way to celebrate a win.
find it: 10609 Metric Blvd., 108A, Austin, Texas 78758; 512-394-5533
Celis Brewery
Distance from the stadium Q2: 1.1 miles
In the spring of 1992, brewer Pierre Celis arrived in Austin from Belgium with something peculiar hidden in his sock: a sample of his original yeast strain. Austin’s first brewery, Celis, opened a few months later. After a decade, Miller Brewing Co. bought Celis and then closed the brewery, shaking a city icon.
In 2017, Pierre Celis’ daughter Christine reached an agreement that allowed her to brew her father’s beer again. He now runs the brewery that bears his name with his own daughter, Daytona Camps, which carries on the family tradition. Must-have drinks include Celis White, the founder’s original witbier first brewed in Belgium in 1965, and Celis Pale Bock, another original recipe. In 2021, the couple debuted a new 12,000-square-foot taproom and outdoor beer garden with rows of picnic tables and that all-time staple: the cornhole.
As for the food, you can choose between pizza and tacos from the couple of food trucks on site. Backdraft Pizzeria is open every day and Con Todo is open Wednesday through Sunday.
find it: 10001 Metric Blvd., Austin, Texas 78758; 512-524-2377
Oskar Blues Brewery
Distance from the stadium Q2: 1.2 miles
This Colorado-based brewery began canning its flagship ale, Dale’s Pale Ale, in 2002, making it a pioneer among craft breweries. When Oskar Blues outgrew its original brewery space in that state, it expanded to include locations in Texas and North Carolina. The brewery’s core beer lineup, along with Austin-only specialties, are brewed on-site at this 50,000-square-foot facility in North Austin. Be sure to try Dale’s Pale Ale and the robust Blacklands Barleywine, made with Texas-grown barley for a tipple that clocks in at 10.4% alcohol by volume.
Drop by on the weekends, before or after an FC Austin game, and you’ll likely see live music. Oskar Blues also has more food options than many of the breweries and bars near Q2 Stadium, with three food trucks on site peddling gourmet burgers, tacos and shaved ice.
find it: 10420 Metric Blvd., #150, Austin, Texas 78758; 512-243-7054
Austin Beerworks
Distance from the stadium Q2: 1.2 miles
Founded in 2011, this sprawling brewery underwent an extensive remodel in 2017. Now, the sleek, modern 5,000-square-foot taproom is one of the best hangouts in town, with a large dog-friendly patio and children with picnic tables and sun. nuances In addition to the core beers that are always available at Austin Beerworks, there are also seasonal and exclusive beers from other craft breweries. We recommend starting with the Peacemaker Anytime Ale, a silver winner at the Great American Beer Festival, before turning your attention to the seasonal selections on the tap beer list.
Food selections rotate among a caravan of on-site trucks, which you can preview on the brewery’s online events calendar. You can also pick up some colorful and unique items from the merchandise store ranging from beach towels to a reusable, unbreakable stainless steel can. Austin Beerworks is also one of the few breweries in the city open seven days a week, so you can stop by no matter when FC Austin is playing.
find it: 3001 Industrial Terrace, Austin, Texas 78758; 512-821-2494