Review of Lustre Pearl Bar

The Lustre Pearl Bar opened just south of downtown Austin in the spring of 2009 and takes shabby chic nearly to the extreme, if not just past it. If you’re tired of dressing up for 4th Street or sick of crowded, noisy 6th Street, you’ll find The Lustre Pearl Bar to be a breath of fresh air. It is the type of place you could easily pass by and not notice. However, the unusual decor, the quiet location and the diverse crowd it attracts is what really makes it stand out from the rest.

Address:
97 Rainey Street
Austin, TX 78701

Phone:(512) 469-0400

The Lustre Pearl Bar sits unassumingly in an old, stripped-out home off I-35 amongst older, somewhat broken-down houses. The area is a bit sketchy, but once inside the bar, it feels very safe. The Lustre Pearl attracts an eclectic crowd, with everyone from hipsters to frat boys, and it brings in more than just the younger college kids.

The front yard is gated in, covered in gravel and outfitted with many chairs and tables, perfect for those who prefer conversation over loud music. The fact that it is in a home means it's not just one large, open room; there are several different rooms you can mingle in. There are a few seats in each room and some around the bar, but it’s mostly standing room. Inside, the wood beams of the roof are visible, the walls are ripped apart with exposed plaster and the wood floors are stripped down. But the rooms are painted in soft pastels and outfitted in off-white furniture and trimming, and there are oddly fancy chandeliers hanging form the ceiling which makes the grunginess somehow seem hip. It is a bit sparse, but deliberately so.

On the back wall, a garage door opens to an outdoor patio with hula hoops and a ping pong table that doubles as a beer pong table. This is great a cool night, but I was there on a warm night, and it got a little too hot and sticky.

Music is provided by an old-school jukebox, giving patrons the option to change the soundtrack. It is filled with classics such as Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond and the Beatles in addition to modern rock and indie music such as Elliott Smith, MGMT and Kings of Leon.

The full bar at Lustre Pearl offers nearly every type of drink imaginable, from classic beers to fruity shots. The night I was there, the bartender was extremely friendly and generous. They have specials such as $2 Pearl beer in a can. The mixed drinks are priced reasonably, usually around $4 or $5. A small nicety is that all the bottleneck beers are given to customers in a Lustre Pearl Bar koozie, so you don't have to worry about having cold, wet hands.

Unfortunately, there are zero food offerings, which is disappointing if you usually like snacking during happy hour. There is an IHOP just across the street that you can visit if you are starving.