Celebrating a birthday? Partying with your intramural team? Organizing the office happy hour? You're gonna need a bigger bar (or restaurant, or bowling alley). Never fear: we've rounded up five spots around Austin that are perfect for big groups, where everyone is sure to have a great time.
Private Dining: Jeffrey's
Clarksville
For a high-end celebration, book one of this French-inspired fine dining spot's private rooms, which can accommodate up to 12 or 36 people, or the neighboring Josephine House cottage, with room for 26. If that's not big enough, there's also the option of taking over the entire restaurant, which has space for 120 guests. The high-end menu options include wood-roasted crab cakes, aged beef, and baked Alaska.
Private Room Karaoke: The Common Interest
North Shoal Creek
If your group isn't ready to show off for the crowd at this popular karaoke bar, consider renting one of its private rooms, which can accommodate 10 and 30 people, respectively. (If you can manage to sneak out during business hours, they're free to use on weekdays before 7pm—first come, first served.) With a songbook of more than 100,000 tunes, everyone in your group will have something to croon. There's also a full bar and food menu—the famous jello shots, which come in plastic syringes, are particularly great for getting reluctant singers onstage.
Bowling with a Group: Punch Bowl Social Austin
North Austin
Bowling is just the beginning at Punch Bowl Social, which also offers billiards, darts, karaoke, vintage arcade games, shuffleboard,and foosball. But if you're looking to entertain a big group, you'll want to rent out a few of the eight bowling lanes, each of which are large enough to accommodate 10 people. The staff are happy to arrange private access for groups of any size, as well as burgers, wings, beer, and cocktails from the full bar.
Trivia Night: The Ginger Man
Downtown/Warehouse District
Overcome the humpday blues with Wednesday trivia night at The Ginger Man, which has a cult following among Austin's brainiac set. You and your group will want to come early to snag seats, but you'll be rewarded for your efforts with five chances to win: each round features a different topic, and the winning crew gets a round of drinks as their prize. Wednesdays are meant for one thing and one thing only: trivia night. To get your brain cells pumping, the bar offers 50 beers on draft, with a rotating featured brewery every week.
Brewery Tour: Adelbert's Brewery
North Burnet
A specialist in Belgian-style ales, Adelbert's is known for its award-winning Flyin' Monks quadrupel and Black Rhino black ale, among others. It's also especially friendly to groups, which can rent out the entire facility for two-to-four-hour blocks, accommodating up to 40 people. If you've got a smaller crew, consider dropping by on a weekend for a tour: they're offered at 6 and 7pm on Fridays, and 2 and 3pm on Saturdays. Afterwards, grab some bites from the rotating on-site food trucks, and enjoy them at a picnic table on the dog-friendly back patio.
