The Broken Spoke, Austin
20 people recommend, 6 warn against itvia r/Austin, r/texas27 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Most people recommend the Broken Spoke, a long-running Austin honky-tonk, and many point to its country dancing and two-stepping. A couple praise its mixed, family-friendly crowd and one rejects the tourist-trap label. Several people would skip it, including one who finds the beer poor, one who advises queer people against its dance lessons, and one repeat visitor who says it has declined. Another commenter says its decor looks unchanged and worn.
Address
Broken Spoke, 3201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
At a glance
- Opinions divided
- Yes
- Known for
- Country dancing
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to The Broken Spoke, Austin, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/Overall-Umpire2366 in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Simply names Broken Spoke as the answer.
- Recommendsu/Coujelais in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Lists Broken Spoke among spots that cover the options well.
- Caveatu/sugarplumfury in r/Austin · Dec 2024
Advises skipping it, citing an older crowd and a negative reputation.
- Recommendsu/livemusicisbest in r/texas · May 2025ambience
Urges visitors to try the country dancing here, calling it a one-of-a-kind old-style Texas experience.
- Recommendsu/rtorrs in r/texas · Aug 2024
Suggests Broken Spoke in Austin when asked for the real Texas experience.
- Recommendsu/Alarming_Elk_7918 in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Defends it as an Austin institution and rejects the tourist-trap label.
- Recommendsu/Jackdaw99 in r/Austin · Nov 2025ambience
Praises the mixed, family-friendly crowd as a great thing about the place.
- Recommendsu/iLikeMangosteens in r/Austin · Sep 2026ambience
Named as a calmer alternative to busier bars.
Show all 27 cited comments
- Recommendsu/chzburgers4life in r/Austin · Nov 2025ambience
Loved the vibe and would go back.
- Recommendsu/brzantium in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Gives a one-line pick of Broken Spoke.
- Recommendsu/BeneficialType6789 in r/Austin · Aug 2026
Goes there regularly to two-step.
- Recommendsu/porsche76e in r/Austin · Feb 2025
Lists it among Austin favorites that have lasted for decades.
- Recommendsu/caguru in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Names Broken Spoke among few spots with genuine progressive two-step.
- Recommendsu/briray14 in r/texas · Aug 2024ambience
Says the Broken Spoke has long been a fixture they knew from childhood and offers the authentic local vibe.
- Recommendsu/aidanthatguy03 in r/texas · Aug 2024ambience
Finds the Broken Spoke's look appealing and judges it promising, based on the earlier suggestion.
- Mixedu/Substantial-Low in r/Austin · Oct 2025ambience
Disagrees it has declined; says the decor looks unchanged and worn.
- Recommendsu/tunafishbrain in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Says it belongs near the top of the list for an old-school experience.
- Recommendsu/Mother_Knows_Best-22 in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Gives a bare pick of Broken Spoke.
- Recommendsu/WallyMetropolis in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Agrees the parent's named spots make up the top group.
- Caveatu/Relative-Habit-9248 in r/Austin · Oct 2025service
Something about it felt off-putting on a visit.
- Recommendsu/kanyeguisada in r/texas · May 2025ambience
Agrees with the parent's Broken Spoke tip, seconding it as a worthwhile country dancing experience.
- Caveatu/HonkyTonkTim in r/Austin · Dec 2024
Advises queer people against taking dance lessons there; says other lesson options around town are fine.
- Caveatu/DraperPenPals in r/Austin · Dec 2024
Says skipping it is no loss: poor beer, flat energy, and it doesn't live up to its legend.
- Caveatu/yourwhippingboy in r/Austin · Dec 2024
Says they'll avoid it, agreeing with the earlier advice to skip it.
- Recommendsu/AnotherShrubbery94 in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Calls Broken Spoke a must-know favourite for locals and visitors.
- Recommendsu/naughtynillawafer in r/Austin · Dec 2024
Suggests it as a nearby spot with dancing and country sounds.
- Caveatu/Simons_fede in r/Austin · Oct 2025
Repeat visitor who feels it has declined and is overrated.
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Freshness
Details last checked 11 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.