The Best Pub on the Corner {Nickel City}

Bringing Rust Belt Chic to Austin

Words by Abby L. Johnson Photo by Shelby Bella

Looking up and down the old school wooden bar, it’s easy to see that Nickel City attracts a crowd as diverse as the neighborhood it serves. 

Even on Friday afternoons, well before quitting time, every barstool inside this unassuming brick building on the corner of East 11th and Lydia streets is occupied. A comfortable, constant hum of jovial conversation fills the air. Regulars are sipping cold drinks and munching on tater tots or a coney from Delray Cafe, the Detroit-inspired food truck that sits directly outside. This is a typical start to a busy weekend for Nickel City, an easygoing neighborhood pub serving up a selection of beers and curated cocktails.

Co-owner Travis Tober hails from Buffalo, New York, otherwise known as the Nickel City (hence the name). When Travis set out to open a bar in East Austin, his vision was to recreate the kind of place his grandfather might have bellied up to after work. The resulting aesthetic of Nickel City can be described as “rust belt chic,” he chuckles.

Most everything here is imbued with personal meaning. The maroon and gold color palette comes from Travis’s high school colors. Many of the vintage beer and liquor signs adorning the walls come from his grandfather’s garage. And Genesee Cream Ale, a Rochester specialty difficult to find in Texas, is offered on tap. 

“The most popular drink, from day one until now, is the Frozen Irish Coffee,” shares Travis. The runner up is the Nickel City Boiler Maker, which consists of their trademark Genny Cream Ale and a shot of Jim Beam.

Travis marvels at the way Austinites find connection everywhere and is glad that Nickel City gets to be part of that legacy. He explains, “It’s always a hugely diverse crowd in here, which is great. When I first moved to Austin, I was looking around at this little bar, and there was a fraternity girl and a business guy and a punk rock guy all talking. In other large cities, you get kind of compartmentalized. To me, that’s boring.” And there’s nothing boring about the conversations and connections at Nickel City, where everyone comes together to enjoy the simple pleasure of one another’s company.  

Did You Know?  The food truck park directly across the street from Nickel City offers a plethora of options for a snack, including the recently opened Community Vegan. With plenty of plant-based comfort food options, like fried ‘wangz’ and shakes, there’s no reason for anyone to go hungry.

Contact:
1133 E 11th St.
nickelcitybar.com
@nickelcityatx