Dirty 6th Street

What to know

Dirty Sixth Street is the locally used name for the East Sixth Street section of Austin's famous entertainment district. Located in the city's urban core in downtown Austin, this historic strip has served as the heart of the city for more than a century. Originally known as Pecan Street, its intersection with Congress Avenue was once the central civic and commercial hub during Austin's earliest days. Historically, the street was a welcoming space that defied segregation, opening its shops to a diverse range of customers. Over the decades, the street experienced significant shifts. Following the 1928 City Plan, the area went into a decline, but it was later revived by historic preservation efforts that began in the 1960s. In 1975, a nine-block portion of the street was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Sixth Street Historic District. By the 1970s, the area had established itself as a major entertainment district, a reputation that has only grown. Today, the iconic strip is undergoing modern reinvention and cleanup efforts to chart its next chapter. Today, the district is a bustling hub filled with colorful bars, restaurants, food trucks, and live music venues. Visitors can find everything from dive-bar-heavy nightlife to unique speakeasies like the Firehouse Lounge and Midnight Cowboy. Iconic landmarks anchor the street, such as the historic Driskill Hotel, which dates back to 1886. For food lovers, spots like Casino El Camino offer a goth-themed dive-bar atmosphere alongside famous big burgers. Dirty Sixth is also the stage for some of Austin's largest annual gatherings. It regularly plays host to major events like the South by Southwest music and film festival, the Republic of Texas Biker Rally, and the Pecan Street Festival, cementing its status as a world-famous entertainment destination.

Visitor tips

• Expect the street to be closed to through traffic on Thursday through Saturday nights, making it a lively pedestrian-only zone.
• Plan your nightlife visit keeping in mind that the entertainment district venues close at 2 a.m.
• Look out for speakeasy-style cocktail bars like Midnight Cowboy or Firehouse Lounge if you want a break from the loud dive bars.

Nearby context

Dirty Sixth Street sits right in the urban core of downtown Austin. In the city's early history, the nearby intersection of Congress Avenue and Pecan Street (now Sixth Street) served as the epicenter of town. Today, walking down this historic corridor connects you directly to the surrounding downtown district, where modern high-rises meet preserved 19th-century landmarks like the nearby Driskill Hotel.