An Austin original
Carousel Lounge
Serving Austin for Over Sixty Years
An Austin Icon
An Austin icon since 1963, the circus is in town all year round at the Carousel Lounge. It’s a colorful carnival-themed watering hole that’s a hit with the locals and visitors lucky enough to discover it. Elephant and lion tamer murals, plus an actual carousel behind the bar, form a backdrop for live performances.
Live Music
The Carousel Lounge has hosted live music, continuously, for longer than any club in Austin.
The Carousel boasts live music most nights of the week and plenty of room to scoot around the dance floor.
Go for the novelty, stay for the low-key company and local acts.
Carousel Lounge History
The Carousel’s founders were Cecil and Myrtle Meier, a couple who grew up dancing at the SPJST Hall in Taylor. On a visit to New Orleans circa ‘61, they had drinks at the Carousel Lounge in the Hotel Monteleone and fantasized about opening their own one-ring circus in Austin. Their dream came true at 1110 E. 52nd near the freeway.
Cecil and Myrtle kept their day jobs, with him delivering bread for Butter Krust from 4 a.m. until about noon, and her working at an insurance office. Cecil would go right from his route to behind the bar, while Myrtle was the evening bartender. Even after it became legal for clubs to serve liquor by the drink in 1971, the Carousel has always served just beer and wine, plus setups.
Meiers’ daughter Nicki Mebane inherited the club in ‘88. She has run the Carousel Lounge ever since.
Past Awards
2001 – Best of Austin
Best Hostess With the Mostess
2000 – Best of Austin
Most Nostalgic Phone Booth
1999 – Best of Austin
Other Club
1997 – Best of Austin
Best Bars to Relive Your Childhood
1996 – Best of Austin
Places to Say “I was Retro Before Retro Was Cool”
1992 – Best of Austin
Lounge Act
