Lala's

Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! Seriously didn?t Austin pass a no-smoking law a few years back? There is basically no ventilation & the regulars are about as smart as a sack of nails. Lala?s could be one of the best dive bars in Austin but the amount of smoke and smokers completely ruins the hole in the wall charm of this local watering-hole. Pros: Great hole in the wall Cons: Smoke, Smoke, Smoke & NO Ventilation! more

I've been coming to LaLa's for over 10 years... and from what I understand, the place hasn't changed much since it opened 30+ years ago. To this day, it is still an old stand by that I always enjoy when I want to go out. It is smokey... grab a used beer can for an ashtray. Expect to talk to complete strangers when you go because it's often crowded with people begging for the use of someone else's table or chairs and it's not unheard of for someone to just join your group out of the blue. The Christmas decor is great but LaLa's at Christmas time is the very best... cold outside, X-mas music from the 40's on the juke... on the 23rd of December they throw a bar wide Christmas Party and give out prizes that LaLa's been shopping for all year round. Don't go expecting 5 star service or a hoity toity bar. What you'll find is low key, friendly folk who just want you to grab a drink, sit back and enjoy your night there. Our inside joke about LaLa's comes from a night when we were sitting back enjoying the fact that you never have blonde bimbos in hot pink glitter tops trying to get attention at LaLa's... just then a group of men came in, one wearing a hot pink glitter dress... That's LaLa's. Pros: Waitstaff who remember you when you return, fantastic bloody mary, juke box of history smoking allowed, Cons: Small bar, gets pretty crowded on a busy night. more

I give this Bar 4 stars just for keeping people like granny gums herself, Juanita22, away. CPS would love to know that she takes kids and grandkids to bars. Whats worse a lesbian bartender or a drunk mother/granny who takes her little ones to bars? Common give me a break. Hopefully this little bar will run more people like gg further out, like to Round Rock. more

Obviously, Juanita is a homophobe. If you're worried about what bar you're taking you son to, then you're obviously not paying attention. Lala's is a great local bar that is unimposing. If you're looking to go to a place that you can get trashed while bringing your son in tow -- then perhaps you shouldn't come here. Lala's is about local presence, not crazy like downtown, and they serve up good drinks, keep you hydrated (serve yourself water) and they offer pool and foos ball. What more could you ask for? And who doesn't love Christmas year around?! Pros: It's not a mad house -- i't s a local dive bar Cons: none more

Listen this place is awesome and don't let those other reviews fool you. If you are looking for a change of pace from 6th street and a more welcoming atmosphere this is it. So what if the waitress got the order wrong and told you to get your own water, its a dive bar--you arent exactly paying for that kind of service. This place is great. Christmas decore year round, and a juke box with music pre-1980 (if not older). Pros: atmosphere, drink prices Cons: can be smoky more

Lala's used to be a great place for the people that lived in the area. The bartender, Sara, who is a nice person, her kids and grandkids used to come in, a real neighborhood kind of bar. . Now Lala's is a total freakshow. Obviously Lala is a lesbian, but now the bar seems to attract gay men in droves. I think it is time to shut this place down. It would be nice to take my son to have a beer there one day, but not if he is going to walk into a freakshow. I will be actively working to get this bar closed down. Pros: Used to be family type Cons: Gay and Freaks now more

I went to Lala's for the first time a few weeks ago. The group I was with got a table in a section away from the bar. The first offense came when our waitress messed up my cousin's drink order. When my cousin pointed out the error and asked if the bartender would re-make the drink correctly, the server said "No, just be more specific when you order your next drink." Later in the night, I asked our server for a glass of water. She told me that there was a self-serve water dispenser at the end of the bar, and I could get water from it. I'm used to getting my own water at stand-up venues like Emo's and Beerland where no one is waiting on me. But keep in mind that my group and I were SEATED at a table NOWHERE NEAR the bar! On top of the bad service, the bar?s air is heavy with cigarette smoke. Austin passed an ordinance in 2005 that prohibits smoking in all public places and work places unless listed as an exception. Other reviews I?ve read claim that Lala?s is one of those exceptions. However, I don?t believe this claim given that a) official City of Austin ?Smoke-free Establishment? signs were clearly posted throughout the bar, and b) the tables didn?t have ashtrays (but servers were quick to provide empty beer cans to patrons who wanted to smoke! In fact, that?s the only request that elicited a speedy response from the servers!). If you have allergies or asthma, or you just don?t want to smell like a chimney at the end of the night, avoid this bar. To be fair, the bar did have three good points: 1) the jukebox that plays only the oldies, 2) the year-round Christmas decorations, and 3) cheap drinks, all of which made me feel a little merry despite all of the bar?s other shortcomings. more

This is certainly a dive bar and if your expecations are set accordingly, you won't be disappointed. It's got a 70's decor with wood paneling, gold marbled glass tiles on the wall, and some beat up furniture probably from that decade as well. It's kinda refreshing to see that in our fast and furious world, somethings stay the same. The people inside are unassuming and not pretentious. T-shirts and jeans crowd. The staff is very friendly with lots of "hun"s and "shoog"s thown at you. They have a great jukebox that plays oldies you can sing and dance along with. There was plenty of room to sit and a small dance floor by the jukebox. The year round Christmas decorations are unique and I especially liked the "dancing elves" that hang over the bar and drop down when someone goes to the men's room. As they say, it''s always Christmas at Lala's!There are signs that say NO SMOKING, but people still do. One look up at the ceiling tiles and you can see what 20 years of cigarettes probably do to your lungs. Bring cash if you plan to pay as you drink or have a small meal. There is a $10 minimum on credit cards and all machines only take quarters or bills. Pros: friendly service, parking, casual environment Cons: smoking allowed, cash prefered, no outside patio/dining more