SXSW (South by Southwest) is right around the corner and event professionals are in overdrive to claim their real estate for the festival. Here are a few SXSW venues that we love and some we consider to be local hidden gems, perfect for a corporate activation or kick-off party!
Event Spaces
Distribution Hall
For a spacious, customizable venue for your SXSW event, look no further than Distribution Hall. This studio warehouse and hangar complete with a big courtyard, sits in the heart of the east side. Need ideas on how to transform this space? Check out our Dear Media IRL 2024 blog post.
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- Angelica Marie Photo
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- Angelica Marie Photo
Justine’s Secret House
If you search for Justine’s Secret House online, you’ll encounter a password-protected website—hence the “secret”! (Don’t miss the contact email at the bottom of the page to get ahold of their team 👀) This spot is a true hidden gem, featuring a charming New Orleans-style courtyard and a stunning French-inspired interior.
Atelier 1205
Atelier 1205 is a renovated bungalow on the east side, perfect for pop up shops, brand activations and more. We recommend creating a lounge on their front courtyard to welcome SXSW guests!
Assembly Hall
Assembly Hall is one of our favorite new Austin venues. With it’s elegant design and industrial charm, it’s already so cool—minimal effort needed to make it shine. Of course, we always suggest adding stylish rentals. 😉
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- Sam Hugh Photography
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- Claire Schaper
Brazos Hall
With exposed brick, wood rafters, huge windows and an awesome location, you really can’t go wrong with Brazos Hall. We’ve provided rentals and decor for many a SXSW event here and we love to outfit the upstairs deck with lounges!
Bars, Restaurants & More
These spots aren’t just event venues.. they’re restaurants, bars and even places for recreational sports. But trust us, they’ll be awesome for your SXSW event and you’ll get credit for thinking outside the box!
Holiday
One of our favorite places to go year-round (especially for their frozen Mexican Martini 😍), Holiday is a cocktail bar and restaurant on the east side with the most gorgeous indoor space and an expansive outdoor patio. We see so much potential for amazing SXSW events here!
Bar Toti
A cozy, chic neighborhood bar and bistro on Manor Rd. with amazing food and cocktails. Bar Toti is THE place for an intimate event—the vibes are elevated and just right for impressing your SXSW attendees.
Eastside Paddle Club
Pickleball is still all the rage in Austin, so this pickleball social club would be a perfect spot for a fun SXSW event! With a full bar inside and multiple courts, your guests are sure to have a good time at Eastside Paddle Club.
Studio Lavoo
The Flower Shop
We had our company holiday party at The Flower Shop so we can personally attest to this being an awesome place for your SXSW event. It’s three stories of the most fun retro vibes.
If none of these spots have what you need in a venue, head right on over to our Venues inspiration page or feel free to check in with us for recommendations. Happy SXSW Planning! We’ll see you out there in March! 🥳
