Here is our list of the best client entertainment ideas in Austin, Texas.
Client entertainment ideas in Austin are unique activities and lively locations where you can socialize with your clients outside a normal work meeting. For example, you can grab drinks at The Driskill Bar, listen to music at Austin City Limits, or head out on Lady Bird Lake with Live Love Paddle. These activities inspire and entertain while fostering deeper relationships with clients.
These experiences are similar to ways to entertain groups in Austin and Austin company outings and serve the same purpose as luxury client gifting.
This list includes:
- VIP client entertainment ideas in Austin
- client appreciation event venues in Austin
- places to bring clients in Austin
- client meeting spaces in Austin
Let’s get started!
List of client entertainment ideas in Austin
Planning engaging and dynamic entertainment for clients in Austin is simple. These activities go a long way to creating an excellent impression and lasting relationships. Here are the best ways to entertain clients in the Austin area.
1. Austin City Limits
When most folks hear Austin City Limits, they think of the weekend-long festival in the fall. However, live concerts happen throughout the year at Moody Theater. Taking a client to a concert is a fantastic way to show them a good time. The big-name acts that regularly perform will likely impress your clients. Between concerts and stand-up, you are sure to find a suitable show. A concert at Austin City Limits is one of the best VIP client entertainment ideas in Austin.
Check out the lineup at Austin City Limits.
2. Esther’s Follies
Esther’s Follies is much more than a comedy show. The talented sketch actors entertain you with skits and jokes throughout a laugh-induced evening. This club is one of the best places to bring clients in Austin. Many who have gotten to experience this show have called it Texas’s answer to Saturday Night Live, but with a unique 6th Street-Austin flare. At each show, you will see the performers poke fun at both political parties along with their hilarious take on pop culture in general. No matter where you stand politically, come with a good attitude and be ready to laugh the night away.
Be entertained at Esther’s Follies.
3. Austin FC
Built in 2021, Austin FC is the first professional athletic franchise in the city. This Major League Soccer team is taking the city by storm as more and more Americans flock to this international sport. The team plays at a state-of-the-art facility. Q2 Stadium is privately financed and sits just south of The Domain, so it is easy to reach from any location in Austin. You can find the game schedule online, and the season generally runs from February to October. This sporting event is perfect for large or small groups. Getting a group rate at the box office is simple.
Head to the pitch and catch an Austin FC match.
4. Austin Wine Tours
One thing Austin has no shortage of is wine, beer, and liquor stops in and around the city. If you book an outing with Austin Wine Tours, then the company does all the work of choosing watering holes for you. The driver will pick you up at a place you choose and drive you to Dripping Springs, just outside of Austin, or to Fredericksburg. This company can accommodate groups of all sizes. Simply reach out to the tour company, choose the wineries you wish to visit, set the date, and then enjoy the ride. This event is best reserved for groups over 21 years of age. You can plan this event more than once, and each trip will be different because there are so many locations.
Book your excursion with Austin Wine Tours.
5. Austin Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs own and operate The Austin Spurs. The Austin team is part the G-League, or Gatorade League. The G-League is similar to minor league baseball, but for basketball. This Austin team works hard to hold their own alongside the San Antonio Spurs. The local team has already won the G-League twice, once in 2012 and once in 2018. The Austin Spurs play at the Cedar Park Center, just north of Austin. The G-League season runs from November through March, similar to the NBA schedule. You can entertain your basketball-loving clients right here in Austin.
Find tickets to catch the Austin Spurs.
6. Austin Brewery Tour
If your clients appreciate a good beer, then a brewery tour might be in order. The craft beer scene in Austin has exploded in the last decade, and you will find many options to taste delicious beer. A brewery tour is a fantastic way to sample several breweries without worrying about driving between each one. Each tour starts near River and Rainey St. in Austin at noon. Then, an experienced driver will whisk your group away to visit three local breweries. Attendees do not have to worry about anything except enjoying the day. Austin Brewery Tour takes care of everything else, including tipping the bartenders. If a brewery offers a tour, then you will get a behind-the-scenes look at the beer-making process.
Book Your Austin Brewery Tour.
7. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
A trip to Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the “Adventure of a Lifetime.” The site boasts the three longest and fastest ziplines in the state of Texas. When you book an excursion, the company includes all you need for the day, even bottled water. Plus, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures has a private lakefront where you can enjoy downtime before or after the day’s excitement. You can plan to spend a chunk of the day at the location to enjoy ziplining, then chill out at the beach or in the available hammocks while participants share their experiences.
Book your tour at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures.
8. LBJ Library
Located in the heart of downtown Austin on the University of Texas campus, the LBJ Library is a testament to history. Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President of the United States. He was a dynamic man who commanded every room he entered and mastered the political process. Johnson grew up just outside of Austin and spent his life tirelessly fighting for social reform. Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of LBJ, was a force on her own. Visiting the LBJ Library gives you a background and new appreciation for both of these Americans. You will get the chance to see who this couple truly was, in and out of the political arena. If you have a history-loving client, then a trip to this educational and fascinating library is a fantastic way to show them you appreciate all they do.
Check out the LBJ Library.
9. FC Austin Elite
The women of the FC Austin Elite soccer team have played in Austin since 2016. The team is part of the United Women’s Soccer League, a second-division pro-am league. The games are entertaining, and the women on the team work hard to make each match action-filled and exciting. FC Austin Elite is doing its part to give women a stage in professional sports, you can support them by grabbing tickets to cheer them on. A soccer match is a great appreciation gift for a strong, female client.
Catch an FC Austin Elite match.
10. Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar
If you are looking for one of the most exciting client entertainment ideas in Austin, then consider Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar. A trip to this bar is perfect for small and large groups. You can even book private events to create a special night your client will remember for years to come. At each show, high-energy musicians entertain attendees with hits from every musical era on various instruments. This dynamic show is a delight for all ages and interests.
Head down to Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar.
11. Paramount Theatre
The Paramount Theatre is a landmark in downtown Austin. The theatre opened in 1915 and has hosted icons like Harry Houdini, Katharine Hepburn, and Miles Davis. Currently, you can catch a range of shows, from live music to inspirational talks to plays to classic movies. Be sure to check out their schedule of events to find a time and show that works for your group. You can take in a show and appreciate some Austin history at the same time at the Paramount Theatre.
Find an event at the Paramount Theatre.
12. Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a minor league baseball team. This club is the AAA team under the Houston Astros. This hard-working team plays 140 games between April and September. Each trip to the ballpark is endlessly entertaining for all ages, so this outing is a great one to include families. The tickets are affordable, plus there is free entertainment for kids behind the outfield, like a climbing wall, playground, and bounce house. A Round Rock Express game is one of the best client appreciation event venues in Austin. The team plays just north of Austin, but the drive is very manageable.
Head to a Round Rock Express game.
13. The Bullock Museum
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum sits near the capital in the heart of Austin. This unique location offers visitors a chance to experience the beginnings of this great state along with the area’s ever-changing political, social, and historical landscape. Once at the museum, you will find permanent and temporary exhibits and innovative films. This beautiful venue also has room for client meeting spaces in Austin, so you can plan an evening to entertain a large group.
Check out the Bullock Museum.
14. The Roosevelt Room
A cocktail class at The Roosevelt Room is one of the coolest events in Austin. You can attend one of these public classes, which take place on the second-to-last Sunday of every month from 12:00 to 2:30 in the afternoon. The topic for these classes varies each month, but each session teaches you how to create delicious and unique mixed drinks. If your group is between eight and 100, you can choose to host a private event. Each private event includes three cocktails, appetizers, and hors d’oeuvres. The hosts will also provide thorough instruction on whichever drink or liquor you choose.
Plan an event at The Roosevelt Room.
15. The Gamers Lounge
The Gamers Lounge, conveniently located just off I-35 in north Austin, is the perfect location to host a nostalgic gaming event. This venue has all the classics, like Super Smash Bros and Asteroids. The Gamers Lounge plans special events throughout the week. Or you can plan a private party where guests will have all-you-can-play access to all the games on site.
Check out The Gamers Lounge.
16. Austin Ghost Tour
Austin Ghost Tour is the original haunted walking tour in the city. The hosts have an incredible 25 years of research and investigation into the ghoulish history of the city, so you can be sure your group will experience a night they will not soon forget. The tour guides are each published authors on ghost history throughout the Austin area, and will provide expert-level information. You can choose between four different tours of varying lengths and at different locations.
Plan a night of scary stories with Austin Ghost Tours.
17. Drinks at The Driskill Bar
The Driskill Bar is an elegant and historical stop on 6th Street. Attendees might feel like they have stepped back in time when they climb the grand staircase and grab a seat on the tufted leather couches in the bar. USA Today named The Driskill Bar one of the ten best hotel bars in America, and Southern Living named it The Best Bar in Texas. Expert bartenders thoughtfully curate each hand-crafted drink, and the live music is enough to entertain without overpowering the ambiance.
Grab a drink at The Driskill Bar.
18. The O. Henry House
William Sydney Porter, his wife Athol, and their daughter Margaret resided in Austin from 1893 to 1895. The family called a small house on East 5th Street in Austin home while William worked around the city. Eventually, William Sydney Porter would begin a career writing under the pseudonym O. Henry, and his short stories would help shape America during the early 1900s. Today, attendees can tour his home and learn more about this unique man and what inspired him to write the timeless tales we still read today.
Take a tour of the O. Henry House.
19. Live Love Paddle
Live Love Paddle is your one-stop shop on Lady Bird Lake for a full day of entertainment. Water sports enthusiasts can choose between single or tandem kayaks in a variety of sizes, canoes, nucnaoes, and paddle boards. You can even find watercraft to try before you buy if you love your outing. A unique aspect of choosing Live Love Paddle is that they offer incredible tours. One of the greatest client entertainment ideas in Austin is to observe the infamous bats from a paddle boat or kayak or listen to ACL music from the water.
Plan an outing on the water with Live Love Paddle.
20. Round Rock Donuts
While it might sound simple to suggest entertaining clients with a donut, Round Rock Donuts is no ordinary shop. These baked confections are unlike any you have had before. In fact, several different television shows and magazines have featured Round Rock Donuts, including Travel and Leisure and Man vs. Food. You and your clients can choose a traditional glazed or chocolate donut, or opt for the massive Texas-Sized Donut.
Check out Round Rock Donuts.
Conclusion
Austin is nationally known for its role in the music industry in America. But the city is so much more than the Live Music Capital of the World. The city offers a vast array of entertainment, from lively nightlife to delicious food and world-class bars to sporting events. There are many places to take clients to show them appreciation. If you want to get out of the city, then the possibilities expand even more. You can take clients wine tasting in the Hill Country or to a distillery just outside the city. Whatever you choose to do, Austin is a great place to live, work, and enjoy life.
Next, check out team building ideas in Austin and Austin retreat activities.
Grace He