A thirst has finally been quenched in Austin for an Irish pub in the city center. The Dead Rabbit, originally opened in 2012 in New York City by Belfast-born publican Jack McGarry and partner Seán Muldoon, has opened its first location outside of the Big Apple.
In 2020, B.D. Riley’s closed their downtown Austin location to focus efforts on the Mueller neighborhood further northeast. Subsequently, Kelly’s Irish Pub opened in 2022 in the Oltorf neighborhood, bringing Irish fare to Austinites south of the river that divides the city. The Dead Rabbit, just blocks away from the Consulate General of Ireland, has completed Austin’s trinity.
Operating out of the historic Hannig Building on 6th Street – which previously housed B.D. Riley’s – The Dead Rabbit Austin boasts a more upscale atmosphere than the other two Irish pubs in the city. McGarry has spoken publicly about his desire to challenge American perceptions of Irish pubs as sports bars or dives, an approach that is evident in the carefully curated art and furniture throughout the taproom.
The Dead Rabbit Austin is going to be incredible, y’all. They are stuffing that bar to the brim with absolute legends. I’m so stoked for yall. Wish I’d be around for opening day
I’m usually not at all a fan when famous spots open an outpost, but they are doing this one right 🫡
— Dumpling Queen 🇵🇸 (@LadyDumplings) April 30, 2024
McGarry chose Austin as the first city for a Dead Rabbit location outside of New York in recognition of Austin's “burgeoning tech industry … supported by a healthy tourism sector". The burgeoning "Irish expatriate community” in the city was also a factor in the decision to chose Austin over New Orleans.
Speaking after the opening night party, McGarry said the Austin team still had "a lot of work ahead of us". "(We) are wrestling with many issues normal for any new business, but we’re delighted to be part of the Austin community and to showcase the very best of Irish culture in the capital of the Lone Star State," he added.
On Linkedin, McGarry responded to the Why Austin? question.
"When we restructured the company a few years ago and decided upon our strategy, we set out to find a store that aligned with our criteria. During this search, 200-204 E 6th Street fell into our lap towards the end of 2022," he wrote.
"Austin is a rapidly growing city, evidenced by a skyline punctuated with cranes, a population of around one million, and a diverse cultural scene. It’s known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” with one of America’s best comedy scenes and rich music festivals. The city also boasts some of America’s best bars.Furthermore, Austin has a thriving economy with a burgeoning tech industry, often called “Silicon Hills,” supported by a healthy tourism sector, attracting diverse customer segments that align with our sandbox constituencies.
"Our location is on the ground floor of the Hanning Building, a stunning Victorian structure built in 1875, aligning with our focus on architectural personality and substantial street-level presence. Situated on 6th Street, historically known as Pecan Street, in Downtown Austin, it offers a competitive and vibrant location."
A teetotaller who has written candidly about his addiction and mental health struggles, McGarry is aware of the pressure that comes with the territory of running American's best bar.
"I love the journey we’re on and the immense responsibility that comes with being a leader and creating cool things with our team," he writes, "but it’s important to communicate how taxing it can be, underscoring the importance of leaders eating first at times, not last, so we can all be the leaders our teams need and also to ward off individual burnout and company stall out.”
Which isn’t to say that Austin’s bar aficionados have been uniformly positive about the new hostelry, Guinness connoisseurs have taken issue with the pub’s three-stage pour of the black stuff. Their divergence from the standard two-stage pour common to Irish pubs around the world has generated controversy but The Dead Rabbit team stands resolutely behind it.
When this writer visited the pub to taste the stout for myself, it did not diverge noticeably in taste or appearance from any other good pints I have sampled in Ireland or the U.S.
Mark McLaughlin, the Director of Irish Whiskey for The Dead Rabbit, who happened to be onsite, explained that the team had hotly debated the method over the years, but stuck with it for purposes of consistency. Though he noted that spirits, not beer, are his speciality, he said that the third, very brief pour is a good way to ensure proper domage on a more consistent basis without compromising the taste.
Acclaimed modern pub highlights Irish-Texan connections in new Austin home https://t.co/hzf5Afddwi pic.twitter.com/sknKu9qHrZ
— CultureMap Austin (@CultureMapATX) July 8, 2024
McGarry is unlikely to let off-stage voices distract him from his mission though. A prolific chronicler of his business story on Linkedin, he has written often of his laser focus on excellence.
Prices and pint-pouring practices are not the only things that make the Dead Rabbit unique in Austin. Thanks to the deliberate location of Neighbourhood Café right next door, this stretch of 6th Street offers Irish fare in the wee hours of morning and into the dead of night. Neighbourhood Café was founded by Oisin McEvoy and Ryan Crown in Belfast in 2021, and has made its first step outside of Ireland with the Austin location.
While the move to open an Austin location has long been in the works, it is not the end of The Dead Rabbit’s ambitions to expand. Boston and Washington, D.C. are slated to receive their own locations in short order. In parallel with the Austin expansion, The Dead Rabbit team have launched The Irish Exit, a fresh take on Irish fare at transit hubs and airports. The first location at Moynihan Train Hall in New York has proven a smash-hit with travellers.
The contemporary all-day Irish pub focuses on “exceptional service designed for those on the go”, weaving together modern Irish drinks, food, culture and hospitality.
Dead Rabbit co-founder Jack McGarry said: “Transit hubs lend themselves to simple and accessible venues, and there’s an opportunity and demand for a compelling new concept that does this in a thoughtful way through Irish hospitality.”
Though The Dead Rabbit Austin has only been open for a few weeks, the pub has made a splash by bridging the gap between the two Irish pubs in Austin. With friendly and attentive staff, finely poured pints, and an eye towards innovation, the Dead Rabbit has brought the spirit of Belfast to the heart of Texas.
