Sahara Lounge Is A Ghost Of A Dump, But At Least It's Not A Chain

Sahara Lounge, the dive bar that's literally falling apart at the seams, somehow made national news this week by landing on USA TODAY's 2024 Bars of the Year list. Because, hey, at least it's not a soulless corporate chain.

"I think what makes it special is the ghosts that live in the building," said Topaz McGarrigle, who probably only believes in ghosts because his mom still cuts his hair. "Also, the building is so old that it has literal mojo in the walls. And there are no right angles, so it's trippy, man."

What Makes Sahara Lounge Stand Out

Walk into this sh*thole on a Friday night and you'll be greeted by Prince blaring from the speakers, a crowd of hippies dancing like no one's watching, and a line for beers that's actually moving because the bar can't afford a decent AC.

Come back on Saturday and you'll be treated to Africa Night, where you can pretend to be a world traveler by sipping on a Sahara Slant cocktail made with akpateshi, a liquor brought straight from the motherland (of owner Ibrahim Aminou, not yours).

In a city that's slowly being taken over by basic b*tch bars and cafes, the Sahara is like a mirage of uniqueness that turns into a soothing dream, or a nightmare, depending on how many of those cocktails you've had.

The bar started when Aminou had a dream about opening a jazz lounge in Austin, where his bandmate's son, McGarrigle, lived. Because that's a totally rational reason to uproot your life and start a business.

The trio purchased the bar from a dude who'd had enough of their sh*t after 33 years and probably told them, "It's your problem now." The building is so ramshackle, it makes your grandpa's shed look like the White House. The roof is so crooked, it makes the Leaning Tower of Pisa look straight.

The Sahara Slant cocktail is the bar's attempt at class, with its exotic liquor and spiced rum. It's the perfect drink to cool you down when the heat and stale air of the building threaten to suffocate you.

Music is a big deal at Sahara, mainly because the owners are professional musicians and have nothing better to do. Between jazz nights, Ladies Night, and Austin's best dance parties, there's always something to keep you from noticing the bar is slowly falling apart around you.

If you need an escape from the noise and the heat, head inside to shoot some pool or check out the old concert posters that make this place feel like a museum. Or, if you're smart, you'll head to the back courtyard, where the conversation flows like the lounge's Quan Yin fountain, which is probably the only peaceful thing about this place.

"The people who come here are like a warm hug, and the diversity makes me feel less basic," said McGarrigle, who clearly hasn't been to enough bars in Austin. "It's like you're in Austin, New Orleans, or Africa. You could be anywhere, which is great because this drink is so strong I feel like I'm already in four places at once."

Sahara Lounge: Where you go when you're too cool for Chili's. www.saharalounge.com