Our research is editorially independent but we may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

It’s Always Christmas at Lala’s Little Nugget in Austin, TX

Madison is a content writer, editor, and small business owner living in Okinawa, Japan. She focuses primarily on Texas, Colorado, and Japan travel destinations as well as budget-friendly guidelines and hiking trips. Follow her adventures on Instagram @inanydirection_ Read full bio

Trips to Discover Editorial Guidelines

Last updated on April 28, 2023

There’s no need to wait until December to embrace your Christmas spirit when you visit this dive bar in Austin, Texas. Austin is home to a number of weird and eclectic bars, and Lala’s Little Nugget is no different. Complete with holiday decor, a rockin’ jukebox, reindeer on the roof and Christmas cocktails, Lala’s Little Nugget will make you think you walked through a portal leading to the North Pole.

Lala’s Little Nugget opened in October of 1972. When Frances Lala, the former owner of the bar, opened up her establishment, she noticed the walls looked a little bare. Since the holidays were coming up, she decided to put up some Christmas lights and tinsel. As the months went by and Christmas came and went, Frances never took the decorations down. This humble beginning is what grew into a Christmas-themed dive bar in the middle of Texas’ capital city.

Wear your favorite Christmas sweater and spend your Friday night at Lala’s. Although the bar was sold to new owners in 2015 when Lala was 87 years old, the place still has the same charm but with a new patio. Enjoy affordable drinks and one of the best jukeboxes in town, which is full of old school tunes from Elvis, Johnny Cash and the like.

Decor here varies from Christmas lights and tinsel to a wall decorated with ornaments, elves on the shelves and of course a Christmas tree. However the decorations aren’t the only thing laced with holiday spirit. Try one of Lala’s cocktails to really boost your holiday cheer. The Peppermint Hot Chocolate is an ode to the classic drink but with more of a kick, since it’s made with Rumple Minze Peppermint Schnapps yet topped with marshmallows. If eggnog is more your holiday drink of choice, order Grandma’s Secret Nog, which mixes bourbon, rum, brandy, eggnog and vanilla ice cream.

Young hipsters and diehard regulars both enjoy Lala’s Little Nugget. You may not be in the Christmas spirit before you arrive at Lala’s but after a couple cocktails, you’ll be saying “Merry Christmas” before the night’s end at this unique Christmas-themed bar in Austin.

Lala’s Little Nugget Information: