If you're on the Lakeway, Steiner Ranch or Bee Cave side of Lake Travis, the closest full liquor store is Monarch Liquor's Lakeway location at 1700 Ranch Road 620 N #107B, Austin, TX 78734, next to Don Mario Mexican Restaurant. It's open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 9pm, and closed Sunday under Texas law. It has a walk-in beer cave, a 17-door cooler, and online ordering for curbside pickup or delivery.
Lake days have a rhythm: somebody's hitching the boat, somebody's hunting for sunscreen, and somebody realizes at 9:45 in the morning that the cooler is empty. That last person is who this guide is for. Here's where to stock up near Lake Travis, when we're open, what actually holds up on the water, and the handful of rules worth knowing before you shove off.
The Lakeway Store: Minutes From the Water
Our Lakeway store sits at 1700 Ranch Road 620 N #107B, Austin, TX 78734, in the shopping center next to Don Mario Mexican Restaurant. It's a straight shot up 620 from Bee Cave and an easy hop from Steiner Ranch, Hudson Bend, and the marinas along the south shore, which makes it the natural last stop before the lake.
It's also our biggest store. The walk-in beer cave keeps cases and singles cold enough to go straight into the cooler, and the 17-door cooler runs the length of the wall with seltzers, canned cocktails, Topo Chico, and everything else that tastes better ice-cold. The spirits and wine selection is the full deal, not a gas-station rack, so you can grab tequila for ranch waters and a decent bottle for dinner in the same trip.
Hours, and Why We're Closed on Sunday
Both Monarch stores are open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 9pm. Texas law only allows package stores to sell from 10am to 9pm Monday through Saturday, and they must close on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. When Christmas or New Year's falls on a Sunday, package stores close the following Monday too. Grocery and convenience stores follow different rules for beer and wine, so a Sunday lake run is still possible; you just won't find liquor. Plan a Saturday stop and the whole weekend is covered. Questions? Call us at (512) 614-4949.
What to Bring to the Lake
The lake rewards cans. They're lighter than glass, they chill fast, and a lot of parks and marinas around Lake Travis restrict glass on the water anyway. Our short list:
Canned cocktails and seltzers
Ranch water in a can is the unofficial drink of Lake Travis. Lone River and Ranch Rider are both Texas-born, and we usually have both cold. Hard seltzers are the crowd-pleaser for the people who "aren't really drinking" (they are). We wrote a whole Ranch Water guide if you'd rather make yours from scratch.
Texas beer
Lake beer is a numbers game: cold, light, and enough of it. Lone Star, Shiner, and Karbach cover the classics, and the beer cave usually has a few local craft cans for the person who wants something with more to say. Bring a 12-pack more than you think you need. Lake math is unforgiving.
Topo Chico and mixers
Topo Chico is the lake's water of choice, for mixing or just for hydrating between swims. Grab limes, a bag of ice, and something non-alcoholic for the designated driver, on the road and at the helm.
Cooler math
Figure about one drink per person per hour on the water, plus a pound of ice per person. For a six-person afternoon, that's roughly two cases of cans and a 20-pound bag of ice (though this is Texas, so the ice goes first). More on planning quantities in our party calculator guide.
Boat Rules and TABC Basics
Texas treats boating while intoxicated the same way it treats drunk driving, with the same legal limit and real penalties. Whoever is at the wheel of the boat should be the one holding the Topo Chico. Passengers of legal age can generally have a drink on board, but the operator shouldn't, and neither can anyone under 21. The person driving home from the boat ramp is in the same boat, so to speak: no open containers in the vehicle. Some parks, marinas, and rental companies have their own rules on alcohol and glass, so check before you load the cooler; for the legal specifics, check TABC and Texas Parks and Wildlife.
At the register, we check ID and we don't sell to anyone under 21 or to anyone buying for a minor. That's the law, and it's also just how we run the store.
Shop this guide: browse cold beer, seltzers, and canned cocktails online and pick them up curbside at Lakeway on your way to the water.
SHOP BEER & SELTZERSOrder Ahead and Pick Up Curbside
The smartest lake move is ordering before you leave the house. Place your order online, choose curbside pickup at Lakeway, and we'll have everything bagged and cold when you pull up; no circling the parking lot with a boat trailer. Delivery is available too, handy when the lake house has everything except the one thing everybody wanted. Delivery area and details are on our delivery page. Someone 21 or older with a valid ID has to receive the order either way.
On the East Side? We've Got You Too
If you're on the other end of town, our East Austin store is at 1902 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Austin, TX 78702, on the corner of MLK and Chicon, next to JuiceLand, Austin Daily Press, and The Wheel. Same hours, same family, same phone number. It stocks the same lake essentials and makes a quick stop before the drive out.
Both stores are run by the same father-and-son team that opened Monarch in 2020. Ask us what's cold, what's new, or what goes with brisket at a lake house. Recommending the right thing is genuinely the best part of the job. Our FAQ covers the rest.
Lake Travis Liquor Store FAQ
Is there a liquor store open on Sunday near Lake Travis?
No. Texas law closes all package (liquor) stores on Sunday, so no liquor store near Lake Travis is open that day. Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and wine on Sunday under different rules. Stock up Saturday before 9pm.
Can I drink on a boat on Lake Travis?
Passengers 21 and over can generally drink on a boat in Texas, but the person operating the boat is subject to boating-while-intoxicated laws with the same limit as driving a car. Many parks and marinas also restrict glass. Check TABC and Texas Parks and Wildlife for the specifics.
Does Monarch Liquor deliver to Lakeway and Lake Travis?
Yes, we offer delivery and curbside pickup from our Lakeway store through our online ordering site. Coverage area and details are listed on our delivery page, and someone 21+ with a valid ID must be present to receive the order.