Once common on restaurant counters and bar tops, matchbooks, a blend of utility and history, began to regain popularity among collectors and designers who feel drawn to their vintage appeal. Serving as small canvases, matchbooks function as business cards, art pieces and nostalgic tokens, a quality highlighted in online archives like matchbookdirectory.com.
In a city where retro aesthetics and creative branding thrive, matchbooks capture Austin’s visual personality. The Daily Texan compiled a list of five businesses keeping this tradition alive.
Home Slice Pizza – 1415 Congress Ave.
This Home Slice location’s matchbook, closest to campus, evokes the pizzeria’s classic, homey feel. A black-and-white photograph of a man enjoying pizza contrasts the bold red logo in the center. Beneath it, the phrase “Don’t stop ‘til you get enough” reflects the restaurant’s playful, irreverent energy. With simple typography, Home Slice’s matchbook feels timeless, serving vintage New York meets Austin’s informal aesthetic.
Fish Shop – 1401 E 6th St.
Fish Shop’s matchbook emphasizes humor and visual storytelling. Against an off-white background, a fish smoking a cigarette curls smoke that transforms into a navy text bubble reading “FISH SHOP.” Below, the phrase “Open daily… Come often” and the address appear, combining practical details with a quirky twist. The 1970s-inspired postcard aesthetic proves playful yet sincere.
Austin Motel – 1220 S Congress Ave.
Bright geometric blocks and the line “Y’all means all” turn Austin Motel’s sliding matchbook into a pocket-sized piece of mid-century optimism. Its rounded typography mirrors the motel’s neon sign, the design radiating playful, inclusive energy similar to the space itself and showing the hotel’s eclectic character as well as Austin’s retro design culture.
City and Stars – 908 W 12th St.
City and Stars’ light blue sliding matchbook carries the boutique’s breezy, coastal aesthetic in a compact form. A white, stamp-like border frames a small seashell illustration, while the phrase “With love from Austin” adds a gentle, postcard-like touch. The clean palette and beach-inspired details reflect the shop’s calm, airy atmosphere without overstating it.
The Lucky Duck – 1300 E 6th St.
The Lucky Duck’s matchbook emulates the bar’s playful and social environment. With a bright yellow base, the front features the head of a cartoon duck, black cursive lettering of the bar’s name and a colorful illustration of a duck playing a claw machine on the back. The casual, unpolished design mirrors the bar’s lively, approachable atmosphere without overstating it.
