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    Arriba Abajo

    4.3 (318 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Arriba Abajo Photos

    ARRIBA ABAJO ATMOSPHERE

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    Kevin V.

    This Mexican themed bar and grill in the Thompson Hotel (Tommie) in Downtown Austin is a great escape from the hustle of the city. It's up on the 4th floor next to the roof deck (which means you can place an order to take outside and lounge under a giant umbrella or sneak into the pool (you can reach your arm over the gate). The fish taco and carne asada are both excellent and they have a fantastic drink menu (which is expensive though). Service is mediocre depending on who you get. I've had amazing experience and other times just felt really neglected or ignored...but in general they're good. I really want to go back and try the $150 Mezcal Omakase Japanese experience one day when I get afford it. It's 6 courses with drinks. Let me know if you've tried it.

    Duck polenta
    Diana L.

    The place is nice to go and have a cocktail and a few bites to eat. Both the inside and outside have ample seating and the outside you get to experience the Austin skyline. The service is very hit or miss. Some of the staff is friendly while some others have the act that that they do not want to be there. The good came out pretty quick but had to track someone down a few times for water. The passion fruit margarita was delicious and perfect for a humid afternoon. The chicken al pastor pizza perfect to share, make sure to order more chimichurri sauce to go with the pizza. The polenta duck was a surprise and filled with flavor. Overall an inconsistent experience, depending on which waiter you get. The hostess was very sweet and kind.

    BEST GUAC!!
    Glen N.

    This attractive rooftop cantina feels sophisticated but vacation-casual, indoor and outdoor, Mexico meets Miami, and I assume the vibe level goes up as it gets later. But the five stars is for the guacamole. The Chicken Pibil Quesadilla "Pizza" (chihuahua, cotija, oaxaca, smoked tomatoes, jalapeño, chimichurri, crema, epazote) was good, but the guacamole was stellar, and we are picky. It could have been the pomegranate or the pickled jalapeño or the red onion (all listed on the menu), but I really think they juiced a whole lime. It is like "try to replicate at home" good. It is like "best thing we ate in Texas this trip besides maybe those two slices of butter cake" good.

    Nini M.

    We came here for a bachelorette lunch and although they made a mistake and wasn't ready for us, the manager made sure we were taken care of right away. Was able to sit two tables next to each other. Service was great! Our drinks were always filled and ordered. I got the shrimp salad and it was really good. Shrimp perfectly cooked. Overall experience was great!

    Jess B.

    Our waitress was so sweet and the queso was delicious but they were playing Olivia dean remixes and the ceviche was not very good. Margs were also decent

    Side of rice and beans.
    Niru I.

    Swanky in ATX Awesome vibe and ambience, weather wasn't warm enough to sit outside end enjoy but would definitely like to come back when it's warmer to get that experience. Food was good but not extraordinary. I really wanted to like the mushroom taco but the corn tortillas disintegrated. The mushroom itself didn't seem to have any marinade or spices on it. Atleast I could not distinguish any flavor. The mushroom itself was large , not chopped up and bit chewy and meaty. So in addition to soggy tortilla when I bit into taco the mushroom slid out along with toppings. I ended up ditching tortillas and eating mushroom + filling with my knife and fork. Cocktails were delicious as were chips and guacamole. I think I would definitely come back for drinks and apps but given I don't live in Austin that may be a while away. I found it odd that we had reservations but still waited nearly 15 minutes to be seated.

    Monica Q.

    Such a cute spot! I came here with a girlfriend to hang out and have a light bite, and we were so surprised by how good the fajitas were. Beyond the food, the overall aesthetic of the restaurant is just beautiful. The service was very nice as well and gave great recommendations on food. After we finished eating, we moved out to the outdoor cabanas with our drinks to chat and take some photos. It's the perfect place for a girl's night out. I'd love to come back and try the pizza next time!

    Short rib Barbacoa taquitos
    Jazmin R.

    Dinner here was excellent! Our server was great with keeping up with our 12 person group. I ordered the short rib taquitos and the meat was tender on the inside while the taquito itself held its crunch. Looks like a salad but I promise there's tortilla and meat underneath! Mezcal margarita was smoky and very tasty. We got it in classic but I'd want to try it in mango or passion fruit if I'm back here in the future. Not pictured are all the other apps our group ordered. I'm torn between the ahi tuna ceviche being my fave or the crispy rock shrimp - soooo good!

    Guacamole and chips
    Hoonie K.

    My family had dinner here this past weekend. The setting is really nice. Mexican themed but upscale and trendy. The service was very good. The food was generally good but not great. We had: Quesadilla Pizza (4/5) - Wasn't sure quite what to expect. The portion size of this dish is HUGE. It didn't taste like a qusadill nor a pizza. More like a very hearty dish served on top of a flatbread. Pretty good though. Guacamole (4/5) - Generally a good version of a guac. Pretty tangy and I really liked the flavor/texture of the added pomegrantes on top. Prawn Fajita (4/5) - The server did tell us when we ordered that although it says prawns, expect more normal sized shrimp. Appreciated that heads-up and she was absolutely right (so why call it this on the menu)? Well flavored and cooked. The side of rice and beans did not add much to this dish (not good versions of these). My wife had the duck carnitas - duck cooked like carnitas served on top of a bed of polenta. She said it was okay. Generally and pretty good meal that we enjoyed.

    Fried Shrimp and Tar Tar
    Tina L.

    I decided to give this place another chance after the renovations and it still was just okay. The place is pretty, the staff were attentive, the noise level was a medium but the food just wasn't what I had hoped. The battered fried shrimp were mainly all battered. The portions are smaller but the price weren't matching. The drinks were good! More on the fruity end juice taste like :)

    Spicy Mango Margarita
    Matthew H.

    Nice little rooftop spot in Austin. The drinks were good and the food was decent. The guac was good. Tacos were ok but can probably do better in Austin. But hey, you come here for the vibe and view. I saw a table get the Fajitas and they looked really good.

    Strawberry Mezcal margarita
    Brittany N.

    first thoughts "this place is a vibeeee" and boy was I right. We hadn't made reservations for this Friday night @ 6 pm but luckily it wasn't a big issue, now we didn't get a sit down service table but were able to sit at any of the tables or bar tops where we could go up for the bar to order food/drinks. & that was perfect & really all we needed. We settled for the outdoor bar since we had 2 other people joining us. We came at the perfect time as the restaurant started filling up 45 min after and would have been impossible to find a seat. Chips and salsa were delicious though only one salsa really was good the rest were subpar. The chips however were fantastic (not enough though and we had to order more). Now for the mezcal margs we ordered... they know how to make a mezcal marg probably one of, if not the best I've had. However I will note the bartenders that night weren't the friendliest, each time I went to order I waited patiently and often they met me with direct eye contact and just moved on to someone else and even just stood behind the bar. As a first time customer I was confused as I thought "maybe I was supposed to order somewhere else?" No- that's exactly where I was supposed to go so it was a tad uncomfortable and though I don't expect the bartenders to be conversationalist I do expect a warm and welcoming tone and unfortunately that just wasn't the case. Now, though the service wasn't the best the vibes, drinks, and company we had made it a great time! I'd love to come again with a reservation next time and hopefully change my opinion on the service they provide.

    salmon belly crudo
    Kimberley R.

    This place is a solid 4! What makes it so great is the ambience, the outdoor space is just fantastic! Plus our service was outstanding. I was there with girlfriends celebrating a birthday and this place could not be more perfect. The food was really good. My fav dish of the night was the duck carnitas. The meat was so tender. And of course we enjoyed the margaritas. The location is in the heart of downtown. I highly recommend checking it out!

    Carne asada taco

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    Powder Room

    Powder Room

    4.0
    (136 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Really fantastic experience!…read more The cocktail menu is diverse and fun. The quality of drinks was excellent. My favorite part was the DJ was also playing electric guitar to accompany some of the songs in his lineup. It was really cool. I've never seen a DJ do that before. The whole time we were there the service and ambience and tastes were top-notch, but the DJ piece really created a memorable experience that leaves me wanting to come back.

    The vibes are great, but I'm not sure they are worth the wait. There are two lines: one for…read morewalk-ins and one for those with reservations. We waited maybe 15 minutes at the walk-in line as others progressively started to pile on behind us. Then again, even people in the reservation line were waiting. This is definitely the kind of place that wants you to wait. The kind of place that wants to build a line outdoors to intrigue onlookers. We were treated nicely, but we definitely could have gotten in right away. By the time we walked in, the place was probably at 60% capacity. It was standing room only at the bar, but not overcrowded by any means. There is a dress code, but it's not entirely clear what it is. Some guy dressed to the 9s got turned away for not having sleeves whereas I got in with sneakers and a t-shirt. They ask for your cellphones upon entering and give you a key in exchange, but there doesn't seem to be any security to enforce it if you don't want to give them up. I have no problem with their policy, but I bet a lot of customers do. Interestingly, their little social experiment seemed to have a positive effect, where we ended up talking to strangers and vice versa. The Powder Room may be making America social again.

    Photos
    Spicy margarita
    Spicy margarita
    Leaving Powder Room
    Leaving Powder Room
    Craft Cocktail Lounge

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    Simona's

    Simona's

    4.7
    (92 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Came to Simona's with some coworkers for happy hour and was not disappointed! This place is behind…read morethe Colton hotel off Congress ave. There is a parking lot that you can get validation for 2 hrs free, but after that you will be charged. Overall though, it's totally worth a visit! The bartenders are really friendly, the bathrooms are immaculate, and the inside of the place is really cute -- think kinda pink vintage? There are some tables, and big comfy couches around a coffee table in the middle of the bar which is where we sat. I had one of their happy hour cocktails that was similar to a creamy espresso martini, and they are 50% off on happy hour days/times! My friend got one of their floral cocktails which wasn't discounted but I LOVED it personally. I also got a strawberry matcha drink (non alcoholic) that was a little too sweet in my opinion; I finished it but wouldn't get it again. Overall though the cocktails and vibe in there are worth a visit alone! When it's not too hot, the area outside has little mini-chandeliers and is also very vibey.

    Located inside the Colton House Hotel, Simona's is the hotel's local resident serving coffee by…read moreday, and cocktails by night. I usually only go to coffee shops to work, but today, went on a coffee date with my dog instead. There's ground floor parking in the garage that's complimentary for two hours. I kept it simple with a vanilla latte. I noticed they had tacos at the bottom of the food menu, but at $13.25 for two tacos + an a la carte item, I decided to pass. Maybe my expectations were too high (as usual) because it's inside a hotel, but I was hoping for the kind of warm hospitality hotels are known for, but instead, the service felt a bit cold. It didn't exactly make me want to spend more money there. While sitting on the patio, I spotted the food truck outside and thought, "PERFECT. A food truck HAS to be cheaper. Take that Simona's!" I walked up to the window... only to find out it wasn't actually a separate food truck. It was just the pickup window. To order? I had to go back inside to Simona's and place my order with the delightful staff... I ended up ordering two Blue Migas tacos, and honestly, they were just... good, but nothing memorable. They tasted like your average breakfast tacos that you can find all over Austin for less. Despite loving how relaxing the outdoor patio is with its lucious greenery surrounding you and the beautiful French chairs and cafe tables, it's located right next to the hotel pool. If you're visiting on a summer afternoon, expect some extra noise with pool guests. If you're looking for a quiet coffee or a place to work, I'd recommend coming early in the morning instead.

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    Simona's
    Simona's
    Simona's

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    The Roosevelt Room

    The Roosevelt Room

    4.4
    (925 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$
    Full bar
    Takes reservations

    Upscale yet fun cocktail bar with great staff and drinks…read more Food: 4 Service: 4.5 Atmosphere: 4.5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights - Classy atmosphere - Upstairs has a few tables and a quieter smaller bar - Downstairs has booths tables and a long bar which is a bit more lively - Isaac: skilled bartender that was fun to watch him make the drinks - Great temperature controlled drinks super cold classes--it's the little extra things that make a differene - Some cocktails have very cool glasses: one with a very long stem, a skull, etc. - Martinis: unique shisho and solid vesper - Grilled cheese: looked basic but the gouda and cheddar mix garlic rosemary oil on the sourdough bread, and crispy cheese on edges were great. 4.5 stars - Looks nice but no dress code where the FAQ said come in what you are comfortable in which which I appreciate - Can make reservation on open table and choose upstairs or down Midlights - Downstairs has a different menu than upstairs : down more simple by time period, up more upscale detailed - Pretzels for dessert were just simple tiny crispy choc covered. 3 stars - For the grilled cheese might have been able to go with an upgraded chip from Ruffles--maybe even a Kettle chip Lowlights - Even in quieter upstairs can't hear the bartender when right in front of him - Special board featuring drinks but they were out of the one I wanted

    My boyfriend and I came in for happy hour without a reservation and were seated immediately. The…read morebar had a dark, cozy, and intimate atmosphere. We ordered the Espresso Martini, Vodkadora, French 75, and Pisco Sour. All of the drinks were strong and delicious! The service was fantastic as well. The staff was attentive and friendly throughout our visit. Definitely check this place out if you're in the area! We'll definitely be back to try more drinks.

    Photos
    The Roosevelt Room
    BUCK TO THE FUTURE
 rye whiskey, manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil purée, nardini amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, barrel smoked black pepper
    BUCK TO THE FUTURE rye whiskey, manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil purée, nardini amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, barrel smoked black pepper
    ZOMBIE
 rr tiki rum blend, donn's mix, falernum, lime,
 grenadine, angostura, flamed absinthe, served in a skull with flamed cinnamon powder

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    ZOMBIE rr tiki rum blend, donn's mix, falernum, lime, grenadine, angostura, flamed absinthe, served in a skull with flamed cinnamon powder
    Whisler's

    Whisler's

    4.3
    (676 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    These are moments I think why do I live in San Antonio ( and often work in Austin ) when I can just…read morelive here and enjoy great restaurants, bars and weird gothic haunts like this with weird dark goth decor, a scent of palo santo , superb music, a great crowd and amazing drinks! College me would have lived here !! Enjoyed a French 75, my husband enjoyed a smoked Old Fashioned and it was a great place to grab a drink prior to seeing Springsteen at the Moody seated amongst candles , a weird alter of sorts while enjoying some Stevie Wonder as is playing now though some weird NIN or Type O might have been more appropriate

    I went to Whisler's and had one of the worst bar experiences I've ever had…read more I had one drink. I was completely sober for all intents and purposes. The bartender claimed I was drunk and cut me off anyway. I was at the bar talking to a girl while waiting to get a drink (the wait was long because the service is very slow, despite the bar not being very busy at all). She was clearly into me, and the bartender kept jumping in trying to talk to her too (instead of doing his job making drinks). He was doing all sorts of things to try and flirt with her and make her laugh: pulling out and showing her buckets of pre mixed cocktails, running and sliding under the bar, etc. She was engaging with both of us , and right in the middle of that, I get cut off out of nowhere. No explanation other than claiming I looked drunk, which I very clearly wasn't. It felt very clear what was going on--he wanted me out of the way. I left and asked the bouncer on my way out if I seemed drunk. This was literally two minutes later. He said no, not at all, and asked me why I would even ask that. I then told him exactly what happened and asked him to let the owner or whoever was in charge know about this extremely unprofessional conduct so they can discipline the bartender. His response was that the bartender has discretion to cut anyone off, and let me know the bartender is supposedly married so he couldn't have been flirting with any of the customers. Well, sounds like his logic is flawed--not only COULD he flirt with his customers, he WAS, and was therefore cheating. I hope his wife finds out. This is perfectly representative of Austin customer service lately and not normal in other places. I was in Tampa for an entire month earlier this year and this would've been unthinkable there. I'm not coming back.

    Photos
    Side bar
    Side bar
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Main bar

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    Main bar

    Arriba Abajo - mexican - Updated July 2026

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