The Elephant Room is one of Austin's most widely known jazz venues. It is located below street…read morelevel on Congress Avenue. If you are claustrophobic, this might not be the best place for you. From the street level, you walk down steps to enter the club. This basement club delivers an authentic jazz experience. The dim lighting, narrow long room, and close seating create an intimate atmosphere. Live jazz musicians are hosted every night of the week, often with multiple sets, featuring a mix of local musicians, rotating house bands, and visiting musicians. Because of the tight space, you are always close to the stage. Tonight's headliner was the Concept Orchestra. Cover tonight was $7. Cocktails range $14-16. The room was pretty tightly packed creating positive vibes.

Elephant Room in Austin is a cozy basement bar that keeps you cool while you listen to shades of…read moresmooth jazz and blues. It is a fun little place with nice folks working there. The stage is a little weird angled relative to the audience but I guess that's a space constraint. While they do not serve food, that I know of, they have a standard selection of well drinks and cocktails to enjoy. You are coming here for the live music and underground vibes. If you are looking for a relaxed spot in Austin to beat the heat, grab a drink, and catch some amazing live tunes, Elephant Room is a fantastic place to spend an evening.

Came here randomly for the 4th of July to a free cover band show. This is probably one of the only…read morefew bars in the small vicinity of south congress. Other things will be a longer walk away. Service here is fine. Expect drink prices to match the area. This is more of a bar with a stage than a club. Good to see some rock and metal in the area.

A friend asked me was I interested in listening tosome live music tonight. Absolutely! First stop…read morethe Continental Club on S. Congress. This place is an Austin institution and one of the best places in the city to experience live music. This historic venue has been a local hangout for great music since the 1950s. The club was dimly lit with lots of stickers, graffiti, neon signage, paintings and interesting artifacts. While it has been a long time since I have been to the Continental club, it still felt truly Austin and very unpretentious. In the Continental Club you are literally I feet away from the live music. A dog was sleeping on stage, which made the place feel homey. The club is small and intimate, exuding a super personal persona. In addition, the sound quality is excellent for such a small venue. Tonight we listened to Hot Club Cowtown...they sounded folksy and a bit country western yet enjoyable to listen to. Folks were boot scooting, so maybe more country western. Mike the doorman was super personable and helpful. He happily provided the WIFI password and was super engaging. In addition, it is important to note the cover was free until 9 pm. The crowd was a mix bag...locals, tourists, and musicians who love live music. Austin is affectionately known as the "Live Music Capitol of the World". Great music...great time!

Lots of good shows here including this residency by Gary Clark Jr currently. I've seen blues, pop,…read moreelectronic, and country shows here. I've been to great SXSW parties here and great discussion panels. Apparently they have legendary hot dogs too. And the bartenders are usually really nice.

Found an event on FEVER for a Jazz Room show and grabbed a ticket. You can def tell this place has…read morehistory and the inside is quite quaint. Seating for the event was tight, made me wonder what the capacity code is as even I, under 5'5, had little leg room. Think airplane rows, very tight. Felt bad for taller peeps. The band was great, all had solos throughout the performance and gave their own version of each song. You could feel the energy in the room and I wish the show was longer than and hour. Didn't partake in any drinks, so I can't speak to the bar service.

Absolutely fantastic experience! We were looking for a place to enjoy a post-concert drink and…read morestumbled across The Roosevelt Room. We weren't looking for much by way of menu just a few snacks or small bites for Girl Dinner. We found just that here. The Sumac and pepper popcorn was to die for! I really don't drink that much or often, but decided to have one. The drink list is extensive, but very organized by era. I decided to go for the Zombie. My server, Noah encouraged my audacity! I can't remember whether it was described as dramatic as it showed up, but let me tell you there was drama! It was served in a flaming skull, garnished with beautiful flowers and fresh fruit, and filled to the brim with God knows how much alcohol and juice, but it was a time! To heighten the experience, he sprinkled something in a shaker and the flames just erupted! The whole restaurant stopped and I cackled! To put out the flame, Noah gave one dramatic clap, and the flame disappear disappeared! I want to thank Noah and the team for encouraging my ridiculousness and delivering me an excellent craft drink with all the drama I deserved and could ever ask for! 10/10! Gotta go back to see how much more ridiculous I can go! Can't stop now! Join me!

It's a really nice cocktail bar with interesting cocktail options and finger foods. I went here…read morefor my cousin's birthday. I had an old fashioned and the hummus plate. One of my cousins had the charcuterie board. Both were delicious. Our waiter took good care of us. I like that they have an assortment of drinks from different decades. There seems to be a drink for every palate. If alcohol isn't your thing, they have mocktails. The ambiance was nice. The lights were warm and low. Old movies played on the wall from a projector. Walls are lined with vintage books. Overall, I think this is a cool place. I look forward to returning.

The Eleanor is right next door to The Roosevelt and is its sister bar…read more It's mainly an event space with a concrete floor, a cool curved bar, exposed ceilings, and exposed brick and wood walls. Similar in design to The Roosevelt. If you want to go The Roosevelt without reservations and waiting for space to open up, this is a great way to pass the time until then. Just like The Roosevelt, they offer N/A cocktails, classic cocktails, and house creations. The N/A espresso martini is primo. The French 75 is one of the best I've had in the U.S. House creations, Show Business, Estatua Verde, and Standing Ovation are my faves! Show Business: Hendrick's Gin, Witch Hazel, Lavender, and other flavors Estatua Verde: White rum, sherry, lime juice, and more including smoke Standing Ovation: Campari, rum, bourbon, espresso, and more. So. Much. Goodness. They get pretty busy too and service can take a bit but never so long that it's bad. In fact, it's good, especially since you're getting high-end cocktails made by talented mixologists.

Celebrating my friend's milestone birthday, we rented out the place for lots of friends. It's the…read moreperfect place for special events albeit it can get super loud because the floor is cement and nothing to absorb the sound. The staff is very efficient and friendly and the drink menu is amazing. There's a back area for dancing or whatever and a photo booth and the front is where the bar is and tables. The music was hard to hear in the front where only the bass was clearly heard. The back part was easier to hear the music but the party was in the front. The Eleanor is close by several parking garages.

The White Horse is the best East Side spot to do some country dancing or just listen to some good…read morecountry music. They have the bands who play the latest, so if you go somewhere else first, you can always finish your night at WH. My only gripes at the WH are the stuffy dancers who are sometimes jerks to people who don't dance the exact same way they do and that tables are so close tor he dance floor that it gets so crowded. There could be more of a dance floor if those tables were scooted back and people didn't have to stand in front of them to try to get a dance. Fun spot though and definitely somewhere I take/send out of town guests for an Austin experience.

White Horse is the quintessential Dive bar! It is located on the East Side in what appeared to be…read morean old house. White Horse also has an outside patio. This is the second time that I visited White Horse. During Zumba class on Friday we learned that our Zumba instructor's brother plays the drums in a band and that he would be playing at White Horse on Friday night. So I met our Zumba instructor and friends at White Horse to listen to the band. Let me just say I am not a huge country western fan, but I do branch out every once in a while to listen to country. Please note the twangy country is not for me. The Shinglers were playing on Friday starting at 8 pm. I really liked this band and was drawn in by their addicting sounds. I even managed to dance a couple of times. Needless to say, my two stepping is pretty rusty. However, dancing is always fun! The cover charge was $10 cash. Cash is such a rarity any more. Fortunately, I had $12 with me. Drinks were $9 for top shelf, which is quite cheap. The bartender was friendly and fast. We stayed for the first of three sets and then departed for home.

We were in town for the Texas vs OSU football game and decided to spend Sunday afternoon at The…read moreLittle Longhorn Saloon. Came for the Chicken Shit Bingo but stayed because of the fun atmosphere, friendly service, and old school country band led by Brandon Rosage. If you are a fun outgoing person, go here! Bet a few bucks on the bingo, have a few cold beers, and meet cool locals and out-of-towners. Owner is super cool. Bartenders are friendly and responsive. Young lady running the bingo is well organized and kept the games moving along. No cover (but the band will earn your tip, they are really good!) Food varies weekly (chili dogs when we were there). Go here if you are looking to have a great experience!

This is definitely a place that keeps Austin weird! It's a fun place to spend a Sunday afternoon -…read moreespecially if you are hosting out of town friends or family. Don't buy too many tickets for just one round - sometimes the chicken poops right away. The bar is real hole in the wall which makes it all the more fun!

I stopped by 3TEN for the first time to catch and take pictures of a free showcase last week. It's…read morea pretty small venue compared to ACL Live/Moody Theater, but it packs the same strength in the sound system plus the lighting and atmosphere is great overall. It wasn't too packed at the show I was at, so it wasn't crammed like a sold out show might be. There was plenty of space to party. It's like a smaller version of Moody Theater. Shocker! RIYL: An intimate venue with the perks of the main thing

Seeing Jon Batiste live at Austin City Limits was one of those nights you just can't ever forget,…read moreeven if time has passed and things have changed with whom you've experienced it with. So let me make sure to give ACL its due props! I was encouraged by my ex to put my name on the RSVP list for this exclusive experience and I hesitated at first. I tend to avoid all things in downtown. But I'm glad I didn't ignore this. Jon Batiste is not just hype. He is the real thing. Pure talent, fully present and full of joy, he is poetry in motion. Being able to experience a performance like that at ACL, free of charge, felt special in a way that's hard to explain. As my baby used to say, it was COSMIC. Austin City Limits ran the event flawlessly. The staff was kind, organized, and they clearly knew what they were doing. Our seats were super high up, but the view of the stage below was very good. We missed part of the intimate opening set down below right in front of the VIP section (an intentional special treat for them), but it was easy to appreciate why special donors were treated to that moment up close. What really stood out was the second half of the show. Jon Batiste and his band turned the venue into a New Orleans style second line, moving through the crowd, singing/dancing/playing music, eventually making their way up to the upper levels by us. It was thoughtful, inclusive, and joyful. No one was left out of the experience. The night itself was bittersweet in hindsight, but the music and talent was undeniable. The memory stands on its own. Thank you, Austin City Limits, for a night I'll always remember.

After a heavy dinner, we walked back to our hotel and were attracted by the live band playing…read morebeautiful blues music, especially the guitar. It was pretty empty on a Tuesday night, but the music was so good that it started attracting more people in. We didn't order any food because we were still full from dinner, so we just ordered drinks. The bartenders were really nice and welcoming. A great little spot to relax, enjoy some live music, and have a drink after dinner.

A couple friends and I were looking for a place to enjoy some live music…read more One of my friends I've been here before a couple years earlier and had a great memories of the friends bar. We were there for different performing acts and it was cool to see how they were different but how they could both also work the crowd. There is seating on the sides of the bar but a lot of people like being right in the middle to be able to see and be up close with the live music. What a great place for some good music and great drinks. One good places is that my hotel that was staying out wasn't too far away so I was able to walk back afterwards.

Clive is one of those bars where you can go with your friends, or your bachelor / bachelorette…read moreparty, or just go alone and meet someone new. My friend and I sat at the bar, ordered our drinks. Bartender was awesome. Red Sox game was playing inside on the TV. We chatted a little then walked around. The patio was playing a different baseball game on the big screen. The DJ was playing music. The couches had a couple people sitting and watching the game. Bathroom area had a written mural. Was a great night to be outside. Wasn't windy even though the patio was open. Dos have walls to cut the wind down. I believe there is an upstairs area too, but it was roped off. But it is a pretty large bar with an upstairs area. L

The heavy set bouncer with wispy facial hair was letting underaged college kids into the bar to…read moredrink as long as they bribed him. His Venmo was filled with payments. The bouncer was even bragging to other patrons that he regularly made hundreds of dollar on busy nights from bribes from underaged drinkers. not good.