Papercut is another one of those fabulous places close to my home (as in walkable) that I've been…read morewanting to get to and finally did with a group of friends made through Yelp. I felt the vibe instantly, like as soon as I put one foot in the door. Magical, sophisticated, worldly, wonderful and more were the feelings that spontaneously hit me. The dark and elegant decor, lighting, design, & layout made me feel as though I were in a high-end Tokyo cocktail lounge. The front room as I mentioned is an intimate bar and lounge area with artwork adorning the walls. It's a modern, minimalist, and sleek space. The artwork is ever-changing (every couple of months or so) and the cocktail menu changes right long with it. Note: artwork is available for purchase. What an absolutely glorious way of combining different mediums (liquid art vs physical art). The craft cocktails & mocktails are the epitome of works of art. I've had great cocktails and mocktails elsewhere but honestly I'd be hard pressed to find anything on this level. You're taken into an entirely different realm just watching the genius of mixologists. It's mesmerizing watching them hone their craft. In the back of the lounge is an enclave of eclectic art and other pieces that then leads you to Konbini, the sushi bar. It's an industrial, warehouse vibe with a long counter that screams hip, Tokyo inspired, late-night eatery. Service is impeccable and welcoming at this cosmopolitan venue. It's truly an amazing experience.

Bear and Anthony at the bar were great. Bear informed me of the art and menu being cohesive and…read morethat they change ever so often. And that the menu is curated to tie with the art/artist so you never know what will be on the menu. A regular arrived to the bar and mentioned the edition of the menu. 005. So this is the fifth menu since opening? How fun! Tried the Key Lime drink which was too damn delicious. Tasted like a damn dessert and went down too easy. Only food I tried was the Tofu Chip which was delicious as well. Also got the Milky drink and it went down just as smoothly. All in all great place, just popped in for my second time in the past three days. The vibe was chill and laid back. Dim lighting and good music.

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.

Hands down my favorite bar I have been too…read more It's beautiful the moment you walk in. The architecture and design creates such a cool vibe. The drinks.... Seriously....The best I've had. Very impressed with the drinks and I enjoyed the inspiration of Japanese liquor and design. Our bartender was so attentive and friendly. He made us shots and it was the best thing I've ever had. I been dreaming of the shot everyday. I recommend this place to everyone now. It's dark, it's quiet, it's cool, it's THAT bar. I cannot wait to come back again and again and again. We aren't locals. Not even close. We drove 9 hours. 10/10 will be back

Cool spot with lots of potential but fell short…read more The bartender did not know how to make basic cocktails and the experience was extremely disappointing. At $20 per drink, there is an expectation of professionalism and competence behind the bar. I literally thought that ordering a beer felt risky as she would surely mess it up.​ She was being coached by colleagues throughout service, but unfortunately that did not improve the situation. Based on this experience, I would not return.

Once the kitchen closed at the Rosewood Social Club, we went over to Nickel City for some food…read more Fortunately, most bars in Austin don't require a cover charge. My Yelp friend struck up an energetic conversation about Australia and New Zealand with two out of town guests. It turns out Nickel City is considered a must-do activity when visiting Austin, and I've even seen it listed as a tourist attraction. My friend's boyfriend and I talked about various Texas cities, the bar itself, and details about East Austin. The bartender was making faces at the fur baby, causing its ears to perk up...there seems to be a playful love-hate dynamic between them, especially since the bartender gave the pet some treats. Although the bar was busy, it wasn't too loud; it was easy to hear people talk without any trouble. I've now experienced Nickel City both during the day and at night.

I have to say, I did not have insane expectations for this place, but i'd heard good things. And,…read morewell, it was better than expected. I had a solo evening while on vacation with family, as my parents had dinner with friends. I had just walked over from Cuantos Tacos (which, go there, delicious), and planned on being here for maybe two drinks. Welp, lets just say I ended up sitting at the bar drinking and taking in the environment for 3-4 hours. As you'll see in the photos, I got suckered into a frozen drink (whip-it-good) and the Miami Vice. I also had a beer and some whiskey (not photographed). I had a great time, some people ended up talking to me throughout the time sitting at the bar, bartenders were nice even as the shift changed (or one bartender went on break for a long time). Either way, when i'm back in Austin, this will be in my rotation. I can see this place becoming insanely hectic on a friday or saturday evening, but that wouldnt be my jam. On a weds at 6pm-10pm, it was great.

Cozy, hidden, and just the right amount of mysterious. The drinks were fantastic and dangerously…read moreeasy to finish, and the bartender was really good. The music was excellent and made the whole experience even better. Absolutely worth a return visit.

This speakeasy bar on East 6th immediately became one of my favorite low key spots in town!…read moreSituated right below Buenos Aires cafe, this bar brings sexy vibes, with swanky decor, a dim lit room, and excellent tunes. It's a small space with limited seating - and I would recommend reservations. On to their cocktail menu - EXCELLENCE! Don't be afraid to try something you normally wouldn't try, or to simply trust the bartender. I haven't tried the food here, but I will certainly do so next time I visit.

I discovered Marlow through a Yelp Elite event and knew I had to come back. We stopped by on a…read moreSaturday night around 9:30/10pm and had a great time! Great house music from the DJ, friendly staff, and an easygoing atmosphere that's perfect for hanging out. I was having a sober night and tried a few drinks from their Dry January Specials menu. Wow, they did not disappoint. The Alrighty Aphrodite was delicious, and the So Fresh, So Clean was exactly that, super refreshing with a great pineapple flavor. My husband had the Dusty Trail (strong and perfect for bourbon lovers) and a Coquito that was creamy and smooth with a hint of cinnamon. Parking is limited, but we found street parking nearby. Overall, great drinks, great music, and a spot I'll definitely keep coming back to.

Marlow's has a very Austin vibe. I grew up in Austin and just moved back. Austin has changed a lot…read moreso I was happy to visit a place like Marlow that's dedicated to keeping the Austin vibe alive. The owner is also an Austinite! Marlow's has a really in interesting and delicious drink menu. I tried both mocktails (option to add THC) and really enjoyed them both. Most mocktails with NA liquor have honestly tasted a bit weird and a bit off. I usually have one and call it a day. However, I really enjoyed the first one that I tried the second one, which I also liked. The bartenders work amazingly fast and take multiple drink orders at a time and don't miss a beat! There's street parking and during weekdays, it's free to park after a certain hour.

Y'all, I was so excited to go to the busy signal for the first time! Especially with the cool…read moreChristmas theme going on right now and DJ Hella Yella was there. But I should know not to get my hopes up... Storytime... We had a resy for 8 at 9:45 for a birthday, we arrived at 9:45 there was no clear spot to check in, we asked around and they pointed us to the water station by the entry. After finally being greeted, we were told our section wasn't ready, the other party hadn't left yet. The server / hostess seemed frazzled and kept running around trying to get us a section and talking to people about leaving. We stood there waiting for about 30 minutes. Then we were finally seated in a section barely big enough for 6, we were crammed in like sardines, sweatin. We asked the parties next to us if they could push over a bit so we all could fit, luckily they were friendly and accommodating. We were greeted not too long after being seated, Our order was taken by the first server, It took about 30 minutes for drinks and food to start to come out. The birthday girl ordered a hookah and it took an hour and a half for it to come out. Then we were not checked on for about an hour, We finally ordered more drinks and then we never received them, We asked three different servers and were told several times that they were taking care of it and it was never taken care of, We left at 1:15 without ever getting our additional orders. One of the servers told us that the bar was crazy busy and that they were probably making our drinks and people at the bar were just taking them. So chaotic. We were finally helped by Heaven and Summer at the end around 1:00 a.m. when we asked to pay for our tab. Of course the tab was all wrong because it had all of the drinks we ordered that we never received. Again, chaotic. I felt bad for the birthday girl because she was really excited about being there for the first time with all of us and the experience was subpar at best. I will say, the best part was the DJ, HellaYella. And the jerk lamb chops. Also, If and I mean if, We ever go back, We will not reserve a section like that and we will get our drinks at the front bar and sit out on the nice patio. We'll see.

This review isn't about the food (which is always really good!) and more about the service &…read moresetting honest expectations about the overall experience. I went to Busy Signal for their UT/UGA game football watch party. If you don't like outdoor seating or standing, I wouldn't recommend going to a watch party unless you reserve an indoor table via Eventbrite. They also offered $1 wings & $5 drinks, which were delicious! However, the server told me they only offered this special for the 1st half of the game. After 30 minutes of waiting, my server told me that everyone & their momma ordered a bunch of stuff at the same time since the food/drink special was for a short period of time, which resulted in extremely long wait times for food. The Eventbrite page didn't mention that the special was only for the 1st half of the game, which led me to believe that management pulled this not-so-bright idea out of his anus at the last minute. I waited over an hour for my food & when it finally arrived, it was not the flavor I asked for. The servers are very kind & had a great attitude despite the chaos. The food at this place is always really good. But the overall experience and timely delivery of food during their football watch party left a lot to be desired. I'm going to give this place one more try because you can't beat $1 wings (that actually are very flavorful) & $5 drinks on GameDay. However, I wouldn't go on an empty stomach. I also hope they expand their special for the whole entire game like it was the last time I went for UT/Oklahoma. ***UPDATE*** I returned for UT/Texas A&M. I paid $60 to reserve a table indoors. The service was a lot better! I really enjoyed DJ Hella Yella playing music during commercials. The overall vibe was great this time around. My initial review gave this place 2 stars, but now I'm giving it 3 stars.

Here Nor There is one of the best speakeasies in Austin, hands down…read more The drinks are always incredible--thoughtfully crafted and consistently good. The ambiance is moody and intimate, with music that makes the whole experience feel elevated. Definitely a go-to for a great night.

Last night we rounded out our evening with reservations at Here Nor There…read more If I told you the location of this speakeasy then...lol. It's been around since 2018 so most folks know where it is by now. Heads up, you no longer have to use their app to make a reservation. Simply do so through Open Table and that's when you'll get the entry code. So glad it's no longer a members-only spot as well. The basement location gives anything but a basement vibe. When you enter, you'll see the infamous black paint on white walls mural but then you're transformed into something more. An elegant and elevated high-end speakeasy that transports you to what life in speakeasy settings must have felt like in the days of olde. Who doesn't love being greeted by a tasteful, giant, fake bear with welcome cocktails? The low-lit space brings a feeling of warmth, secrecy, romance, and mystery. You absolutely get the feeling you're in a special and secret hideaway space. From the refined wallpaper to hand blown glass lighting fixtures to the lush and velvety sofa seating, you are truly immersed in the vibe. It brings a feeling of noir and romance with even sexier drinks. Being seated in one of the nooks is my favorite and just really adds to the overall experience. If you follow my reviews then you know I often refer to excellent cocktails as liquid works of art. And, in this case, it's like the most exclusive, high-end art gallery of liquid masterpieces. Cocktails with branded cubes, top tier alcohol and other ingredients from around the globe make for a worthy piece of drinkable art. It doesn't end with cocktails! The mocktails are equally as beautiful and delicious. I highly recommend the cocktails and mocktails. Service is exactly what you would expect and want it to be in this environment. Yes, the prices are a bit higher than average but you're paying for art, atmosphere, and experience that is beyond wonderful.

Super chill, retro diner vibes with a touch of sparkle. Aerie was super welcoming, it was my first…read moretime here so they gave me the lowdown. Just got off work, so I stayed on the first floor. I ordered 2 drinks off the menu, they were super fresh and tasty. Shay, who made my drinks, is definitely a pro, and super knowledgeable. I love that the crowd is super diverse. Thanks so much for the good experience, I will be back.

This place is a great vibe and probably the best place for a date night. Just to get it out of the…read moreway, the food is pretty good but nothing amazing. Their menu is limited but the items on it are classic and reliable. Their chicken katsu sandwich has a good taste and I like their salads too but the price is not really worth it in my opinion. The best thing about the place is the retro vibe. The decor is very unique and cool to see. They have multiple floors each with a bar and the staff are all friendly. Their drinks are good too and pretty good price. This is a great spot to come late at night after getting dinner somewhere else because it's best for sitting down and having chill drinks with friends.

Upon stepping in I felt like I was transported to Miami in the 70s or 80s. Once you enter you turn…read morein your phones making it easy to lose time in connecting with your company. The staff was super nice and attentive our waitress came by multiple times and drinks were good and quick. They have a fun magazine style menu and plenty of options including mocktails. The mocktails were well balanced and not too sweet and my husband enjoyed every drink he tried. We ordered the French fries which were so good the perfect blend of freshness and salt. Would definitely come back for the ambiance and the no phones was a great reminder to connect to who your with and be present.

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.