My friend and I were looking for a centrally located bar to meet up. After a quick Yelp search, I discovered Drink Well so we decided to give it a try. Parking is limited. There is a small lot out front but it was full. I was able to find street parking on a neighborhood side street right near the bar. Upon walking up, I was immediately greeted by an employee on the patio. She held the door open for me which was super nice. When I walked in, I was given the option of sitting at the bar or a table. They do not take reservations unless your party has 8 or more people. Additionally, this bar is pretty small (38 indoor seats, 20 patio seats). We got there relatively early on a Saturday night. The bartender was really nice and explained some of the cocktails. I started with The Field of Dreams. It was a gin based cocktail with dry vermouth, bergamot, and chamomile bitters. The drink was good, but very strong! I also had a gimlet which is such a classic. It's one of my favorites to order at a craft cocktail bar. My friend had Dove's Cry which was a Mezcal cocktail. I didn't try any, but it looked really good! We didn't order any food, but they do have a small menu. The kitchen closes an hour before the bar closes (currently at 11 pm for the kitchen, 12 am for the bar). The vibe was extremely chill. The music was at a good volume to where we could converse without having to yell at each other. The menu changes seasonally. I'm looking forward to returning to try some of their latest creations. read more

See all

My favorite hidden gem for cute cocktails- it is so underrated. Tucked away in Hyde Park, the vibe is just right- not pretentious but still fancy enough, their drinks are well-balanced, the bartenders are chill and conversational if that's what you are feeling, and it has become my go-to spot whenever any out-of-towners come to visit. It delivers a wonderful lowkey experience without the craziness or crowdedness of downtown bars. read more

This was actually so banger and I wish I ordered more food! I just got the crispy chickpeas but they were genuinely so surprisingly delicious I need to come back and try more stuff. Super cute and intimate atmosphere and the bartenders were so friendly and helpful! read more

Drink Well - Lavender Marriage and Non alcoholic drink - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Cute small bar. I can see how and why people meet up here. It's in a neighborhood, which looked quint. I came when it was dark, so didn't see much. Small parking lot, but there is street parking in front of the homes. Just ordered a cocktail. Although I like my drinks sweet, this cocktail was a nice drink. Thought it was pretty with the dried lemon slice floating. Bartender was nice. Later on she came back around to tell us that the kitchen was closing if we wanted to order food. I was meeting up with a Yelp friend. We stayed about 2 hours catching up. Even though the street didn't have street lights and it was pretty dark. Felt pretty safe in this neighborhood that I've never been to. read more

Drink Well - Dove's Cry - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Food is not the focus of this place but what we had was excellent. It's all about the drinks. We chose from the Happy Hour collection and were pleased with every choice. The service was first rate and very attentive from a delightful young person. We chose to sit outdoors where it was quieter and warmer. All in all, this is a place worth visiting. read more

We arrived a little later in the evening after the night rush and it was more spacious and had seating. You couldn't tell that the staff had been pretty busy most of the night as they were still very friendly and accommodating and didn't miss a beat. I feel like my water was never below the middle. Drinks were superb, love the array of unique choices they have. While I only had the fries, I devoured them. Some places don't get fries right, but this place does! And you'll definitely.... Drink well. read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

After a long, stressful day at work, I made a much-needed detour to DrinkWell on North Loop, and I'm so glad I did. It was during happy hour, which has solid pricing and definitely makes it worth a stop on the way home. I ordered two cocktails and both were outstanding. First up was the Fish House Punch, a beautifully balanced rye-based drink with brandy, lemon, crème de pêche, nutmeg, and mint. It was smooth, bright, and just the right amount of comforting. Next, I had the Creole Fix, a complex rum cocktail featuring two rums (Rhum JM 100 and Bounty Dark St. Lucian), citrus, cinnamon, and Bigallet China-China. It was bold, spicy, and deeply flavorful which a perfect ending to my happy hour. The service was excellent - friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without being overbearing. DrinkWell continues to show why it's one of Austin's best neighborhood bars. Great drinks, good vibes, excellent service, and a cocktail menu that keeps me curious. I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

This is literally one of my favorite places to get a drink in Austin. I prefer to seat by the bar because the seats are comfortable and the have hook for purses under the bar but you can get other seats, stand by the cocktail tables, or seat outside. Their bartenders are knowledgeable and so nice. They also have really good cocktail and wine options so you're guaranteed to "drink well." It can feel crowded occasionally due to its size but it's a really cute spot and most people I know love it. I'll go there again... easily! read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Really cute cocktail bar! The drinks are simple but well made and not as pricey as some other spots in town. Their HH is great too, wide selection of drinks. Not a ton of food options but you can get things like salads and sandwiches. We went on a Tuesday night and there was only a standing option, but a bar spot opened within 15 minutes. So I'm sure on weekends you may need to wait longer. read more

One of my FAVORITE date night spots in Austin! This is at the end of the north loop bars but we love to start the night here. We haven't had a drink we didn't like, and the staff is always on it with drinks or whatever we need! read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Drink well is a very cute neighborhood bar with upscale ambiance, great service, clean bathrooms, and lovely cocktails! They also have happy hr from opening (4p) until 5:30 on weekdays which is when I came. I tried two of the nonalcoholic cocktails because they sounded more floral/herbal than most of the other menu cocktails. The first was the "all that glitters," which was tangy but refreshing. The second was the "adventures in babysitting" which I actually liked more than the first one - it was herbal from the lemongrass, slightly tangy from the lime, and had a creaminess that kinda reminded me of a piña colada, I think from the coconut cream? Overall I really enjoyed it, would def have again! For HH they have classic cocktails (including the nonalcoholic ones) for $9, and some discounts on beer, wine, and snacks. They don't have a huge amount of parking but during the time I was there it seemed to be enough! It's maybe 10 spots surrounding the building right in front, and if that was full I'm sure you could park on the street. Only reason I even took off one star is the drinks are a little on the small side, but for $9 at HH I really wasn't bothered at all. Things I do appreciate - they have girl products in the bathroom if you need them, and include a 20% service charge to support their staff's livelihoods. Overall really enjoyed drink well! Would definitely come back, and probably have the adventures in babysitting nonalcoholic cocktail again read more

See all

Recently visited Drink Well for the first time recently, and was blown away by the quality of their drinks and tasty snacks. We visited for their happy hour, and I ordered the Fish House Punch, which is basically their take on a rum punch. It was delicious, and if I closed my eyes just enough, I could *almost* believe I was on an island somewhere and not in a dark Austin bar. My friends tried the out on a limb and birds of a feather, which they also really enjoyed. Intrigued by its amaretto and pecan orgeat, we ordered a Get Rick Quick Scheme to end, although I was nervous about the whole egg. It ended up being very smooth, not eggy or heavy at all, and was my favorite drink of the night. To eat, we split an order of their housecut fries with lemon-aleppo aioli, the harissa spiced spinach dip, and an Antonelli's cheese board. Everything tasted great, but the fries are a must if you enjoy thin, crispy shoestrings like I do. Although their parking is very limited, I was able to quickly find street parking early on a weekday. We enjoyed the quick and friendly service, and the nice vibe of this spot. I'd recommend Drink Well to anyone for a meetup with friends or a fun date night. read more

See all

Does this place still have the exact same vibe as it did 9 years ago? Yes. Should it still have the same vibe as 9 years ago? I do not think so. I recently stumbled in here as I used to live in walking distance from this place. I always would come around happy hour time and order a cocktail and chickpeas. That was about it. This time, I sat at the bar and ordered some expensive french fries. The man next to me hadn't showered in over two weeks and he was standing up...pits in my face. I couldn't enjoy the fries or the company as he and the bartender were both not friendly. I thought it was cool that the bartender and I grew up in the same small town together but he made a poor joke of it. I drowned myself in spirits and left with a near $40 tab. Cheers for having some NA options. Still, I won't be coming back. read more

To be clear, we did not try the food. Me and a friend popped in for a couple drinks to catch up. LOVED the divey but elegant feel, intimately laid back. I loved that the waitstaff comes up with the drink menu and it seems very experimental - the dinner theater with mustard seed and fig was VERY unique but not for the faint of heart. I don't like sweet drinks so this was perfect, but it's definitely a pungent drink and not a slammer. Our waiter was also very attentive and knowledgeable about the drink options to recommend items that would work for us. I will say, the drinks do not "look" pretty at all, which I don't personally care about but I know quite a few people do. Super happy we popped in! read more

See all

This isn't a bar where you just drink; here you definitely drink well! I tried a few drinks and even strayed off my beaten bourbon path to try a drink with gin and loved everything. They were all unique, well-balanced, and inventive. The drinks were flavorful and not spirit-forward, in a good way. The bar was busy but not crowded. They have little standing areas made of wheels on poles with glass covers. Also an inventive and fun way to park patrons comfortably while they wait for a table. Ambiance was upscale without being overly trendy or uncomfortable. Jeans and T-shirts are perfectly acceptable here! The service was fantastic, which is impressive because of how busy they were. I swore I was going to remember our server's name because he was fantastic, but I'm not young anymore and neither is my memory. He made perfect recommendations and was the right amount of friendly. Definitely lived up to the cool neighborhood spot billing! read more

See all

Drink Well is one of the leading centers of mix-mastering in Austin. Austin has a lot of first rate bars with bartenders of phenomenal creativity and skill. New drinks are being invented all the time - and many of them are legendary. What is the difference between Drink Well and other fine centers of bartending? Drink Well is still here. That sets it off from the large number of Austin drinking establishments that lie dead in the restaurant graveyard. * * * Most (but not all) of the great cocktail chemist establishments are downtown or on the New East Side. Rents Downtown and rents on the New East Side are astronomical. High end restaurants with high end cost profiles open up all the time Downtown and on the New East Side. High end restaurants with high end cost profiles die all the time Downtown and on the New East Side. Chef Ms. Amazing opens up a new You-Gotta-Eat-Here place with a legendary pastry cook and a legendary bartender. There is a year and a half of pleasures beyond all human imagination. Then the place goes bust. Another year and a half later, all three superstars are on their own. They are all doing something else in three other different expensive establishments. * * * Drink Well lives while the other places die for two good reasons. a) Their location on North Loop is not exactly cheap. But it is cheaper than Down Town and the New East Side. b) They position themselves squarely as a drinking place and they keep the food menu small and not gourmet. The eating on the food menu is first rate. But the dishes are not so chi-chi that the kitchen has to charge $58 to cover their expenses. Modest costs allow them to ride out variability in foot traffic. * * * So Drink Well survives. Does Drink Well deserve to survive? YES !!!!! THE BARTENDING AT DRINK WELL IS FORKING AMAZING !!!!! The food on their limited menu is actually pretty fine as well. * * * I had a number of drinks at Drink Well, all of which were five star cocktails. However, I will talk about one and only one drink. Dinner Theater. Like nearly all of Drink Well's hand mixed libations, the recipe list for a Dinner Theater is long. And these are not ingredients that any sane person would ever think of putting together. But when Doctor Drink Well completes his evil manipulations, And brings his twisted concoction to your table, You are about to disappear into another dimension. Imagine - for the Dinner Theater - That someone decided to make you a traditional gin martini. EXCEPT that instead of mostly gin with a tiny splash of vermouth. It was mostly vermouth with a tiny splash of gin. Now do that putting ZERO vermouth into the beverage. You are instead going to combine sherry and mustard seed and fig and bitters and cynar and other stuff ... To make something that might conceivably pass as the best vermouth you have ever had ... But it is cut with gin. I was hypnotized. I was transfixed. I was ensnared by the magic that was in my glass. Sure, I had seen many wonderful beverages at my table that night. But this was my date with destiny. The house I put a bid on. * * * I have not discussed food much. I will again discuss one and only one dish. It is a dessert dish. Who the (#*@Y$)@*# goes to Drink Well for dessert? This ain't Jenn's Ice Cream, if you know what I mean. Well they only had two desserts on the menu the night I was there. One dish was called Grown Up Cocoa Puffs. Grown Up Cocoa Puffs is a spherical chocolate fritter Served in a fancy creme anglaise and dusted with a fancy sugar. However that hot spherical ball of chocolate is the front of the stage singer and everyone else is backup or on bass. The dessert is served hot. IT TASTES EXACTLY LIKE A WARM COMFORTING COCOA PUFF IF COCOA PUFFS WERE MADE BY THE BEST FRENCH PASTRY CHEF YOU KNOW. COCOA PUFFS MEET GOD. AND THEY COMMUNE SO THAT COCOA PUFFS ARE GOD AND GOD IS COCOA PUFFS. * * * Let's just say that this is a very good dessert. * * * There is just a whole lot to explore at Drink Well. And even though their current drink menu is kept modestly small ... I have no doubt that if you talked to the bartender ... He or she could whip up some of their famous blasts from the past. * * * There is amazing drinking to be done at Drink Well. And while you are waiting to sober up ... Have a Cocoa Puff. read more

This is a small little trendy/divvy bar with just a dozen or so parking spaces available out front or use free neighborhood street parking. Inside is about a dozen tables to sit at or pick one of 12 seats at the bar. This place fills up fast and by 6 PM no matter what night of the week, you can count on all the tables being taken. They have a great list of house original cocktails, but a very limited food menu. The burger I had for $19 was really good although a little on the small side and the fries were just short and stubby potato sticks. Their coctails on the other hand are very well-made with numerous top shelf ingredients. The service was also very attentive and helpful. One thing you do need to be aware of, as other yelpers have already pointed out, is that they do charge a 20% wellness fee to your bill with the expectation that you will tip additionally on top of that. I knew that coming in, but that could be a real turn off for new customers who now feel obliged to make a 40% tip contribution. Check out the bill below to give you an idea what you can expect to spend in this establishment. Plenty of photos included to add more dimension to this review. read more

See all

One of the top 3 crafted cocktail bar in town that I have a monthly subscription to. It is conveniently up north on North Loop near Workhorse. Limited space so come early! We usually love their quarterly themed cocktail specialties or ask for a specific tiki drink if they could make it. They're pretty good about refilling water and ask if we need anything once in awhile. Absolutely couldn't recommend this place enough! Much love to the staffs here! read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

The cocktails!!!! And more cocktails! A small group of us decided on happy hour on a Tuesday afternoon. We stopped in this gem of a place off of North Loop in Austin. Parking is limited but ample street parking. So no big deal. After looking at the happy hour menu we couldn't help but order off the non happy hour drinks! Each cocktail is made by a different bartender and given recognition on the menu list. Super super cool. Well the Acid Jazz cocktail has to be one of the BEST drinks I've had in a long time. They are also reasonably priced for a place like this too! I was expecting $20 drinks but nope! More like 15. I would have paid 20. We also tried some tasty shareable plates like the hummus and split the gnocchi. Plenty of treats without filling us up. Drink Well was the best decision I've made this week. lol read more

See all

I really loved the ambiance of this place, small and intimate. I didn't try much of the menu but had two drinks (margarita being one of them) and some fries. My only gripe was that the tables were extremely close together, I actually could not squeeze through without lifting the table. I did enjoy the outdoor area as well. Overall it was a nice bar, but not in my area, so I'm not sure I'll be back soon read more

Cute hole-in-the-wall on E 53rd with decent happy hour vibes. Food and drinks are a little expensive fwiw and the happy hour drinks and bar food are pretty simple. A little crowded feeling and loud with tables spaced pretty close to each other (3.5) read more

I love stopping by Drink Well on a Friday afternoon for happy hour! I think the drinks are definitely well balanced and delectable and I love the homey neighborhood feel. I would probably not come back to pay full price but will be back for HH! read more

Drink Well - Pomme Frites - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

I met a date here for a drink and food. We sat at the bar. I had a baptism by fire drink. Not what I expected, but pretty good. I ordered the summer fruit and tofu salad, and fries. The salad was very flavorful and tasty. Highly recommend. The fries are decent, but not my favorite. My day ordered the burger and fries and looked really good. This is a very small venue with minimal parking. You can get street parking is nice you can park by the main entrance. Our service overall was pretty decent too. My only real complaint would be the prices. I think we're a little bit too high but honestly hard to judge with today's economy. I didn't pay though so I can't complain too much. Ha ha. read more

I enjoyed a tasty burger and fries along with a Heron Maiden drink. The drink itself was incredible unique - a mix of peach and sweet potato syrup, pineapple, lime, and whiskey. I can safely say I have never tasted anything like it, a mix of both savory and sweet though maybe for those with a slightly more refined palate. The burger and fries, while slightly pricey, were yummy, well-cooked with ample shoestring fries that made for some good munching. Parking near this place can be a challenge, though there is plenty of street parking, and the restaurant itself is fairly small and intimate though they do have outdoor seating. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to get their fancy drink fix in Austin. read more

Drinkwell is so underrated. IF you're looking for a great cocktail bar without all of the frou frou, this is it. It feels like a neighborhood bar with no frills. By far, one of my favorite bars in Austin. The fries are also very good! I love there's always a new drink to try and really great service. read more

Went here last night on the much appreciated recommendation of my fellow Yelp Elite brethren, Clint S.! Great little bar with tons of moody character and a small but mighty menu. The service at the bar was friendly, quick and knowledgeable. The gentleman with the long dreads/braids and glasses was top notch. My favorite thing was probably the Steens Arugala salad. It was unbelievably delicious. Being a Cajun, it's hard for me to pass up something with Steen's syrup as an ingredient so I'm glad I got it. Perfect low key date spot with lots of other little bars and restaurants within walking distance if you fancy a walkabout type of evening. Things here seem a bit on the pricey side but considering it includes 20% gratuity (you're encouraged to go over it) I guess it could be worse. Everything in the pictures I included was $111 with gratuity included and I ended up leaving a bit extra for the great service. We'll definitely come back to try more of their delicious offerings. read more

See all

I love this place and can't believe it's not ranked higher. The service, the people and the creative cocktails have me coming back for years. Jessica, the owner, has cultivated a comforting yet elevated spot where the passion for the craft by the bartenders show through. read more

I've been here tons of times but realized I never left a review! Love this place so much. They always have delicious and innovative cocktails, whether you want a classic or something special. Every detail is accounted for. Food menu is small but has something for everyone and is always a hit. We've had so many gems here, and always look forward to new menu drops. The staff are sweet and helpful, and we appreciate the charm they bring to this neighborhood bar. Drinkwell is perfect for a fancy night out or a casual stop in. Five stars, forever. read more

The spot is a vibe and the bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly. They have a nice HH with discounts on some fine creaft cocktails. You can tell they take pride in their work and it shows. The only meh is parking...but its the area. Will be back... read more

Drink Well - Happy hr 3-5:30 on Friday's - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

We decided to go for drinks and snacks with our friends. Drinks were really good. We had old fashioneds and a few others. Sazerac and another bourbon drink that I forget the name of. Old fashioneds were pretty good and included old Fitzgerald bourbon. Food was OK. We had chickpeas and Brussels sprouts. I thought the sprouts were better but neither was great. Servers were friendly but didn't visit often enough. If you read the reviews, seems to be a consistent issue. It took awhile to order drinks several times and I had to ask a few times to close out, which took about 20m. Not too bad overall but doubt we'll be back. read more

See all

Drink Well is a favorite in our household. The service and staff makes you think that you're at home in this community bar and setting. The cocktails here are reasonably priced (ranging from $11-16) AND the food is spot on. There are very few cocktail bars in Austin that put as much time and thought into their menu as this one. We ordered the corn cakes and we demolished those, and we've ordered the fries as well as other bites before. My husband ordered a whisky based drink and I started off with a non alcoholic beet drink with a seedlip na spirit. I got another drink which I ended up spilling on accident as we were seated at the bar and the bartender was so nice, he made me a new one. Overall, would highly recommend ! read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Interesting place. I love the neighborhood. I've been going to all the restaurants here for many years. Lovely drink. Lovely atmosphere. It wasn't crowded at the time we went. The male bartender didn't even say hi. I guess we aren't cool enough. I'm not sure he chatted much to anyone. The lovely female bartender was nice and made a great hot toddy drink. And she engaged in conversation. The auto 20percent gratuity added to each bill is interesting but I'm not sure it's needed after the Covid pandemic but perhaps it is. It's definitely a cute hipster place. If that's your thing. read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've been to Drink Well a couple of times and I've enjoyed it every time. It's a great place to grab a drink with someone in a more intimate setting. The service was great. Someone came by multiple times to check on our table. Haven't had the chance to try their food, but their cocktails are great. Will definitely come back. read more

Drink Well - Menu - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

One of my favorite cocktail bars in town! It's small and not many parking spaces. I love all the cocktails that I've tried (which is a lot ; ) read more

We consider this place to be sort of an extension of our home and the staff as members of our family. They provide the neighborhood and, more importantly, the community with delicious food, incredible cocktails and hospitality. Tonight was filled with all of those along with a drag show with some truly amazing queens. Everyone clearly enjoyed their evening, and thanks to every member of the incredible team for always taking such great care of us. read more

I love the pimento appetizer and even though space is limited the staff is great about trying to find you a spot. Great service, tasty drinks, cozy vibe, and a decent menu make Drink Well one of my go to spots for a business happy hour. read more

Great cocktail bar I didn't even realize was in my neighborhood!! Only tried a cocktail, which was delicious (art of zen), but noticed there are vegan and GF options clearly marked. Packed on a Friday evening, but still had great service. read more

After watching the mavs game, a few buddies and I stumbled a few blocks down the road from the house to this nearby bar. It was a beautiful night outside and nothing else around us was open as the clock approached midnight. As we opened the door, we were seemingly transported to another world. The air was full with random conversations and the candles dimly illuminated the room, a stark contrast from the quiet, moonlit night outside. We were ready to drink the pain of the loss to the warriors away and we grabbed a few seats at the bar and ordered away. The old fashioned was actually pretty good - not the best, but not the worst either. I ordered the chaps & chanclas and that was awful. I didn't like the flavor and neither did my friends. I had to wash it down with a beer after just to get the taste out of my mouth. I've been here before since I live so close and I remember ordering the tostada. The food here seems better than the drinks. Overall, I'd say the drinks aren't worth the price here, but it is a nice spot to sit and chat with friends! read more

See all

I did not try the food, just went for happy hour. I will be coming back. You get GREAT quality drinks at a good price. There is parking and indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

My friend loves this place. The ambiance is trendy and if you get there at off hours you can snag seating and HH. The staff is hit or miss, the female manager w dark hair is super swift and seems to love her job. The dude with shoulder length dark hard approached (2 times) as if he's miserable to serve you. The last time we went we got the pumpkin risotto with friend chicken and it wa so we seasoned. For the price I'm like eh. I won't be running me. read more

Drink Well - Pumpkin risotto and chicken thighs - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas