The Elephant Room is one of Austin's most widely known jazz venues. It is located below street level 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. read more

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One of the best bars in Austin. To my dying breath I will say that. Love the live jazz. It's constantly full of people, which is fitting because the vibes are so good. It's a hit or miss with the cocktails - the espresso martini is delicious but some of the other drinks are quite strong. read more

Came in to catch a Saturday night show. I recommend coming before 8:30 if you are trying to watch a 9pm show. The place fills up fast, and waiting in line takes forever because most of the patrons stay for a whole set. The band we saw was great and super charismatic. The cocktails were also good and very reasonably priced. This is now one of my favorite date night spots in town. read more

After dinner we decided to go to the Elephant room and there was a live jazz quartet that night. There was a 10 cover charge added to bill because we came after 8. It reminded me of a speakeasy it is in basement of a building I loved it! They only serve alcohol but I did see some people order from another place and bring it in. There were lines at the door since tables were full so arrived just in time. Will definitely return. read more

Elephant Room - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had a fun girls night here, sipping on tasty cocktails and listening to melodious jazz music. Our server was friendly and attentive. Recommend going early to find a table or there can be a wait later in the night. read more

Such a cool place! It's located inside a shared space with 2 restaurants above, and stairs underground. It's very intimate with shared tables of 4 and a few tables of 2. There was a cover fee of $10/person and it was added to your bar tab when you cash out. The variety of drinks was great, not super expensive either. There is no food, so that was a little different for me. I personally like something to snack on if I'm going to be somewhere for several hours, but not sure how they would make that work since the place is so small. The jazz players were amazing. The service was great! There was a walk up bar as well as a few waiters going around taking drink orders. The vibe was relaxed and so enjoyable. We will def be returning! read more

Elephant Room - Jazz - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We popped in after an early dinner around 6pm on a Friday and lucked out, no cover until 8pm. We grabbed great seats without the usual crowd. Our drinks were taken care of right away (espresso martini and a beer), and the service stayed smooth the whole time. The talent that night was genuinely impressive. They have a calendar on their website so you know who is performing. The ambience is exactly what you want from a jazz spot: dim, cozy, and intimate without feeling cramped. Such an easy, memorable way to spend an evening. read more

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We went there to see the jazz band on Saturday lead by Michael Malone. He had reserved us the best table in the house, front center and first row. Our waiter Andrew was very kind and attentive, we had the red Pinot noir and a manhattan both really good and the manhattan was strong and well prepared. The music...oh the music . If you appreciate jazz and blues, you'll have a blast. This band transports you to magical places and Michael even shares stories about different songs. This was our second time seeing them live, we will definitely be back and recommend to our friends. My only recommendation would be for the chairs to have cushion to be more comfortable. read more

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We were greeted at the door by Ross, found a good table (which isn't hard to do since it's an intimate venue). The music is great and the service is great. I went on a Monday night (yes, a MONDAY!!!), the rhythm section played while various musicians sat in. Jam after jam - they could not miss! Will definitely make another visit before this trip ends! read more

Elephant Room - Me, wifey, and Ross! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great way to spend out last night in Austin! We had a much better time here than the Continental Club, for what it's worth. Friday night had a cover, which is added to your bill, so easy entry. The host who seated us was quite the character! A small party like us will amost always have to share a table, but everyone is there for the music, so it's no big deal. Good selection of beers and tasty cocktails. Service was pretty good for a music place, too. I would definitely return if I'm in Austin again. read more

I went here on a date two weeks ago! We got in line just after opening on Saturday night & there was already a small crowd spilling out to the street. We got a nice 4-top table on the side as part of the "first batch" of customers. I don't remember the name of my drink but it was near the bottom of the signature cocktails list & included vodka. I tried a sip of the Jazz Juice but didn't like it. The music and energy of the other patrons made the basement dive bar liven up so much! We eventually gave up two seats at our table to another couple by sitting on the same side. By the time we left 30-40 mins after going in, there was still 10-15 people waiting outside at the door! read more

+: Open 364 days of the year (fact check me if I am off by a day) Can bring food from outside - two restaurants upstairs (Sushi and American) Good place to bring visitors Diverse lineup of jazz musicians -: No frills jazz lounge. read more

I absolutely love elephant room! I was worried that we were gong to show up a little too late to get good seating, we were leaving our house around 8pm and the show started at 9pm. We got there a little after 8:30pm and walked in to see many of the front tables full, but we continued walking and luckily ended up finding two seats at the bar. The band started right around 9pm and it was amazing. All of the artists were incredibly talented. After a while, we saw a table open up by us and took it, which was great because it was in the perfect spot, right in front of the band. We got some drinks- a mexican martini and a beer. They play for a couple hours then take a break, and then come back until 1am. We left a little before then but it's definitely one of my favorite spots downtown! read more

Elephant Room - Jazz Band - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

LOVE the Elephant Room! This little jazz club is hidden underground on Congress right downtown. I have visited once when a group that had literally 10 people (mostly horns) played and another time for a Monday jazz jam where different people went up and played, and both experiences were amazing. You have to get here early otherwise once they are at capacity you will be turned away. The cover is incredibly reasonable - between $5 and $10 depending on the day. You don't even have to have cash ready - it just gets added to your tab. The host at the front is friendly and servers are nice too. This most recent time our server was very overwhelmed and forgot drinks, waters, etc. but it was just jam packed. Drinks are great too! I've gotten their negroni which is a little unique compared to a regular one. They also make their own olive mix and have a really good and savory dirty martini. They don't serve food so just plan to go here for drinks and music. And also this is a listening room, so please be quiet. There were obnoxious drunk people there on this most recent visit and they were the only ones talking and laughing loudly. People that go here go to see the music - not to just hang out and have music in the background. 10/10 great jazz club. The musicians are all incredible! Amazing talent. Highly recommend this place! read more

Elephant Room - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had a great time listening to jazz on a busy Friday night. There was a cover and included on your bill. Be prepared to share a table if you are two or less, worked out well for us as we met some other folks and had some fun conversations during breaks. Good selection of beers and no pressure to order drinks like at some music spots. read more

I read a review that said "Come for the jazz, leave for the drinks" and I couldn't agree more. The Elephant Room is a basement jazz bar with music every night. Their daily hours and cover charge depend on the day of the week. They have a calendar of performers on their website. We got to see the Elias Haslanger Quintet, and they were absolutely wonderful. The music is not too loud, even with a relatively close seat. We came on a Saturday a little after 9 pm (which is when the headliner was starting that night), and there was already a line out the door. We waited at least 30 minutes to be seated. The room itself has a non-ideal layout; it's a long room with a bar that runs along the left side, and a small stage at the end of the room. The issue is, there are pillars that support the ceiling, which completely block your view of the performers if you're seated anywhere near the bar or towards the back of the room. We were initially seated at the bar, but we were able to switch to a better table after seeing a group of people leaving. As for the drinks, we tried the jazz juice (the description on the menu says it's a traditional rum punch) and the placebo (a non-alcoholic cocktail, bartender's choice). When I think of rum punch, I think of rum and fruit juices, and perhaps a sweetener. Unfortunately, this rum punch only had one flavor: anise/licorice. Licorice is an incredibly polarizing flavor - some people love it, but personally I find it incredibly off-putting. I really wish the description on their menu specified this ingredient; if it did, I would've known not to order it. Sadly, the placebo cocktail wasn't any better. It was so sickly-sweet, my brother described it as "sugar water". My recommendation to anyone that wants to check out the Elephant Room would be to get there early (before the headliner is set to start) so you don't have to stand in line too long. The music is definitely worth it. read more

Elephant Room - Menu - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Stop by here on a weekend for some live jazz after dinner! The vibe was immaculate. I've always heard about this bar and how the music is spectacular, and I finally got the chance to visit. We were regretted by the host as soon as we walked in, and we were able to pick a table towards the back in a private corner. Our server was really friendly and recommended his favorite cocktails and cider. I ended up getting one of the house ciders, and it was super refreshing and not too sweet. I tried my friends cocktail, which was also really good. The prices for the drinks were very reasonable, but there was a cover fee for each set that the band had played. The music was great, and the vibe overall was fantastic. Everyone was very respectful of the musicians, and we were able to hear and see them Without any problems. Would definitely come back and try other drinks and listen to more music! read more

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Visted in June and was told there is no live music. This a loud crowed drinking venue.

Come for the jazz, leave for the drinks. Elephant Room is a fantastic jazzy escape right on Congress Ave that is one of the greatest examples of Austin's true love for music. The setting is very intimate with low lighting throughout and a lot of tables aligning the path down to the stage. We were able to snag a table pretty close up but we would recommend getting there early as the place was decently full for a Thursday night (also to beat their cover that begins at 8; cover amount depends on the day of week). The service is friendly and quick with ordering and getting drinks. Obviously with any jazz bar, the music is the main show and the band was great. They performed a few different styles of jazz and it all sounded fantastic with funny little skits in between their sets. It's very easy to see why Elephant Room is a go to for many music lovers in the city. I will warn however that the drinks were not great. With a limited cocktail menu we went with familiar favorites of ours and none of us were very impressed with what we received. The Manhattan was very strong, even for a bourbon centric cocktail. The espresso martini was just alright but not as good as many other places. And lastly, the jazz juice just wasn't as sweet and flavorful as other traditional rum punches. They do have a decent wine and beer selection so maybe stick to those. You can't go wrong with great music and that's exactly what Elephant Room provides. Although the drinks were a miss, the atmosphere and setting are a can't miss and we highly recommend anyone looking for a casual date night to head here ASAP. read more

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Awesome jazz bar! Seating was limited and my party of 3 had to wait in line for a bit to get a table. There is a cover charge that is added to your bill if you go on a Friday or Saturday night. Drinks were great. I ordered an old fashioned and it was perfect. I plan to come back and arrive earlier to get a better table, closer to the stage. Overall a good time! read more

Elephant Room - Smokin Tony - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

The live music is fantastic. Great spot to just hang out or go on a date. The drink menu also has a lot of great options. However, the seating is quite limited, and the room is quite elongated - this makes it very difficult to see the performers if you're on the other side. read more

Elephant Room - Seating - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's always a fun hang here, gives you speakeasy/ New Orleans vibes. I didn't take a lot of photos / videos since I'd really want you to go in and try it out on your own. Pro tip: go early! This place can get crowded really easily and and the only way to beat the crowds is to go early. The staff is very friendly. They will come in and check in on you very often. The drinks are very Austin. The ambience is perfect for what this club is about. A must recommendation if you are into the bar scene and jazz music read more

Elephant Room - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

Been here a few times and loved it inside. Last time i went, the "bouncer" was an absolute asshole for no reason. He was so unclear about what he wanted from me, assumed I was with the party behind me, and then when I accidentally spit on him the tiniest bit (I have a speech impediment) he called me out for it, which is completely disrespectful. Keep in mind it was 10:15 so there was reason for him to pretend like he was a real bouncer at a nightclub or something. Fire him and maybe i will come back read more

Espresso martini - 4/5 Jazz juice - spritzy Satin Doll- 4/5 Overall 4/5 Live jazz. Nice atmosphere. 10 $ surcharge per person added to bill. read more

This was my first time at the Elephant Room and it exceeded my expectations. The mood inside of this downstairs jazz bar is dark, energetic and romantic. I ordered the house espresso martini that happens to be on draft and it was one of the best I've ever had. The Lady Day is an absolute must order for any mezcal lovers. I can't wait to come back! :) read more

Elephant Room - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

We were looking for some live music venues in Austin on our last evening there. Having been deterred somewhat from locals previously, I did a search and found the Elephant Room which was within walking distance of our hotel. It's downstairs in the basement level. There is no cover prior to 8 pm on a Monday evening but after that, they charge $5 per person and they let you know at the door when you come in. The cover charge varies depending on the day of the week. Even if you're in the venue prior to 8 pm, they will automatically add the cover charge to your bill, which they remind you of as the time nears. We arrived at 7:45 pm and were told at the door. The Elephant Room is a long room with bar on one side and a small stage at the end of the room. I had to wonder what the fire codes in this place were but there was no line when we arrived. We were just told no standing and we had to find seats. At first we had a few seats at the bar but found a table that people were vacating soon after. Luckily, we had eaten dinner beforehand, so all we planned to do was order a few drinks and listen to the live jazz acts playing that evening. The cover charge was minimal and we ordered a couple of beers to sip while enjoying the musical acts. When we arrived, there was a large jazz band playing and once they were done, they switched to a jam session format where random people could join the band for a song. I thought it was pretty neat to see. For $10 and the cost of two drinks, we had a pretty chill evening listening to live music. Not a bad way to spend our last night in the live music capital of the world. read more

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Stopped in after sushi upstairs. Listened to two groups, both were great. Had a very fun time in this cozy basement joint. The one thing I want to lift up is the service. It was fantastic. Engaging, timely, and nice! Drinks and Belgian beers were all reasonable. Great time, and will be back! read more

First off, for a jazz club in Austin, it has all the ambience. Good conversation, pretty solid cocktails and of course, great music. It is a very lively atmosphere that's accompanied with dim lighting after a long day. I really like how it's never too crowded since they control the amount of patrons allowed. However, service is not great. I hope it's a fluke, but consistency is present on how the waiters and bartenders interact with paying music enjoyers. Could not have begged more to order drinks or get a couple waters to a full table. I suggest tipping the musicians before being met with the lack of friendly service. Or even service for that matter. read more

Small, intimate, basement setting. We enjoyed a few drinks as the jazz band serenaded us. Customer service was amazing! Highly recommend.

Music and atmosphere was fabulous, but they cashed my card out and gave me a receipt for $37, but then they ran my credit card later for $42. I know it's only and extra $5, but if they do that to all their customers, they are making some big money at the end of the day. Not to mention, it's dishonest and illegal. Beware of the Elephant in the room.! read more

Great spot for live music. We only paid $10 pp to listen to get in. We got there fairly early so we did not have to wait to be seated. There is a host who checks to see what is available and will let you know where to go. At one point there was a line going all the way up the stairs into the street. Our servers were great. The place was packed but they were attentive. Loved the live jazz. We had a great time! read more

Elephant Room - Inside - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Badass place! I was only there on set to do some filming, but the whole atmosphere of the place was super cool. I'll definitely be going back when I'm Back in DFW. read more

Really enjoyed this place and the drinks are really good. The band was superb but a little bit of Santana/jazz/Mexican guitar people there were very friendly and Servis oriented. It's an underground place like literally underground in the basement, but worth going to and listening some really great music read more

On our first night in Austin, we stumbled into The Elephant Room and found ourselves in for a memorable surprise. This spot has been an underground hideaway for jazz lovers since 1991, with live music filling the low-lit, basement space almost every night. We waited in line for a few minutes--totally worth it--and somehow ended up with a table right in front of the stage, just as the house band started. The next couple of hours were a blur of fantastic jazz, a packed bar, and that joyful, easygoing Austin energy. If you're into jazz or just love discovering places with real character, The Elephant Room should be on your list. read more

Elephant Room - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place was awesome. Traditional jazz speakeasy / basement vibes. Intimate setting with Great sound. Nice draft list and classic cocktails. Quick service all around. Definitely keeping this on my list when recommending ATX spots. read more

Elephant Room - History of jazz in the room! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Music every night is a very impressive claim to be able to make! But this is the live music capital of the world after all. The stage is in the back, so, just by nature of the shape of the venue, you can't always see the stage. There is an area by the stage meant more for viewing and listening. Also, this is a place where you may end up sharing stables with new faces. There is a bar, and servers who come to your tables. It's about as charming as you'd expect a 32 year old basement bar to be. Also, take a look around and notice all the decor and details that give this place the character that it has. I love the drink option on the menu "Placebo" being that it is a non-alcoholic drink, but the bartender's choice. It's fun! I've been here with crowds of all sizes, and most recently, solo! Don't be shy, give Elephant Room a visit! read more

Elephant Room - Ended up here tonight since hip hop was cancelled! Jazz is just as well! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

I submit that if there is one quintessential American musical style it has to be Jazz. Being from Charleston SC, living almost two decades in Kansas City while visiting New Orleans I can say it's in my very DNA. The music was born from Ragtime & the Blues which represents the range of emotions of joy to depression. Jazz also is known for impromptu solo's which I submit is the soul of Jazz followed closely by body moving rhythms. Back in 2020 when I was living in KC, I wanted to move to Austin & when down visiting I looked up live music. Elephant Room came up as a destination, unfortunately I believed it to be deceased b/c of covid and the website said closed. Recently and to my surprise it was resurrected, ending my long odyssey to find Jazz in Austin. Now, let's get my take, shall we? I had a date in which it was half planned, half impromptu, a device I utilize on first dates as some turn out to be a long painful death while others can inspire life. As dinner was winding down, I made the suggestion to hit The Elephant Room & she was excited as she had been there before. We arrived & the line was long, very long at 8pm. The owner then came out saying the band couldn't make it which appeared to kill off the night. This is when half the line took off; their loss, our win. The date who claimed to know everyone got on her phone, dialed several numbers calling musicians. Fortunately, I had caught on to her embellishments earlier so I pretended to call Jim Morrison b/c I had friends too (she didn't know who it was). Back to the bar, the owner came out & said "no cover but there's no band." But the club still had a pulse so I got in and was seated with my lady friend. I love nightclubs below street level as in a way they feel homey and authentic, a place with soul. That is exactly how Elephant Room feels, alive yet six feet under. To the left a long bar dominates much of the wall area ending prematurely with a few tables at the end. A row of tables runs parallel then the main traffic area with another line of tables hugging the brick wall. At the end of the bricks are a lot of interesting pictures hanging that I highly encourage everyone to take a moment & see life stopped at an instant. At the end of the three rows of tables is a small, quaint and lively gallows area where the music is made. The floor is brick and weathered, something that a speakeasy should resemble. Yup this isn't one of those new lifeless and artificial bars, built to look old rather this crib has seen real life. The waitress was simply a joy telling us about a menu of various poisons to kill off a bad day. The club isn't "fancy" per se rather you're encouraged to sit with kindred souls. Moreover, elbow room doesn't exist so if claustrophobia is your thing think twice. As I talked with my date it was announced that a backup band had arrived as they walked into the light. All the spirits in the bar were resurrected and a loud cheer woke the dead, a spirit anew. The band was on fire, playing uplifting tunes for everyone to get down; a buzz was humming, the drinks were flowing my new found friends were funny and engaging while the date was entertaining. Yes, my friends I had one hell of an evening. Elephant Room is the real deal for Jazz, it's not fancy but grassroots. Bands sometimes cancel, it happens but they adapted and like a phoenix resurrected from the ashes of the night. My advice is get there early b/c it seems to fill up quick. After that enjoy an atmosphere designed to give your weary soul a night to remember. read more

Elephant Room - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Do you like Jazz? Do you want to vibe with great drinks? Do you like to saunter? Well slide downstairs and grab a drink in this gem of an establishment. Nothing here is bad seriously! Bring friends, make friends, or solo in this hip joint. Drinks come fast and hard! They don't cheap out on you at all. Service is fast and they check in often. I've never been sitting without a drink and they keep an eye on your drink! read more

I went here the other night with a group and I was charged the $10.00 cover charge, and $47.89 for two drinks. I looked at my credit card statement and saw that I was charged $24.89 twice and $47.89. I cant make sense of it. I attempted to call the establishment and only get the recording. Please be mindful of the charges. I only signed off on $47.89. read more

Great small cellar bar with live jazz. There is limited seating and unfortunately there is not much of a view from any of the stools at the bar. Two rows of small tables but those fill up fast. No cover charge before 8pm, so pop in early if you want to check the place out first. If jazz is your thing this is an ideal place to hang out and the service at the bar is fast and efficient, large selection of beers, wines, cocktails at reasonable prices. read more