This is a review about the coffee and food aspect of Simona's…read more It is over priced. In terms of coffee, they are middle of the pack. There is much better coffee in austin. They have premium prices still. They sell pastries and they have a taco food truck connected to it. Both are still very much overpriced. I get it, they are inside a nice hotel and so they will charge a premium but at least have the quality match that.

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.

Cool little dive bar. Good and friendly bar service with a mix of different xmas themed cocktails…read moreand Christmas decor. We appreciated the $5 special which includes a small high life and a shot of whiskey. I'm pretty sure the pepperoni pizza we got there was digiorno though which I find a bit unusual.

We visited this cool bar initially because we had a coupon for a free cocktail from one of the…read moreapartment buildings we toured. We went on scooters on a hot day, and it was a great place to cool down and have a tiki drink! Our bartender was so nice and welcoming, and we had the whole place to ourselves. Very cute interior - loved the record wall and sign near the restrooms. There is a fun photobooth with hilarious photos people have taken too. They had just released a new drink menu, and I tried one that was made with vegan cream of coconut and tequila. It was SO good and refreshing. Prices are reasonable and they have a great happy hour too! We will be back at night time!

Cosmic Pickle is a very unique venue located of S. Congress that I discovered while visiting…read moreanother nearby location. The Cosmic effect can be realized through the red string lighting inside. Cosmic has indoor seating and outdoor seating with a covered patio. The lush greenery and trees make the venue visually appealing. In addition, a food truck park is across the walkway creating more interest. Joint outdoor seating is also shared with the food truck park. You can easily toggle between the food trucks and Cosmic. In addition, since there is so much outdoor space, the venue appears to be dog friendly. The drink menu has quite a lot of variety. In the early morning hours, you have the opportunity to drink lattes, espresso or cold brews paired with pastries. As the day continues, you can add to the drink menu wines, beer and cocktails. I had hibiscus tea with a croissant...both delicious. That morning, I was the only customer, so I had dedicated service. Will have to return in the evening...

*this was meant to be 5 stars and for some reason I must have hit 4…read more Updating for that purpose only. Yeah so, I was updating a lengthy review but it seems to have disappeared. Anyway... The Cosmic Saltillo location is our go-to because it's walking distance from our home. This original location is amazing. Love the both so much. I like that there are food truck onsite, lots and lots of outdoor seating, koi pond, chickens, certified green spaces, and so much more. It's like being at the greatest campground ever. The interior is spacious. The entire place is welcoming and friendly. Super service. Super cocktails. Super coffee. Super other drinks. You see where I'm going, right? I love it here!

Best margarita in town. Campbell was a very nice bartender and he opened early for us and lets us…read moreplay our music. He makes the best margaritas and he was very serviceable and nice. We had such a good time!

I've reviewed the Wheel before and I will review it again! It's one of the best just "bars" that…read moresouth Austin has to offer. Had your standards for mixed drinks and beer as well as a happy that is to not to be ignored. $4 whiskey of the day is always a solid option and the cocktails are always solid annnnd reasonably priced.

We had such an amazing time! It was the perfect balance of being family-friendly without feeling…read morelike it was just for kids, so everyone had a great experience. Our server, Tracy, was fantastic--friendly, attentive, and made our visit even more enjoyable. We'll definitely be back!

So fun and cute! It seems like a large warehouse that was updated and redone really well. Super…read moremodern feel and very nice interior. So many games, you could be here for hours. The bowling is Duckpin which I haven't played, it's like mini bowling. Pay per game. Then they have a lot of games that are free as long as they are available, including skee ball, arcade type games and sega console games. So cute! Their pin ball machines are $1 for 3 balls, ping pong you just need to get the ball from their little vending machine for $0.25. They have a Photo Booth and basketball games as well. We saw they had pizza but we got some fries and sliders at the little food vendor. Full bar with a lot of options and pitchers of select cocktail drinks that serve multiple people. Fun stop, for a date, large group or a birthday!

Powder Room is a speakeasy lounge tucked behind the "kitchen doors" of Manny's Sandwich Shop, and…read moreit did not disappoint! We came on a Thursday evening with a reservation for 7. Once we walked through Manny's, we were greeted right away and since we had a reservation, we were seated promptly. Quick heads up: cell phones aren't allowed inside -- they take your phone and give you a key to a locker where it's stored for the night. The idea is to keep everyone present and engaged with each other instead of their screens (they do make exceptions for emergencies or on-call situations, at the business's discretion). I actually love the reasoning behind it, even though I wished I had my phone to snap pictures of the inside! The space itself is dark and moody with major art deco Miami vibes, like something out of the 80s-90s. Think pink velvet draped everywhere, a life-size taxidermy leopard in the middle of the bar, and flamingo sculptures scattered throughout. It's gorgeous. There's plenty of seating between the booths/couches and the bar, and they seat you according to your party size. We got a plush half-circle booth with a table that fit all of us perfectly -- great sightlines too, so everyone could see and talk to each other easily. Each table gets an assigned server, and ours was fantastic. We ordered cocktails along with the yuca fries, empanadas, and quesadillas -- all delicious. I can't remember the name of my cocktail, but it was pink, gin-based, and so good, served in a beautiful tall stem glass. Loved everything about this place and will absolutely be back next time I'm in town!

I have never experienced such an insane welcome in my life. I made a reservation for 1:30am. Now, I…read moreknow that is late, but if it's too late for a reservation, you should not make it available for scheduling. The guy at the front was very nice, but as soon as we get to the "receptionist" the entire narrative changed. She looked my girlfriend and I up and down and then proceeded to tap multiple times on her IPad. She then says, "you know it's 1:30? we close at 2. we only have standing room." She had the most miserable scowl on her face. My girlfriend and I were dressed very nicely (pants & jacket, and a dress), so I know this was not a outfit issue. I do not know what her issue was, but if you are tired and don't like staying up late, don't work in a bar. After saying that there was only standing room, I decided that I was not going to spend money in an establishment that speaks to people in such a disgusting way, so I proceeded to leave. One of the guys out front asked what was wrong and asked if he could buy us a drink, but at that point I decided that I would not spend a dime at this place. Just giving a heads up! Lady at the front is EXTREMELY rude. Looking at the other 1 star reviews, it looks like this place has a reputation for being discriminatory.

Here Nor There was a fantastic experience. The interior vibe is quite lovely. My partner and I sat…read morein one of the side velvet booths. I loved how personal that area felt. We were able to have a conversation without feeling like others were listening. The music is very different than the vibe of the actual area. They were playing different rap & hip-hop artists. It was loud, but I enjoyed it. It felt very Austin-y. Loved the drinks. There was one that had something to do with Bob's Lake, or something like that. That drink was absolutely delicious. We also got the caviar service, and I really enjoyed that. Was not crazy about the blinis, I believe they were made with black corn flour. The crème fraîche was very nice. Very nice night out. This place also doesn't feel overly expensive. It's expensive, but in a similar price range to other cocktail bars in the area.

You're gonna love the vibe of this speakeasy. I visited for the first time on a Wednesday evening…read moreand enjoyed a handcrafted menu (literally, the menu is hand drawn) full of unique and delectable cocktails. There is something for everyone--no kidding. I loved their spin on a Paloma and my friends enjoyed standard items like old fashions and Moscow mules. Very very comfortable lounge seating, plush velvet and other soft textiles with leatherette coasters. Very elevated and calm. Music is perfect but kinda loud so conversation is a bit of a struggle. It is very very very dark in there so it's super intimate and features candles and mini tap light lamps. If you have sight or mobility issues, you may not like this venue from a safety standpoint. Steep incline stairs lead down to this dungeon like hold. I would return in a heartbeat. Must have the password. Exclusive and decadent is the mood. So if it matches you, you have to visit!

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.

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.

The food was excellent. Both the steak and shrimp were cooked perfectly. We started with the Sake…read moreMac and Cheese, then had the Surf and Turf and the Shrimp Symphony, and everything was delicious. The owner even opened a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc so I could enjoy a glass which I really appreciated because it's not offered by the glass. I did try to make a reservation online but ended up calling instead. It was a bit amusing since the restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived, aside from one table and only one other couple came in by the time we finished our meal.

Once again, I wish I'd taken a picture of what I ordered, ...but when it's really good, I have a…read moretendency to forget. This food was REALLY good. I ordered the Cajun surf and turf (shrimp) on a bed of garlic noodles. Everything was cooked perfectly. The steak was crazy tender and well seasoned, the shrimp had a nice pop, and I could have JUST had a plate of noodles; they were that good. The Cajun sauce complemented everything well. Even the smattering of green beans, which were probably there to add color, were outstanding. The restaurant itself was comfortable ...which is a compliment. The parking was easy. The service was outstanding. The prices were ...lower than they should have been given how delicious the food was. I will definitely recommend CK Kitchen and Bar to my friends. We came here for a birthday dinner, but with Mother's Day and graduation around the corner, I can't think of a better spot. Well done, CK.