We were exploring SXSW installations and came across the Pittsburg House at Half Step bar on Rainey Street. They had an open bar with free drinks and live music on the stage out back. I tried several of their craft cocktails including the Frozen Pinacolada with 3 rum blend, pineapple, coconut and a hint of lime which was my favorite drink on the menu. Also had a craft mezcal margarita and tried the Paloma as well. Service was consistently friendly and attentive in my experience, even when it's busy. The pace can slow down a bit during peak hours, but nothing out of the ordinary for a popular bar. They have a great outdoor seating area with a stage for their live music performances. They had several bands on location performing at the event. There was plenty of outdoor seating. Overall, Half Step is a great spot if you're looking for a solid cocktail bar experience in Austin with a relaxed, slightly hidden-gem vibe. read more

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Do you think a cocktail bar is the ideal place to eat some mini donuts? Probably not! That is exactly what we did yesterday. We had a Yelp mini donut event, and the food truck manager told us that he shared space with Half Step and to go right in to eat our donuts. Reluctantly, we went to door of Half Step and asked was it fine to do so. The door manager heartedly said yes, please come on in. We were welcomed with open arms. The bar was mostly full and popping. They have a huge TV screen and extensive cocktail offerings. Since mini donuts do not normally go together with cocktails, next time we will definitely try one of their cocktails. We leisurely ate our donuts and went on our merry way. A big shout out to Half Step bar for their kindness... read more

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Best DJ! Awesome bartenders. Made me a drink-dealers choice based on the spirit and some info I provided. Super cute front porch patio set up to people watch, cowboy pool, tables and TVs in the back. Lots of fun!! read more

Half Step - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I loved their cocktails here! They have a menu of their current offerings. Or just tell them what in general terms you are looking for, and they will create something for you. The drinks I had were incredibly good. It's not a huge space but there are lots of tables and a few booths. There is also a patio outside. There's a food truck lot right next door. This is definitely the place to go on Rainey Street. read more

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We came here before Panic at the Paramount to hit up a Halloween themed bar and also as we don't get to Rainey street much. This place was themed at Murderritaville so it had a mix of horror and Jimmy Buffet, so no Paradise cheeseburgers here!. The décor was mini skeletons riding flamingos, and a undead skeleton band. Spiderwebs and parrots were all over. It was a neat mix of both themes. The bartender was fast, friendly, and easygoing. They had several themed drinks, mine was the Graveyard Grog which was tasty. SHANA SAYS: The place was cute and they had good drinks! The bathroom was clean which is not always the case downtown. I wouldn't call the place comfy or cozy but it was fun. The drinks were all good, they even had their own homemade version of fireball or something. It was fun to try a variation on that. The music was fun and fit the theme, though no Jimmy Buffett played while we were there, as there are quite a few bars on the street all close together and most themed it seemed like people stopped in, got a drink and/or shots and took pictures then moved on. We didn't go to other bars but guessing it's the same at least at the time we came in. We were there fairly early as we have plans later so around 2:30 to 3 pm. It was fun and we want to go back and check out other bars and revisit them at some point. Maybe next Halloween. read more

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One of the last original houses that still preserves that original Rainey charm. Once you walk through the door you can feel instant cozy vibe like entering a retro ski lodge. Lots of seating options to catch up with a group of friends or for an intimate date night. We stopped in on National Margarita day to catch their $2 margs deal. On Thursdays, come by for some live jazz shows. In the warmer months, you can hang out on the patio or in the backyard. In the holiday winter months, they serve a cozy holiday cocktail menu and a solid hot toddy. Always great cocktails and welcoming atmosphere. Make a half step or two into this cozy, cocktail bar! If you get lucky you might be greeted by the local hostess with the meowtess! read more

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Rainey Street has changed so much over the years (sadly) - what was once a bohemian vibe from years ago has given way to tall buildings, new developments, and a towering concrete jungle... With that said, Rainey Street still draws crowds (and what seems to be many bachelor and bachelorette parties) and people seeking revelry. Of the many bars littering the area, Half Step was one of my favorites the last time I was in town. A bit of a more chill vibe - both plentiful indoor and outdoor seating. The drinks were top notch, and the bartenders were nice. They often have a food truck parked there where you can order food too. Fun/chill place to drop in for a drink and people watch from afar. If I am ever back on Rainey Street, I'd probably just chill here the entire time as it is much more my vibe. read more

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Amazing staff, amazing music, and creative drinks! While it might be too late in the season, the wild turkey gravy back is a must have! read more

Half Step - Wild Turkey Gravy back - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Even though Rainey Street is pretty much considered a tourist trap shoved between ever-growing housing and corporate buildings, I still like heading over now and again. Especially when you've got places like Half Step that really take care of their customers. And by that I mean that the bartenders will take ti to go over menus with you, make a special-request, etc. They make really yummy cocktails that are priced comparable to anywhere else. Nothing beats relaxing on their front porch with a refreshing drink while people watching. Benji gives it two paws up. read more

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This is a bar on Rainey Street. It has a chill vibe. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The drinks were pretty good and the bartenders were friendly. It's great for people watching or just relaxing. There are lots of bachelor and bachelorette parties around here too. read more

Half Step - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Step right up! The Rainy Street scene is not for me, but this little nook carved out of that madness stands alone. It's got the heart of a dive bar, polish of an indie concert venue, and soul of a serious mixologist's playground. There are affordable deals for everyday of the week in addition to more complex and thoughtful cocktail creations. Good people, good vibes; it feels like a piece of old Austin shining through. read more

Excellent spot on Rainey Street. Friendly bartenders with great drinks. I love the amount of open space their is for sitting and drinking or playing bar games. Make sure to stop by when you need a great drink and a place to sit! read more

I wanted to check out the food truck spot on Rainey but it was closed for renovation. Right next to it, I found the Half Step. The vibe was so good with outdoo floats and cowboy pools and a donut shop. As I stepped in, the decor was stellar, it had a bit of an antique touch to it. Looks like they had converted an old house into a bar, like most of places out there. We chose to sit outside since the inside was dark and loud. It gets pretty crowded at the bar and there was no table service. You can bring your dogs too. If you're lucky, you can find some street parking right outside, if not, you need to park a little far, close to the lake or those pricey garages. They have great cocktails and good selection of beers. I got the Kolsh! read more

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This place is the worst place I have ever been too. The drinks suck, rude people who didn't want to serve drinks to anyone they expect to serve half the group and leave the rest out bc they "are too drunk" read more

great atmosphere, low lit. had the football game on and got some amazing drinks for $9 a piece read more

Half Step - left is rainey ricki, right is "Business as usual" - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had a work event that was taking place at Hotel Van Zandt back in November 2024, and was looking for a last minute venue to host a social gathering and Half-Step was the perfect spot for that. Their pricing was sooo much more affordable compared to other bars on Rainey Street, they were flexible and willing to work with our budget from the very start which I truly appreciate and staff was super attentive, very welcoming and easy to work with. Shout out to Rachelle Platis :) And to add a sweet touch, we also ordered mini donuts from Little Lucy's for our event which our attendees absolutely loved! I'd definitely recommend this venue if you're looking to book an event! read more

Half Step was one of my favorite spots that we visited on Rainey. Nate and I were exploring this street during the day to avoid some crowds and craziness, which is much more our speed these days. Half Step was completely empty when we arrived but as we were leaving, a large group was filling the entire bar. The cocktail menu was nicely curated and I got the frozen pina colada, which was delicious and perfect. The frozen drink was a great texture without any ice chunks - just smooth and creamy. Nate got an espresso martini, which was nicely balanced and delicious. I liked the juices displayed in the chemistry beaker bottles on the bar. The bartender was super friendly, chatting with us and explaining where the water was, how to get out to the outdoor space, etc. Really great vibes here! We enjoyed our drinks and a chicken sandwich from the food truck out at the picnic tables. read more

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During our stay in Austin we tried a few different cocktail bars and Half Step stood above the rest. The the location is quaint, service is personable and the drinks are very well made and presented. If you sit out on the front porch you get to enjoy some Rainey Street people watching and if a band/DJ is playing indoors, it is not as loud outside so you can still talk with people. Try out their whiskey Wednesdays and their HH menu. They have an excellent old fashioned for $8. Highly recommend paying a visit. read more

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A time was had! DJ on Friday night was a VIBEEEEE! The drinks were beautifully made and so tasty! I ran the same cocktail back a couple of times lol. They have inside seating and plenty of seating outside read more

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Amazing craft cocktails from true mixologist staff. The outdoor space is great with food trucks nearby. They often have good music options during the weekend. Friendly staff. Not to be missed read more

Late night trips to Rainey St are fun because its easier to find parking. We got lucky that this was the Holloween weekend so we got to see some really cool costumes too We had never been to Half Step, chose to go in because there seemed to be seating space available. I loved my espresso martini and Anuya got IPA which was good too, but the other folks in the group did not like their drinks at all which were the watermelon margarita and Floradora (I guess) There are still a few places left to try so half step will have to wait for us to be back. read more

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Best drink I have had here in Austin. Bartenders were friendly and inviting. Indoor area is quaint and they have a larger outdoor area. Fun live music to enjoy too read more

Half Step - Bartender's Choice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The bartender is a bitch - she doesn't like constructive criticism- her espresso martini is awful.

We were a large party of 15 ppl and the service was excellent ! We got a round of lemon drops and watching the bartender make 15 lovely lemon drops was like watching a master work.. I didn't get their name but the bartender with the long red curly made me the best Shirley temple of my life they make their own grenadine in house and you can tell! It's a cute space as well. Thanks for the fun time! read more

Half Step - N/a Shirley temple and g&t - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Half Step is one of the best places to catch some live music ON Rainey St. Sun Radio's Wednesday night series is a gem of ATX

I stopped by here when they were hosting the Midwest House during SXSW. I've been following them on Instagram for a while and was hoping that this place would have awesome cocktails. So when I came, I was kind of disappointed since they only had a few cocktail menus and there was a line and i couldn't get to one of those menus so I chickened out and just ordered a vodka soda. The vodka soda was what you would expect and perhaps the pour was a little light; mostly soda and the bartender did not upsell on a better vodka. On top of that, there was a sxsw surcharge which I suppose is expected but i didn't really feel that was the place to get craft drinks - more of a hangout place. I think the main attraction is the Spice Boys food trucks but they have several other locations so I don't think i would come back here for the food truck. read more

Half Step - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Didn't have any food, however had an awesome espresso martini and a chat with the bar tender Ben. Great service, awesome bar and vibe. 10/10 would recommend to stop in and have a drink. read more

Half Step is the place to go on Rainey Street. Cocktails were top notch, the jazz band was energetic, and the bartender behind the counter was the most attractive, charming, and helpful man I've ever encountered in my life. My girlfriend and I were so in awe of his his tales of spending months down in Tequila, Mexico for tequila tasting that I had to escort us to Half Step's back patio in case either of us got any ideas. 10/10 would go again. read more

Half Step - Mezcal & Gin house cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nice bar, probably one of the better bars I've been to in the area because it had space and didn't feel over-crowded with so many people that I couldn't move. They had some cute live country music playing, I'm not too much into country music but I did enjoy the ambience and the vibe of this bar. Overall a nice experience read more

Half Step - Live musicians playing country music - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super cute spot in the middle of the city! Great mixologist that offered recommendations for happy hour. Outdoor space was welcoming and the corn hole made the n"afternoon. No food service but the food trucks were next door and they let you bring the food into nosh! Please do not let the place go for another condo high rise! read more

Absolutely loved this place! I had low expectations because it's on Rainey, but I was pleasantly surprised. We came in around mid-day on a Saturday and there was only one other couple standing at the bar so we essentially had the place to ourselves. It eventually got busier when a bachelorette group showed up. My favorite drinks were the watermelon flamingo and espresso martini, but you can't go wrong with anything from their menu! read more

Half Step - Old Fashion (left) & Espresso Martini (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've slowly figured out that Half Step is a... half step above the other bars on Rainey? Is that what they're going for? I bet not, but it works. Cocktails are great here, and when it's not busy the bartenders are super down to talk about the drinks and the process. I love taking a sped-up version of them making an Old Fashioned with their beautiful cubes of ice slowly melting into the drinks. They also have some pretty dope live music, though I'm not sure the schedule. read more

Cool bar.. love the whole chemistry bottle set up! Cool bartender! Great drinks! This place is a winner. Tried the gentleman buck- does the trick! read more

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Bri is the best!! She makes the best drinks and has the best attitude. There's no one else I'd rather have make my drinks than Bri.

When in Rainey, definitely a good idea to stop here for a Ginger #3, live music and some tingly Szechuan nugs from Spicy Boys. The bathrooms are clean and their bartenders know what's up. read more

Half Step - Ginger #3 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Second time visiting Austin in awhile. Our air bnb was really close to Rainey St. Although there are a bunch of options to drink in the area. My husband and I loved half step the most. The drinks are so tasty and fresh. Homey and low key. We had the opportunity to speak two of the bartenders there Patrick and JD. Super cool guys, welcoming and really sweet. We were intrigued by the process of their cocktail making and their amazing skills. They gave us a little 101 on craft cocktail making. It was awesome They genuinely love what they do and you can tell. They make their own ice and have it down to a science. I was truly intrigued by that. They rotate their cocktail menu to keep the bar fun and exciting. They are apart of collection of awesome bars. Check out "Pouring With Heart" to see the rest of the bars. A few bars down they have a sister bar called Stay Put. Homey vibes and low key as well. They have events weekly. We went on a day where they had a specific menu for a local dog charity they were supporting / half of the proceeds went to support dogs in need. I def recommend this place if you love craft cocktails and def love people that are passionate about what they do. Thanks again Patrick and JD! Until next time read more

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Now this is an Austin bar to be proud of! Great bartenders! Trained pros that know their shit! Boom .... tasty. There was live music, which was solid (Canned Beets) and enjoyable. Environment was great. I enjoyed this stop a lot... until I get my tab, then I'll cry! read more

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Wow what a cool bar I've missed out on so many times! Not only is the spicy boys food truck in there side yard, they had a water slide, great outdoor seating, and indoor decor! We had an awesome bartender who definitely hooked us up! We even did the surfboard shots. What a night! read more

Half Step - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The bouncer was extremely rude. Insulted the group as we walked in. It also smelled like trash and feces when we walked in. Wanted to stay but the bouncer was horrible read more

Awesome bar on Rainey with porch seating, backyard, and Spicy Boys out front. I was shocked to see they had Pimms ON TAP. Yessss. The Pina Colada (+ rum floater) was also so refreshing on a 108 degree day. read more

Half Step - Pina Colada - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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