What an interesting theme! I dig it. The outdoor patio upstairs was very romantic in a gothic way, with the wisteria and chandeliers. I got one of the mezcal based cocktails off their menu, and it honestly tasted like straight mezcal. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since you're definitely getting a strong drink. But just a note on that drink in particular. My friend got the daiquiri and it was light and refreshing. I do want to check out the downstairs in the day time, as it seemed closed off for the evening hours. The only thing I wish had been different was access to the Juliette styled balcony looking over congress. The balcony is actually what drew me in initially. It's very cute and a neat piece of architecture to the building, but the DJ was set up right in front of it so you couldn't access it. read more

Higher Ground - Romantic gothic aesthetic - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

Just stopped in for a drink. My wife got a glass of wine and I got vodka on the rocks. We'd just left dinner, so no food, but did see others get food that looked good. Server was good; drinks were fine, with the wine being a bit pricey, and vodka at $14 very high. Steady beat of the music from upstairs, and very busy on a Saturday night. Seemed like the place to be for many, just not our vibe. read more

Amazing ambiance at prime location. Had French 75, delicious. Bartenders are attentive and provided stellar services. If you are new in town, or only visiting for a few nights, this is the spot you must hit. Night view of the capitol building is also a must see. read more

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Came on a weeknight and thought it would be more empty but it was packed; must have been yuppie HH. I inadvertently sat in something wet on the chair... so that was unpleasant. There was also stuff leftover from the previous patrons, so it seems like the staff don't clean up very well in between tables. We were hoping to get seated upstairs or closer into the bar but we were sat right at the front where there was quite a breeze from the vents. We got shishito peppers and 2 drinks per and they were somewhat overpriced but good. Overall I think there's more enjoyable places to get a nice drink and have a more pleasant overall experience read more

We came to higher ground for cocktails and snacks on the gorgeous patio, and had the most fantastic server in JL!!!! All the snacks were great but The fries were our favorite with the pimento cheese for dipping. The patio is also a great spot to take photos read more

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The online pictures of this are excellent because I was expecting something much more upscale and elegant-- but after coming from the Roosevelt Room I was disappointed in the vibe. Still a good bar, but nothing like the pictures. That said, really good burger, excellent fries-- even more excellent in the huevos rots, good service, good drinks, but just a regular cocktail bar. This place would probably get a 5/5 from me if it weren't for their advertisement which overpromised on the decor/vibe. read more

Came here after Yelp elite event and ended up staying for 3 hours! Hit the spot just as happy hour was ending and made sure to get our drink and food orders in. Loved sitting at the bar and watching the bartenders do their thing! Each drink looked beautiful! We ordered the happy hour burger and it was delish! Good portion, cooked perfectly, juicy perfect with the Old Fashioned we ordered . Staff was friendly and good vibe at this place ! When our bill came we noticed we were not charged the happy price for the second drink, even though we ordered them before happy hour. Told the Bartender and he checked with the manager who instantly corrected it. Great customer service & even better cocktails ! Will def hit this spot next time!!!! read more

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Sophia was the most amazing server! Very attentive and prompt. We came for the anniversary. They had $1 oysters and $1 champagne. They delivered promptly. All the staff was wonderful and ambiance. I would suggest reserving a table in advance, but we just walked in and got a table. read more

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Higher ground is such a versatile space and always has something going on. Their $1 oysters on Tuesday is such a good deal for fresh oysters and if you go in time for happy hour you get even more bang for your buck. I tried a bunch of their appetizers and all of them were delicious. The church themed decor is super cute and I love how their upstairs converts to a bar at night on the weekends. The service from all the staff was excellent but our waitress was the sweetest, funnest person. I definitely recommend booking reservations! read more

The service was subpar. Showed up at 2 pm when they opened and there was no greeting at all. It was so weird. It was like the few staff members there were bothered there were actually customers. Add to the fact that the 3 staff members were mostly chatting at the bar while the restrooms had no toilet paper or paper towels & I was not impressed. If it had been 10pm on a busy night, then absolutely places need to restock, but when you just opened for the day, there's no excuse to not have bathrooms supplied properly. Then when we order one of the appetizer specials only to be told a few minutes later they are out...that's something they should've told us beforehand. So we ordered the fries (which were good!) but had to ask for the garlic aioli sauce it's supposed to come with. The bartender looked at us like we had 3 heads. I know these are minor "issues" but it was just an overall lack luster experience. read more

This is a happening place for pretty people. Bartenders are wizards and the cocktails are on point (and pricey). Cool vibe inside and outside but DAMN IT'S LOUD! As in I can't hear myself talk. read more

Right on Congress and a great place to go for drinks. There weren't any drink menus but I asked for a dirty martini and it was perfect. The outside is pretty. It's a narrow bar but the music is good. House. Two levels. I like the vibe. read more

Higher Ground - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Added an auto 20% gratuity for large parties when it was just me and my husband. They didn't call it out and my husband tipped on top of it and saw it on the customer receipt after. Just seems a little shady. Drinks were good though. read more

The Wednesday $5 burger is amazing! Two patties and great cheese and toppings. I will come back for that! The service was slow. Stretched too thin. My server was brand new and I wish they had someone with her as a trainer because she was not yet well versed with the menu. She was super nice and did her best though despite having the whole upstairs to herself. Perhaps the downstairs restaurant is more staffed as they required reservations. I will have to try it out and see if it is an improvement on service and wait time. read more

Higher Ground - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

Fine fine drinking to be had here. Downtown Austin has a fine tradition of bartenders with Ph.D.s in mixology. (You didn't see me say "Sixth Street" Nor did I say "Rainey Street". I mean downtown Austin, away from the college students.) Higher Ground's bartending is up to those higher standards. Pay particular attention to the Seven Drinks Associated with the Seven Deadly Sins. I don't like mixing my liquors in a night of drinking - so I concentrated on two sins with the same base liquor - in this case Absolut Vodka. This meant going for Gluttony and going for Pride. Gluttony is one of the best coffee drinks you can possibly find. Pride is one of the best cucumber drinks you can possibly find. I am eager to throw myself into the remaining vices. The food is not up to the same lofty standards as the drink-making. But the drink-making is really really something special. read more

We went to this church converted into a bar/lounge and had a great time. We came around 6:30 pm on a Friday and it was not overly crowded, but still had a great vibe. They were playing great music, had superb cocktails, and the food was actually very good. We ordered the Cajun tots and pollo a la plancha, and loved it! Good place to start your night with drinks, some bites, and good music. read more

Great ambience, delicious drinks, good food and great service. Very limited seating would recommend for a date night as it's very intimate. read more

Higher Ground - Charcuterie board - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

Perfect spot for a girls night, happy hour, or date night! The ambience both inside and on the patio are so unique and Instagram worthy! There is parking behind the building as well. Happy Hour had lots of options too! You need to try the bruschetta! Only downside is how hot it gets in the back- they should get misters. Right now they have fans that are pretty noisy but you can still hear fine. read more

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Fantastic!! This spot is BEAUTIFUL and the food and cocktails are perfection. Bartender Rick is so nice and friendly which made sitting at the bar so fun and he makes the most amazing cocktails!!! Love this spot! read more

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I was a little disappointed to find out that the entire food AND drink menu advertised online has been cancelled. No more 'sinful' drinks, which were the fun, unusual drinks I came for. Now that have a much more standard drink menu. The food menu is also much smaller. Service was generally good, although I was disappointed that the greeter originally tried to seat me at the bar despite several empty tables, asserting that they were for reservations. Well after checking there was magically a table available. Atmosphere downstairs is dark and chill, with edm music playing. I didn't get to see the pretty flowers shown on the website. Overall a meh experience compared to what I expected from the website. No real reason to come back read more

Came here for happy hour on a whim. Had a great time with my boo. The bartender was helpful and made a cocktail for me based on a my vague preferences. I liked the theme of the place - they really had fun with the religious overtones. We got croquettes, blistered shishito peppers, a cocktail and some sliders. The sliders were delicious, juicy and well seasoned. The shishito peppers were alright, nothing special. The croquette bites were okay, but the sauce they were served with was the real star. It was a nice nook to wander into while wandering around downtown. read more

A beautiful spot perfect for light bites and carefully crafted drinks in a chapel themed ambiance. I highly recommend making reservations in advance, especially during their $1 east coast oyster nights. read more

Higher Ground - East coast oysters - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

Really liked this bar for a casual cocktail. Stopped in early in the evening, and enjoyed a very tasty cocktail and fries. The service was great. Unique atmosphere, with a sunny lower floor where you can watch people go by on the street. It was not too busy early on a weeknight, and had a nice relaxed atmosphere. If you get the fries I recommend the garlic aioli instead of the pimento cheese (which I felt was kind of bland). Overall definitely recommend! read more

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12/15/21 Absolutely beautiful place. Service was beyond pleasant. Drinks were strong and delicious. The ENTIRE place inside and out is aesthetically pleasing. Rich taste! ‍ My absolute favorite place in Austin. read more

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Given the other reviews we were so excited to visit. We showed up as they opened and the vibe was off. Nothing was set up and it smelled. We took our drink to the top deck but it was pretty underwhelming. Probably a good place for late night but not an afternoon spot. The drinks were okay. read more

Higher Ground - Paloma - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

Perfect spot for happy hour as they offer many discounted food and beverage options. The interior is designed to replicate a church which creates an intimate environment. I highly recommend the meatball sandwiches as an appetizer. I will be back again soon! read more

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Love the decor. Happy hour was awesome. Had meatball sliders and shishito peppers. We came here for $1 dollar oysters on Tuesdays. Had The Wrath cocktail. Food was awesome but this cocktail missed the mark. Server was cool. They were just opening and she was still running around opening up but was still attentive and timely. Def recommend. read more

Higher Ground - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

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So fun would def go back great service and lovely atmosphere. I had Cosmos with my friend and we had a great time. read more

Higher Ground - Drinks - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Hot and dingy and the bar staff attempted jokes about the actual bible, stating the books on the bar being used as coasters were the Bible. I educated that woman that the books on the bar were not bibles. And I hope she gets the message that although people may come for what looks like a great ambiance, no one wants to actually joke about the Bible at the bar. The drinks were not well made either. The old fashioned was sad. Couldn't get out fast enough read more

We made reservations here for a birthday dinner on a Saturday night at 7p. We arrive and are seated in the back at this table that is all by itself. It was not crowded at all either. We sit there for about 30 minutes and no one comes up to take our orders or even bring water. We told them in advance it's for a special birthday dinner. They didn't seem to care and it was honestly the worst feeling on a special occasion. We got up and left after about 35 minutes and walked over to Caroline and spent the birthday dinner there. Will never return! read more

In town for work on a Tuesday night. It happened to be $1 oysters. The oysters were super fresh and delicious. I didn't try anything else. The bartender, Jacob, was very helpful and the drinks were great. I will definitely return. read more

My wife had been wanting to check this place out after she had read about it, so we went last night for her birthday. After reading about how it was opened by a chef who had worked at two Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, I was a little disappointed in the experience overall. It is VERY casual. The bartenders were in shorts and T-shirts and the menu was rather unimpressive. We were there during happy hour, so maybe there's a different menu during regular hours, but there just wasn't much to choose from. You could get a burger, a charcuterie board, and Shishito peppers were on the menu, and we wanted them, but they were unavailable last night. so we ended up ordering the "Cajun" tater tots and some cauliflower bites. There was nothing Cajun about the tater tots at all, I wouldn't have known the difference between their tater tots and Sonic's tater tots. The cauliflower bites were very good. The service was a little inattentive: the bartender didn't bring us any napkins for our drinks, until we asked for them, and when the appetizers came out, we had to ask for plates. They've got a couple of great specials that I might return for, now, knowing what to expect. They have one dollar oysters one night of the week, and five dollar hamburgers another night of the week. The ambience was VERY loud. This is not a bad place to grab a drink, and have a small bite to eat, but I would not go here for dinner. read more

This place is amazing!! From the ambiance and decor to the drinks and the service, everything was incredible. If you come here, understand the cocktails are crafted with care and quality so you pay well for it. 100% worth it and more. Take me to church! The Holy Spirit menu is incredible. And if you're lucky, the owner will make you last word, chandelier shots. Had the pleasure of hanging with Monya and Seth!! They're the best! read more

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Really cool bar on Congress that I believe is relatively new. It's very dark inside but, has lots of cool lighting to create ambiance and give chapel/church vibes but, in a "this is where the sinners go" kind of way. It's very cool. Lots of good picture opportunities if that's what you're into. On Tuesday they have half off oysters and champagne. We made a reservation at 8:00 pm but, unfortunately when we got there they were out of oysters! That was a bit disappointing but, we still ordered the croquettes and champagne. They were good, crispy and had great dipping sauce. Service was decent. I've had the Lust cocktail here too and it was really good. I look forward to trying more food on their menu. read more

Higher Ground - Prosciutto and Cheddar Croquettes with Champagne - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

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So I have been to higher ground in general at night just to have fun. The vibe upstairs is amazing and the DJ is awesome. On Sundays it's great as well because they have their champagne bottles super discounted and an awesome DJ outside in the patio. Today we went for happy hour for one dollar East Coast oysters and let me tell you they were delicious. I was skeptical at first because a dollar just seems like they would be cheaper oysters but they were very good. They were not fishy at all. They were a little sweet the way I like them from East Coast. The only thing that was a little weird was at the well drinks said that they were two dollars off which made them eight dollars so I guess in general well drinks are $10 which is kind of odd so i figured paying $2 more for premium was better. Other than this the staff is very nice. Our hostess/waitress was super nice very attentive. I arrived to my Reservation 20 minutes late due to traffic accident and they still seated us which is awesome. read more

Higher Ground - East coast $1 oysters for Holy Hour on Tuesdays from 4-7 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Great time had my birthday here and been here a few other times Great atmosphere and drinks and food read more

Higher Ground - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

My favorite go-to bar/lounge. Reasons: - You can always, in my experience, get seated without a reservation. Unlike my favorite special occasion bar, Here Nor There. - They have food. Full entrees, not just light bar snacks like popcorn & pretzels. I think you can order up until 9:30p. - Drinks are perfect. I always order from the "seven sins". Favs: Lust, Sloth, and definitely Gluttony. - The staff are great, and my usual bartender, Orian (sp?), is a sweetheart. - The place goes on and on, with a second floor (not always open), bathrooms on both floors, and huge patio up there out back with abundant draped faux wisteria or some flowering vine...very pretty. Possibly most often used for events? - Location. I'm getting more than tired of the whole Dirty Sixth area. This Congress location is cleaner, classier, calmer. read more

Another spot that was underwhelming during this Austin trip. What's going on ATX! Walked in and it was dead (hour after open). Bartender was kind enough to tell us he was out of most things because he was prepping for later tonight. We walked out as there selection was truly limited. Was really looking forward to this spot based on reviews, but my experience was not a 4-5 star. Perhaps moving your hours to those of a nightclub might be more accurate and save you overhead cost ‍ read more

I like the ironic theme of a gothic church in a bar setting. It created an ominous vibe that would be great for the upcoming Halloween. There were different facets to the place. There was the casual and chill bar area, the loud and chaotic dance floor above, and the spooky and romantic outdoor seating hidden in the back. The drinks were overpriced ($15). We ordered a Long Island iced tea and a Sloth (whiskey, chamomile, lemon, honey, ginger). I like the creativity of the menu and appreciate how it stayed on theme. This place was not my preferred ambiance for a night out. If you like spooky, eerie, and romantic places, then this may be the bar for you! read more

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Great place for Happy Hour drinks! They have an upstairs and downstairs. Keep in mind you can only order food downstairs or already that's what we were told. Seth was great and make an exception for me and my friends. I ordered the sliders which were great. I love how dark and mysterious the space is. Aesthetically pleasing (for all you Gen Z/millennial types) and the drinks are really good-- although overpriced at $15. The Pride is great if you like sweeter drinks! I hope the food menu gets expanded overtime as I would love to make reservations for dinner at some point. After 8:30pm this restaurant bar feels more like a club. There's an outdoor area with techno, great place for folks over the age of 28+ read more

Higher Ground - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

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