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.

Hands down my favorite bar I have been too…read more It's beautiful the moment you walk in. The architecture and design creates such a cool vibe. The drinks.... Seriously....The best I've had. Very impressed with the drinks and I enjoyed the inspiration of Japanese liquor and design. Our bartender was so attentive and friendly. He made us shots and it was the best thing I've ever had. I been dreaming of the shot everyday. I recommend this place to everyone now. It's dark, it's quiet, it's cool, it's THAT bar. I cannot wait to come back again and again and again. We aren't locals. Not even close. We drove 9 hours. 10/10 will be back

My husband and I went to Trona recently for my birthday. I'd seen photos and promotion (by local…read moreinfluencers) and thought it looked like a cool spot with a funky vibe. Being that we live south, it's rare we ever venture out to the east side so I was excited to try it. We had a 6pm reservation on a Wednesday and were promptly seated at a table. We're big fans of sitting at the bar if available, so we asked to switch and it was no problem. The main reason we came to Trona was due to a pop-up happening by Foodie + Tina. Excellent handrolls, crudo and even the chicory salad was amazing. The cocktails we tried were new to the menu as of this week and came with Christmas flair. They were good but not mind-blowing. The bartenders were super nice and easy to talk to. It was really dark which is normal for a speakeasy but as another reviewer suggested, makes it difficult to read the menu. One thing I noticed was they were burning white copal and it took me immediately to Tulum, MX - smells so good! Parking was easy, in an alley nearby. It might be helpful for customers if they had signage in/near the parking lot - we were unsure if we were in the right spot initially.

One of my favorite bars in Austin. Some people might see it as a little divey, but that's honestly…read morepart of the charm. The atmosphere is always friendly, relaxed, and easy to settle into whether you're there for a quick drink or hanging out for the night. The drinks are consistently great, and they also have really solid weekday food specials. The sliders and tots are definitely the go-to items on the menu and always hit the spot after a few drinks. One thing I especially appreciate is how much effort they put into the themed décor during Christmas and Halloween. It really adds personality to the space and makes coming back during the holidays feel fun and memorable every year. Just an overall great neighborhood bar with good vibes and a lot of character.

I realize I haven't updated this review since relocating to Austin two years ago. As you may have…read morenoted from my previous review, I'd come here twice a year when visiting from the east coast. One of my stipulations for relocation was to be within walking distance of my beloved Nickel City. Guess what? I am! Less than a five-minute walk. I love this place so much. It's not always about drinking. In fact, quite often I'll do mocktails, water, or soda. It's about community and friendship. The vibe at NC can't fully be expressed in words. It has to be experienced. The staff treat locals and tourists like friends. And, if you're lucky enough, you actually become friends. They're like a family. Same can be said about patrons, whether regulars, sometimers, or tourists, everyone feels the love. Everyone just gets it! They have some of the best cocktails around. The frozen Irish coffee is incredible. Espresso martinis on tap? Yes, please! And if you want the best bar/comfort food ever then order from their food truck, Delray Cafe. Crinkle cut fries A+ Smashburgers A+ Hot Dogs A+ Grilled Cheese A+ Pizza Logs A+ Tater Tots A+ Everything on the menu A+ Be sure to give the gang in the kitchen (food truck) some love! They're putting out the real deal. Oh and let's not forget Steak Night! Much love to my fave neighbor, Nickel City!

Cozy, hidden, and just the right amount of mysterious. The drinks were fantastic and dangerously…read moreeasy to finish, and the bartender was really good. The music was excellent and made the whole experience even better. Absolutely worth a return visit.

This speakeasy bar on East 6th immediately became one of my favorite low key spots in town!…read moreSituated right below Buenos Aires cafe, this bar brings sexy vibes, with swanky decor, a dim lit room, and excellent tunes. It's a small space with limited seating - and I would recommend reservations. On to their cocktail menu - EXCELLENCE! Don't be afraid to try something you normally wouldn't try, or to simply trust the bartender. I haven't tried the food here, but I will certainly do so next time I visit.

In search of a bar that wasn't packed on a Friday night, we were lucky to stumble across Marlow…read more The atmosphere is dark and cozy. There's enough of a vibe for this place to feel lively even when it's mostly empty, yet it also avoids the earsplitting noise that may come with a more crowded venue. The bartenders are amicable, and the menu showcases some creative - and creatively named - cocktails. Lara went with a Moon Song (rum, blackberry, lime, and honey with lavender cold foam) and an espresso martini and enjoyed both. I opted for a zero proof drink: the high and mighty (agave, nonalcoholic ginger and floral liqueurs, jasmine tea, and spiced salt). It was refreshing but didn't quite hit the mark for me. What should have been complex and balanced came across as overly floral. All told, Marlow is worth a visit even if it is unlikely to wow you.

A great reprieve from the sun and their drink the known traveler is 5 star Its made with allspice…read morewhich the flavor pops Our bartender was sweet and gave us lots of tips for the weekend

We came to the inside bar for a drink late, not knowing they were closed, but the GM (Steve, I hope…read moreI spell it right) helped us anyways and went and got clean supplies (regardless of that bar being closed). They were technically "out" of a main ingredient for the martini I wanted, but he went and looked around firsthand and found an acceptable substitute of what we needed for said drink (due to my extreme dietary restrictions). The martini was perfect and my first experience was fantastic. Will be back!

First, there was absolutely NO SECURITY or anyone at the door checking people, unacceptable. It…read moredoesn't matter if it's a short-staffed night or someone called off, there should always be someone to check people. And this was on a SATURDAY. At the least you have someone on the weekend. We literally walked straight in--no questions, no acknowledgement, just straight to the back. Two, I came on Saturday and there were two DJs who were obviously having a lot of fun, which is good however, they do have the tendency to take you high and immediately low. For example, they would play a Sexxy Redd song and immediately Frank Ocean or even slower, Keith Sweat--the choices didn't make sense a lot of the time. WOMEN WHO COME TO DANCE don't like this, it really messes up the flow. I will say this is one of the few places that black people gather IN the city, so there's that. The bathroom is also disgusting but what can you expect when there's only TWO STALLS IN TOTAL, meaning there's no separate stalls for men or women. Also, these are the same two stalls that you share with restaurant goers so it can get busy.

Such a fun speakeasy to find and get into! Reservations are necessary so you can get the code to…read morethe gate. It's also a small place, which makes it intimate. I would have loved a little couch instead of the high top table we got. Probably would have stayed longer if we had a more comfortable spot to relax and converse. Would be a really cute spot for a date night if you get a couch. Wasn't too loud. Our waitress didn't know the menu really well, but the drinks were good. Cute presentation and unique flavor combos. I'd recommend hitting this spot for a pre-game drink before heading off for some downtown fun!

Here Nor There is a cool, intimate speakeasy that makes you feel like you've stepped into another…read moreworld through its storybook-style menu and delicious cocktails. The entrance is tucked away in a gated alley, and you'll need a reservation to receive the gate code. As soon as we walked in, we were welcomed with complimentary prosecco. Every drink we tried was fantastic, and you can tell the bartenders put a lot of care and creativity into each cocktail. I highly recommend the Milk & Honey and the Wildflower Highball. Toward the end of our visit, the staff surprised me with a complimentary Desert Water for my birthday. It was such a thoughtful gesture and made my night even more memorable!

Order with Jordan, and Jordan only. Espresso martini and passion fruit daisy specifically!read more

I recently went to Daydreamer on 6th Street and I loved it. The décor and the vibe are everything…read moresuper cute and well thought out. I loved the moon on top of the bar, such a nice touch. The bartenders were really friendly and offered different drink options, which always makes the experience better. I had an espresso martini and it was delicious. It's a nice spot to grab a drink, relax and actually have a conversation. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to so I can try more drinks.