Really fantastic experience!…read more The cocktail menu is diverse and fun. The quality of drinks was excellent. My favorite part was the DJ was also playing electric guitar to accompany some of the songs in his lineup. It was really cool. I've never seen a DJ do that before. The whole time we were there the service and ambience and tastes were top-notch, but the DJ piece really created a memorable experience that leaves me wanting to come back.

The vibes are great, but I'm not sure they are worth the wait. There are two lines: one for…read morewalk-ins and one for those with reservations. We waited maybe 15 minutes at the walk-in line as others progressively started to pile on behind us. Then again, even people in the reservation line were waiting. This is definitely the kind of place that wants you to wait. The kind of place that wants to build a line outdoors to intrigue onlookers. We were treated nicely, but we definitely could have gotten in right away. By the time we walked in, the place was probably at 60% capacity. It was standing room only at the bar, but not overcrowded by any means. There is a dress code, but it's not entirely clear what it is. Some guy dressed to the 9s got turned away for not having sleeves whereas I got in with sneakers and a t-shirt. They ask for your cellphones upon entering and give you a key in exchange, but there doesn't seem to be any security to enforce it if you don't want to give them up. I have no problem with their policy, but I bet a lot of customers do. Interestingly, their little social experiment seemed to have a positive effect, where we ended up talking to strangers and vice versa. The Powder Room may be making America social again.

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.

Really enjoyed this rooftop bar at the top of Marriott. It's totally open, but they have space…read moreheaters. The decor and the views are nice. Lots of space, comfy couches, and a good drink menu with some small plates as well. Our servers were also friendly and prompt. Great times, Highly recommend.

This is the roof top bar near JW Marriott. It had great views of the city and had the soccer match…read moreplaying - USA vs Paraguay and USA won! We sat at the opening seating near the bar, which means you have to order at the bar - no one will come to take your order. The food and drinks were very good for bar food - of course the prices were high too. We had some salmon crispy rice and poke with guacamole and tuna. Very happening place - when we left, there was a line forming outside, since it had reached capacity.

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!

Here Nor There is one of the best speakeasies in Austin, hands down…read more The drinks are always incredible--thoughtfully crafted and consistently good. The ambiance is moody and intimate, with music that makes the whole experience feel elevated. Definitely a go-to for a great night.

This bar is located in the Firehouse Hostel. In fact, it's a speakeasy hidden behind a sliding…read morebookshelf right in the lobby. It's rightfully named as the building was once an actual firehouse that was built in 1885. Like all good speakeasies, it's got dim lighting that accentuates the building's rustic, 1800s era architecture. Hip and cool interior design with vintage furnishings and accessories. It's cozy and comfortable. This popular spot gets busy and it's easy to see why. The hip decor and good service mixed with excellent drinks makes it apparent why they're so popular. They offer frozen cocktails (my fave) that often change. The craft cocktails are spectacular. The bar menu offers a variety of beer as well. In addition, they do an incredible mocktail and offer different varieties. If you're going for a cocktail, the daiquiri and paper plane are perfection.

I always enjoy going to Firehouse Lounge. I love the speakeasy feel and the hidden entrance. The…read morebartenders are always friendly and they make great drinks. The prices are more than reasonable. And the best part is the live music and vibes. They always bring great artists that bring energy and fun. This is easily one of my favorite spots in Austin.

I found this via search of rooftop bars near downtown and I was pleasantly surprised at this…read morelocation and the venue itself. Arrived around 5:45-6 PM on a Thursday. This is gonna be located on the fifth floor in the JW Marriott. You have to walk through the pool area as this is on the west side of the building. Well, we didn't have a reservation and we were able to get sat right away. I forget the name of the individual who assisted us by placing our order. I ended up getting the espresso martini, and then my other person got an old-fashioned. I was asked if I wanted a shot of Bailey's with the espresso martini and that to me would've been way too much. The martini itself was almost kind of smoky. Not your typical kind of very crisp espresso martini had a nice foam on top of it. We also ended up ordering the sliders to go along as we had dinner reservations, and that bacon jam on there is magnificent. The sliders were all juicy and very well put together bun was very soft and the flavor of everything was really good. I would totally go back just for the sliders. Overall the service was great. The views were also quite stunning of downtown and the ambience overall which is very chill. The front part of the bar was actually closed due to a private event so I can imagine getting to take photos on that corner would be really pretty to see.

My friends and I had a FABULOUS time here. The ambiance is beautiful and so cozy! Without a res on…read morea Friday evening (around 6:30/7) we were able to get a nice, big cabana area. The couches were so comfortable and the ambiance was so pretty. In terms of the drinks and food, it was okay! Got the job done, but nothing to rave about. I enjoyed the sliders the most. I enjoyed my drink as well (5th Floor Cooldown) once we added the extra sweetener we requested. Without it, I wasn't a huge fan (wasn't sweet, despite being told that it was). Valet parking is only $15 (for 2 hours) with validation. I appreciated that, as it made parking not a headache.

We live next door and it's part of a mini food truck park that includes Anything Baked Potato and…read moreShirley's Trini Food. This is a brick and mortar building that is the bar for the food park. I love The Pink Flamingo! It's a small bar with a little bit of seating inside. They've got a covered patio outside that's shared with food truck patrons. The frozens are incredible! They only have one machine so it's one flavor at a time and that's ok with me. Especially when the flavor is my favorite, cherry. They offer a variety of specialty cocktails that will knock your socks off! Flavor, boom! The drinks here are as good as any place you'll find down on 6th. Dare I say even better than some? The prices are super fair too. The mixologist Cynthia is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and she knows her stuff. The passion she puts into her drinks is bar none. The Pink Flamingo is the very epitome of a neighborhood establishment. Welcoming and inclusive and most of all, FUN! They're open seven days a week 10 am- 8 pm. PS: the outside shared patio has a stage that often hosts deejays and live music.

Went here for the first time in May during their Cinco De Mayo Margarita Month promotion. It was…read morepacked on a weekend and had a fun vibe. We got the discounted margaritas at the bar and I think they were only $7 each. We really liked them! It was hard to find a spot to stand let alone sit since it was so busy. Eventually we got a spot on a couch inside. A company was hosting a party with a buffet and when their event was up they offered the other guests to enjoy what was left of the buffet. We had chips, salsa, tacos, and tuna poke! It was so good! We will definitely come back to eat here. Fun random Saturday!

Super chill rooftop in the aloft hotel on Congress…read more Food: N/A Service: 3 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: no walk-in only Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Liked the casual relaxed vibe in a rooftop so didn't have to be fancy - Mix of ages - Plenty of seating - Cute white lights hanging - Could go full party drink mode or relax with a few - Have water jugs out so you can fill your own Midlights: - Order at bar line can be long and not many working behind it but then saw waiter coming around when was seated - Drinks just ok--there more for vibes Lowlights: - Didn't get to try the tacos since we were off to have a meal after