Fun vibe with great drinks! I remember when this was a massage parlor in the 90's. So cool that they turned it into a speakeasy where you need a code to get in read more

This place was so so cool! I love speakeasys and I've been to a few, but Midnight Cowboy was really unique! We got really really lucky that we got in. It was more of a lucky happenstance. We found the door to the bar, and we were right behind a group that was just entering the password to the bar to go in. We followed in but were stopped by the bartender and told we needed a reservation. He checked to see if there were any tables available and we were lucky that someone just cancelled their reservation, so we could sit. Apparently you have to make a reservation about a month in advance. Each reservation is an hour long and you get one or two drinks max. The drink menu is intense. All the drinks were in this cute passport booklet. They have a lot of classic cocktails, but there were 16 cocktails that represented different countries. They were each really interesting and unique cocktails representing the country! My friend ordered the Alaska and they did a demonstration on a cart in front of us to make it. It was so so cool! I was definitely impressed and really enjoyed my Russia cocktail! read more

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Classy and intimate cocktail bar in Austin. The private booths, password required entrance, and ornate wallpaper certainly added to the 'speakeasy' reputation of the bar. I ordered the middle eastern drink from their passport menu and it was incredibly good. However, the music needed some improvement - a top 40 playlist did not really reflect the bar's intended vibe. read more

Midnight Cowboy - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

I often find myself daydreaming about the Koji Yokai (whiskey, miso, mushroom, sesame oil). Phenomenal cocktails in a space that oozes with history and feels like a respite in the middle of Dirty 6th. The bar cart service is a nice touch. read more

We had a 9:30 reservation, we arrived a little bit early, & they weren't ready for us. But, no matter, we came back at 9:30 and were seated immediately. My husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful & tasty drinks our wonderful bartender made us! I would definitely recommend this hidden gem! read more

Midnight Cowboy - Beautiful drinks! - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

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An amazing speakeasy, from the outside it looks like a closed down business. However if you ring the doorbell an amazing hidden bar is waiting for you. The cocktails were amazing and extremely affordable for the ambiance and exclusivity provided. read more

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One of my favorite bars in Austin, a quiet oasis in the middle of the loud and raucous 6th street. Keep in mind it can be pretty pricey but it's well worth it. Inside you'll find a small bar with black booths and dimmed lighting. I absolutely love the ambiance and the look of the place inside. I appreciate the no-flash photography rule and that this place is not filled with loud drunk people (as is customary on 6th). The drink menu is creative with lots of options but you can also ask the bartender to make you something based on your flavor profile as well. If anything, I highly recommend getting at least one table side drink, they will bring a cart to your table and make the drink in front of you. Everything we had was delicious so try something out of your comfort zone, you won't be disappointed! read more

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Go for the cocktails, stay for the paranormal activity! While I didn't witness any myself, I very much enjoyed the bartenders' stories of lingering spirits in the space. The cocktails are an art form. If you prefer more of the classic stuff, not to worry, as they have those, too. We sat in one of the "private rooms" in the back and I loved that we just flipped a switch when we wanted to order another drink...so efficient! I recommend to locals and tourists alike. read more

Drinks and ambiance were absolutely great.. the service was terrible. We waited for 15 minutes without anyone coming by our table, not even to give us water. We had to ask a waiter walking by for service and he seemed irritated to have to stop and take our order. No one stopped by the table to ask how we were or how everything was going. And we again had to stop a passing waiter to have them give us the bill. read more

Loved this little speakeasy and that we were able to get a reservation to guarantee a relaxed, comfy, cocktail experience where we could catch up with our friends who recently moved to Austin. Madeline our server/mixologist was amazing, especially with the cocktails prepared on a bar cart at the table. It's definitely worth asking which drinks are prepared table-side and getting a couple of those for educational purposes, of course. Side note: For larger parties they apparently have a bunch of little rooms in the back. This used to be a brothel and there's a whole story! I started off with "A Proper Introduction" which was.... wait for it... can you guess? a proper introduction: Light and refreshing with Apricot Eau-de-Vie and fun little surprises like jam, sparkling wine, and ricotta. Loved it. My friend had "You Had Me at First Sip" which was another light and fruity option with rhum, toasted coconut, strawberry hibiscus syrup, pineapple and sherry. For the stronger stuff, the boys liked the Deja Vu (served in a fun tiki glass and heavy on the whiskey/rye/bourbon and served with an absinthe flame) and the Awkward. Pause. Which was fun to say and fun to drink (bourbon, rum, cointreau chamomile (cool to try!) and cardamom). We decided to stay for a second round so we can also recommend: -Kids These Days: whiskey, scotch, poppy seed, black lemon and salt and pepper tincture. -Small Talk: Gin, fennel syrup, passionfruit, tomato water, earl grey tea tincture, topo chico, and citrus Prices are about $13/cocktail. read more

It's a must to have a reservation. The drinks were absolutely incredible and all had a unique twist to them. There are specific drinks on the menu that the bartenders will bring a cart out and make in front of you, which was a wonderful experience because the servers went into detail about what each ingredient brought to the drink, giving each cocktail more meaning. For our reservation we were put in one of the more private rooms, with details of exposed brick that has been there for over 220 years. There is so much history in the establishment, it's definitely worth an ask to learn the story of Midnight Cowboy. read more

Midnight Cowboy - a group of people toasting with cocktails - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

Enjoyed our reservation. The service was great!!! Drinks were a little too pricey for our wallet, so our visit will be special occasion only. 3 drinks $60 Ouch But the expert ace was fun. read more

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If speakeasys are your thing, you've found a great one here at Midnight Cowboy. Firstly, book your reservation EARLY. I made mine as early as 1 month ahead-- the earliest you can. Really easy to do online. Buzz yourself in at the door under "Harry Craddock" which will summon someone to check you in. The drinks are all very cool, with themes based on different countries. They give you a little menu book. Also have a bunch of creepy stories in the back of the menu book lol. Some of the drinks they will make tableside for you. Don't be afraid to ask for certain drinks. They will make something based on your preferences and taste! Awesome and interesting experience, and definitely unique amongst all the other rowdy dive bars on dirty 6th street. read more

Dark little speakeasy in the middle of a busy street. The entire experience - from finding the red light, buzzing in, being told the history of the place, and to having a drink presented in a smoke-filled box - was absolutely wonderful. The drink menu options are really unique. There is some familiarity in the midst of the menu, however, which I think is great for someone who is not too adventurous with what they drink. I had one drink from the menu and one drink off menu. I asked the waitress for a recommendation based on what I like to drink, and she made a great one. The ambiance and drinks made for a great evening. Excellent service! read more

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So be sure you have a sniffing dog, an Indian guide, some detectives and a psychic so that you can find this place. I would never have found it if I had not been guided there! It is s true speak easy! And what a cool place it is! You have to have a reservation to get in... don't just try to show up. Be there at your time and do not be late or you will lose your slot. Lastly this is not a place you can stay all night... demand is high and you get a time period and that is it. We had a private room scheduled that had a tufted leather bench seat, a small table and a curtain. Truly a really interesting place. Seems sparse but it was really COOL! We were given menus and introduced to our mixologist. Some items if ordered are made right in front of you from a portable cart while others are brought to you. Be sure to ask for advice and about off menu items... there is a lot to take in and the mixologist can help guide you down the right path. At about 13-15$ a drink it is important to be advised well! It is a two drink min so be sure you come prepared... the drinks are not weak and they are true works of art! Try the rattle snake or the soft hand... they are really really really good! The vibe is awesome, the facility is superb, and even the bathrooms are outstanding... I can't wait to go back again! read more

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I'm a glutton for speakeasies, and this one certainly delivers. Such a quaint little spot with an "interesting" history (be sure to ask your server) that is such a welcome escape from 6th st. I really enjoyed the secretive nature of the place. First off you have to make a reservation online, which can normally only be done a few days in advance. The place itself is a little hard to find, but some extra research online should lead you to the correct spot. If the place stood out too much, then it would lose that speak easy-like nature. So you locate the door and the server will lead you in if your name is 'on the list'. You're then led to either a booth or room. Now this is where the bar really shines, which is of course the drinks and the presentation. When I went the theme was 'travel' and from what I hear they continually change up the theme of their drinks. The server gladly puts on a bit of a show explaining and presenting the drinks. Be sure to get those cameras ready, as it's a bit of a spectacle. Usually drinks like this, and being on 6th st., that they would be a little over priced. Pleasantly I was glad to see that they were not and actually comparable to many other bars. With that I would easily make a trip out to 6th st. should a friend or family member be in town and want to experience a bit of downtown Austin. read more

I always try to find the best cocktail bars in any city I go to. For me, Midnight Cowboy is that bar in Austin. From the ambiance to the complexity of the cocktails to the service, everything is amazing. What makes this place even better is it has a speakeasy vibe since it is so difficult to find, it makes it more fun and appealing. I always bring my friends from out of town here. It's a must at least once! read more

Midnight Cowboy - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great drinks! Th service was great and very knowledgeable! Thank you! No food tho! Bummer!

My worst bar experience in Austin. Cocktails are overpriced for a really low quality. Tips are included by default and service doesn't deserve any. A cocktail was spilled on our table by a server and no one seem to care. We'll never come back here. There are so many great bars in this area. The only "good" thing that no one asked for ID here. read more

Midnight Cowboy - Cocktail - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was a great place to relax and talk. Truly a getaway from the buzzing night life and a place to drink when the night is young or coming to a smooth close. We ended up doing the two hours on a Sunday night and not a lot of people where there so before we knew it we had spent 3 or so hours chatting the night away in this swanky seating. It was great. The staff checked on us constantly always taking the time to explain our drinks even making sure to take the time to know us so they can recommend and guide us to the right drink. read more

Midnight Cowboy - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

My friends had reserved a room here on a Friday night. The rules were you get 2 hours to enjoy some unique expensive drinks in an intimate setting. We arrived by pressing the button for "Harry Craddock" on 6th street. A very strange but cool thing about this speakeasy bar. Even though we arrived slightly early they let us in anyways. We were led into a dimly light room to the back of the bar to a room for about 4-6 people. Our party was of 4 people and more than that would be a little too crowded for my liking. Anyway, we sat down to get the party started. We looked over drink menu and made sure to get a few drinks that would be made at our table. We pushed the red button for service and the mixologist came out with her cart. It was cool to watch the mixologist at work. She explained about the liquors and answered any questions we had about our drinks. Upon ordering our second drink, even though we ordered table made drinks they were not. Instead, drinks were made at the bar and taken back to our room. We had inquired about this and were told that they were short staffed but they would make sure next time they would make them tableside. The majority of our party ordered a third drink and again no table made drinks. Sad panda. :( We had not pay attention to our time and felt rushed to finish our third drink as we were getting pressured to leave since our two hour time was up. I had seen reviews where they do last call but that didn't happen with our party. I was slightly confused as a room next to us was completely emptied and they had other areas avaialble. Not sure what the rush was but what do I know? read more

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I loved everything about Midnight Cowboy, except the drinks. The ambiance was great and the service was friendly, although not attentive or helpful. We had questions about the menu, but our server just kept repeating that everyone's palate is different. Totally true, but these are very unique drinks and many are made with unfamiliar ingredients, so some additional information would have been helpful. Overall one out of the four in my party liked their drink while two of us did not like our drinks at all. The server never checked in to see if we liked our drinks, didn't even ask after we flagged him down to ask for some napkins. Drink prices seem to be $12-$15, which we actually thought seemed low for the experience. If you like strong drinks, make it a point to check this place out. Otherwise, there are a ton of other cool Austin bars. No need to make a trip to 6th for this one. read more

If you have red about this place, then you should know that this place used to be a brothel, and it has a pretty interesting history. The staff is very knowledgeable of the history of the location. And if you are looking for the code to go to the redheaded stepchild, they also know it. We had a total of six people so we have made reservations ahead of time, and we were actually in one of the rooms where apparently was where service was taken place back in the days. The room, however, is quite small even for six people. The place definitely has a vibe as it is very dim and it also maintain a lot of historical features. We have not tried their food, however, we ordered drinks and the drinks did not disappoint. The drinks were good and the service was amazing. Definitely recommend this place but make sure to make a reservation if you have a big party. read more

Cool atmosphere, building made in 1800's. Very vintage and New Yorkish vibes. Bartender makes drinks at your table. Drinks were good but not worth $50 for 2 drinks. read more

This place is so cool! It's a speakeasy type place with a not so noticeable door. This is a great place for a before dinner drink or something like that. Unless you are a baller one, maybe two drinks is enough for your wallet. Expect to pay $15ish per cocktail. The menu is a passport, it was a beautiful touch. The cocktails are made with lots of ingredients i didn't recognize so i chose one that had the most amount of recognizable ingredients in it. (One has pulverized ants on the rim!) if you are looking for a fancy place to take a date or somewhere to go for a special occasion this is a great choice. We loved our experience at Midnight Cowboy. read more

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As far as modern speak easy's go in Austin Midnight Cowboy is the cream of the top. I dont think you can get a fancier better cocktail experience. The drinks are strong they are a delicious and a great many of them are made on carts at your table/room. You are supposed to make a reservation but i cant tell you how many times I've just shown up jammed some buttons on the door and been able to get in and get drinks regardless of not having a planned. I like Midnight Cowboy so much that if I could I'd give them six stars. Dont ever skip out on this place if you're even remotely interested. read more

My husband and I love a good speakeasy. I found this on the visit Austin page (I believe). And we loved every minute of our experience. From trying to find the place, to the entire mood and ambience, and the cocktails we received. The service was amazing as well. Super nice and helpful. The experience was so awesome that I didn't want to leave. Best bar in Austin. read more

A very chill speakeasy type of bar located in the "Dirty 6th" area. Its recommended that a reservation is made prior as the place is fairly smaller. The ambience is pretty chill and intimate. The cocktails here are highly crafted and each are made carefully with precision. The passport designed menu is a nice touch as it makes you think of drinks from around the world. I ordered the Golden Path: Russell's Reserve Rye, Batavia Arrack, pandan & ginger, coconut palm sugar, raw honey, almond butter, lime, and egg white. This drink was just something so unique and had this nice "healthy" taste to it. It was very very delicious. read more

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A great quiet hideout in the middle of the Dirty 6th Street insanity. I initially found out about this place through a friend who said it's one of the handful of "speakeasy" bars in downtown. I found that pretty much all of them are quite good and this one is up there among the best in terms of the drinks themselves. To start off, you need to make a reservation to come here (generally). After your reservation is accepted, the bar will text you instructions on how to enter the establishment. The entrance is hidden in the middle of the Dirty 6th, so be sure to mentally prepare yourself for that adventure. Once you locate the entrance and follow the instructions for ringing the host, you'll enter and escape the insanity of the outside world. Usually this is a fairly quiet bar, perhaps a bit louder only when its fully booked and everyone is conversing at their respective tables. There is a wide variety of different cocktails that this place offers and it's fair to say that there's a cocktail here for everyone (or at least most everyone). There are some truly unique concoctions here, as well as some classic cocktails and twists on classic cocktails. There are certain drinks that are prepared at the bar and then there are some that are prepared tableside (I believe these are marked with an asterisk?), which is a nice touch to the experience. Ambiance is dark, mysterious, and perhaps haunting? The host will likely tell you the story of how the building historically was used as a brothel and how that was the inspiration for the feel of the décor. Overall, a great place to check out! As with most establishments in downtown, prepare for parking ahead of time (else you risk circling the neighborhoods looking for parking and missing your reservation). Servers here are really nice and I have found them to be very helpful in describing their drinks. Prices are what you'd expect for a quality speakeasy experience (i.e., higher than at your average bar). read more

This has been on most bucket list for awhile and just keep coming to Austin when things are too crazy. I love speakeasies so one that is hidden in plain site on one of the busiest party streets is a must stop. You do need a reservation! For sure need to do one cocktail on the cart and then a fun one. read more

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My boyfriend and i made a reservation for 11 pm on Saturday for his birthday, I'm not from Texas so he was excited to take me to my first speakeasy and show me around, he chose you. We hit our buzzer waited for a while and then a group of girls came after us and got seated first, okay that's fine we were finally seated at 11:10. Our server came and greeted us seemed very nice gave her speech and said she'd be back. After sitting at the table for another 25 minutes no one came back and we eventually walked out at 11:37. I'm in the service industry and realize things happen but it wasn't very busy and there was multiple staff members working. read more

Cute small fun spot for drInks. They even make specialty drinks off menu which are great. I definitely didn't realize the door was where it was for the opening. read more

This experience is so unique. Steps from the chaos that is the frat party of 6th St is an oasis of delicious custom cocktails. Highly recommend! Their tableside service is outstanding and all of the drinks are so unique! I imagine each visit is different since the menu will change often. read more

Midnight Cowboy - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

We were excited to try this highly praised speakeasy, and the entrance lived up to the speakeasy name - with a nondescript door/buzzer situation. The space inside is dimly lit with leather booths. It's sort of a strange set up with the booths being lined up vertically, so you feel like you are each almost in separate rooms. It doesn't make for a very communal atmosphere, and it is impossible to see the bar, but if you want your privacy - you definitely have it. The server was clear and descriptive in describing the drinks and trying to find a fit. We ordered, with guidance, the Clara Rosa and the De La Rosa - since we said we wanted drinks without much sweetness. The De La Rosa was not my favorite, but it was nice that it was made at our table and each of the ingredients were described. However, the Clara Rosa was quite nice and had a refreshing taste. Overall, fun for the speakeasy vibe, but not sure the drinks blew us away. May have to go back to try some of the others :). read more

What a fun experience!! We were laughing before we even got in the door. Definitely book a reservation for starters. Look for the red light and ring yourself in. Someone will appear behind the screen. You will be seated in the dimly light room and they will explain the intricate unique passport menu of drinks to you. Our bartender held our hand through all of the questions and we both really ended up loving our drinks. We each had one and split the third which came out on fire-that was fun! We had fun banter with our bartenders and overall just enjoyed the quiet, fun experience. Check it out! read more

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This was hands down my favorite spot we ventured to during our quick weekend in Austin, Tx. We started our night here which led us to a discreet entryway. You had to press the right button for someone to greet you at the door. Once allowed entrance, you are escorted to your own room. The only downfall here for us was that there weren't any rooms suitable to fit a large group of eleven girls. Even so, we were happy to split in half and keep the vibes high. You are then given a brief description of the buildings history. I won't spoil the fun but I promise it will shock you haha! The drink menu was extensive and unique. Some of them are made directly in front of you. The prices were higher which was expected in a speakeasy like this so the majority of us has one cocktail. You are given a time limit here as the waitlist is lengthy. There was plenty of time to mingle, drink, and take pictures of course. read more

Midnight Cowboy - Interior - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

Sandwiched between the loud bars, drunken stupors, and late night preaching, Midnight Cowboy is hidden behind an unmarked door. Quiet, dark, and intimate, it's geared toward a slightly older crowd than most of what is going on around 6th Street. It is a small speakeasy, with limited seating. You can ring the bell and see if there is seating available for walk-ins, but on a weekend or holiday, that's very unlikely. Make reservations well in advance. There is a two drink minimum per person, or at least an average of two drinks per person in the party. Drink prices aren't listed on the menu, but they range from about $12 to $15 per cocktail. Midnight Cowboy is all about cocktails. They're made well, they have unusual- or at least less common- ingredients, and the menu rotates every few months. There are some nonalcoholic drinks and off-menu wines and other options, but they are definitely not the focus of this bar. Our party of six came on a Saturday night with a reservation, and we were seated in a small nook of a room behind a black velvet curtain. It was sort of like a old timey telephone enclave. While a few cocktails are made behind the bar, most of the cocktails are made by your bartender on a cart pushed up to your table or nook. Our bartender- who could be summoned with the flick of a switch in our nook- was friendly, attentive, and told us jokes. This is a great place for special occasions for a couple or very small groups if you can get a reservation in time. read more

Midnight Cowboy - The buzzer - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Such a lowkey vibe in the craziness of the dirty 6. Was pleasantly surprised of this hidden gem in the wild we call Sixth Street. We stopped by on a Friday around 5pm without a reservation which we got lucky with. They had enough time to seat us. Highly recommend making a reservation which is was we did for the next day to show our friends who were visiting from LA. The reservations are for an hour to 2 hour slot. If you're over a party of 4 you will be seating in the private rooms with booths in the back of the space. The booths in the back have a sexy intimate classy vibe. If you're looking for a high end cocktail vibe this is the place for you. The interior has such an interesting history of being a brothol that was busted by the FBI in 2011. Previously known as the midnight cowboy modeling oriental massage. Such an interesting story! The space itself has a speakeasy vibe with practically no advertisement or signage on the front of the building other than a glowing red light bulb. We practically missed it walking by. The drinks were all inspired by different countries and menus were graphically designed to look like a passport. Very very clever and well done! The bartenders were extremely knowledge about the flavors of each drink to help you decide on which is right for your mood. Absolutely amazing experience and such a surprise of finding this beautiful classy high end cocktail bar located in the heart of the dirty 6! Highly recommend!!! read more

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I was intrigued by the thought of going to a speakeasy that until fairly recently was legitimately an under the radar den of ill repute. Ask your mixologist about the fascinating history of the place. The front door and the doorbell are all original as is some of the interior. It is a very hole in the wall vibe as that is exactly what it is. The menu consists of some fairly unusual ingredients... for example... mine was made of tomato... and was slightly savory. The drinks were truly unique, but there weren't any that I felt were truly great. Since it is a very small place I completely understand the need for a time limit. However, I felt that it got in the way of the experience. I would recommend going later as opposed to earlier for a more lively experience. read more

My friends and I ventured to Midnight Cowboy on a recent trip to Austin. A true speakeasy, this place has a very narrow door as its entrance, and if you didn't know the address, you would easily miss this spot. However, you must make reservations here, so I'd imagine it's pretty difficult to just stumble upon this place. Upon arriving at their door, there's a list of name options to buzz. Like all the other reviewers noted, ring "Harry Craddock". We stood outside and waited a while for a petite lady to open the door slightly, just to ask our reservation and to wait as she verified. As we stood and waited, there was a crowd starting to form behind us, attempting to peer beyond the door to see what this mystery venue held inside. The lady quickly let us in and abruptly asked, "Are these people with you?". When we answered no, she slammed the door in their face. If Midnight Cowboy is attempting to bring the façade of being a truly secretive speakeasy to its patrons, it certainly accomplished it with us. We were then brought to a small, private room. The room is very intimate, with booth seating and one small table in the middle, so you have to make sure you really love the company with whom you've decided to spend your time. After taking our orders, the server rolls a cart to the entrance of the room and makes our drinks in front of us. The drink making process is somewhat long, and if you're not making small talk with the bartender, this could probably become a bit awkward. We engaged our server in conversation the whole time, and he went into detail to describe the drinks to us, and all the specialty ingredients and flair they use to stand out. A couple of times, the bartender lit garnishes on fire, which really impressed the men in our group. Overall, these drinks didn't totally wow us and you get the sense that maybe this place is trying too hard to branch outside of the box, but come here with an open mind and enjoy the experience--it's a fun one! read more

Midnight Cowboy - Speakeasies Near Me - Austin, Texas