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.

Even though I've only been to Small Victory once, I dare say it's one of my favorite Austin…read morespeakeasies. It's kind of part of a parking garage (similar to the Garage speakeasy) & walking by you may not even realize what it is. Then again, that's the point. Nice inside you've entered a relaxing and chill sanctuary in a space that's not very large at all. It's peaceful and posh. Low-lit, retro, and sexy. Cocktail choices range from bartender's choice, sours, classics, mocktails/low abv, to sparkling, mixed drinks, wine, beer, & more. Their martinis (vodka or gin/dry or dirty) are hailed as the best in Austin. Gonna have to try one. On our visit, I had the Kitty Highball (highly recommend!). It's low abv made with soda, syrups, lime juice, and red wine. My boyfriend had the New Fashion. Also low abv, made with sherry, brandy, Grand Marnier, and other ingredients. Absolutely refreshing. They have small bite plates style food which we didn't try but looked good. Service was impeccable. Looking forward to our next visit.

Dim, intimate and speak easied up being hidden in a parking garage in downtown Austin. Walking in,…read moreeverything is what you would imagine a speak easy vibe to be. This is not a big spot, definitely think cozy, but what they lack in room size, they make up for in menu size. Great bottles line up behind the bar, wines a plenty and in quite exciting news, a wide variety of sherries. I can't think of the last time I saw such a wide choice of them. Of the speakeasies I've been to, I think this one is the one I would associate with a romantic, date night the most. The vibe is definitely way more let me hold your hand while we sip insanely priced drinks, but totally worth it. Will definitely be back.

I've been back a few times and I'm happy to report it's still a five-star rating in my book…read more That frozen limoncello margarita is everything. They're only five bucks during happy hour! Service is sublime.

In Plain Sight is the sister bar of Here Nor There (IYKYK). That alone is reason enough to visit…read more They recently expanded their business hours and are now open daily. The bar is very tiny (maybe 10 seats at the bar, 4 window seats, and approximately 6 or so seats on the patio). They are walk in only. The lighting is super cool. The color hues subtly change which gives the space a cool ambiance. I happened to be out on a Monday night and decided to stop by for a night cap. When I walked in, I was the only patron. Chad was behind the bar and he was extremely nice and very personable. I started with the Green Reviver #2. It was a melon twist on the classic Corpse Reviver #2 and it was good! I really enjoyed the chive oil. I followed with the House Negroni. This was hands down the best Negroni that I've ever had. The strawberry twist on it elevated it! I finished with a mocktail. I told Chad to surprise me and he made an NA version of the Yellow Margarita. I enjoyed this and it was refreshing! I mentioned to Chad that I like clarified cocktails so he made me a sample of the Clarified Piña Colada. It was really good! The melon and lemongrass gave it an interesting flavor. I was fortunate enough to return a few weeks later. Freya was working behind the bar and he was just as nice and personable as Chad. I tried the Blue Clover Club. I loved the flavors and presentation of this drink! The raspberry lemon foam was so good and added a nice texture! I also had a House Negroni because I enjoyed it so much the first time. I've only visited twice, but In Plain Sight is definitely one of my favorite cocktail bars in Austin. I'm looking forward to returning so that I can try more of their interesting and unique cocktails!

Garage is a cool craft cocktail bar located in an actual parking garage. It's considered a…read morespeakeasy, however they do have signage outside of the bar which breaks the rules of a true speakeasy. It's not hard to spot as long as you're in the correct parking garage. My date and I stopped in for a quick drink. It was my first time visiting. We didn't have reservations, but it was early enough that we were able to grab a seat at the bar. They do take reservations on Open Table if you prefer. There's limited bar seating as well as tables and booths. The vibe was very intimate and sultry with dim lighting. The bartenders were nice. I went with a Pimm's Cup which is a favorite of mine. Garage's Pimm's Cup was actually very good, but it didn't quite compare with the Pimm's Cup at Anvil in Houston (IYKYK). We didn't order any food, but they have pizza (including gluten free options) as well as salads. The next time I visit, I'll be sure to try a slice.

One of my favorite bars in Austin! Tucked inside an actual parking garage, this dark and moody spot…read morefeels like a true hidden gem, though it can get pretty packed on weekend nights. I've enjoyed every cocktail I've tried here. The drinks are creative, meticulously prepared, and consistently well balanced--never too sweet or overly harsh. The atmosphere, presentation, and quality of the cocktails make it a memorable place to bring visitors. I always recommend adding Garage to an Austin bucket list, and I'm excited to return every time.

They've just opened on Rainey in what use to be the Tipsy Alchemist spot. Great space and decor…read more We got there right when it opened (5pm) on a Friday, so we were welcomed by Victor at the bar who was great - very personable, welcoming and gave us some great reccs for drinks and other spots on Rainey. They have a solid happy hour that I believe is the first 2 hours when they open and all the cocktails we tried were fantastic. Will definitely be back!

Are you the type of person that is always up for an adventure? That would be me. When my friend…read moreasked me if I was up to see what was shaking at Bar Hacienda, I jumped at the chance to do so. Bar Hacienda is not your typical Rainey Street cocktail bar. It offers a stylish alternative to the booming music your feel as you walk into other Rainey Street bars. Bar Hacienda evokes a resort type of feel yet has a speakeasy-like atmosphere with creative elements. Clearly it is known for its craft cocktails. We saw folks talking to each other...yes, talking to each other without having scream, "What did you say?" Bar Hacienda feels elegant and refined. Hip Hop was playing in the background, barely even discernable. Picture this...we greet the door manager and he welcomes us to Bar Hacienda. As you look up, you feast your eyes a long stairstep path to the top that looks a little daunting from the bottom. As you slowly ascend the stairs, you eagerly anticipate what will be at the end of the stairs. You land on the first level into an open-covered patio. It is filled with greenery and wicker laden chandeliers with similar décor inside. Unfortunately, my friend and I stayed for a short while it was raining and a thunderstorm was brewing. Looking forward to returning to have a full experience...

For my birthday we wanted to experience Kinfolk and we loved the intimacy of the experience! Cam…read moreand Blake were very informative and helped us make great choices for the evening. I love beautifully crafted cocktails and the cocktails here did not disappoint. We enjoyed our time and the atmosphere and will definitely be back for another visit!

Very cool vibes! Apparently they carry over 900 bottles and sitting at the communal table (which I…read moredid) allow you to see most of them. It was quite fun to be at the table and have conversations with various strangers. However, there are small tables you can sit at as well. I think this place is reservation only. It is below a very good restaurant. Didn't really try their food, but definitely a good selection of liquor!

Nice bar that also has outdoor seating. Service here is very good. Special cocktails here art about…read more$15 to sub $20 range. They also served food as an option but we were only interested in the drinks.

Drinkwell is definitely part of my North Loop Jaunt (every few months I head over to the…read moreneighborhood and hit up my favorite places). They have some of the best cocktails (and mocktails) in Austin. The Positano (mocktail) is crazy good. It's made with N/A limoncello and it's so pretty to look at as well. The gimlet and daiquiri are the bomb as well. You can get snacks too and they are yummy. Love the fries. Great service. Super space.

Love the old vibe and decor, very upscale. There was a live bank downstairs. We hung out upstairs…read moreand played pool. The drinks are pricy compared to the bars nearby, but matched the ambiance.

Two blocks from our parking garage...we heard music from the street and decided to go in. This is…read moreanother bar we had not visited for years. All the bars we visited on 6th street there was no cover charge which was nice. Generally speaking, when there is a live band there is usually a cover charge. However, there was not a cover a charge at the Driskill bar...pleasant surprise. The Driskill bar was crowded with standing room only. However, the music was nice and we decided to listen in. The bar area was crowded so even if we wanted to order a drink, it would have taken some time. They featured a country and western band. The folks in the bar were grooving with the music. We did not see anyone with food, so we assume food was not being served at that time. Overall, good experience...