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.

We got there on time and had to wait 20 mins to be sat. We were asked to leave our table promptly…read moreat the 90-minute mark from when our reservation was supposed to begin; not factoring the time we lost at the table due to it not being ready for us. But it was more important to the Powder Room that the next group got their table on time, apparently. The drinks took soooo long, we got ONE round in, and were asked to leave the table before our second round arrived. They had no issues when taking our second round order while we were seated, but we were asked to leave the table immediately after. This round also took forever and we drank it standing, crowded, in everyone's way. I was embarrassed as it was my birthday, and I was taking a group of 7 other people - new to Austin - here to check out what was one of my favorite spots. I was bragging about it and chose it over other spots on their list. They hated it. I'm disappointed. Our server was great to us and apologetic about the service bar.

Located inside the Colton House Hotel, Simona's is the hotel's local resident serving coffee by…read moreday, and cocktails by night. I usually only go to coffee shops to work, but today, went on a coffee date with my dog instead. There's ground floor parking in the garage that's complimentary for two hours. I kept it simple with a vanilla latte. I noticed they had tacos at the bottom of the food menu, but at $13.25 for two tacos + an a la carte item, I decided to pass. Maybe my expectations were too high (as usual) because it's inside a hotel, but I was hoping for the kind of warm hospitality hotels are known for, but instead, the service felt a bit cold. It didn't exactly make me want to spend more money there. While sitting on the patio, I spotted the food truck outside and thought, "PERFECT. A food truck HAS to be cheaper. Take that Simona's!" I walked up to the window... only to find out it wasn't actually a separate food truck. It was just the pickup window. To order? I had to go back inside to Simona's and place my order with the delightful staff... I ended up ordering two Blue Migas tacos, and honestly, they were just... good, but nothing memorable. They tasted like your average breakfast tacos that you can find all over Austin for less. Despite loving how relaxing the outdoor patio is with its lucious greenery surrounding you and the beautiful French chairs and cafe tables, it's located right next to the hotel pool. If you're visiting on a summer afternoon, expect some extra noise with pool guests. If you're looking for a quiet coffee or a place to work, I'd recommend coming early in the morning instead.

Great spot to hang out and grab a coffee with a friend (downstairs) or come and quietly read by…read moreyourself (upstairs). UPDATE: many reviews mentioned 4 hour parking, but this is no longer true - it is 2 HOUR parking the with a fee of $10 afterword. Not ideal for a remote working location for more than a short break. Matcha was one of the more expensive in Austin but solid. Food was great (got the birria tacos which were SO tender, although I did have a slight stomach ache right after - maybe just the grease). Went on a Tues during the day and there were many people working upstairs (quietly), but available seats for 2 or 3 ppl downstairs.

Upscale yet fun cocktail bar with great staff and drinks…read more Food: 4 Service: 4.5 Atmosphere: 4.5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights - Classy atmosphere - Upstairs has a few tables and a quieter smaller bar - Downstairs has booths tables and a long bar which is a bit more lively - Isaac: skilled bartender that was fun to watch him make the drinks - Great temperature controlled drinks super cold classes--it's the little extra things that make a differene - Some cocktails have very cool glasses: one with a very long stem, a skull, etc. - Martinis: unique shisho and solid vesper - Grilled cheese: looked basic but the gouda and cheddar mix garlic rosemary oil on the sourdough bread, and crispy cheese on edges were great. 4.5 stars - Looks nice but no dress code where the FAQ said come in what you are comfortable in which which I appreciate - Can make reservation on open table and choose upstairs or down Midlights - Downstairs has a different menu than upstairs : down more simple by time period, up more upscale detailed - Pretzels for dessert were just simple tiny crispy choc covered. 3 stars - For the grilled cheese might have been able to go with an upgraded chip from Ruffles--maybe even a Kettle chip Lowlights - Even in quieter upstairs can't hear the bartender when right in front of him - Special board featuring drinks but they were out of the one I wanted

My boyfriend and I came in for happy hour without a reservation and were seated immediately. The…read morebar had a dark, cozy, and intimate atmosphere. We ordered the Espresso Martini, Vodkadora, French 75, and Pisco Sour. All of the drinks were strong and delicious! The service was fantastic as well. The staff was attentive and friendly throughout our visit. Definitely check this place out if you're in the area! We'll definitely be back to try more drinks.

I absolutely adore this quaint lil bar! Set up in what appears to be an old home, complemented by a…read moregiant patio, partially covered patio. The covered area has a large TV, and they also have a stage for entertainment. They now have two food trucks: one for Tacos and one for burgers. The bartenders are great, always friendly and make tasty cocktails. I always appreciate a rotating menu, and love to try their new items. I sometimes stop by just for some caffeine and to get some work done, as they open quite early and have a "refreshments" menu aside from their cocktail menu.

Met a friend here on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I was happy that it wasn't overcrowded - one of us…read moredid have to utilize the add-on parking in the back. There are plenty of different seating options but very few seats inside. The place is chill, ordering drinks took some time even with no rush. Seems like they have some pre-mixed type of cocktails. Honestly, neither of us liked our drinks much. We actually left it behind. The food truck is nice to have though we didn't get to try. Happy that South Austin is finally seeing some nice spacious outdoor hangout spots.

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

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.

What a fun little place to go and listen to the DJ play an eclectic collection of vinyl records…read more This is a very intimate spot and a fun place to enjoy a drink and snacks. I would ent recommend a group unless you were reserving the entire place. We went while staying at the Magdalena, and it was a fun spot to visit right after dinner and before bed.

What a vibe! Loved it here. I could probably stay here a whole shift lol…read moreMusic-Perfect Temp-excellent place to escape the heat! Vibes-dark and moody, my fave. Comfortable seating and not too loud so you could have an easy conversation. The drinks were all great and so many options. Such a fantastic atmosphere and idea. Really loved the concept!

This was my first time at a speakeasy and they sure set the bar high! They really are as secret as…read moreit seems. My sister-in-law made reservations and we walked down the busy 6th Street to get there until we stopped at an unassuming and unlabeled door. When you walk in, it's a very dark and moody interior with small tables. They led us to a private room in the back which perfectly fit the six of us. Their menu is very creative, with unique names and unique ingredients. I don't like alcohol, so I was super happy to see an entire section dedicated to zero proof mocktails. I ordered the 5 AM somewhere which was a matcha based mocktail. It still had a bitter taste to it, perhaps from the Lyres Rosso. But the entire experience was so creative, led by our server/bartender Martin. He was a lot of fun and made the experience that much better. He was personable and funny and felt like we were hanging out with an old friend. Highly recommend if you're looking for a more chill vibe on 6th Street!

This is an interesting establishment, and I think I liked the cocktails more than the food. It is…read moredefinitely a date night spot, although there were some families here as well. We didn't get to sit near the conveyor belts, but we were ok with it because we were still able to enjoy the decor. Parking can get tight very quickly. We didn't have a reservation, but I think we were very lucky to get a table for 2.