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.

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.

Celebrated my girlfriend's birthday with a spa day at the Hyatt Lost Pines Spa. We purchased the…read morespa pass with a treatment option from ResortPass well in advance. We were able to choose from organic massage or an organic facial for our treatment, and both opted for facials. The good: - Stunning property - serene, peaceful, and beautiful. - Spa offers several wonderful amenities (sauna, steam room, hot tub, pools, showers, and more). We thoroughly enjoyed each of these features and spent 3-4 hours total just relaxing and enjoying our time. - I appreciated that they had interesting and unique touches such as the adult coloring books in the relaxation lounge. What could've been better: - The facial service was very basic and frankly mediocre. For the amount we paid, I expected more of a facial massage and extraction. This was disappointing. - We were to receive a complimentary glass of wine each with our booking. No one offered this to us; I had to hunt down a staff member and request it. - For a five star spa, they should offer more than one hair dryer for all guests to use, and better beverage options in the relaxation room. We had one tea choice, that was it. Good experience but with some improvements could be great.

Sister's wedding was held there and the place is beautiful, with lots to do for all ages. Great…read morefood the restaurants are all great. The sushi restaurant OMG!!! Is a must do. The cafe breakfast good food we had the best waiter older gentleman he was awesome. The Maverick good again older staff was great but the younger European-americans staff well disrespectful. At Mavericks bar the young European-american bartender was a little racist the way he treated us and the way he spoke to us. Went to the bar and the young European-american bartender said ( we might not have anything you like here for you). I didn't say anything because of my sister's wedding being held there . But other than the racist young bartenders we had a great time there. Maybe we will go back not sure if I want my kids to be treated like that. The water paker is a must lazy river spent most of our time there.

We've been twice, not impressed. The first time we sat at the bar and despite there only being a…read morehandful of customers in the place, it took several minutes before any of the four people behind the bar even acknowledged us. Seems their chit chat took priority to greeting new customers. We order drinks and the wings. My drink wasn't the best, but the wings were decent. We paid by credit card and didn't pay any attention to the prices. We went back a week later, honestly just to shoot some pool and have a couple drinks and to give them another chance. We paid cash this time and that's when we got sticker shock. Lone Star longneck was $4.50! My rum and coke was $10.80. When I ordered a new drink, I handed the bartender a ten and a 5 bill. She gave me 4 one dollar bills in change. $15 - $10.80 = $4.20. No explanation about the missing .20. Ok, I'm not gonna sweat twenty cents, but if they did that to every customer, that can add up over time.

Upon stepping in I felt like I was transported to Miami in the 70s or 80s. Once you enter you turn…read morein your phones making it easy to lose time in connecting with your company. The staff was super nice and attentive our waitress came by multiple times and drinks were good and quick. They have a fun magazine style menu and plenty of options including mocktails. The mocktails were well balanced and not too sweet and my husband enjoyed every drink he tried. We ordered the French fries which were so good the perfect blend of freshness and salt. Would definitely come back for the ambiance and the no phones was a great reminder to connect to who your with and be present.

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.

A total vibe! I loved this spot and the outdoor bar area. It's lit up by twinkle lights with plenty…read moreof TVs to watch the game. They had a frozen watermelon rose I tried which I really like, if you get an additional shooter to go with it, make sure you mix it in! They have a good amount of drinks to choose from, it's a great place to chill with friends and enjoy the weather. Lots of seating and picnic table style seating. I've been twice and would definitely go back!

I recently visited Upstairs at Caroline for a Logitech SXSW installation event, and the experience…read morewas a great mix of creative energy and Austin atmosphere. The venue itself has a lively, open feel with an urban backyard vibe and plenty of space to move around, mingle, and actually take in the installation without feeling crowded. What stood out most was how well the space complemented the event. The layout made it easy to engage with the installation while still enjoying the social vibe. They had space for working virtually as well as displays to test some of the technology. There's a nice balance between indoor comfort and that signature rooftop-style setting, which gives it a relaxed but elevated feel. The staff was friendly and kept things running smoothly, and the overall setup felt thoughtfully organized. Whether you were there to focus on the installation or just take it in casually, the environment supported both. The line was somewhat long to get into the event as it was at capacity and could only allow more people as people were leaving the event. I was given a drink ticket and got to try the Patio Pounder with ilegal mezcal, primo aperitivo, tropical citrus, coconut, grapefruit soda. The bartender was efficient even though the lines were long. The cocktail was enjoyable with the balance of smoky and citrus flavors. They also had a variety of food bites available including chips and queso. creamy street corn, and sliders. The food was gone relatively quickly due to the crowds but it would be replenished periodically. Overall, Upstairs at Caroline proved to be a solid venue for a creative SXSW event versatile, welcoming, and very on-brand for Austin's arts and tech scene.

Entering from the lobby, it felt like a maze trying to find the right elevator and then figure out…read morewhere to go once I got off. After exiting the elevator, I ended up meandering through what felt like the entire rooftop pool deck with rows and rows of seating, a beautifully laid-out space, and a huge outdoor area before finally reaching the actual bar on the other side of the building. Verdict: best pool, least impressive late-night drink options. The rooftop space itself is massive and gorgeous, with seating spread around fire features and plenty of room to roam. It's the kind of place that makes you want to book a stay just to have access to the pool and outdoor area. Drink-wise, though, the menu was very limited, and they didn't have any mocktails listed. I asked for "anything mocktail," and they brought me a virgin Lady Bird. It was mostly juice, but still tasty and refreshing for $8.

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.

How did Smithville get so lucky as to get themselves such a great restaurant? Fat Cat is a…read morefriendly, family-run place with a casual atmosphere, live music on weekends, and a one-page menu with apps, salads, sandwiches, burgers and a few entrees like ahi tuna steaks, along with a beer and wine selection. All that's great. But what makes it so uncommon are the amazing things they add to this formula that simply knocked our socks off. The salads are farm to table. The pork and beef are ranch to table (which makes their pork belly bhan mi and blue cheese bacon burgers absolutely outstanding). The proprietor owns the farm and ranch. Their beer selection has something for everyone and you can even buy it by the bucket. And without a doubt, they offer the best wine selection, the most wine-by-the-glass options, and the best prices on wine-by-the-bottle in the county. It's likely even better than anything you'll find in Travis County. Seriously, if you know wines, look at that wine menu and tell me I'm wrong. You can't do it! The three of us enjoyed a really nice Napa Vally Cabernet Sauvignon in the restaurant, and we got a $39 bottle of 2018 Pinot Noir from Sonoma's Russian River Valley to go that they would have been just as happy to open for us in the restaurant. Who does that at those prices? I'm seriously canceling my wine club membership and I'll just come here more often. Plus, the owner really knows her wines. She judges wine competitions in Houston and is more knowledgeable than many California sommeliers I've known (and I lived in California for 15 years). But she also knows old world wines and Texas wines very well. I'll post pictures of the food later. I'm coming back to Fat Cat for a pre fixe dinner - ribeye stake and snow crab with wine pairings included. The way they wine, dine, entertain and treat you, I feel like I'm the Fat Cat! And I can barely hear the music over the purring :-)

Food was delicious, we met the owner and manager they were both absolutely wonderful. I love the…read morehome time feel. I got the Nelson's grill cheese with bacon added, Husband got the cartintas-stated they were AMAZING but requests a Texas size portion. Lasagna was VERY GOOD according to my mom and my dad had the Blue Chicken Sandwich and was good. They were SUPER sweet to my little, he was the star of dinner. Try the Vampire Merlot very peaceful and homey.

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 stumbled into this bar and it is the most beautiful space. The couch/ alcove seating they have is…read moremy favorite. You can sit to face the beautiful bar and watch the old movies they play. There is no sound so if they put the words on you could know what's happening but that's not the point. The vibe is curated! Their menu takes your through time and has drinks from each decade. It's such fun experience to drink through different eras.

The view from Otopia is beautiful, especially at sunset. They also have a nice pool, if you care…read morefor a dip. I wouldn't exactly do laps in it, it's more for lounging. My coworkers and I had a few drinks, and some tacos and enjoyed ourselves.

On 15 January 2026, I watched the sunset from the Otopia Rooftop Bar while enjoying one of the best…read moremargaritas either salt, pulled pork sliders, and buffalo cauliflower bites. The service and attentiveness of the bartender and staff were great! I recommend this happy hour spot for a date night, and/or girls or guys night out. The view was on point!

The food and service here were amazing! I highly recommend making reservations. I'm not sure that…read moreyou will get in otherwise. I could eat their bread all day long, it's so good. The bruschetta was the only appetizer that I wouldn't order again. It wasn't bad, but not my favorite. The bone marrow was smooth and buttery, definitely my favorite appetizer.

We've always heard so much hype about Red Ash and just had to try for ourselves. Takes a few…read moremonths to get a reservation. I had made a reservation a few weeks prior for our anniversary month. When we sat at our table they had a cute little greeting card from the staff wishing us a happy anniversary. Pro Tip: Just make a reservation way in advance and if you make it you make it. Even if you don't think you will be able to make it. If you can't go just cancel with enough advance. We started with the Meatballs that pair wonderfully with their Italian Bread. Flavorful and plentiful dish and def get the bread! Next came the Bone Marrow & Tuna Crudo. I will say though for some reason after we finished our Meatballs it took them quite a while to bring our dishes after that. Bone Marrow was divine and also paired well with the Italian Bread. Tuna Crudo was not what I expected because it was warm and I was expecting it to be cold. But it was good and I love eggplant. Our main dish was the Agnolotti Alla Piemontese. From the description it seemed to hit all the boxes since we are meat lovers (contains braised beef & pork shoulder) and truffle. I love me some truffle. When we ordered the Agnolotti Alla Piemontese I asked him does it have a lot of truffle flavor because I love truffle. He said oh we can definitely add more truffle if you would like when the dish comes out. When the dish came they had the chef come shave an extra truffle on the dish. I honestly could not taste the difference. Was not enough truffle flavor for me. Note the extra truffle is an added charge. Overall lovely experience. If we return we will need to try some different dishes to give it another try.