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This is a smallish space that gets full but didn't feel overcrowded. Good service, good cocktails, fun to find the location. Look for the red "bar" sign and head down the stairs.
Dim, intimate and speak easied up being hidden in a parking garage in downtown Austin. Walking in, everything 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.
Small Victory is hands down our favorite speakeasy-esque cocktail bar in Austin. Even living here with so many options, this is still our go-to for date night. Tucked away downtown, it has that perfect dim, intimate vibe that feels special without being pretentious. It's ideal for actually talking and enjoying the experience. The cocktails are expertly crafted every single time. The bartenders clearly know what they're doing, and you can taste the attention to detail. My husband always orders the White Zombie- it's his go-to and consistently perfect. Austin has plenty of great bars, but Small Victory is the one we keep coming back to.
While in Austin last month I stopped in to celebrate Small Victory's anniversary. They were pouring their original 2016 cocktail menu with $10 drinks to celebrate 10 years in business. Small Victory is a great little speakeasy tucked away in a parking garage off East 7th Street downtown. This was my first visit, but will definitely be one of my go to spots for a great cocktail on future trips to ATX. Harold took care of us and I ordered a Daiquiri and a Sidecar, both expertly poured and the perfect cap to the evening.
Even though I've only been to Small Victory once, I dare say it's one of my favorite Austin speakeasies. 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.
Fun bar and cool ambiance! Inventive drinks and great service. It's worth a visit if you're in the area.
I've been to Austin twice in the past several months and each time I've come, I've found myself back at small victory. We made a reservation for our large party online which is always appreciated, and this past visit we got the biggest booth in the bar. It's vibey and cute, low lighting with great craft cocktails. I'm a personal fan of the martini flow chart on the menu, and they have good small plates to snack on. I'm looking forward to coming back again on our next visit
It was alright. This place is more hipster chill, cute, dark. It was recommended by a friend. We got one drink before heading to dinner. I got a Hawaiian drink, which honestly got my buzzed two sips into it. Haha. It was nice to have a table, hang out, and chat. Again, my over all experience was alright, it didn't feel like I needed to come back here. This place is great of you are indie or hipster. It's still nice though
Small Victory has been on my list of bars to try for quite awhile, and this past week I found myself in Downtown after dinner with nothing to do. Let's go get a cocktail, shall we? I didn't even look at a menu, just told the bartender I like to drink Old Fashioned's but I don't like to order them at a bar since I can make it at home. He offered up some drink that's Old Fashioned adjacent but had some interesting twists. I don't recall the exact details, but I snapped a picture of my photo and it was definitely a good drink. Nothing groundbreaking, but solid. The vibe was really cool but the noise level was high if that's not your sort of thing. And that was on a Thursday night. Will definitely have to return at some point and give a few more cocktails a try.
I think speakeasies are cool, so my friend brought me to Small Victory for a drink. The entrance is unassuming and can easily be missed if you don't know what to look for. There's a neon "bar" sign right above the door. We didn't have a reservation and even though it was a Friday night, we were seated fairly quickly. The space is long and narrow. It looks like it extends pretty far with mostly two-person seating and bar seating. I ordered a Medicina Latina, $17. It was under the "Sours & Daisies" section of their menu and has tequila blanco, lime juice, ginger syrup, honey, and mezcal. It was a very well-balanced drink; slightly tarte with a hint of sweetness. Service was a little slow, but they were busy. Staff was helpful and friendly, though. Small Victory is worth checking out!
This bar can easily be missed. We passed by the entrance and didn't notice the first time. It is a very narrow area though it seemed fairly busy. Drinks are a little pricey and the one I got was just ok. The painkiller drink my gf got was a lot better. The place is good if you're just looking for a chill place where you want to hang out and talk.
Really enjoyed my visit to small victory. I came on a Wednesday in December and it just happened to be a day with a Japanese restaurant pop up, so they had an additional food menu with sushi and sashimi plates you could try. It was super fun! My friends and I ordered a few of the dishes on that menu, one was a sashimi tuna and another was a mushroom baked popper of sorts. The drinks were also lovely - our server gave us great recs! The place is definitely inconspicuous; there is a metal gated door you go in and a small winding staircase you go up, then you're inside. It's a narrow place with a long longitudinal bar and bench along with the wall, with the tables set up there. It's intimate and almost has a low key feel compared to other speakeasies, but with an upscale menu. I really enjoyed it! I would absolutely go back. :)
Really cool menu and bartenders were super friendly. Was fun finding the entrance and I like that it wasn't complicated lol. We each tried two drinks and being fairly picky cocktail enjoyers the bartender Jake helped us figure out some amazing options! Very cute interior decor and definitely would be great for a date night.
Freaking epic. If you're still into cocktails despite the way things are trending, you must put Small Victory on your list to try. I simply described what flavor notes I was in the mood for and the entire staff took care of me. No matter whether I called for acidic and tropical, sweet and dairy, or bitter and fruity, they came through, both on- and off-menu. I had never had a Pink Squirrel before, and now I think I'll need to make them at home! I showed up at 8p on a Thursday and it was only a quarter full. More couples had shown up by 9:30p. I wouldn't think you need a reservation on a weekday, but weekends are probably a different story... read more
Maybe my top favorite bar in Austin! This little hidden gem is up a few steps in a parking garage. Once you open the door, you will be blown away by what's inside. Every time we go here we are able to quickly find a table for 3 or 4 of us. Usually we go pretty early, so I am sure it is much busier later into the night. Every time we order the off menu Cobras Fang since there is a specific bartender there that makes it just right. I don't know his name, but we are always so excited when we get him as our server. The Cobra's Fang is a super boozy rum tiki drink with absinthe. One and done. The drinks are pricy, but SO worth it. This is such a cool spot and the drinks are so good. Always great service and they are all super sweet and patient. 5 stars. Take an uber! read more
Dim, intimate and speak easied up being hidden in a parking garage in downtown Austin. Walking in, everything 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. read more
9 months ago
Small Victory is hands down our favorite speakeasy-esque cocktail bar in Austin. Even living here with so many options, this is still our go-to for date night. Tucked away downtown, it has that perfect dim, intimate vibe that feels special without being pretentious. It's ideal for actually talking and enjoying the experience. The cocktails are expertly crafted every single time. The bartenders clearly know what they're doing, and you can taste the attention to detail. My husband always orders the White Zombie- it's his go-to and consistently perfect. Austin has plenty of great bars, but Small Victory is the one we keep coming back to. read more
While in Austin last month I stopped in to celebrate Small Victory's anniversary. They were pouring their original 2016 cocktail menu with $10 drinks to celebrate 10 years in business. Small Victory is a great little speakeasy tucked away in a parking garage off East 7th Street downtown. This was my first visit, but will definitely be one of my go to spots for a great cocktail on future trips to ATX. Harold took care of us and I ordered a Daiquiri and a Sidecar, both expertly poured and the perfect cap to the evening. read more
Even though I've only been to Small Victory once, I dare say it's one of my favorite Austin speakeasies. 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. read more
8 months ago
Fun bar and cool ambiance! Inventive drinks and great service. It's worth a visit if you're in the area. read more
I've been to Austin twice in the past several months and each time I've come, I've found myself back at small victory. We made a reservation for our large party online which is always appreciated, and this past visit we got the biggest booth in the bar. It's vibey and cute, low lighting with great craft cocktails. I'm a personal fan of the martini flow chart on the menu, and they have good small plates to snack on. I'm looking forward to coming back again on our next visit read more
8 months ago
It was alright. This place is more hipster chill, cute, dark. It was recommended by a friend. We got one drink before heading to dinner. I got a Hawaiian drink, which honestly got my buzzed two sips into it. Haha. It was nice to have a table, hang out, and chat. Again, my over all experience was alright, it didn't feel like I needed to come back here. This place is great of you are indie or hipster. It's still nice though read more
Small Victory has been on my list of bars to try for quite awhile, and this past week I found myself in Downtown after dinner with nothing to do. Let's go get a cocktail, shall we? I didn't even look at a menu, just told the bartender I like to drink Old Fashioned's but I don't like to order them at a bar since I can make it at home. He offered up some drink that's Old Fashioned adjacent but had some interesting twists. I don't recall the exact details, but I snapped a picture of my photo and it was definitely a good drink. Nothing groundbreaking, but solid. The vibe was really cool but the noise level was high if that's not your sort of thing. And that was on a Thursday night. Will definitely have to return at some point and give a few more cocktails a try. read more
I think speakeasies are cool, so my friend brought me to Small Victory for a drink. The entrance is unassuming and can easily be missed if you don't know what to look for. There's a neon "bar" sign right above the door. We didn't have a reservation and even though it was a Friday night, we were seated fairly quickly. The space is long and narrow. It looks like it extends pretty far with mostly two-person seating and bar seating. I ordered a Medicina Latina, $17. It was under the "Sours & Daisies" section of their menu and has tequila blanco, lime juice, ginger syrup, honey, and mezcal. It was a very well-balanced drink; slightly tarte with a hint of sweetness. Service was a little slow, but they were busy. Staff was helpful and friendly, though. Small Victory is worth checking out! read more
8 months ago
This bar can easily be missed. We passed by the entrance and didn't notice the first time. It is a very narrow area though it seemed fairly busy. Drinks are a little pricey and the one I got was just ok. The painkiller drink my gf got was a lot better. The place is good if you're just looking for a chill place where you want to hang out and talk. read more
2 years ago
Really enjoyed my visit to small victory. I came on a Wednesday in December and it just happened to be a day with a Japanese restaurant pop up, so they had an additional food menu with sushi and sashimi plates you could try. It was super fun! My friends and I ordered a few of the dishes on that menu, one was a sashimi tuna and another was a mushroom baked popper of sorts. The drinks were also lovely - our server gave us great recs! The place is definitely inconspicuous; there is a metal gated door you go in and a small winding staircase you go up, then you're inside. It's a narrow place with a long longitudinal bar and bench along with the wall, with the tables set up there. It's intimate and almost has a low key feel compared to other speakeasies, but with an upscale menu. I really enjoyed it! I would absolutely go back. :) read more
Really cool menu and bartenders were super friendly. Was fun finding the entrance and I like that it wasn't complicated lol. We each tried two drinks and being fairly picky cocktail enjoyers the bartender Jake helped us figure out some amazing options! Very cute interior decor and definitely would be great for a date night. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Love this spot. I will say walking up to the entrance by myself felt a bit sketchy. It's a gated door by a garage up some spiral stairs. But once you walk in it's lively and a fun atmosphere. It's small but long so seating options for the most part are side by side. Everyone I engaged in was super friendly I had been walking around the city and was super thirsty they made the comment I could sit here and just drink water as long as I needed which was kind and not something I was used to. The drink I ordered was great. It was a gin based drink delicate and delish. I was trying to get back to this place on my trip but unfortunately never got the chance. I would definitely hit this place up if you're ever in Austin. read more
2 years ago
This is a sexy date night spot! So intimate and cozy. I loved that it had the feel of being more upscale. The drinks were wonderful and we got the olives (nice and salty) as well as a charcuterie board. Music was mostly R&B throwbacks and kept at a nice level where you can still have conversation so that was awesome. I got a Harry's Pick me up which was amazing. It is difficult to choose between the great options. They have the menu thoughtfully separated out for flavors, like bitter&aromatic, or sparkling-wine based. We went on a Friday night, around 10:45pm without a reservation and were seated right away, but I imagine you would need a reservation at a more popular time. Our waiter was very attentive and the whole team seemed to be in sync with one another for getting things done and making sure all customers were taken care of. This place was definitely a little confusing to find, but look for the metal door. We were not aware it was a speakeasy, but that makes sense that it was more "hidden" in a parking garage. There is a small concrete staircase to get into the door of the bar. read more
This was a cool little spot. It's a small place, but we had no trouble finding seating. A waitress came by to take our order, we didn't have to go up to the bar. I had the surprise me drink with tequila and it was great. I forgot what drink my wife ended up getting, but it was even better that mine. We would definitely come back! The bartender that made my drink even came by to make sure I liked it. read more
2 years ago
This place really lives up to its speakeasy vibe. I walked past the entrance four or five times before I figured out the correct process. (Big thanks to the group of ladies who were leaving and pointed me in the right direction.) Once inside, I was happy to belly up to one of the coolest bars that I've had the pleasure of enjoying a drink. This place is top notch, especially the bartenders. They're happy to wax poetic about all things Austin, Texas and mixed drinks. They'll even provide new music suggestions if you ask nicely. I walked out smarter and feeling better about myself. Note: This is a cozy place. I recommend reservations if you're going to visit during peak times. read more
7 months ago
Very fun place with some tasty cocktails! We came here recently on a Friday night (sorta late) with a local friend (we're from back east) on his recommendation and were not disappointed. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, and I really can't say enough about their charcuterie (see photo). Highly recommend read more
2 years ago
What a fun little place!!! We randomly stumbled upon this place as we were heading back to our vehicle and had to stop in for a quick drink. The drinks were amazing and the bartenders were nice - would definitely come back next time we're downtown! read more
Really cool hidden spot in a parking garage. It's a long skinny bar but the seats are comfortable and it's got a very cool vibe. The bartenders are super friendly and make you feel very welcome. I love that they had this tiny beer, perfect for the end of the night. I'm sure the cocktails are great, we didn't have them but they looked good. I will be back, this is a fun spot for a date or drinks and conversation. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
What a cool place to stop in and have a drink and just relax. This place has such a relaxed, chill vibe and reminds me of a couple of bars in New York that I'm fond of. The drinks are pricey, but you are definitely getting your moneys worth. I ordered the Cuban liberation and trust me if I had finished my drink, I would've truly been liberated. They have snack foods, but nothing of substance so next time we'll eat before we go. But I will definitely return. read more
3 years ago
Fun small venue with tasty drinks - be warned that it is very dark and the seating is pretty intimate so while it's great for a date night or a catch-up with one friend, I don't see it being great for more than two people as it'd be very hard to talk. Even so, it kind of added to the intimate speakeasy feel so not complaining just an observation. I was deciding between two drinks and asked the helpful waitress for her opinion, but then after she recommended one of the two she accidentally brought me the other. It was actually really good tho so NO complaints but she realized it after and when the bill came it was half off. Thought that was really nice - not necessary since I drank it all and liked it, but very nice. Def a cool lil place in Austin to grab a drink w a friend! read more
I love this speakeasy - I learned that it's called small victory because it's a small victory when you finally locate it. It's has this retro looking door right by the parking garage! It's a lot smaller than I realized, I would describe it as a long hallway with the bar in the center and tables on the side. It gives off this classy but mysterious vibe - definitely make reservations before you visit because it'll book up quickly. The bartenders are super nice and recommend drinks based on your preferences. read more
3 years ago
The drinks here are always top notch, and both the bartenders and servers are exceptionally knowledgeable. It is usually possible to get in without a reservation, but I will tell you it is much easier for two instead of four. Knocked off one star only because the prices have gone up enough that it's hard to feel much value here. Definitely a premium experience at a premium price. When the drinks were $12 or $13 it was easy to have two. When they are $18 to $20... read more
9 months ago
3 years ago
This cocktail bar is a must visit if you are in Austin. My friend tried the Painkiller and Singapore Sling and I tried the Medicina Latina and Avenue. The service and drinks were amazing. I recommend making a reservation but we went at an off time and were able to buzz in and snag two bar seats. Cheers! read more
Ducked in Tuesday night pre Elephant Room, no reservations but nicely ushered into a corner table for 4. It's small and discreet. Perfect for conversation over well made cocktails. Service was quick and attentive. Will be back again soon. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
My friends and I had a Speakeasy night, checking out 3 speakeasy's within walking distance of one another and this was, by far, our favorite stop. You hit the buzzer downstairs to ask if there is room for your party and get buzzed in or put on a wait list - we were 5 and the wait was about an hour so we took and and went to another bar while we waited. I get the alert once there was seating for us... we came back and got buzzed in. The bar is very clean, chill, with good music, fantastic drinks and great service. We certainly milked the Bartender's Choice option on the menu by asking for most of our drinks to be made however the bartender wanted, based on a few of our preferences. The $5 mixed nuts bowl was certainly appreciated and well worth it. I also love it that they use reusable straws. We all had a great time, we will certainly be back and I seriously recommend coming here. read more
Eh. Clear change of management and it really sucks because I loved this place. Music sucks now, servers are very dry and uninterested (besides David) and the overall vibe is different. Really hate to see this place change as it was my favorite spot in the city. I'll still come every now and then since the drinks are great, but I'd rather vibe at Here Nor There. Our main server had no personality and our most recent experience here was below average. This place used to have an upscale speakeasy lounge vibe, but now gives me the vibe of a nice dive bar. Did I mention it sucks now? Lol. read more
2 years ago
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More info about Small Victory
108 E 7th St
Austin, TX 78701
Downtown
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(512) 903-9450
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http://www.smallvictory.bar
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