It was a small victory to find this quaint little bar. Look for the red door. We ordered a create-your-own martini & a hurricane. Both were strong & delicious. We also opted for a fancy charcuterie board with 2 meats & 2 cheeses which was absolutely amazing! Highly recommend this hidden gem. read more

Small Victory - Hurricane & Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Cool little spot. Like the intimacy of the place. It's not touristy. Fun place to go with 1 - 2 people. Good drinks and vibes.

Most of the ​things a good speakeasy should be. Hard to find, small, good cocktails. You have to look closely outside what appears it could be an office or retail space to find the door that leads you to Small Victory. It really is a small victory when you find it. The atmosphere is loungy and the place is long, narrow and dimly lit. The cocktails were delicious and well crafted. What really made them stand out were their ice choices. Each cocktail was served with the appropriate ice for the cocktail. If it was supposed to melt a little faster it was served with smaller ice and if it shouldn't get watered down, long thick cubes did the trick. The only thing that bugged me a bit were the hipster bartenders who were too good to carry on a conversation. Listen, you are a barman, act like one. I'll definitely visit again and recommend it to anyone in Austin. read more

I'm a fan! Enter through the discrete entrance (look for the small logo on a glass door near a parking garage), climb the stairs, and walk into a narrow bar with great lighting. Best seats are at the bar where the talented crew will make a killer penicillin if you ask. They ginger syrup is fresh and they have beautiful ice- crystal clear and hand-cut. My kinda place. read more

Such a fun and inviting atmosphere. Everyone was friendly and enjoyed their craft. The drinks were amazing and so were the marinated olives! Highly recommend checking this place out. read more

I've never been so offended in my entire life. The absolute rude and unprofessional behavior of their management is appalling. I will never step foot in this place again and suggest they think long and hard about how they treat their customers. read more

Expensive. They keep their standards high, and you get what you pay for. I appreciated this place a lot more after reading Dave Arnold's book "Liquid Intelligence." Check out the different types of ice they use to make your drinks. Sitting at the booths on the back wall is a little uncomfortable. I prefer the bar. Best with just one other person. I wouldn't go here with a group bigger than 3 unless you reserve the table in the back. read more

The drinks were akin to cough syrup. Super sweet, as if they had been poured from a mix with a splash of alcohol (and this was the drink made for me when I requested something "not sweet"!) The bartender was rude, with no reason. We asked normal questions about the drinks we were about to order, and mid sentence he turned his back on us and pretended he could not hear us. I don't know if this was somehow a "shtick", but we passed 2 other groups as we left who were also complaining about their drinks, one of whom had all pushed their glasses aside, as "undrinkable". read more

Extremely hard to find. It looks like it's in an abandoned store, and the posted hours were wrong. I walked past it multiple times in 105F heat carrying a suitcase, so I was a bit frustrated how invisible it was when looking for it. A small cocktail menu, but solid selections. The cheese plate was excellent. Great AC and fans - felt super refreshing. read more

Small Victory has a secret cocktail lounge feel. You could easily miss it on the street if you didn't know what you were looking for. Look for a door with a small "SV" on it and a white staircase to lead you upstairs to this dimly lit spot. Inside is fairly narrow with seats available at the bar and one long booth with some tables on the opposite side. They have 8 signature cocktails all with the full ingredient listing and where it was adapted from, a detailed martini menu, and a special Philadelphia Fish House Punch (meant to be shared). They also have a simple food menu with charcuterie, nuts, and olive options. read more

Small Victory knows their stuff! This bar with a speakeasy aesthetic is for people who actually enjoy craft cocktails. Their version of a Hurricane is made with real ingredients and real rum, unlike the plastic bottle rum and corn syrup Kool Aid drivel they serve in New Orleans. All of their cocktails are made with real ingredients by people who know their craft. Their drinks are diverse and they have a well balanced menu with varied flavor profiles. Low lights, hard wood bars, and music make this place a cozy spot date night. My husband, who is very particular about his martinis, can easily order the perfect martini (not a perfect martini, that's something different) using the ratios listed in the menu. Cheese, charcuterie boards, olives, nuts, and other lovely snacks make the perfect pairing for this delightful establishment. This is not a shot bar for college kids or beginning drinkers. It's a little pricey, but it is well worth it. If you are looking for a quaint spot for a perfectly made ethanol based beverage, look no further. read more

Lovely hidden bar in a parking structure. It's small and intimate with low lighting and plenty of seating. Came here with a group of yelpers. Our waiter/bartender Adam was amazing! We all shared a meat and cheese board that was delicious. The drinks were creative and tasty. They even have a cute little Christmas tree at the bar that I found delightfully tacky. The wallpaper is also a trip. Reservations are recommended. read more

Small Victory - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Came across this place by accident so I made a reservation..great little speakeasy..with tasty tiki drinks and really cool bartenders...worth the visit...I will go back read more

Amazing little hidden gem. You've probably walked past this place many times. It's a dimly lit and has a speakeasy feel. Fantastic cocktail selection, super friendly service and eclectic crowd. Their charcuterie board looked bomb, they slice the meat in an industrial type slicer. 5/5 for sure will be back. read more

Small Victory - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Lovely tucked away speakeasy up a spiral staircase making really good hand crafted cocktails. Soft velvet bar stools. Really good tunes. Just past the intercontinental hotel. read more

Amazing! Great vibe! Good service. Will be back. Little to hard to find but that's part of what makes it amazing.

Cool little after work dive bar for the working man downtown. It's caught in between a fancy cocktail bar and a dive bar, good cocktails and some little eats for the cheese enthusiast , but it's in an odd location which gives its own unique vibe. I want to give it 3.5 stars but I'm leaning more towards 4 than 3... so it's a small victory for them read more

Very nice hidden bar close to the Driskill hotel. Once you find the door on the street, you climb upstairs and you don't know what to expect from a place that doesn't advertise its location. You open the door and it's like you enter a a time warp back to the days of prohibition. Folks are sitting at the bar and along the wall. There is not a lot of seating here. Getting here early is imperative if you want a seat. The bartenders are fantastic. Watching them work at their craft is the best way to describe what they do. They don't simply mix drinks here. They actually chop the ice from large blocks to get the proper size and shape for each cocktail. They stir and shake and blend together drinks in a way that makes you appreciate their skill. There were four of us, and it was our first visit for three of us so we ordered the Philadelphia Fish House punch bowl. It's made from a recipe dating back to the 1800's and it is big enough to serve four. It is served with a large ice block in the bowl with lemon slices floating around. It was very good, and great for a first visit. Next time I will definitely try one of their expertly made cocktails. read more

Great cocktails! Make sure if you have the captain kid to have a ride home, it will do you in. All the ice is made in house. Overall great atmosphere and drinks. Please enjoy! read more

This place is very very cool. Came here with some friends and we had a blast. Well the experience started off trying to find this place. What a cool location. When we found it we had to try The Philadelphia fish house punch bowl. It was so cool. The presentation is great and it packed a punch. Ha. Next time going to sit at the bar and watch the bartenders. Really cool place. Can't wait to go back and try something else. read more

Small Victory - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Great little hidden gem! This is one cool and cozy speakeasy! If you're looking for a low key evening with your significant other or a relaxing evening with a group of friends...then this is a great spot. The bar is so easy to miss I've walked past it numerous times and never even noticed their door. Their entrance is located in between the Intercontinental hotel and a parking garage. It's a glass door with their logo on it in small print. Once you get in (and I'll talk about getting in too), you're greeted with a nice dim ambience, a long bar set up on one wall, seating all along the opposite wall, and soft mellow music playing throughout the bar. The menu is all about craft cocktails. They have your crowd pleasers and a few you may not have heard of. One of the stand outs is their Singapore Sling. Every drink we ordered was delicious. Now, back to getting in the bar. For some reason they have this gimmicky set up at their front door where you have to ring a buzzer to possibly be let in. From what we saw and heard, they tend to completely ignore the buzzer or will respond on the intercom just to tell ppl they are at capacity. If you're fine with possibly waiting outside on the sidewalk and being ignored or told to wait until some ppl leave then I'd say it's worth the wait. Another kind of annoying thing is they take suuuppper long to make drinks. Yes I truly appreciate the art and skill it takes to make craft drinks but from what we encountered here, they take their sweet time. My advice is to order you drink way in advance before you finish your current one. Also, ask to close out your tab in advance b/c it takes them some time to get to that too as they will usually be in the middle of making some pretty involved drinks for several people that have been waiting. read more

Speakeasy-esque cocktail bar. The outside isn't noticeably labeled, just a SV on the door. We all got a HH Daquari ($6). They specialize it to your taste cause some of us like dark rum while one of us liked light rum. We all got something different and liked it. We got a Punch bowl ($60) to share after - taste is delicious, like apples and tea, can't really taste the alcohol which is potent. The atmosphere here is comfortable, not sure why it's labeled as a dive bar. The baristas are super friendly, have good recs, and are knowledgeable of the drinks. Definitely would come back if I were here again read more

Austin has been lacking in chill bars with good cocktails - somewhere you would go for drink with a date after a nice dinner without needing to bump shoulders with the entire town. This comes pretty close. The drinks here are awesome and I love how their menu illustrates what's in every drink and how it's prepared. There's a bit of seating area for smaller parties and some bar seats as well. It feels like an upscale New York style speakeasy than a bar in Austin. At the same time, it isn't pretentious like some of the bars on West 6th. read more

I'm really kind of sad I didn't get the experience it seems like every one else has had. I'm a huge fan of cocktail lounges/speakeasys and have been to all, if not most, of the cocktail bars and lounges in town. However, this is probably one of the only ones that left a REALLY bad taste in my mouth! The bartenders NEVER said a single word to me or my party even when I closed out. They acted so indifferent, cold and bored, it was unreal. On a slow night like the one when I went in, I assumed that tips would be a scarce so any client is a source of revenue. I guess they just don't care about the client. One star is for the Singapore Sling which while on the sweeter side was quite delicious. I'll probably give it a shot some other time however, really trepidatious. The second star is for decor and location. Always a big fan of hidden bars and am very disappointed in this one. read more

Best cocktails in Austin. Hands down. Josh the owner is a great dude and he puts a lot of craft into making sure every drink made here is up to high standards and it shows. Try their old fashioned or a classic martini. read more

Small Victory - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Warm and welcoming staff in a bar with a great vibe. Bartender's are willing to get creative and take on a challenge. Try it and trust it. Also Brian is dope read more

I love Small Victory! The atmosphere makes you feel like you're in on a secret, the drinks are fantastic, and the staff has always been great to me and the friends I've brought in. I highly recommend checking them out! read more

Small Victory - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Well....the cocktails had AMAZING ice cubes....but they were playing 80's music that made me feel old and ready to turn in around 11:00pm. The bartenders are less than friendly. More "hipster elite" than they really should be. I won't be back but it was ok if you want to feel like you are in LA. read more

Chase, Candace and Ryan are the absolute best bartenders! Worked together and created such a fun and inviting experience! So happy to know about this place now, and will definitely be coming back every time I visit Austin! read more

Dope as hell. best cocktails in austin. The coolest wallpaper i've ever seen. It is hip but then again this is austin. Prices are fair Excellent selection inventive house cocktails Just go read more

It was a little hard to find its right next/inside a parking garage. It has a very swanky vibe. the bartenders were awesome! We asked them where to go and they gave us a great list. I would shout out the bartender by name but I can't remember it. He told s specifically how to do franklin bbq (get a breakfast taco from joes and a drink and post up at around 8:30). We even came back to see him again the next day but he wasn't there. However service was still great! I had a Singapore sling and a hurricane. The Singapore sling was super strong i only needed two and i was knocked outtttt. The hurricane is also very good ( i came from New Orleans and i was very impressed it was a great twist) This will definitely be a place we come back to when we come to Austin. read more

The recent low reviews about Small Victory are complete bologna. This is by far the best cocktail bar in Austin. The staff is excellent and can make you any drink your heart desires. I'm especially fond of Candice! Grab a comfy seat at the bar and watch them work their magic. If you're snacky the meat and cheese boards are generous and delicious. One of my favorite date spots it's also perfect for a pre or post show drink if you're heading to the Paramount. While they have a cocktail list they can also make just about anything and will also create something based on your tastes. They also have an awesome room in the back where they make and cut all their own ice! A true hidden gem and an absolute favorite in Austin. read more

Cool vibe, speakeasy. Grabbed our own menus from the bar and sat at a table. No one greeted or spoke to us. Finally went to the bar to order charcuterie, cheese and wine. None of the cheeses on the menu were accurate, so we were loosely suggested a few. Rose I asked for was out. Overall average service and no A/C. read more

My favorite Austin "go to" for cocktails! Whether Candice, Nicole, JoJo, Laura, or the rest of the gang, SV is top notch! If you are looking for quality cocktails in a speakeasy vibe, this is the place to visit!!! read more

I really like this place. Great bartenders and drinks, and they make sure to keep the number of people inside limited so it doesn't ruin the ambiance. Look or the glass door at the corner of the parking garage. read more

Love this little speakeasy the bartenders are exceptional and the vibe is perfectly balanced between old school and very hip.

How have I not heard about this hidden gem! This sweet, tucked away bar is located in a parking garage, but scores major points on cool factor. The interior of the bar is really charming in a mix of Metallica and powder blues. The mixologists are well versed in their cocktail knowledge and can help steer you toward the perfect drink. The drinks are potent and the charcuterie boards are some of the best I've had. I definitely plan on coming back...probably tomorrow night. It is definitely a must do! So just do it!! read more

Wonderful cocktail bar. Interesting interiors, cozy feel. The cocktails are incredible and crafted with a lot of care. I cant wait to go back! The bf got a ham plate which he enjoyed, I just got a drink but we'll go back with the intention to eat for sure. Felt like I was on a set for Madmen. read more

This is such a great place to bring people for upscale cocktail creations without a pretentious attitude to go with it. The Maple Leaf was definitely my favorite, especially as the season changes and gets cooler. The space was really fun once you walk up the stairs and peek in. The drinks were delicious. A small, careful menu where everything is really fun, not self-serious, and fun to share. We'll definitely be back, and bring friends! read more

Very hard to find which adds to the charm of this little speak easy type bar. Intimate, dark and with a great 90's rock alt pop soundtrack playing. I had high hopes when I saw the guide to ordering a martini as I had just had a spot on martini around the corner and was looking forward to another. Sadly I was extremely disappointed- my "slightly dirty martini" was murky, with ice shards from being over shaken and tasted more of olive juice than gin. My friend who ordered a "dry Martin" with Titos was told that they don't carry Tito's. When he asked what they have the bar tender said "good vodka" and made him a heavily sweet martini that reeked of vermouth. Another friend had a hurricane which was basically a slushy and when she complained that she didn't like it the bar tender rolled her eyes. We didn't order food as it was all clearly cold cheese and meats and not very promising after the drink situation. Two stars for the space but I would not return nor recommend unless you were getting a beer. read more