Really love this place. Went once on a couples night out and again with my wife. Both occasions the service was top notch and the drinks spectacular. Kelly was our bartender both times and he truly cares for the craft of the cocktail. He allowed us to order off menu and really delivered, especially when my wife ordered a Ramos Gin Fizz and he gave it the full 12 minute shake. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

Small Victory - off menu mai tai was delicious - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wow! Best cocktails I've had in Austin. Truly knowledgable bar tenders who actually seem to love their job paired with a quiet intimate atmosphere and great music to complete the package. read more

In the past I had given this bar 5 stars. I frequently visit the place and have brought family and friends to this bar. However, during SXSW there was a bearded man working the door who was extremely obnoxious and rude. I was with a friend from Houston who is well over 25 and the door guy claimed his id was fake. He then yelled at my friend and berated me (this is a bar I regularly visit). I have spent well over 1k at this bar and will not be coming anytime soon as there is now a clear issue with staffing. This was one of the rudest door guys I have encountered in Austin. It's truly disappointing as this used to be a bar I raved about to friends. read more

After reading reviews on yelp about this place I went in with high hopes and I really wanted to like this place but I just couldn't. Prices were pretty steep for what you got and my drink (Singapore Sling) was super average. Also the bartender was taking his sweet time and it wasn't cause he was trying to make our drink the best it could be. I wouldn't come back. If you want the same type of vibe but executed much better check out Firehouse Lounge! read more

I'm a sucker for hidden doors/entrances...really just hidden bars. Great cocktails. Kinda a romantic spot too.

This place is small, with great ambiance and knowledgable bartenders. I love the plush blue barstools and would definitely go back!

This is such a cute little bar hidden in a garage. The drinks here are great. The bar tenders are very generous with the liquor, so the classic cocktails are well worth the money. The space is a little small, so it's great for a date or small groups. read more

Nice place to spend low key Tuesday pm. Bartender pulled out old school cocktails book and made one based on my tastes. Actually made two. Loved the ambiance and attention to detail. read more

Love this place. Small, cozy delicious drinks. Fantastic place to start, end, or have your evening!

What a terrrrrrible experience! Rude, expensive and thieves!!!! They not only NEVER showed up with our food but they charged us for it before it ever came out.. When it NEVER arrived at our table we asked to be credited back the money we paid for it.. They refused and said " I don't care if we left because they already had our money" So you tell me how do you stay in business being such a shady establishment I am reporting them the BBB and filing a police report. Stay away!!! The entire place sucks! It should stay a secret. read more

Great cocktail/speakeasy bar. Located with a red door with no writing on the wall, great ambience and place to either start or end the night. read more

I'm from NYC and this bar reminds me of the cool little speakeasies in the city. It's hidden off the street up this random spiral staircase in the back. I love hidden gems like this. The ambiance was romantic and quaint and the cocktails were made with care - as was the cheese plate! My boyfriend and I enjoyed our time here before a show at the Paramount. Perfect date spot. read more

While I live in BCS, I have traveled Texas extensively and have friends all over this great state. Many work in the hospitality industry. And thus I have been blessed to get a nudge, a wink, and a suggestion to check out many new places. And so, Small Victory. If the name Josh Loving means anything to you, then you are interested in small victory. Yes it's small. Intimate small. You should come at the *right time* and the asterisks are there to highlight the cryptic meaning there. What do you want? The Loving touch (cute) is evident in the small but well chosen list of wines and spirits. My suggestion: start with a wine and move to cocktails. Examine this bar and understand what's going on here. You want a charcuterie plate. No really, you do. That ham is...just get it. Is there a line at the door? Don't be That Kind of Austinite...go to one of the 5000 other good places and come back when you don't have to stand in line like a chump. read more

After visiting several more times over the past year I think they deserve to be bumped up a star. The bartenders are excellent, and they've added large punches to the menu, which I always enjoy for group outings. read more

We had high hopes. Yes, it is hidden (no sign). Yes, you feel like you might be entering a speakeasy when you climb the stairs and open the door. But "might be" are the operative words here. It is small and hidden, but in no way intimate or upscale or classy. First of all, it is really really REALLY dark. Even after my eyes adjusted from the bright day to the dark room, and wearing my glasses, I could not read the menu, which is also in quite small print. My boyfriend was able to get the gist of it and said almost all the drinks sounded quite sweet. I ordered a Paper Plane, and it was fine. He ordered an Old Fashioned, and it was okay, but with an unappreciated hint of licorice. I understand it's a craft cocktail place and such bars always tweak the drinks to add their own signature, but we prefer a classic to remain a classic, and if you want to riff on it, call it something else, like the Small Victory Signature Old Fashioned. The bartenders here make a big point of customizing the ice, which is fine and dandy. However, they use their hands to handle the ice. Then they use the same hands to run the computer/register. Then they (once again, as at the Roosevelt) wipe their hands on their pants. Ugh. And my third concern is that this bar is surprisingly loud -- so loud it was impossible to have a conversation. We would love to find a bar for Grown Ups. A classy upscale place with fabulous drinks, sophisticated ambiance and bartenders that even (gasp!) wear uniforms. We were both surprised by our experience at Small Victory after reading the Yelp reviews. Everyone has his or her own tastes, so I understand the difference of opinion. Just disappointed. read more

Met some friends here the other night. What a terrible experience! My friends ordered a meat and cheese plate which took over a half hour for them to NOT make! When they alerted the manager she basically told them they're busy. My friends then decided to cancel the order since cured meat and cheese (assuming they weren't making it to order!!!) shouldn't take this long. The same manager then responded with "too bad, you already paid for it". Say whaaaaaat??? I've been in the restaurant industry for over 10 years now, and I've never thought of charging someone for something they didn't get nor have I ever thought to treat people spending money in my establishment with such rudeness and disrespect. Shame on you! read more

Work next door and decided to pop in for a drink. Rang the buzzer and stood there for a few minutes. Pulled my id out since I noticed there was a camera and held it there. Nothing. Couple came down and we were let in by them. Went in and really liked the atmosphere but I just hung out at the busy bar and no one acknowledged me for 5 minutes. Tried to flag someone but again, hard to do when no one looks at you. At least say hey there's a bit of a wait. I don't mind waiting. Just don't pretend people aren't thete. Left and went to cu29. read more

Good drinks but extremely slow service. We had an hour to order a drink and an app. When the app finally came we had to ask for the bill at the same time because it literally took them 30 minutes to cut one cheese and one meat and throw some nuts in a bowl. The kicker was they weren't busy at all. Cool place but don't expect stellar service. read more

Visiting Austin from Las Vegas and was pleased with this find placed discretely up a staircase, next to a parking garage. Worth the wait in line. Small, intimate, and fun. The drinks were amazing, had a delicious charcuterie plate recommended by our bartender. The staff is on point. Thanks for the good time Small Victory! read more

I really like well-made cocktails, and I've been making them and checking out top cocktail bars all over the country for the past 6-8 years. I've been to Small Victory three times in the past month. It's legit. The bartenders know what they're about, and they will make you a great cocktail on- or off-menu. And they're friendly -- happy to talk cocktails with you. Oh, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Dim but not dark; intimate but not crowded. Great place to have a quiet drink -- or three. Highly recommend. read more

First, it's hidden so that's cool. The bartenders here know what they are doing, so they'd prefer to make you a custom drink based on what you normally like rather than you ordering off the cool drink menu. Quiet place, friendly upscale service. I love this place. read more

Intimate setting for a small group social meeting or date. Drinks are solid and the light apps well prepared and presented. The door is a little hard to find. It's directly to the left of Third Rail Creative. read more

The only downfall for me is that this speakeasy is really narrow and low roof. But I will not count that against them.

Great atmosphere and friendly staff. If you're into hidden places, this is a great one to go to when you want to impress someone. The cocktails were good - didn't have of the food but am planning on it after jealously eyeing other people's plates. Only downside was that it was really hot - there was a fan on us but was still a little uncomfortable. read more

We welcome the nostalgic return of speakeasies, and the dark, mysterious vibe at Small Victory perfectly epitomizes that once-hidden world of drinking days long past. It's somewhat challenging to locate. We had learned from our Yelp search that the bar was located in a parking garage on 7th Street. It was 5:00 on a Saturday afternoon, and we wandered around a empty dystopian-like parking garage at 7th and Brazos for several minutes, until we stumbled upon a server from the nearby Roaring Fork restaurant languishing on his smoke break in the alley next door. We pressed him for directions, and he very politely led us about fifty yards to a glass doorway adorned only with a palm-sized Small Victory logo. The door was locked, we rang the bell, and we were quickly greeted by Josh Loving, the proprietor and master bartender. Once inside, we took our seats at the comfortable bar. For The Fabulous JJ, Josh suggested the Daisy de Santiago, a Prohibition-era specialty libation featuring rum and Chartreuse. I ordered my usual, a vodka martini, straight up with a twist - both were masterfully crafted, and we asked for something to accompany our excellent drinks. Laura, our server, produced an astounding cheese platter, and possibly the finest selection of nuts I've ever been served in a bar. We lingered over our drinks, chatted with Josh, and then made our way outside into the still-bright 6:00 sunshine, having enjoyed a great experience in the charming Small Victory, read more

Small Victory is a over priced bar with terrible drinks and even worse service. The managers and the waitstaff go out of their way to be rude to their customers. Would not recommend this bar to anyone. read more

Small, craft cocktail bar......one of the best in Austin! The bartenders (mixologist) know how to make a drink!!!!!! Little hard to find, it is at the corner of the parking garage, look for the glass door and go up the stairs. read more

Intimate, dark and romantic describe this tiny joint perfectly. The cocktails are handcrafted and supreme - very swanky atmosphere- great place for an after dinner drink or quiet corner with a loved one read more

Finally got to experience Josh Loving's new bar and it did not disappoint! What a beautiful, perfectly-executed speakeasy hidden across the street from The Driskill. Walking into the bar is like stepping back in time! And the cocktails are amazing! We ordered the Dama de la Noche Crusta (delicious!), the Daisy Santiago (dangerously good!), the Maple Leaf (yum!) and a vodka martini (perfectly prepared). The bartenders are friendly and watching them work is a lot of fun so grab a seat at the bar if you're able. I will say that the space is very small so it's not great for groups. It's perfect for two people or a group of four but any more than that and there just isn't room to sit or even stand together. read more

Fantastic drinks - bartender was very knowledgeable and helpful. Atmosphere was laid back and approachable. As far as the off the path bars go, this one is near the top. read more

I love hunting for Speakeasy bars. I vaguely remembered it was next to a parking garage. Looked up the address and issue is because of buildings sometimes blocking GPS you can overshoot and not know it until GPS corrects. Other thing is I walked down the alley and didn't realize the door was right where you turn onto the sidewalk so I was closely examining the facades of the parking garage not realizing I already walked past it. The best part is even when you find the door, it totally looks like you're just going into the garage to get your car before you hit the wood door. Small, narrow, borderline claustrophobic joint (no windows of course) but overall pleasant atmosphere with some nice jazz playing on the speakers. Fairly pricey considering I paid about close to half the price for similar craft cocktails at Academia next to Cedar Streek Courtyard about 30 minutes earlier. Staff wasn't very friendly / chatty but definitely not rude - I'd say sort of ambivalent/business like. Minus one star for the high prices but otherwise recommended if Speakeasy is your thing. read more

Hard-to-find !! But it is so worth the trouble. It is literally going through a door with no sign on the left of a parking garage on 7th (if you are looking at it) then up a staircase into another basic door.. no signs, you just discover this hidden gem. Great drinks, good music, fun bartenders. I had the Singapore sling - it was made perfectly read more

Nice cozy bar with excellent craft cocktails. Bartender friendly knowledgeable. Good place to bring a date. Don't be deterred by the shabby entrance. read more

So nice to have a new cocktail bar to add to the mix! Love the speakeasy vibe of this place with the nearly unmarked entrance. The decor is downright gorgeous - plush velvet bar stools! While the menu is skinny, it's well designed and detailed - great for someone new to the scene or looking to expand their palate. Friendly bartenders who can go off menu, too. Looking forward to seeing how they grow! read more

Visiting from Dallas--and had a huge recommendation for this place from the manager where we ate dinner. We were super stoked about finding somewhere off the beaten path with a speakeasy feel. Found it pretty quickly with the directions we were told. My bf ordered a double White Russian and it was as if he had made up a drink or something. The bartender was extremely rude, brash, and for lack of better terms an a-hole. To make the drink less complicated my bf said to just make two for him---then asked for a tall glass to put them in. He flat out said "no" and walked away. I am also in the food and bev industry and to be honest was shocked during this entire interaction. Would never know this guy makes his money off of people's tips. The drinks were overpriced, and the entire interaction with him left a poor taste in our mouths. If he wasn't our bartender, we may have had an entirely different experience. read more

We were staying at the Driskill and really wanted some fantastic late night food. The area is S.C.A.R.Y. At night and we wanted somewhere close, safe, and the opposite of food truck. Our cocktail waitress at the Driskill lobby bar told us about this hidden gem. It's kinda hard to find, even with her fabulous directions of walking straight across the street and going through the door marked with a red V. The cocktails were fantastic. We ordered a neat and cheese plate, olives and nuts. This is the reason we would return to Austin. Love this place. read more

intimate cocktail bar tucked away in a garage. the place feels sophisticated yet curious with skilled bartenders and high-end liquor. too much 80's music for my liking, but it created a fun atmosphere in the modern setting read more