I have officially fallen in love w/this little hidden "speakeasy"-ish bar! And the "small" in the name is no joke! This place is very small, but I think it only adds to the charm! Some friends and I discovered this place on a recent dwntwn Austin cocktail safari in search of the "punch bowl". I am a total sucker for antique cocktail recipes (actually I'm just a sucker for anything w/a cool or fascinating (his)story behind it) and the Philly Fish House punch was supposedly a gentlemen's club recipe from around the late 1800s. So, being a lady, I loved it even more since I would not have been able to sample this libation 100+yrs ago! The punch was served in a fabulous antique looking porcelain punch bowl atop a matching pedestal and came with adorable matching cups! It came with a fancy ladle and lemon slices and this huge square ice block to keep it cold and fresh. It tasted like fabulously refreshing alcoholic lemonade and was strong enough to know it was boozy AF, but sweet enough to be dangerous! We ended up drinking the remnants of the punch directly from the bowl as the ladle could not scoop it out. It really was good to the last drop! The staff here are great as well without a hint of pretension you get at a lot of other "speakeasy"-type bars. You can tell they have a loyal following of regulars and if I lived closer to downtown, I wouldn't mind making this a place where everybody knew my name! read more

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Inconspicuous entrance by the stairwell. Press the buzzer. Wait to be let in. Walk into darkness, lit by a year-round Christmas tree and mediocre lighting. Limited seating. An array of liqueurs and spirits. If you're into mixology and well-made tasty drinks, and shun the whole pretentious cocktail bar vibe -- this place is a GEM. read more

Small Victory - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

A cocktail lounge that only allows you to stay there for an hour and 45 minutes with a reservation is such a silly concept. Just go to Roosevelt Room up the street stay there and keep buying drink and food. Have fun there. read more

Anybody who's been in Austin longer than the life of a millennial will recognize this location as the former Mike's Pub. A greasy burger joint with awesome air condition because of the lack of windows! Mike's closed down but these fine folks converted the space into a sweet speakeasy. It's tiny inside, so be prepared to be bumping uglies moving around. I was here for a private party and had my fancy with quite a few classic cocktails; Manhattan, Old Fashion, Singapore Sling and the Philadelphia Fish House Punch. That's all I can remember. Enjoy responsibly. read more

Small Victory - Tiny place. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Small Victory indeed! Located on the second floor of a multi-level downtown Austin parking garage directly across the street from the Driskill Bar entrance, SV is a cool find. Very intimate, skinny, long bar with bench seating on the opposite side. This once daytime greasy burger joint (for those in the know, this used to be Mike's) has been transformed into a dive-ish meets swanky cocktail bar with the blue velvet seating, exposed concrete columns that still stand after several decades, with some of the best mixologists in the ATX. Yes, the emphasis at SV is on creating traditional and signature cocktails. The wine and beer menus are limited albeit sufficient; however, I highly suggest speaking with the barkeep and accept recommendations on your preference for libations and you will not be disappointed. Watching them create each masterpiece is worth the trip alone: all of the little bottles of bitters, oils, house-made syrups, etc. = very mad scientist-esque concocted with the greatest finesse. One really nice touch is that SV has a machine that makes massive ice blocks that the staff painstakingly cuts into huge cubes, square bars, and yes, even circles. This is becoming more and more of a lost art (think of some NYC or Tokyo joints). I honestly am not aware of another place in Austin that goes to such measures to make sure your drink is 100% perfect, all the way down to the ice. Once you've experienced the proper pour and had the privilege of not being forced to indulge in a watered down drink or one that quickly loses its effervescence, you will understand why the ice is so important. Plus, frankly, it's just neato. SV also offers a small variety of food items, including a few build-your-won charcutrie and cheese options ($6 each or 4 for $20) and assorted olive or nut filled bowls to snack on for about 4 bucks each. Overall: What's not to like? As soon as you walk through the dark wood, nameless exterior door, you are somehow transformed to another era. Cocktails aren't cheap - ~$12 and UP - but it's certainly worth the $ for a post-dinner night cap...or two. Cheers! read more

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Cool speakeasy bar with fabulous cocktails. If you can't decide, the bartender will make you something off the menu if you just tell them what you like. read more

Wander around behind the Driskill among the parking garages and someone will inevitably ask you if you are trying to find Small Victory and will show you the secret door. Once you're inside no matter what time of the day it is you will feel the cocktail hour vibes. Small Victory is super swanky without being stuffy. The place is covered in 1920's looking gold wallpaper...with fire hydrants, pigeons, rats, and parking meters. Just I had the Singapore sling. It was sweet and delicious. Also, my two friends and I managed to eat a whole cheese plate, order another, and eat all of it too. The plates were not small by any means. The cheese selection was just on point and we were very hungry. Their cheese selection comes from Antonelli's so you can't go wrong no matter what you select. If you have a bigger group you should try the punch bowl. I saw a group there with one and it looked like they were having a great time. Cost wise it appeared to be a good deal. read more

Small Victory - Cheese plate aka my main food group - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Friday night reservation - cool prohibition style entry & interesting drink menu. Drinks served were marginal in comparison to described/expectations. Ordered a Bourbon-based Bartender choice drink ... and was served 4Roses w/single cube. The irony was actually funny. Primary waiter never visited our table - despite servicing every other table. Group of 4 sat without any staff interaction for 18minutes. Ultimately went to the bar to order. This was our 3rd speakeasy of the night and the last was Eden. Small Victory isn't a horrible speakeasy - unless you visit Eden after. Eden's staff & drinks were amazing. read more

Amazing drinks and a cozy little space. Make sure you make a reservation before going. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and made fantastic cocktails that fit my taste buds incredibly well. read more

Cool hidden speakeasy style where reservations are required to get good seating with amazing unique drinks and ambiance. Limited time of reservation goes by so fast you have to move on with your night after a few hours but we'll worth the time. Tasty appetizers read more

Well hidden in a parking garage. Walk up stairs and walk in to a long narrow space with bar seats and bench seating. Small reserved table in the far back. No special decor but small and intimate. Bartenders aren't dressed up. Nothing really to make this an step above the rest speakeasy. Drink was good though. Pricey of course. 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

This place is a gem! Comfy, cozy, hidden. All of these things describe Small Victory, and I'm still not doing it proper justice. I'd heard about this place a while back, but had never quite gotten around to checking it out until last evening. I hate that I waited so long! Expertly crafted cocktails, efficient and friendly service (hi Adam!), all in a sleek atmosphere with fine music and all around good vibes. The hurricane I had here was truly one of the best I've ever had, the attention to detail is a thing a beauty. From the drinks to the charcuterie board I sampled, to the decor...I was on cloud nine. Thanks for a fun evening! read more

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Finding this place is a small victory! Lol. It's a really cool spot, purposefully a little tough to find, I won't ruin the fun. I had a great cocktail, bartenders were great, loved the cocktail menu. They also have wine and charcuterie. Happy hours are 5-8 Mon-Sat. read more

Had a friend take me here a couple weeks ago. Was pretty empty on a Wednesday night around 9, 9:30- which was fine by me! Love the mood- dark, rich fabrics, cool colors. This place is tiny, so I imagine it fills up quickly. The cocktail menu is legit- I love their martini chart that they have in the menu to help people choose their perfect martini mix! Our bartender was knowledgeable and friendly, and he mixed a mean dirty martini! Loved it! Will absolutely be back- it's such a cool space, who doesn't love a hidden bar- and it's a great place for a classy, upscale cocktail with the girls or date! read more

Small Victory - An amazing dirty martini! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Did you say "speakeasy" or "craft cocktail"? If so this IS the place. Wow!! Do you want to impress a client or a date? Then this IS your place!! These bartenders know their stuff. True craft cocktails that are made to order. They will customize anything to your liking and it will be fabulous. Best craft cocktail location in Austin! Their food is not bar food at all and this place is not a dive bar. The Charcuterie platter is the best I have ever had. Why some people review this as a dive bar I will never know. My only tip is, do not come here if you a re claustrophobic, because it is small and quaint. read more

First date alert!!!!! Take her/ take him here!! Wow your date with being in the know of Small victory. Trust me, you'll score alot of points with this quaint little classy bar/ speakeasy . Cocktails are delicious. Go early to get in ... they cap the number of people allowed in ... but you'll get in as people leave. read more

An intimate, classy cocktail bar you're almost sure to walk by the first time you try to find where it is. Never fear, Chris B. is here with a photo of the entrance. It's a glass door literally next to a parking garage. You'd think it's the parking garage's office until you climb up the stairs and enter the chamber of drunken sin. I had a quick visit here during my 1 week tourist campaign in Austin. I got the London Calling. It was as refreshing as sucking an semi-frozen citrus fruit, which I've never done before, meaning I can't make a metaphor like that unless I've done it, but I just did. It's like a gin daiquiri. After 1 drink, I vanished into the night. It was a small victory for me conquering that single drink. -------------------------------------------------- QUICK TIPS: -------------------------------------------------- # The easy-to-miss, elusive entrance is a glass door next to the parking garage that says "Small Victory" in an impossible-to-see white decal. Check my photo out. # Good place for an intimate date for a cozy 2...or lonely 1. Drinks will make any number of people feel better. Cheer up! # Cocktails are solid though expect to pay $12-13 each. The bar is in downtown after all so downtown prices. read more

Small Victory - London Calling cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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cute super little speakeasy... definitely walked by it like 5 times back and forth bc we couldn't find it. drinks were innovative, quiet and intimate atmosphere. love it read more

Lived the atmosphere. It's all about the details. Hidden gem. It was an unexpected find. Very cool.

Ugh... good cocktails... killer staff ... nice ambience but daaaaaayum the tunes are terrible!!! Smooth jazz and elevator music?! Come on now.. we are in Austin. Step it up. read more

You will never know this bar exists unless you are purposely looking for it! Go in through a door next to a parking garage, walk up the stairs and voila there it is. A long narrow bar serving craft cocktails and charcuterie, among other snacks. The place is dark and the vibe feels very much like a speakeasy. We ordered a tequila cocktail and a martini, both were excellent but after getting the bill the price was steep. $17 a cocktail hurt a little bit but overall the experience was great. read more

Small Victory - Dirty martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

At what price quality? It's difficult to find. It's tiny. The drinks are eye poppingly expensive, even by Austin standards....but damn if they aren't good. Despite the small footprint, Small Victory manages to pack a ton of charm (and booze) into the space. The bartenders are friendly and skillful, willing to craft nearly any cocktail you can dream up. This time around, we had some Japanese whisky (neat), the Jushu (almost entirely tequila, slightly tempered by the honey syrup) and the Liberal Cocktail (very nicely balanced). There was a bit of sticker shock once we got the bill; this is a great place for a one-and-done top shelf cocktail to begin the night, but I wouldn't try and get sloshed here unless you have deep pockets. read more

Super cool hidden bar. Definitely not easy to find, but that's part of the appeal! Really great cocktails. A little pricey but that was also expected. Took a little bit longer than expected to be served, it wasn't very busy when we went. Cool date spot! And loved the sign about Cruz lol! read more

Small Victory - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Chic "secret bar" in Austin. The charcuterie boards are delicious and the drink menu has something for everyone. It is a craft cocktails kind of bar. The seating is limited and it is small but this is a great place for an intimate date night or even first date! read more

Small Victory, yet another Austin speakeasy classic favorite. It's a hidden gem up a hidden unmarked staircase. It's lovely. A very narrow bar offering up a solid menu. To say it's narrow is no joke. If the person sitting at the bar seat spins the spinny chair around, they're legs will block what remaining aisle there is before the cocktail table at the booth along the wall. That said, it's amazing. Get there a little earlier in the evening and you'll have no problem getting in and settled before the hoards discover it and arrive. The maple old fashioned. The clear winner and what you should be drinking. It uses Old Grand Dad whiskey, which isn't the finest of whiskey choices, but damn does it work beautifully. This is the stuff my grandfather drank straight and it'll knock your ass off, it's strong and you can taste that it is. But cut with some sweet of maple syrup and the other magic in there, it's divine and dangerously drinkable. If you're hitting up speakeasy bars downtown, it's a must. read more

Absolutely hands down the best cocktail bar in Austin. Their menu is great, but the bartenders are better. Have them make you something! Give them a base and what you are looking for and they will craft something you will absolutely enjoy. My favorite thus far is a Queen Park Swizzle. It is a rum base and is very refreshing. Highly recommend! Cheers! read more

Great drinks but the cheese and meats were the best we ever had. Must visit for Austin!!!! Don't go to the alley in front - we almost did and it seemed shady. I can't believe such a nice looking place is so hidden. read more

Word of mouth got us here, and so glad it did! Right across the street from our hotel, it was the perfect spot for our pregame to begin our night. Look for the SV on the door to a white winding staircase.. definitely easy to miss but we got it eventually. Great daily happy hour specials... go with bartender's choice daiquiris.. all are delicious! Loved the high booths and small intimate atmosphere. read more

7 dollar daiquiris during happy hour, in a small quiet and comfortable bar. This place is a win.

I realllyyyy loved it!! Two thumbs up for me. But it is hard to find, once you find, you feel so accomplished finding such a "cool" bar. We walked in, it's dark chill attic bar--- everything a good cocktail bar should be. A lot of places in Austin charge $12-$15 for a cocktail, few deserve being that expensive. This place was well worth the price. One of honestly the best drinks I've had in town, I tried the Singapore sling it was fruity and tart and well mixed--- so easy to sling back. My friend wanted something spicy and they made him an off the menu drink that deserved 5 stars on his own: jalapeños and chili salt and everything! Their bartenders know their stuff. Can't wait to go back. This is exactly the space new Austin needed! read more

TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STEAL YOUR MONEY!!! I have never gone onto Google to post a bad review but unfortunately I felt I had to after the way we were treated the other evening at Small Victory. My friends and I ordered a cheese board which took almost 40 minutes for us to receive even though we were the only people ordering any food in the bar that evening. When we politely asked where our food was after waiting 30 minutes, the manager told us that we "ordered a lot of food" and they only have one person working in the kitchen which is why it was taking so long. We placed an order for 1 order of meat and 1 order of cheese. There is no way it takes almost 40 minutes to slice some cheese and meat. Honestly, if the manager had said, "I'm sorry, let me go check on that for you." you would not be reading this review. Instead we were made to feel like idiots for ordering "a lot of food" and then asking where it was after 30 minutes of waiting. At the 35 minutes mark we decided we no longer wanted the food. It was late and we didn't feel like waiting any longer for 4 pace of cheese to be cut in half. When we told the manager we wanted it taken off our bill she said, "Too bad, you already paid for it." Not only did she not even try to be accommodating but when we checked our credit card bill the following day, they had added at $20 tip to the bill!!! THAT IS STEALING!!! I have been in the restaurant industry for 15+ years and know how situations like this should be handled. I have NEVER been treated the way like I was at Small Victory. My friend who was with me is also a restaurant manager and she was blown away by how the situation was handled. She told me she would have been fired if she had treated her guests like we were. Unless you enjoy being treated like garbage and having your tip amount change by the staff, DO NOT GO TO SMALL VICTORY! read more

4 stars for ambiance and 3 stars for drinks = 3.5-4 stars overall. It's actually not extremely hard to find this place (which in my opinion takes away a bit from the speakeasy vibe). The door to the staircase is actually directly on the street. You just have to look for the white spiraling staircase by the parking lot and there's your entrance. Inside, I liked that it was occupied but not too crowded. You had plenty of space and could also have an intimate conversation. I wasn't very impressed with the drink menu. All of the cocktails are slight twists are very classic drinks that you can find at any bar - e.g. different variations of the whiskey sour. It's a good spot for a date or catchup with a small group of friends, but don't expect anything mind-blowing from the menu. read more

Simply put, this place rocks! Like others have pointed out, it is unassuming, unpretentious, and they have a great cast of bartenders who are talented and humble (a rare combination it seems). The main space itself is quite narrow, but I like it. There is a larger table in the back. They have a great playlist and there is a real intimate vibe with lighting that glows and comfortable seats. It's just cool. They have a few house made cocktails, but feel free to go off menu if you like. It looks to me like they make all their syrups in house which I'm always a fan of. Their ice program is on point too. Josh, the owner (or one of them), is nice and a damn good cocktail maker. Kelly too is great at making cocktails and his customer service is flawless. He instinctively could tell I had my eye out for an open seat at the bar. He saw one open up before I did, and came around the bar just to tell me. I brought friends here on my 2nd visit and all enjoyed it. At some point I'd like to dive into their charcuterie and cheese plates which sound and look delicious. I feel this place is what Garage is trying to be, but just isn't. While the east side is still my haven for cocktail bars, this one here is now one of my favorites that I will happily return to. Well done guys! read more

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If you can find this bar it is indeed a small victory. I walked passed it twice until I saw the small signage in the fancy corner of a parking garage area. Small Victory is indeed small. It is a narrow, dark and intimate type of cocktail bar that should be added to everyone's "hidden bars" list. The cocktails looked super enticing and Jesse enjoyed the sweet bourbon based concoction called the Maple Leaf. I opted for a glass of wine from their small wine list. I liked the atmosphere and would have loved to stuck around longer but we a free seat never opened up. Perhaps it is not that hidden after all. read more

Small Victory - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Yes, very hard to find. You'll see a small "V" on the door and that's it. Super cool little lounge playing alternative 80's music for our two hour visit. Good drinks, good environment. Bar staff is good at making drinks, although not very friendly. Not a problem for us. read more

Small Victory - Drink menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Reminds me of a speak easy. It's hidden right next to a parking garage upstairs, find the white spiral staircase and you're there. If not, the glass door has a red "V" decal on it with Small Victory labeled. Very lowkey bar. Narrow and dark. Booth seating on the right. Strong cocktails! Interesting use of Erlenmeyer flasks for the cocktails and long rectangular ice cubes. I love tequila and the Matador was a really good buzz. Drinks may be a bit pricey, 14-16 each. Loved the low-key vibe though. Not a place to look for hip-hop and dancing Incase you were wondering. Overall, had a good first experience and couple of drinks read more

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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A tiny little bar! There's a large booth at the end of the room good for a party of four to five. All the other seats are small, which are great for couples. Go there on a Tuesday right at five! Quiet and soothing. The food and wine selections are very minimal right now. I'd say try their cocktails instead. The daiquiri was just right for me, but I'm a red wine drinker. They are currently serving cheese, charcuterie and olive plates. Hopefully, more food items to come later! read more

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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.