While having a cocktail at the Driskill Victorian bar our mixologist told us that if we liked the Victorian we would love this bar. Well he was 100% spot on. First of all I've been here since 99 and I can't believe that I've never stepped foot in the Stephen F. We arrived to an empty Texas themed bar. Our expert mixologist, Shannon was just delightful. Since they were not busy we had a number of wonderful conversations. There are a number of specialty drinks available and some good local brews. What drew my attention and awe was their bourbon and rye options. They have all the usual suspects and some that you don't see very often. My old fashions were perfect not too bitter or sweet. Plus 1s Marghies were top notch as well. They do have a decent bar menu. We ordered the queso and my only nit was the ratio of chips to queso. The queso portion was on the small side. There also a spacious terrace that is great for people watching or enjoying a cigar. I've already told our gang that we need to schedule a visit and enjoy a cigar and some bourbon. read more

Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

We have been here a few times, this time we came both pre and post a show at the Paramount and while I see a few reviews this year that said the service was poor we had the opposite. We were greeted by 3 different people when we came in, our bartender was fairly new I think as what I can only guess is the boss was giving him quizzes and even had him make a drink. He made ours and took a bit long, but we didn't mind as we were killing time and talking to him and others. They had the Texas/OU game as well as Indiana/Oregon. The boss, with no prompting or us saying anything as we were having a good time, comped our drinks due to the fact they were taking longer then usual. Very nice and the drinks were good, it is part of why we returned. We then ordered a Japanese whiskey so we could tip and Shana of course picked it which was on the top shelf so they had to get a step ladder. We then made up for the comp drinks by this pour being over $50! Again, we laughed it off as we made the choice and got surprised but again the staff went above and beyond and offered us a comp drink if we return after the show due to not being clear to us how pricey the whiskey was. Again not needed but huge props for going above and beyond. So we came back and had more great drinks, the male bartender has left and one of the ones from before was still there with a new one. They greeted us and everyone that came in after us, I saw a few complaints about no greetings and being ignored but we saw none of that. The one bartender even remembered us though she didn't wait on us the first time. The whole place is nice, lots of seating at the bar, the rest of the bar, balcony seating and even some chairs and couches right outside if you are waiting on someone. The chairs are comfy and varied. The lighting is dim and relaxing. The drinks were made well and tasted good. read more

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This bar is perfectly placed on Congress, and the bar itself is comfortable with options for booths or high top tables as well as a lovely outdoor area overlooking downtown. However, the service was so brusque and unkind it really made the whole experience unenjoyable. When we ordered our drinks they brought the checks to our table along with our drink and wanted us to close out immediately. They then interrupted us two more times to replace the bill since they said they had brought us the wrong bill - and then failed to return our credit cards after we had paid. Unfortunately, the location and view are not enough to make for a nice experience or environment. read more

Hidden Gem on Congress! This bar is elegant, intimate, and very underrated! Cocktails are consistently on point (Zero Complaints) and excellent wine pours. Great whiskey and wine selection. Also exceptionally reasonable prices for the area. The bar also has outside terrace with comfortable seating overlooking Congress Avenue! read more

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I'm gonna make this quick. This place sucks. Do you know how painful it is for me to write that? I've been here dozens of times over the years. It's a very special place to me and several of my friends. The patio is gorgeous. The location is amazing. I've been here for major events. I can't believe how far the service has fallen. A rude, surly bartender was my first welcome back into this place. Zero acknowledgment. Clearly understaffed...one server guy running everything, and ignoring half the people in the process. He was getting food from somewhere, but I wasn't even offered a menu. I went there pre- and post- a show at the Paramount last night. What can I say? The magic is completely gone. We were ignored, dismissed, and grunted at in half a dozen ways. I get the impression it wouldn't have mattered if we were on fire; taking a drink order from us was a chore so insurmountable to them, they'd do anything to avoid it. Charming. There is much hay made about their little "Roaring '20's" menu/music nights on social media, so I guess all their energy is geared towards these certain Thursdays so they can post content about it. I suppose then on a random Tuesday night, the staff and the hotel couldn't care less if we wanted drinks or wanted to fling ourselves off the patio. Either one would be fine with them. I can't tell you how good that makes me feel as a patron of this establishment for years and years. 2 Stars, because at least the Ladybird is delicious, as always. Once they actually decided to bartend, the drinks are quite excellent! Too bad they feel inconvenienced to bartend...as bartenders. Shrug. read more

Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace - Ladybird - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stayed here two days for a business meeting. This is a nice recently renovated hotel. The beds are comfortable. The bathrooms are OK if the sink is small and narrow and the tubs are just OK. Overall good rooms. I never had any room service. No new towels, no redo of the bed, ... At the price they are charging that is a major disappointment. Good hotel, but service is not there read more

I've been to this bar for a couple of events, and it's a perfectly fine, old-fashioned hotel bar. Think: leather chairs, dark wood, dark lighting, sconces, etc. It's not my preferred "cup of tea" for a bar, but it's a perfectly good spot if you want a solid drink at a hotel bar. read more

This review is long overdue! I was here with a friend of mine back in February while on a roadtrip. The art gallery we were supposed to go to was unable to take us and, luckily for us, I happened to see a balcony full of cocktail imbibers across the street. We entered through the Royal Sonesta hotel lobby, went up their grand staircase, and came upon a one-man-show spectacle of a bar. The bar was spacious but dimly lit so that it felt intimate. There were plenty of heavy, robust, but comfy furniture with the best feature being the long balcony that wrapped around the whole bar. This review is mostly for the bartender, Matt, and his carefully crafted cocktails. First of all, this man was tending to the bar by his lonesome. When I said it was a one-man-show...I meant it! No other bartenders, no servers (none that I saw that afternoon), no bussers, and no bar back. This means that he has to take orders, make drinks, keep tabs in order, close tabs, make sure to collect and clean the empty glasses, and converse with his guests at the bar. And at no point did he seem harried or make anyone feel like they were a nuisance. Matt is the kind of bartender we all need in this world - on top of producing delicious concoctions quickly on a consistent level, he was knowledgeable about his craft, experienced in his industry, and a brilliant multitasker to boot. Turns out that he created the menu too. And these cocktails (aside from tasting well-balanced and visually captivating) connected to each other to create a beautiful narrative for each guest to experience. The menu was beautifully creative, thoughtfully constructed, and somehow nostalgic although new. As you can see, I have nothing but praise for this man. If you see him, tell him I said hello and tip him well~ read more

Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace - austin cocktail story - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

This iconic hotel in the heart of Austin is a must stay. It is on the famous Congress Avenue, so when you walk out the door you have a fabulous view of the beautiful Texas capitol. The top notch service begins the day before check in with a text letting you know about the restaurant and bars hours. They also ask if you have any requests. My last stay 3 weeks ago I had a request for additional linens for the pullout sofa in the suite. Sure enough upon checking, they acknowledged the request and everything was sent up immediately. The staff is very friendly and helpful, the rooms are clean and well appointed (there's even shelves in the bathrooms for toiletries!). Why only 4 stars you ask? Coffee is $5/cup! And no breakfast service on Monday. There's a coffee maker in the room that makes a marginal cup. read more

If you are looking for a place to get a way from the craziness on 6th street and such. Look no further. And if you're a cigar or whiskey fan or both you will be rewarded in spades. Classy surroundings and atmosphere. And hospitable service. read more

I always come here to grab drinks if i'm in the area. Bartenders are always friendly and cocktails are so good! Another plus is their patio with views of the paramount theatre sign and the bustling city below! read more

Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace - two cocktails - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Went to a comedy show at The Paramount and was looking for a quiet spot to get a drink. I'm a bit too old for the scene on 6th street. Right next to the Paramount was a hotel named Stephen F., like my alma mater; I knew I had to have a drink from their bar. Walking into the hotel, you realize the bar is on the 2nd floor. We walked up the stairs and saw a beautiful rich, red upscale looking bar. It had tables that felt tucked away and low music, so you could have an actual conversation with your drink. My husband got their version of an Old Fashion and I got a Moscow Mule. We were both happy with our choices and enjoyed our drinks immensely. Our server wasn't pushy and let us savor our drinks. It was a nice, relaxing hour or so. So, if you want a drink with friends in a place you can actually catch up, try Stephen F.'s! read more

Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace - Texas Pecan Old Fashion and Moscow Mule - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

In my opinion, the best hotel in Austin. They did a really great job taking an old hotel and making it super modern and luxurious. The rooms were beautiful with super comfy beds. The bathtub and shower was really comfy with nice shampoo and soaps. The service was incredibly good. The front desk people were wonderful. The manager gave excellent suggestions around Austin. They let us do a really late checkout just for signing up for the Sonesta rewards, which took 2 minutes. The location is literally perfect. read more

Well we did go to the restaurant or bar but we stayed in the hotel and it was nice for what we paid, the service was quick easy check inn and the door guys were great. And the room we had kinda did not have great view! Buy it was walking distance to where we needed to go. The pool was not too bad and the hot tub it got real foamy once we turned it on! We booked it last minute as we wanted to go to parade that went down congress and their balcony over looked the street! So we booked something that we just needed for the night and not going cost us a ton. So convenience, service, and was clean, and I def stay again but probably as for room with a better view! But served for what we needed it for! read more

This was my first time in Austin and I'm very glad we stayed at this hotel. The rooms were very clean and well appointed. The location was perfect for us. Right in the middle of the University district and South Congress shopping. So much to do we had a blast. My only mistake was getting a rental car that was a colossal waste of money but if you do get a rental car it's another $57 a day to park it at the hotel. They also have a nice workout room in the basement. And the employees were all very friendly and tried to be very helpful. If I come to Austin again I'll definitely stay here read more

This is my favorite bar in downtown Austin. It's classy, comfortable and we always have a good time. I guess what we really enjoy is the terrace, which has a nice view into the capitol building and is quite comfortable without being a rooftop or being in the middle of the street. It's nothing extraordinary, just a great spot to grab a cocktail or three, with good service and a fairly broad selection of drinks. read more

Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I really enjoyed my stay at the Royal Sonesta. I found the staff to be incredibly welcoming. My room was very quiet and ready early, which I deeply appreciated. There is a small pool, hot tub and workout room. There are several dining options as well but I didn't get a chance to try any of them. The hotel is very centrally located - walking distance to many restaurants and sight-seeing areas. read more

We stayed here on our way out of the country. It's a beautiful and historic property that is perfectly located to experience downtown Austin. Justin checked us in, he was charming and very polished. After dinner off property we went to the terrace bar where we received excellent service from Wyatt. Great staff at this property. read more

Someone charged their tab to my room and the hotel tried to make me pay for it. When I told the front desk at check out, the said they'd look into yet. Once home, they emailed me saying it was my tab and they were going to charge us. I'm glad I took a picture of my bill to show them I paid by card. Great customer service. You really know how to make us feel welcome. And for $30? Really? read more

Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace - Signature of someone charging their tab to my room. - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great place and conveniently located in the heart of downtown. Room was clean and cozy. Nice bar and restaurant located downstairs. Like others have mentioned in the reviews the rooms are extremely small but we didn't spend much time in the room so I didn't mind. read more

decadent bar in downtown Austin - when you enter through the hotel and go up the stairs, it's plush and red. I enjoyed the outdoor terrace and views. There is a good happy hour selection. But they didn't get more stars because the staff weren't very friendly and we had a miscommunication and while we the customer is always right, you shouldn't show your frustration. i want to think it was an off night. there were three behind the bar and i was here for an event. will still check it out again if i somehow don't need to pay $13 for valet as parking is hard in this area of town. read more

We were on our way to see a movie premiere at the Paramount and only had 45 minutes to feed our bellies. Our first choice was Roaring Fork as it is next door. But the RF was standing room only (and loud I might add) so we ventured upstairs to the quite bar and terrace with a wonderful view of Congress. The food menu is super limited here but they have a full bar with a nice wine list. I ordered a Domaine St. Michelle brut and the beet salad. Jesse ordered a Live Oak Hefeweizen and the pork belly sliders. My bubbles were dry, acidic to balance out the sugars and crisp..just what I was looking for. It went pretty well with the beet salad which came with plentiful greens, fennel and a little bit of chevre cheese. I would have liked more beets and less greens but it was good. The pork belly sliders were heavenly! The trio of sliders had a perfectly cooked piece of pork belly, a decadent pan fried quail egg, tiny slices of Serrano, topped with crispy onion strings in a soft bun smeared with coriander mayo. The flavor composition was flawless. The sliders were steep at $16 but they were well portioned and delicious. Almost every plate coming out of the kitchen was an Antonelli's cheese plate which looked absolutely gorgeous. We were also curious about the truffled mac n cheese. Currently Stephen F's Bar & Terrace does not have a happy hour but perhaps that is why it is quieter making it easier to find a seat. read more

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We had a last minute staycation in austin for 5 days. We chose this hotel on a whim. I can't say enough great things about this hotel... staff was super nice and accommodating (the gentleman who checked us in on 6/15 at 8am was so very nice). The room was fantastic, very spacious. Hotel location was absolutely perfect for walking and dining! We will stay here again. read more

Fantastic drinks...creative and tasty. The Texas Tea Reserve was crazy how it is served....did they find the oil barrels first or come up with the recipe first??? Either way, great place for a start to the evening! read more

This is a great chain. Had wonderful experience at an LA property and decided to try Austin. Was not disappointed, it's wonderful hotel and super friendly staff. Highly recommended. Great location too. read more

Booked a king deluxe room through Priceline. When we got to the hotel we got a queen size bed and a room without WiFi. I called the front desk and told them and they told me it was a king bed. I'm 6'0 and my feet could feel the end of the bed - I know the difference between queen and king size beds. The pictures from the Website was definitely not like our experience. read more

Do not stay at The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel, terrible! Old and dirty, the pullout bed mattress was stained and dirty as was the bathtub. The staff was nice, however would not waste my money to stay here again. I left a night early and stayed somewhere else, unfortunately the hotel refused to give me a refund for the second night. Don't waste your money!!!!!! read more

Andrew at the bar was so great! The ambiance is really awesome in there-- I like my fireplaces :) I had the chicken tortilla soup which was really perfect for coming in on a rainy day that caught me by surprise. Thank you so much and I'll definitely be back! read more

BEWARE: They have a sneaky $100 pet fee for their "pet friendly" hotel. They say this is obvious and easy to find on their website but it's not. And if you book through a third party like Priceline they say "oh well, not our fault that the information wasn't made available to you." YUCK. We were so excited to come stay and happy that we found a place that said it was pet friendly. I understand a fee, but $100 EXTRA? Just go stay at the Fairmont. You'll pay that price range and it's much nicer read more

Snagged a late deal for spring break for a quick get away. Hotel is very nice and well situated downtown - close to everything. The room was small but very nice, clean and well maintained. Wifi was FAST. While I don't understand why hotels use, to me, the really hot heavy duty duvet but at lest the sheets were very soft so you don't get that noise and crunch of usual hotel sheets. The bed and pillows were very nice. Staff was excellent and friendly. Parking is an additional $49/night (plus, realistically, tips). Tip: if you are a light sleeper I would suggest asking for a room not on the streets - Austin can get noisy at night. read more

Stopped in as it was one place showing could smoke a cigar. Bartender was friendly and on point helped me find a local beer and brought me an ash tray outside. Never pushy just letting the customer dictate the pace of the night. Staff was great. The cigar selection in house was somewhat limited and the one I purchased was not bad but a little dry/old the wrapper fell apart upon removing the band. But the binder and filler still smoked well with a good taste and draw. read more

The Whisper Room is the bar inside the hotel and it's a hidden gem in Austin. We heard that they had a good whiskey selection, so decided to go here for our Valentine's celebration. We sat at the bar and had an amazing time chatting with Matt, the bartender/creative mind behind their drinks. From the whimsical drink menu to the knowledge behind the bar to the absolutely perfect martini, we had an amazing time and will definitely be back. read more

Great experience all around, continental breakfast ($20) with lox, capers, eggs, bacon, sausage, bagels, pastries, fruit, coffee and an assortment of yogurts. Very European. Roaring Fork restaurant delivery to the room. Wonderful pool and hot tub. True gym with free weights, bikes, treadmills, machines, kettle and exercise balls. Comfortable room furnishings. Nice downtown location. read more

This sucker is a 4-star for all around ratings. The food (I didn't try all that much - fries and a salad?) was good and the drinks were great. Service was attentive and helpful. The terrace wraps around the hotel and gives views of both 7th and Congress Ave, so it makes for some interesting people watching even if it is a little removed from the 6th street traffic. Awesome for a nice weather evening. read more

When you walk inside this hotel, you are immediately consumed with the elegance of the decor. This place is classy. The bar is upstairs. There's both indoor and outdoor seating. The drinks are pretty good and they sell cigars onsite - decent collection. And they have cutters and torches. The view, of you sit out on the balcony, is pretty cool. Definitely a nice spot to hang out with friends. read more

Top notch location and a top notch staff. This hotel is charming and the staff will due the best to accommodate anything you need. The room was clean, huge and unique. I will def. be staying here again. You must also go the bar and ask for a lady bird. Not only Instagram worthy but delicious. read more

My husband and I recently checked this place after purchasing their coupon listed on LivingSocial a couple of weeks back. The place had the typical hotel bar feel - full of older guys in suits drinking their beers after work. Regardless of my initial impression (not the hippest place in town!), my husband and I were able to cozy up in a corner and enjoy our evening together. We ordered the mac 'n' cheese and crab cakes and both were delicious! The other appetizers didn't look as appealing on the menu (chips and salsa, mini burgers, etc.) so we just stuck with the two I mentioned. Our martinis "tasted" great but they weren't strong at all. After two martinis I felt completely sober, so it was definitely a bummer that they cost $13 each and could for all intensive purposes be a juice cocktail. Be prepared to spend a lot for a little. After just a few appetizers and 3 drinks, our bill came to $75! Need I say more? I'm giving this place 4 stars overall because our food was great (and yeah, our drinks did taste good haha) and the service was very accommodating but I probably won't be going back because of the cost. Hey, maybe when I win the lotto........ read more

Cool bar, small, cozy, casual, friendly service. Drinks were so/so on the strong meter. The apps were good too, nothing ground breaking but certainly pretty decent for a hotel bar. I like the casual non-hipster vibe of this place. They even gave out a nifty 15% off card for food AND drinks. But honestly if I didn't have the 15% off card I may not return, not because it sucked but because I wasn't overwhelmingly moved and the apps seemed pricey for what they were. It's one of those...you have to at least go once places. Check it out, it may be your thaaang. read more

It's a little unusual for me to walk into an Intercontinental, walk upstairs to the bar, and just hang out there... I typically find hotel bars a little stuffy and just not my fav ambiance... Nevertheless, we headed there to hang out on the Patio which is really a balcony looking out on Congress Ave with a nice view of the Capitol. I actually enjoyed the outside seating, it seemed a lot less "hotelly" in my opinion... We had a couple of BLTs (YUMMMM!!) and a few drinks and I have to say the sandwiches were awesome the service was great and i had a great time. read more

2nd visit here. This time we splurged and stayed at the Stephen F. Austin hotel. So we didn't have a long way to stumble back to our room. I didn't even know this place had food... The drinks have always been amazing. The top shelf liquor selection is great. They have a good selection of cigars. The patio area is great, even in the winter (as they have heaters). This is probably the best part. Sitting on the patio looking down the street at the capital. read more