I really liked Swan Dive. It did remind me of my once favorite bar, The Peacock Lounge, that is sadly no more because of the cool, design-conscious interior that harks back to a 1920s speakeasy. Walking off of dirty, loud Red River (my favorite street...I mean it with love) in Swan Dive is like entering a different, more civilized world where people still dress up to leave the house and men ask women to dance with them (not grind up on). My only gripes is the price and difficulty in getting a drink. They need more bartenders and I think they might need to reevaluate prices based on their location. Sure, it's acceptable for their sister restaurant, Eastside Showroom to charge that much because it's the Eastside and they serve food, but on Red River, the rules are different. I just don't see the same clientele fighting for drinks amongst drunk young hipsters on any given night. I'm really interested in seeing how they fare. Because it is SO different from the rest of Red River, I think they might have some problems continuing to pull in business with expensive drinks and jazz bands. read more

Bar tender was spot on. Great live music and drinks. Don't bother at barberellas (rude and expensive)

All white on the inside with a 30's/40's genre. Old chairs, booths and tables help complete that look. Standard bar, though a little small for how bit the place is. I have never seen the place packed. The clubs on either side of Swan Dive are also very loud which you can hear through the walls - so may ruin a smaller venue you're seeing here. Otherwise its a good location, and there's plenty around to go from there. read more

Was here for an unofficial sxsw party on Friday, pretty packed, lotsa offbeat art pieces, we didnt stay too long, nothing really that memorable about the place read more

The Swan Dive-I went in not expecting much, but it was a surprisingly nice venue. First and foremost, the air conditioning worked perfectly. If I've got fully functioning AC and a Strongbow in hand, I'm set for hours. I also like the indoor seating areas. The tufted vinyl upholstery and the little booths. Very cute. However... The bartender was kind of a jerk. The bathrooms weren't unsanitary, but messy. And they need some seating outside in the back. It does connect with Barbarella, so don't expect this place to be calm on a Friday or Saturday night. But it's definitely one of the better Red River establishments. read more

This review is based on only a brief visit inside. However, such a beautifully designed bar/lounge that is really hidden away, I felt it needed a good review. The Swan Dive pays homage to the early 1920's and 1930's. It makes you feel like you have wandered into an upscale speakeasy during prohibition. When we were there, lots of people were dancing a tango and looked really good at it! We will be back again, dressed more appropriately, sometime soon. read more

Poor service, terrible management. When I made a polite complaint to management, I was told to fuck off. Won't be returning to this bar.

Great venue to check out a live performance. It's never too crowded and the service is excellent. If you like to dance at Barbarella, one can usually get a drink, catch one's breathe or relax a bit on the Swan Dive side that's connected on the back side of both clubs. read more

Maybe a bit lacking on the service. Took a while to get a drink considering there were like 5 people behind the bar and very few customers. Starting up slow, I gather. There was an amazing brass band last night when I went in. Looking forward to coming back soon, so you keep your 4 stars. Please work on getting the bartenders moving faster for the crowds that will inevitably come to such a fun place. read more

This place reminds me of a rare, NYC find. ALL white, breezy, and hep-cat jazzy. I really hope the "Swan out of Water" locale doesn't kills this place before it gets some traction. The band was uniquely hip- superb place for a first date or an anniversary dance- romantic, but accessible, rather than snooty. Lovely list of signature cocktails and very friendly bar service. Will definitely be "checking back in"... read more

Beer selection is mediocre and the crowd is so mayonnaise that it makes me insecure for being one of them. The only reason I gave it more than one star is "at least it's not barbarella". I should note that I am not at all charmed by anachronistic environments and music. read more

Bad service, and few of the bartenders does not care about the customer. I will NEVER step in here again.

I never thought I would like mayonnaise on hot dogs but that's also not the first time I've been wrong my whole life about something. If you've never had mayonnaise on hot dogs go see Natalie. I'm not sure where she's from but obviously this knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation. Also if you've never eating a hot dog with mayonnaise during a live show, YOU'VE NEVER TRULY LIVED! I mean, what are you waiting for? Let's get weird. Let's get weird with Natalie. read more

This place is gorgeous! I came here for the Shotgun Party record release last year, and I can't stop thinking about how much fun it was. The space is decorated with peculiar metals, all spray painted white. The underside of the bar is backlit white radiators. Awesome. It kind of looks like an Anthropoligie catalog, it's super pretty. There's cozy booths to sit in, a big dance floor to get down on, and the house music is usually 20's jazz and country. Totally worth it to stop by and have a manhattan. read more

Had a great time there with some of my friends. Live music was awesome. Cover charge was worth it. I've only been once, so I'm not sure if the music is regular or was a one-time thing, but the music alone makes me want to go back. read more

After spelunking into the sensory overloaded, crowded abyss of Plush for dubstep, waltzing into the sparse cloud that is the Swan Dive is a breath of fresh air. What a cool place to be on a Friday night! I'm usually not one to pay cover to a bar (especially in Austin), but I've already thrown down twice at Swan Dive. My girlfriend and I had just finished the first season of Boardwalk Empire, so that, compounded with the live music and hard drinks, let us know that we stumbled into the right place at the right time. Bring friends, otherwise it must feel like the hotel bar from The Shining. read more

First bar downtown to impress me. I ended up going here because a friend was playing there, and I was really not expecting much, but I was in for a treat. I really loved the decor, it was very refreshing and a lot of thought went into it (didn't get a chance to see the patio). Had a lot of interesting drinks on the menu, and the bartenders definitely knew what they were doing. Ordered a Whiskey Sour and it was very well prepared. Only complaint is the drinks are a little pricey for a college budget, but for what you're getting its pretty fair (except $3 Lone Stars). Also both of the bands that played were surprisingly good. read more

At least FOUR phones were stolen last night, right off people dancing. What's going on here? Where's the staff? Don't they know the regular pick-pockets? And was ACL such a surprise that they couldn't hire extra security? No, we weren't drunk. We'd each had time for only one drink. Couple of hours of nice music is no exchange for a week of repairing the damage. No, don't bother to call. Didn't you hear? My phone was stolen. read more

Come for the music and dancing. That's it. The band playing was very lively and it was refreshing to see people on the dance floor who actually know how to dance. Drinks - really strong, expensive, and tiny Decor - this place looks like it was around in the 40s...and hasn't been remodeled since. The walls need a fresh coat of paint, the furniture looks old and worn, and I'm pretty sure those were real cobwebs hanging from the chandeliers. Overall, it's a neat place to hangout for a drink, get your Lindy Hop on, and enjoy good quality live music. read more

My band plays here a lot. The staff are all friendly and professional. The fact that it's connected to Barbarella in the back gives it a unique type of traffic and crowd. Lights and pictures look good in the all white interior. This venue has grown and improved a lot over the last couple years and I always have a great time playing here. Cheers! read more

good live music and it connects to barbarella in the back so you can experience both bars! Really cute and there is also a fun outdoor area in the back. Lots of cute charm and quirk read more

Love this place!!!!! Maggie is the BOMB. So kind and elegant, we need more people like her downtown! Thanks for the hospitality and always putting on bad ass shows. Definitely one of my favorite spots in Austin. read more

The Swan Dive has no sign and no doorman, just a half-open door that leads into a small entry way. In order to get into the Swan Dive's main room, you have to go through two linen curtains hanging down in a manner that makes you suspect you might be interrupting a private wedding's after-party. After entering, I sat down in the iron patio furniture at one of the marble and wood tables, a single tea candle flickering on the table. The room was sparsely decorated, with maybe 15 small, round tables and 60 or so seats. The walls are half-heartedly white washed brick, plaster, and wooden support beams. I was initially uninterested in the smooth saxophone notes coming from the radiator-and-drapery-accented stage area, but a pure, sweet tone grabbed my attention. A steel guitar player was plucking that heavenly instrument, fronting a steel guitar, saxophone, cello, and drum kit quartet. The music ranged from Nashville twang to East Coast jazz, but it was all serene. As the place I had just entered had no sign, I asked the waitress for its name. She proceeded to sit with me and chat for about 10 minutes, which she did twice more in the 45 minutes or so that I was there! I was flabbergasted at her friendliness. This place gets four stars because the drinks are expensive. Six dollars for a can of Boddingtons. read more

If perchance you are ever forced to go to Barbarella with your friends and there is a huge line to get in, just go in through Swan Dive. They are connected in the back via a patio. Also, while you are in Swan Dive, have a Moscow Mule. And maybe use their bathrooms if you have to, which are 100% nicer than Barbarella's. Maybe even hang out at one of their cool, retro-looking booths. Maybe even find yourself spending all night in there on a Tuesday, crashing someone's karaoke party. Maybe just vowing to yourself to never go to that meat market called Barbarella again; instead, choosing wisely to spend your free time at Swan Dive. read more

I love the vibe and the beverages and totally want to come back. BUT FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GET MORE BARTENDERS. Getting a drink at the bar here is survival of the fittest, and "Lord of the Flies" is not a fun theme for an evening out. read more

What is slowly turning into the classiest, artiest, most unique venue in Austin. Stepping into the Swan Dive is like stepping into a movie set from a 1920's era movie. The white ornate theme keeps things classy without commiting to one identity. The musical acts they have lined up are unbeatable. It's just an amazing, amazing place - gotta see it for yourself! read more

I'm giving 1 Star because 0 stars isn't an option. The bouncer at the front door on March 3 was the rudest person I've ever encountered. I've actually never seen a man talk to a woman the way he talked to us. My group of friends and I were discriminated against without reason for simply asking a question to clarify about the music on the back porch. He ruined our night and put a damper on the whole trip. Save yourself some heartache and don't support this business. read more

My new favorite venue. The band Minor Mishap Marching Band was great, cheap drinks, and 1920's decor. There was a mix bag of people from hipsters in suspenders to people in there 50's. A very fun, classy, dive. read more

Really cool spot and pretty small and intamite, which I like. The sound quality is top notch as well and you don't pay an arm and leg for drinks. Last time I was here was during SXSW 2016 and they did a good job of keeping everyone full of drink and a great job of keeping the riff raff out as well. read more

BEAUTIFUL decor. It definitely doesn't feel like you're on Red River. I saw someone mentioned the Peacock and i'd have to agree wholeheartedly. read more

Stopped in here for the first time.....as a reindeer (a.k.a. Santarchy costume). The place wasn't crowded on a Saturday night but the band was lively and so awesome! Plenty of room for dancing. And nice comfy booths for resting inbetween sets. Loved the retro decor. read more

Unfortunately, Swan Dive has lost a large group of customers due to poor judgement and high aggression by one of the bouncers. As many people know, this establishment is connected to Barbarella's and Barb's has a unisex restroom. Unfortunately, swan dive does not seem to have an open mind when it comes to the restroom policy. Two members of our group were banned from Swan Dive indefinitely for going in to the men's restroom. The two who went in may not have realized it was the men's restroom. Our biggest issue with this issue is 1) he assumed both of their gender and that's unacceptable in today's time. 2) He aggressively grabbed and pulled this person who was one foot inside of the restroom. 3) when confronted by separate members of the group as to why they were kicked out, he proceeded to ban the two and clearly was very agitated that his decision was being questioned and began to get aggressive with them as well. read more

I was assaulted by 3 of the staff at Swan Dive during SXSW as they were whiskey drunk (jack daniels sponsorship party) and tried to start a fight with me. They focifully restrained me away from my cell phone, as I disappeared into the back. They threw me on the ground where no one could see as Barbarella's was closed for SXSW at Swan Dive (same ownership). I would avoid this bar at all costs, I am a local austin artist and was workin on a mural all day, had 2 beers when this happened. The staff are not at all friendly. read more

Came here during SXSW. We would leave to check out other venues and be right back to Swan Dive (did that twice). This place was so chilled and laid back. The live music was amazing and the back patio was really casual. The drinks were really yummy too. I really liked that it wasn't directly on 6th street (which I find obnoxious). read more

I've been to SXSW shows here for two years running, and those were great. The one time I tried to go on a regular night out, the service was so bad we ended up walking out the door. From reading the other reviews though, apparently we weren't the only people who stood there for 10-15 minutes without being acknowledged by any service member despite their not being busy, and then being blatantly skipped over so that said waitstaff could immediately help somebody else who had just walked up. This happened half a year ago, I have never returned and don't ever plan on it, which is too bad since - like I said - the SXSW parties were great. read more

The well drinks are cheap ($4 or $5) but honestly, this place would be worth it if the drinks were $12 because it is SO BEAUTIFUL. Stop in for a drink or stay the whole night, there's live music, fun people, and a wonderful aesthetic that could please even the pickiest of people. I would come here all of the time if I was in the area. It's so beautiful, all white, all 1920s, all fantastic. read more

SxSW free show. Anytime there are special events they will not let you in the barbarella patio. Swan dive is pretty neat. Big open space and can either be chill or crazy. read more

I love the cocktails. I love that you can talk to your companion and don't have to shout. I love the entertainment. But my favorite thing is running my fingertips along the circular white tiles on the bar. read more

If you're having a dirty 6th night, just looking to get a quick buzz before cramming into Barbarella, or looking for a typical experience for the area then don't bother. If you want to check out a bar that looks like it belongs about a mile east of there, where they actually take a little time pouring craft cocktails rather than just an endless stream of Jack & Cokes, go to Swan Dive. This is a place to go have a nice cocktail with a couple friends, but if you're looking for cheap booze then you're totally in the wrong mindset and should go to any other bar in the area. read more

Cool place. Wouldn't expect so from the outside, nor from the looks on the inside, but the music I heard there was amazing. Relaxed atmpsphere. Slow bar (that stopped serving cocktails because it was 'too busy'). Still, being away from the way too busy 6th street, this was a _very_ welcome escape. read more