Came here randomly for the 4th of July to a free cover band show. This is probably one of the only…read morefew bars in the small vicinity of south congress. Other things will be a longer walk away. Service here is fine. Expect drink prices to match the area. This is more of a bar with a stage than a club. Good to see some rock and metal in the area.

A friend asked me was I interested in listening tosome live music tonight. Absolutely! First stop…read morethe Continental Club on S. Congress. This place is an Austin institution and one of the best places in the city to experience live music. This historic venue has been a local hangout for great music since the 1950s. The club was dimly lit with lots of stickers, graffiti, neon signage, paintings and interesting artifacts. While it has been a long time since I have been to the Continental club, it still felt truly Austin and very unpretentious. In the Continental Club you are literally I feet away from the live music. A dog was sleeping on stage, which made the place feel homey. The club is small and intimate, exuding a super personal persona. In addition, the sound quality is excellent for such a small venue. Tonight we listened to Hot Club Cowtown...they sounded folksy and a bit country western yet enjoyable to listen to. Folks were boot scooting, so maybe more country western. Mike the doorman was super personable and helpful. He happily provided the WIFI password and was super engaging. In addition, it is important to note the cover was free until 9 pm. The crowd was a mix bag...locals, tourists, and musicians who love live music. Austin is affectionately known as the "Live Music Capitol of the World". Great music...great time!

Absolutely fantastic experience! We were looking for a place to enjoy a post-concert drink and…read morestumbled across The Roosevelt Room. We weren't looking for much by way of menu just a few snacks or small bites for Girl Dinner. We found just that here. The Sumac and pepper popcorn was to die for! I really don't drink that much or often, but decided to have one. The drink list is extensive, but very organized by era. I decided to go for the Zombie. My server, Noah encouraged my audacity! I can't remember whether it was described as dramatic as it showed up, but let me tell you there was drama! It was served in a flaming skull, garnished with beautiful flowers and fresh fruit, and filled to the brim with God knows how much alcohol and juice, but it was a time! To heighten the experience, he sprinkled something in a shaker and the flames just erupted! The whole restaurant stopped and I cackled! To put out the flame, Noah gave one dramatic clap, and the flame disappear disappeared! I want to thank Noah and the team for encouraging my ridiculousness and delivering me an excellent craft drink with all the drama I deserved and could ever ask for! 10/10! Gotta go back to see how much more ridiculous I can go! Can't stop now! Join me!

It's a really nice cocktail bar with interesting cocktail options and finger foods. I went here…read morefor my cousin's birthday. I had an old fashioned and the hummus plate. One of my cousins had the charcuterie board. Both were delicious. Our waiter took good care of us. I like that they have an assortment of drinks from different decades. There seems to be a drink for every palate. If alcohol isn't your thing, they have mocktails. The ambiance was nice. The lights were warm and low. Old movies played on the wall from a projector. Walls are lined with vintage books. Overall, I think this is a cool place. I look forward to returning.

The Eleanor has a really fun atmosphere that works well for everything from a casual night out to a…read morelarger celebration. The drinks are perfect and the staff was friendly. The casual walk-up service at the bar lends itself to feeling informal but the drinks are absolute show stoppers and the attention to detail is what I would expect from a bar sharing a wall with The Roosevelt Room. It's an easy place to settle in and have a great night!

The Eleanor is right next door to The Roosevelt and is its sister bar…read more It's mainly an event space with a concrete floor, a cool curved bar, exposed ceilings, and exposed brick and wood walls. Similar in design to The Roosevelt. If you want to go The Roosevelt without reservations and waiting for space to open up, this is a great way to pass the time until then. Just like The Roosevelt, they offer N/A cocktails, classic cocktails, and house creations. The N/A espresso martini is primo. The French 75 is one of the best I've had in the U.S. House creations, Show Business, Estatua Verde, and Standing Ovation are my faves! Show Business: Hendrick's Gin, Witch Hazel, Lavender, and other flavors Estatua Verde: White rum, sherry, lime juice, and more including smoke Standing Ovation: Campari, rum, bourbon, espresso, and more. So. Much. Goodness. They get pretty busy too and service can take a bit but never so long that it's bad. In fact, it's good, especially since you're getting high-end cocktails made by talented mixologists.

- not much parking - friendly staff…read more- definition of cowboy bar - concerts and dance lessons for a cost - everybody looked like they were having a good time i did not participate

My review is for the restaurant as we did not stay long enough for the dancing. We did get there…read morefor the live music in the restaurant part which was very nice. My daughter loved it and the band was very kind to her! The food however left something to be desired. The chicken fried steak is supposedly voted the best around. It was bland and flavorless. We also ordered the nachos and they also had very little flavor. The jalapeño poppers were good, but I very much doubt they were homemade. We did go in the back and check out the dance floor before they opened and it looked really cool! The band was rehearsing and even told us to bring my daughter up and interacted with her a bit. Overall I would say go for the dancing and pass on the food

We booked a reservation, which you definitely need if you want to go here. We were amazed by the…read moresetup. Seriously such a cool experience! The inside was so fun with the sound of the vinyls playing and people chatting while enjoying their cocktails. We sat at the bar, and it was a blast talking with the bartenders about the different drinks. You can tell they put so much thought and work into every cocktail. I seriously cannot wait to come back. This is a must-try spot

What a fun little place to go and listen to the DJ play an eclectic collection of vinyl records…read more This is a very intimate spot and a fun place to enjoy a drink and snacks. I would ent recommend a group unless you were reserving the entire place. We went while staying at the Magdalena, and it was a fun spot to visit right after dinner and before bed.

The Elephant Room is one of Austin's most widely known jazz venues. It is located below street…read morelevel on Congress Avenue. If you are claustrophobic, this might not be the best place for you. From the street level, you walk down steps to enter the club. This basement club delivers an authentic jazz experience. The dim lighting, narrow long room, and close seating create an intimate atmosphere. Live jazz musicians are hosted every night of the week, often with multiple sets, featuring a mix of local musicians, rotating house bands, and visiting musicians. Because of the tight space, you are always close to the stage. Tonight's headliner was the Concept Orchestra. Cover tonight was $7. Cocktails range $14-16. The room was pretty tightly packed creating positive vibes.

Elephant Room in Austin is a cozy basement bar that keeps you cool while you listen to shades of…read moresmooth jazz and blues. It is a fun little place with nice folks working there. The stage is a little weird angled relative to the audience but I guess that's a space constraint. While they do not serve food, that I know of, they have a standard selection of well drinks and cocktails to enjoy. You are coming here for the live music and underground vibes. If you are looking for a relaxed spot in Austin to beat the heat, grab a drink, and catch some amazing live tunes, Elephant Room is a fantastic place to spend an evening.

Lots of good shows here including this residency by Gary Clark Jr currently. I've seen blues, pop,…read moreelectronic, and country shows here. I've been to great SXSW parties here and great discussion panels. Apparently they have legendary hot dogs too. And the bartenders are usually really nice.

Found an event on FEVER for a Jazz Room show and grabbed a ticket. You can def tell this place has…read morehistory and the inside is quite quaint. Seating for the event was tight, made me wonder what the capacity code is as even I, under 5'5, had little leg room. Think airplane rows, very tight. Felt bad for taller peeps. The band was great, all had solos throughout the performance and gave their own version of each song. You could feel the energy in the room and I wish the show was longer than and hour. Didn't partake in any drinks, so I can't speak to the bar service.

I came to Austin for the week to cat-sit for my daughter and asked two strangers on South Lamar…read morewhere a woman traveling alone could find live music. Without hesitation, they both pointed me to Donn's Depot. They were absolutely right. From the moment I walked in, the place felt authentic. Not curated. Not trendy. Just a room full of people genuinely enjoying one another. The bartender was friendly, the regulars immediately welcomed a complete stranger to their table, and before long I was swapping stories with some of the kindest people I've met in a long time. Murphy's In-Laws were fantastic. Their musicianship was outstanding, and after I asked about a James Taylor song, they dusted off Steamroller--a song they hadn't played in years--and performed it like they had played it during warm-ups. Definitely not for the "first time in 15 years." They threw in "Shower the People" for me afterward! Donn's is one of those local favorites that is unforgettable because it provides moments you can't plan. One thing to know before you go: they don't serve meals, but they do have complimentary popcorn (which was great to discover if you haven't eaten anything prior to liquor)! What stayed with me most wasn't just the music. It was the hospitality. A stranger (who overheard my desire to hear Steamroller) quietly paid for my song request. A table of regulars pulled up a chair and made room for me. No one asked why I was there by myself. They simply welcomed me and nick-named me, "San Antonio." From a mic. If you're looking for polished nightlife, this may not be your place--but you probably need to go anyway. If you're looking for authentic Austin, genuine people, excellent live music, and an evening that reminds you how kind strangers can be, don't miss Donn's Depot. Keep Austin Great, y'all!

This unpretentious, eclectic, festive, multi-generational dive is off the rails. Get it?…read more Named after Donn, a local legend, who plays piano or tends bar at least once a week. The authentic but repurposed train station opened in 1972. In fact, a vintage railcar serves as an elevated viewing area of the dance floor, and you may want to check out the women's caboose. Literally, the depot has a caboose for a restroom! Going on a Friday night, we paid the $10 cover and it was a little crowded, but there were a few seats at the picnic tables in the wrap-around patio and I managed to step on only a few feet on the small dance floor, dancing to Donn and his Station Masters playing honky-tonk soul, western swing, and rock and roll covers. If you want a fun night, choo-choo-choose Donn's Depot. :

The White Horse is the best East Side spot to do some country dancing or just listen to some good…read morecountry music. They have the bands who play the latest, so if you go somewhere else first, you can always finish your night at WH. My only gripes at the WH are the stuffy dancers who are sometimes jerks to people who don't dance the exact same way they do and that tables are so close tor he dance floor that it gets so crowded. There could be more of a dance floor if those tables were scooted back and people didn't have to stand in front of them to try to get a dance. Fun spot though and definitely somewhere I take/send out of town guests for an Austin experience.

White Horse is the quintessential Dive bar! It is located on the East Side in what appeared to be…read morean old house. White Horse also has an outside patio. This is the second time that I visited White Horse. During Zumba class on Friday we learned that our Zumba instructor's brother plays the drums in a band and that he would be playing at White Horse on Friday night. So I met our Zumba instructor and friends at White Horse to listen to the band. Let me just say I am not a huge country western fan, but I do branch out every once in a while to listen to country. Please note the twangy country is not for me. The Shinglers were playing on Friday starting at 8 pm. I really liked this band and was drawn in by their addicting sounds. I even managed to dance a couple of times. Needless to say, my two stepping is pretty rusty. However, dancing is always fun! The cover charge was $10 cash. Cash is such a rarity any more. Fortunately, I had $12 with me. Drinks were $9 for top shelf, which is quite cheap. The bartender was friendly and fast. We stayed for the first of three sets and then departed for home.

September 2025 After…read morewalking a zillion miles around downtown Austin to find the botanical gardens, we stopped by here for a bite to eat before continuing our walk to our final destination. It was packed but we were able to get a booth pretty quickly. Our server was lovely. She brought us chips & salsa then took our order. We didn't have to wait too long before she brought our food over. It was delicious and plenty of it too! Lots of tables inside and plenty of parking in the lot. ~ and that's all I have to say about that...

Chuys is always amazing. Has been for so many years…read more Classic Mexican food done well. Amazing cocktails and fantastic service. Every time we are in Austin, we go to Chuys.