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    The Vortex

    4.0 (56 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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    Venue rental

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    Edwyn A.

    The vortex is an intimate performance venue off manor road. It has a small indoor theater and an outside stage. Most of the ticketed events are inside. You check in at the box office and they give you a coin to use as your ticket when entering the theater. There's a main seating area and a side seating area. They put on variety of show throughout the year. At they have mutt cracker a nutcracker inspired show performed with rescued dogs. It's great to support community theater especially works that are in the periphery and cutting edge, The butterfly bar and patrizi's are also on property so it's popular for drinks and food too.

    Griselda
    Christa C.

    This is a very quirky, keep austin weird vibe bar. They had open mic when we went and there was good energy all around. Lots of college age students. I got the Griselda drink and it was a very fruity sweet choice. This is also the location of the Italian food truck Patrizis. I didn't get to try but would like to come back next time to!

    Alica S.

    BUTTERFLY BAR!! Where?!? Didn't see a single butterfly but had a shit ton of mesquitos. Had a SOLID French 75. Need to try the pasta place next time I come!!

    the entrance to the restaurant
    Heather B.

    This is a terrific community venue. I've seen some good productions (plays and other performances) here and attended some merchant/fair events. Their courtyard is designed perfectly for events like that, as it's not a flat, square space. The Butterfly Bar is on-site as well, which can add to the Vortex experience you are having. I look forward to seeing what is happening here.

    Stage

    Edit Annie was fantastic! I'm so glad my partner and I came here for our first visit to Austin and we can't wait to come back for another show. The venue was very cool as well. Delicious house made pasta at Patrizi's. The intimate theater was indoors adjacent to the Butterfly Bar, really loved the vibe of the whole venue. Enjoy live music outdoors before the show. The only downside to the theater seats was that they were a bit uncomfortable. My arms were falling asleep from resting on the metal arm rests. There was a reclining feature at least, so just scootch forward for some extra seat space. Tips: - Come early to eat Patrizi's delicious pasta beforehand, give yourself 1.5 hours, maybe even longer for larger parties of 4+. - Theater doors will not open until 15 minutes before the show, so you can relax and grab a drink until then. - Get tickets and all other theater rules and details on The Vortex website. - ENJOY!

    View from the box area seats.
    Sarah F.

    Support the arts! This place is a gem. It was my first visit and I felt unsure of where to go. Luckily, the staff are friendly and helpful; they were all willing to explain things and point me in the right direction. I didn't arrive in time to eat from the Italian food truck in the beer garden, but I did get to sit at an outdoor table with my drink from the Butterfly bar (beer, wine, full bar + mocktails). Ten minutes before showtime, the manager rang a bell and announced it was time to come in. The play was awesome -- a mono drama carried by an actor who was a force of nature. It's incredible what one person can conjure up for an audience. I will be back!!

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    Patrizi's, perfect understated kitchy art bar ambiance, weird puppet show = perfect night out

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    Nice bar next to cute little private theater. Watched the Muttcracker - cute little play with rescue dogs.

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    Cool venue. But only come here if your thing is spending 30+ on objectively shitty cocktails....

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Vortex

    Review Highlights - The Vortex

    The intimate theater was indoors adjacent to the Butterfly Bar, really loved the vibe of the whole venue.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    A great place to hold and event! I have been here a few times both working and enjoying events…read morebeing held. They have friendly staff and a great location in East Austin where you can make any vision happen!

    UPDATE: We just read Christina's review. Yikes. Didn't know one couldn't research vendors, that a…read morepotential host had to use one only allowed by Moya the owner. Not good. Christina also confirmed this in her review, you HAVE to use one of MOYA's vendors. So sorry, Christina, for your horrible experience at Springdale Station, and for getting ripped off. We ALSO definitely do NOT recommend Springdale Station! Honest review for those considering this as a venue: The indoor space is very SMALL. It is not a good location for a large amount of guests. You will find three rooms inside (one with some stairs that are required to access it). The foyer serves as one of these rooms, so once you make it through the line to get inside, you are inside one of the three small rooms! The event we attended was very crowded and everyone was bumping into each other. Again, in OUR experience, this is NOT a good venue for a large group of people. The outside has a very small patio, with a LARGE amount of dirt. Definitely not a good location for anything even slightly dressy. Something casual, cowboy-like, perhaps a kids' casual party...those might work. The dirt area is large. (And VERY dirty!) We came home with dirt up to our calves. Gross! Keep this in mind, and check this out thoroughly before signing any contract with Moya. Buyer beware!!! Outside seating on the small patio was extremely limited. Literally only ONE sofa. Moya needs to addressed this. Would be nice if guests could actually sit down. Ridiculously inhospitable! We have attended several events in Austin, this one is only suitable for a super casual OUTDOOR event. (And hopefully it is priced accordingly...). Again, please prepare to get dirty if the weather is dry, and if it rains you will have muddy shoes. If you wear any type of heel, you will sink into their wet mud. Again, this is another item that Moya still needs to address. (Hello? GREATLY enlarge that tiny patio!). Good grief. Last issue - parking. Many other reviewers have also mentioned this. The parking lot was large, but it was (is) shared by other businesses so finding an actual parking spot was very difficult. Highly recommend if you have to go to Springdale Station that you use a taxi, (etc.) to get there and back. Again, research thoroughly before committing. There are so many other decent venues in Austin, we don't know why anyone would pick this one!

    Upstairs at Caroline - Upstairs at Caroline backyard

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    A total vibe! I loved this spot and the outdoor bar area. It's lit up by twinkle lights with plenty…read moreof TVs to watch the game. They had a frozen watermelon rose I tried which I really like, if you get an additional shooter to go with it, make sure you mix it in! They have a good amount of drinks to choose from, it's a great place to chill with friends and enjoy the weather. Lots of seating and picnic table style seating. I've been twice and would definitely go back!

    I recently visited Upstairs at Caroline for a Logitech SXSW installation event, and the experience…read morewas a great mix of creative energy and Austin atmosphere. The venue itself has a lively, open feel with an urban backyard vibe and plenty of space to move around, mingle, and actually take in the installation without feeling crowded. What stood out most was how well the space complemented the event. The layout made it easy to engage with the installation while still enjoying the social vibe. They had space for working virtually as well as displays to test some of the technology. There's a nice balance between indoor comfort and that signature rooftop-style setting, which gives it a relaxed but elevated feel. The staff was friendly and kept things running smoothly, and the overall setup felt thoughtfully organized. Whether you were there to focus on the installation or just take it in casually, the environment supported both. The line was somewhat long to get into the event as it was at capacity and could only allow more people as people were leaving the event. I was given a drink ticket and got to try the Patio Pounder with ilegal mezcal, primo aperitivo, tropical citrus, coconut, grapefruit soda. The bartender was efficient even though the lines were long. The cocktail was enjoyable with the balance of smoky and citrus flavors. They also had a variety of food bites available including chips and queso. creamy street corn, and sliders. The food was gone relatively quickly due to the crowds but it would be replenished periodically. Overall, Upstairs at Caroline proved to be a solid venue for a creative SXSW event versatile, welcoming, and very on-brand for Austin's arts and tech scene.

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    We visited Tiger Lilly for my girlfriend's birthday weekend, and let me just say, it was a vibe…read more She had been looking for a spot that had that moody, speakeasy feel with an artsy aesthetic for some birthday pics, and this place delivered. We actually found it pretty last minute and decided to go early since we knew we'd be taking photos and didn't want to deal with crowds. When we arrived, it was pretty quiet, which honestly worked out perfectly for us. The décor is bold and eclectic in the best way, think velvet booths, curated gallery walls, low lighting, and these amazing feathered chandeliers that tie the whole space together. We ordered the Tiger Lilly cocktail and the Elote, both were fantastic. The drinks are not only pretty but good, which isn't always a given in places that are more vibe-forward. Ours were balanced, flavorful, and well-presented. The DJ was there, early, which was a nice surprise, it gave the whole place some life without being overwhelming. The staff was super kind, especially the manager who came by to check in and even gave us a little background on the space. We appreciated how welcoming everyone was. We heard that the night before had been packed, so it sounds like this place definitely fills up later at night. We're looking forward to coming back when it's livelier to get the full experience, but for a chill early visit focused on ambiance, great service, and creative drinks, it absolutely hit the mark. Pro tip: If you're someone who loves a visually aesthetic experience and wants a place to snap a few pics before the rush, go early like we did. Can't wait to return!

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    I hosted my Big Lebowski themed birthday party at Saengerrunde's bowling alley and it was…read moreINCREDIBLE! Six private lanes of bowling, complete with shoes and bowling balls. There was also seating for probably 35 people inside and a massive private rooftop deck with plenty of seating and ambient lighting. Perfection! Working with Brent from start to end was so easy that I thought I had to be missing something. Turns out I was not missing anything; he just never over complicated it! Thank you, Brent! We were allowed access all day but because the aesthetic of the place was perfect for our theme, we didn't need it until about 2 hours before go time. There's a full kitchen and an ice machine so that added to the ease. You can provide your own food and booze, hire a caterer, or utilize the offerings at Sholz Garten (attached). I had a friend do my food, brought my own booze, and hired the other bowling alley operator to bartend (he is TABC certified). In addition to the bartender, I also had to pay for a bowling alley operator (Brent), which makes a lot of sense. The machines are relics and need some professional tending to. That being said, we had zero hold ups to our throwing rocks! We even got a little tour of how these ancient machines work :) Upon the completion of my party, both the bartender and operator hopped to helping us clean. They handled trash and basically all cleaning. We just had to get our stuff out of there. So easy! I'm now searching for another reason to host something here. It's affordable, centrally located, unique, and EASY! Thanks Saengerrunde and Brent!

    Oh my goodness, where do I even begin?…read more Reagan, the coordinator for this venue, rocks! I sent Reagan an email last year when I started looking at Austin venues to get married at. Lots of places where people could gather, be merry and have fun! This isn't really your typical wedding venue, but with so much history behind the place and many renovation projects undertaken, it's so charming that I can see why others have used this space!! I sent Reagan the date I wanted, she mentioned the Halle would be $2000 for Fridays and Saturdays. We wanted a Saturday so we paid for only that day. Reagan sent over the contract, we placed a credit card on file as our deposit to secure the date and all was swell!!! The week before our wedding event was to take place, we met up, handed Reagan the check, she went over details as to how to access the venue, was so chill that even though we did not have the space rented Friday, that we could have our stuff there to decorate the day before. I cannot tell you how many Austin venues I had to reach out to that were so pricy and had so many things adding up and it was just so refreshing to have her help us through this. We spent Friday decorating the hall, so many Christmas lights hung. I remember asking Reagan if we needed to bring our own command hooks but she was like we're totally covered on that. If you rent the Halle and also want to use Christmas lights, I'll let you know that she's totally serious. We didn't need a single hook that wasn't already in there. Hidden outlets everywhere everything was already good to go and in place. We had some ladders behind the stage that a maintenance guy fixing the bowling alley spilled the beans was hiding behind there as we brought our own ladder but it wasn't high enough for some of the ceiling areas. As a bride, I got ready behind the Halle Area and in the bowling alley. Even though we didn't pay for that area, Reagan, totally helped out in letting us get ready behind there to help make everything easier for things to come together so we could make our grand entrance through to walk to the stage through those doors. If you're choosing to use this venue, I can't highly recommend Reagan as she's also a mini event planner who's seen lots and can give tips, especially if you use the catering crew as Scholz Garten next door who knows the Halle just as well and makes your life a whole lot easier! We decorated, took the trash out, and left everything as we found it and it was all so easy! A bride on a budget, with friends and family to help set up and take down for a fun day together and we were all good to go! I highly recommend working with Reagan in using this wonderful Halle, so much history, beauty and Austiny enough! Love!! PS. You can BYOB! We had tons of alcohol at our wedding to make sure we'd have an open bar without breaking the bank partying and you do not need a TABC bartender to serve but we had one so we had someone professional making those fun drinks. No open flames, real candles, things that can burn the place down. For good reason, this place is old and we wanna keep it alive. We had sparklers we lit outside on the sidewalk and did our send-off, gorgeous and quiet on 4th of July evening. Perfection.

    The Vortex - theater - Updated May 2026

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