Here Nor There is a cool, intimate speakeasy that makes you feel like you've stepped into another…read moreworld through its storybook-style menu and delicious cocktails. The entrance is tucked away in a gated alley, and you'll need a reservation to receive the gate code. As soon as we walked in, we were welcomed with complimentary prosecco. Every drink we tried was fantastic, and you can tell the bartenders put a lot of care and creativity into each cocktail. I highly recommend the Milk & Honey and the Wildflower Highball. Toward the end of our visit, the staff surprised me with a complimentary Desert Water for my birthday. It was such a thoughtful gesture and made my night even more memorable!

Here Nor There is one of the best speakeasies in Austin, hands down…read more The drinks are always incredible--thoughtfully crafted and consistently good. The ambiance is moody and intimate, with music that makes the whole experience feel elevated. Definitely a go-to for a great night.

Upon stepping in I felt like I was transported to Miami in the 70s or 80s. Once you enter you turn…read morein your phones making it easy to lose time in connecting with your company. The staff was super nice and attentive our waitress came by multiple times and drinks were good and quick. They have a fun magazine style menu and plenty of options including mocktails. The mocktails were well balanced and not too sweet and my husband enjoyed every drink he tried. We ordered the French fries which were so good the perfect blend of freshness and salt. Would definitely come back for the ambiance and the no phones was a great reminder to connect to who your with and be present.

The vibes are great, but I'm not sure they are worth the wait. There are two lines: one for…read morewalk-ins and one for those with reservations. We waited maybe 15 minutes at the walk-in line as others progressively started to pile on behind us. Then again, even people in the reservation line were waiting. This is definitely the kind of place that wants you to wait. The kind of place that wants to build a line outdoors to intrigue onlookers. We were treated nicely, but we definitely could have gotten in right away. By the time we walked in, the place was probably at 60% capacity. It was standing room only at the bar, but not overcrowded by any means. There is a dress code, but it's not entirely clear what it is. Some guy dressed to the 9s got turned away for not having sleeves whereas I got in with sneakers and a t-shirt. They ask for your cellphones upon entering and give you a key in exchange, but there doesn't seem to be any security to enforce it if you don't want to give them up. I have no problem with their policy, but I bet a lot of customers do. Interestingly, their little social experiment seemed to have a positive effect, where we ended up talking to strangers and vice versa. The Powder Room may be making America social again.

We visited Prohibition ATX and loved our experience! Although it took us about 5 minutes to find…read morethe entrance, once we did, we were glad we made the effort. The atmosphere is very relaxed and cozy/fun. The bartenders were very helpful and the drinks were delicious. I highly recommend the old fashioned!

I am a sucker for a speakeasy when it is done right. I love the idea of being somewhere that not…read moreeveryone knows about. It feels like an IYKYK atmosphere. Located off Anderson Mill in the corner of a strip mall is a bookshelf with a door on the right side. If you cannot figure out the entrance, there is a doorbell to ring as well. I believe it is owned by the same people who own The Mill bar right next door, which makes it feel like a cool bonus space. My friend and I sat next to a faux fireplace, where we were greeted by the only bartender working and placed our order. Once he opened the tab, it was disappointing that he never came back to check if we wanted another drink. It wasn't super busy on the Monday we went, but since he was the only one manning the bar, the bartender was always doing something, so I don't blame him fully for not checking back in with us. I ordered a drink called the Velvet Vice. It looked nothing like the picture and tasted similar to an Aviation cocktail with egg whites. I happened to really like it. It is a very relaxed space, but once the speakeasy gimmick wears off, it does not have much else going for it. It is still a cool place, but I am not sure it was worth the lengthy drive to get there. RIYL: A bar hidden behind a bookshelf

5-star speakeasy...if you like cool, secretive, unusual speakeasy cocktail bars - this is the place…read morefor you! Located on 6th street in downtown Austin (near the Driskill hotel), in what looks like from the street an apartment complex. You buzz the "secret" button and if you have a reservation, they let you in and escort you to your beautiful, sexy table. Their menu is creative and their every cocktail delicious! The theme we experienced was tarot cards and we loved the presentation and creativity of cocktails. Service is excellent and all drinks are around $20. Worth a visit for sure - great 5-star speakeasy and so fun for a date or with a group.

This is an interesting establishment, and I think I liked the cocktails more than the food. It is…read moredefinitely a date night spot, although there were some families here as well. We didn't get to sit near the conveyor belts, but we were ok with it because we were still able to enjoy the decor. Parking can get tight very quickly. We didn't have a reservation, but I think we were very lucky to get a table for 2.

Eden Cocktail Bar is a great spot in Austin. The drinks are excellent and I loved the Maravilla. It…read moreis their take on a mezcal old fashioned and it is absolutely fantastic. The music is on point and it makes the whole place feel lively without being overwhelming. One tip: reservations are highly recommended because it fills up quickly. Also, the entrance can be a little tricky to find the first time. You enter from the alley between 6th and 7th Street on San Jacinto. Overall, amazing drinks, great vibe, and definitely a place I recommend checking out if you are in Austin.

We've done Eden Cocktail Room's Valentine's experience in the past and had a great time. We've also…read morebeen on other occasions and have always enjoyed the drinks and the atmosphere, which is why we chose to return again this year for a Valentine's surprise my husband had prepaid for. When we arrived, we were asked for a credit card, which was confusing since the experience was already paid for. My husband asked our server what the prepaid experience included and was told it came with "2 pairings," so we reasonably assumed that meant two drinks each. At the end of the night, we were presented with an additional $80 bill. When we questioned this, the manager explained that the prepaid "pairings" were actually just small pieces of truffle chocolate meant to accompany drinks, and that the prepaid price was for the chocolate and "access" to the Valentine's Day menu -- not the drinks themselves. None of this was clearly explained upfront, and the wording of "2 pairings" is misleading. Had we understood that the $60 per person covered only chocolate and menu access, we would have made a different decision. What was meant to be a special Valentine's surprise ended up feeling confusing and disappointing due to poor communication. Clearer explanations and transparency would go a long way.

Oh how I love this teeny, tiny, adorbs little speakeasy with its neon-light accents…read more I'm talking like seating for 8-12 people tiny. Though tiny, it boasts sleek and aerodynamic vibes with the decor and layout. It's the companion bar to Here Nor There. For that reason alone, you know it's good. Sadly, I've only been able to visit once. Don't feel too badly for me, it's walking distance from my apartment and I shall go again! I'm a sucker for a good craft cocktail, most especially those with a nod towards Europe. When we went, I had the spritz flight (3 different) and my boyfriend had the Dublin Drop. Fantastic! Like I always say about an excellent cocktail, works of liquid art. Service=impeccable. Heads up, they don't take reservations.

In Plain Sight is the sister bar of Here Nor There (IYKYK). That alone is reason enough to visit…read more They recently expanded their business hours and are now open daily. The bar is very tiny (maybe 10 seats at the bar, 4 window seats, and approximately 6 or so seats on the patio). They are walk in only. The lighting is super cool. The color hues subtly change which gives the space a cool ambiance. I happened to be out on a Monday night and decided to stop by for a night cap. When I walked in, I was the only patron. Chad was behind the bar and he was extremely nice and very personable. I started with the Green Reviver #2. It was a melon twist on the classic Corpse Reviver #2 and it was good! I really enjoyed the chive oil. I followed with the House Negroni. This was hands down the best Negroni that I've ever had. The strawberry twist on it elevated it! I finished with a mocktail. I told Chad to surprise me and he made an NA version of the Yellow Margarita. I enjoyed this and it was refreshing! I mentioned to Chad that I like clarified cocktails so he made me a sample of the Clarified Piña Colada. It was really good! The melon and lemongrass gave it an interesting flavor. I was fortunate enough to return a few weeks later. Freya was working behind the bar and he was just as nice and personable as Chad. I tried the Blue Clover Club. I loved the flavors and presentation of this drink! The raspberry lemon foam was so good and added a nice texture! I also had a House Negroni because I enjoyed it so much the first time. I've only visited twice, but In Plain Sight is definitely one of my favorite cocktail bars in Austin. I'm looking forward to returning so that I can try more of their interesting and unique cocktails!

It's a rainy night in Austin. My girlfriend is in town because my cousin and her fiancé are getting…read moremarried in Austin. It's also the weekend of our one year anniversary. An hour ago it wasn't raining, but now it's pouring. A few months ago, I heard of a newer bar and experience called Equipment Room just right off of South Congress. Music means everything to me. Nothing can express emotions and instill a feeling in 3 minutes like a song can. I live for that. Equipment Room is inherently Japanese in concept. Existing in Japan for over 50 years, listening bars combine high fidelity audio equipment with impressively crafted cocktails and alcohol combining the passion of music in a space to gather with comfortable chairs and a beautiful atmosphere. The concept has expanded westward as all cool things inevitably do, but I would never think a spot would be successful in Austin like it would be in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and so on. As I back my car into a parking spot on South Congress, I grab the umbrella out of my trunk and walk my girlfriend and me to the entrance trying to not get ourselves soaked in the process. This is not the first time we have tried to go to Equipment Room. We tried to get a walk-in table just to see out of morbid curiosity and that was a failure. I booked her and me a table for this night and I was madly looking forward to it. As we got to the small entrance, we were introduced to the hostess who brought us from the stairs into the main underground space and to our seats on the couch in a large wraparound sofa with other parties sitting near us. The music is faint from the entrance, but once you walk through the main walkway, a wave of sound hits your eardrums. You're immediately engrossed into the music like walking into a concert hall or putting a fresh pair of headphones on for the first time. As we sat down, selections from Outkast's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik were playing through the speakers. Our hostess introduced us to their "User Manual" (their menu) where it contained all the snacks and drinks you could get your grubby hands on. There's more than just drinks and food on the menu. The first page introduces the concept and gives a few house rules. The second page shows all the equipment this so-called room has, from the premium Klipsch speakers, their preamps and amplifiers as well as their turntables and mixers. It's a dream page for music nerds. I want a $15k speaker in my apartment, but those noise complaints would never end. Our waitress came by shortly to give us water and take our order. Their menu is quite expansive, but the main pages we were told to check out were their A-side drinks or the classics and their B-side drinks, which are more experimental. We had to go with experimental for starters because who knows when you'll get to try something similar again. I started with a Goca Dünya while my girlfriend ordered a Deceptacon. The Goca Dünya was a vodka based floral drink with pistachio foam and Amaro Nonino, an Italian herbal liqueur. The Deceptacon was a rum-based cacao drink with a touch of lime and mint. It took a little time for our drinks to come out, clearly, as they are quite intricate. I loved my drink, bluntly. The pistachio foam was a great balance to the herbal flavors at the bottom. My girlfriend and I continued to enjoy each other's company as the music continued. The space we were in was decorated with posters and memorabilia from legendary artists coming through Austin and some general music decor like that purple album from that Prince guy. The DJ-curator that night was on a tear playing incredible soul music holding the bar hostage with a taste of funk. Jimmy Smith came next before transitioning to a few tracks from Bobbie Gentry. The last albums he pulled out were Steely Dan's Aja (a stone cold classic) and Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life (a top 10 album of all time). Not only was he playing classics like Isn't She Lovely, but he threw down some deeper cuts like Black Man and Contusion. Incredible. We both got another drink with my girlfriend getting their A-Side Espresso Martini while I got the Brown Sugar from their B-Sides. It was a seaweed and mushroom infused whiskey with a few more bells and whistles and it was super unique. Quite a bit of their menu is Japanese-inspired in homage to the originators of listening bars. This includes Japanese beer, sake, and Japanese-inspired food and beverages on their menu. Very cool. The worst part of the night came when our hour and 45 minute reservation came to a close. I could've stayed there for another 3 hours and never grown tired, but with how popular this space has become, they gotta kick you out at some point. This is an experience you have to have. It's worth it. I'll be strolling back in soon enough because there is nothing like this in Austin and it's truly a special space. RIYL: Actively listening to music.

I visited The Equipment Room tonight to celebrate my wife's birthday, and unfortunately our…read moreexperience at the entrance was disappointing. When we walked in, the hostess asked us to return to the first room because she was not at the seating area. She then told us there was no available seating, which was surprising since I had just been inside and saw multiple open seats, including two that had just been vacated. The hostess--her name sounded like Constanza--explained that the room was full because of Memorial Day weekend. When I said we didn't mind waiting since it was only midnight, she then stated they would be closing soon at 1 a.m., even though the posted closing time is 2 a.m. These explanations contradicted each other, and her tone came across as dismissive. She avoided eye contact, offered no real assistance, and ultimately suggested we check for seats ourselves, which felt unwelcoming and unprofessional. For a venue with such a strong reputation, especially on a special occasion, the interaction fell far below expectations. I hope the team can ensure more consistent and courteous service at the host stand moving forward.

My boyfriend and I came in for happy hour without a reservation and were seated immediately. The…read morebar had a dark, cozy, and intimate atmosphere. We ordered the Espresso Martini, Vodkadora, French 75, and Pisco Sour. All of the drinks were strong and delicious! The service was fantastic as well. The staff was attentive and friendly throughout our visit. Definitely check this place out if you're in the area! We'll definitely be back to try more drinks.

I stumbled into this bar and it is the most beautiful space. The couch/ alcove seating they have is…read moremy favorite. You can sit to face the beautiful bar and watch the old movies they play. There is no sound so if they put the words on you could know what's happening but that's not the point. The vibe is curated! Their menu takes your through time and has drinks from each decade. It's such fun experience to drink through different eras.

I can't believe I'm just now checking out Floppy Disk Repair Co., aka Red Headed Stepchild…read more From the outside it doesn't even look like a bar, but iykyk. So fun getting in since there's a keycode needed to enter. You can grab it from their website or from the bartender next door. Once inside, the whole place is glowing in red light and feels like stepping into some weird retro horror movie fever dream. The menu is huge with all kinds of wild drinks to try, and the staff totally match the vibe, funny, friendly, and clearly having a good time. The music was loud in the best way with 80s and 90s hits playing. The decor is horror movie stuff like The Shining, Psycho, Chucky, and more little details everywhere you look. They even have some bar swings, which looks like such fun spot! It's a tiny bar with a limit of only 50 people, so it feels crowded fast, but that's kind of what makes it fun. Definitely one of the more memorable bars I've been to and I will be back.

A cool little speakeasy in downtown Austin. There is a code to get in, but we were lucky as they…read moreweren't busy the night we went :) The staff are so warm and energetic. LOVE! The menu is really fun, and the names of the drinks are edgy. I kind of forgot what what we got but it was delicious, and has mezcal in it. Only nit is towards the end of our visit, they turned up the music SO LOUD, my ears hurt and my voice also hurt from yelling while trying to make conversation.

One of the most attractive performing spaces in Austin…read more If they happen to be booking music that you like, you are made in the shade. * The club is on three levels. The Ground Floor: A larger than usual performance space. Larger than usual because it takes up the entire footprint of the building with no space set aside for seating. If you want to dance or they are packing them in SRO, the square footage is there. Okay - it is not as big as the Concourse Project which has an entire South-of the-Airport Industrial Warehouse to work with. But for downtown, it is huge. * The Mezzanine - This is one place to go if you want to sit down. The space is divided between a) a set of large leather chairs with a pool table in the middle. The pool table area is on an open balcony that lets you hear or even watch the bands from on high. There is a bench with stools right on the balcony edge for semi-comfortable listening to the band below. If I am listening to the music, I will take the leather chairs rather than a stool. Ever try boogie-ing on a stool? Ever get transported to a higher place by the mystic beauty of what you are hearing on a stool? Slapstick moments await. However, it is hard to argue with a leather chair for big time listening. b) the Mezzanine bar with and a bunch of chairs and benches near a bowling alley. ?!?!? on the Bowling Alley. The Great Lebowski never had it so good. If you push the matter, the bar might even be able to make you a White Russian. * The Roof - which has one of the nicest and most comfortable roof sitting areas in Austin. There are places with nicer roof views, but not very many places with as much seating and as much comfortable seating. And yes there is a music stage if management decides they want to mix things up soundwise. Mostly though, this is a perfect place to rest your tootsies if standing listening to bands has become too much for you. It is also the perfect safety place if the band downstairs stinks so much, you need two floors of real estate between you and the abomination on stage. * I can't speak for the quality of the bar. I was here for a German government sponsored SXSW showcase - in this case of all Berlin DJs. Berlin DJs are up there with Ibiza DJs for being the best that electronic dance music has to offer. (That night however, an unknown Austin girl filled in for a missing act - and held her own with the best of Berlin. Suxxy Puxxy. Keep your eyes out for her if you like to dance.) The German government was offering free drinks as part of the motivation for you to come in to German Haus and hear free music. No exotic hard to get German beverages but I was pleased to take the normal stuff they were offering. So how good the bar is or how good the musicians they book are are TBD. * * * I generally find the Mohawk is a hard standard to beat ... So it is hard to get me to shift to other clubs. Still the space offered by the Speakeasy is extremely appealing. It would not take much for me to make an excuse to come back.

I've been to speakeasy a dozen times and it's funny how each visit can be completely different…read morebased on the band, event or even floor that you're on. This last visit we were on the main floor watching the live band and the vocalist was SO good. I think they went by the Souvenirs. There were good vibes and lots of dancing and singing. We tried a few drinks but my favorite was the hill country cooler. If you like sweet drinks, this one is for you. It was sweet tea vodka and peach in a cute mason jar with a peach gummy.