I wish they had one of these in Miami!!! Such a cool concept for an arcade…read more It's as noisy as any arcade but they do have seating area outside which is cool because they have swings as seats. Beers were nice and cold and the games are fairly priced. Parking is ample

Arcade bars are a glorious creation. To look at the classic concept of a pizzeria with an arcade…read moreand say, "What if it was 18+ after 9 pm and we brew our own beers and ciders?" is brilliant. Even more brilliant is making all the arcade machines free play, so when you pay the $12.99 to get in, you have the opportunity to play any game your heart desires. I drank two beers while at Cidercade, their Texas Blonde and their Pistolas Mexican Lager. Both were good and easy to drink. All the arcade games have nearby areas to place your drinks so you can lock in on the games as needed. The collection of games is great and varied, from pinball machines and Japanese rhythm games to classic arcade games like Q*bert, Donkey Kong, Tetris, and more. There are racing games, Guitar Hero Arcade, rail shooters, Pop-A-Shot, skee ball, and plenty of other options. I enjoy that most of the people moving around Cidercade feel pretty sophisticated and do not get too rowdy like at other bars. Everyone is there to have a good time and chill. All the games are clean, which is crazy knowing how much beer and how many drinks are being consumed around them. A little booze in your system and playing pinball is an amazing experience, and I cannot wait to go back. RIYL: The Y2K center but you were alive in the 2000s.

First off, for a jazz club in Austin, it has all the ambience. Good conversation, pretty solid…read morecocktails and of course, great music. It is a very lively atmosphere that's accompanied with dim lighting after a long day. I really like how it's never too crowded since they control the amount of patrons allowed. However, service is not great. I hope it's a fluke, but consistency is present on how the waiters and bartenders interact with paying music enjoyers. Could not have begged more to order drinks or get a couple waters to a full table. I suggest tipping the musicians before being met with the lack of friendly service. Or even service for that matter.

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.

Entering from the lobby, it felt like a maze trying to find the right elevator and then figure out…read morewhere to go once I got off. After exiting the elevator, I ended up meandering through what felt like the entire rooftop pool deck with rows and rows of seating, a beautifully laid-out space, and a huge outdoor area before finally reaching the actual bar on the other side of the building. Verdict: best pool, least impressive late-night drink options. The rooftop space itself is massive and gorgeous, with seating spread around fire features and plenty of room to roam. It's the kind of place that makes you want to book a stay just to have access to the pool and outdoor area. Drink-wise, though, the menu was very limited, and they didn't have any mocktails listed. I asked for "anything mocktail," and they brought me a virgin Lady Bird. It was mostly juice, but still tasty and refreshing for $8.

My friends and I had a FABULOUS time here. The ambiance is beautiful and so cozy! Without a res on…read morea Friday evening (around 6:30/7) we were able to get a nice, big cabana area. The couches were so comfortable and the ambiance was so pretty. In terms of the drinks and food, it was okay! Got the job done, but nothing to rave about. I enjoyed the sliders the most. I enjoyed my drink as well (5th Floor Cooldown) once we added the extra sweetener we requested. Without it, I wasn't a huge fan (wasn't sweet, despite being told that it was). Valet parking is only $15 (for 2 hours) with validation. I appreciated that, as it made parking not a headache.

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.

What an awesome find. This bar is the perfect joint for people not into a pretentious hipster vibe…read more Had such a great time for their Star Wars May the 4th Be With You party. Awesome people. Great bartenders. Chill outdoor scene. I hope this place stays just the way it is.

I wanted to like this place. The good: the music (and that's it)…read more We came in on a Sunday night and were happy that we could find a place that was still open till 2 AM. As we got to the bar, we met the disaster of the bartender woman with glasses. She looked at all of us weirdly and was overall very aloof. We asked for the drink menu and she just pointed at what was on the counter. Okay, I thought. Just a bit quiet. I asked a few questions about the drinks and she rudely responded with one word answers. I ordered the martini and she gave me a weird look and then made it, very antagonistically. I didn't tip her. There was no service involved (she just mixed the drink and handed it to me) and we were to sit at the booth. She then interrogated my two friends about it, angrily asking why I wouldn't tip and saying odd personal information of how she makes $10 an hour only. I understand that, and I always tip at restaurants when the waiter or waitress serves me at the table, but when I'm just picking up an item, I don't tip out of principle (why should I)? It made the entire evening really weird and uncomfortable. I wouldn't recommend this place. Drinks are overpriced ($10.75 for the old-fashioned = whisky + ice?!) The music is great but there are plenty of other places with fantastic live music in Austin, don't bother with this. And the service is by far the worst I've ever encountered at a bar. Trust me, stay away.

This place is super fun! I came for the drag show called Coco Cxnts and this was my second time…read moreseeing them, they're Beautiful, funny and super entertaining. We had some shots and drank beer. If you're hungry, there's a restaurant downstairs where you can order some delicious food and bring it up, I didn't eat this time but people seemed pleased. Pro tip: bring single dollars, the bartender will give you only $20 at a time.

I treated my family to a drag brunch here for my birthday and it was a blast. Well, the…read moreperformances were especially for a $0 cover. It rained and it made the performances even better. The bartenders were extraordinarily jaded and kind of rude. They absolutely did not want to be there. My biggest gripe was that there were such limitations on alcoholic beverages. THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MIMOSAS!! We did enjoy the food from Traphouse Caribbean. It just was an awkward setup. The bouncers were dull and also didn't appear to enjoy their job. Aside from the negatives, we had a great time. My brother got a bottle of prosecco (hmm...suspicious since there was none when I asked) poured into his eye by one of the queens and they gave him a dirty bandana to clean it up. Nice! I found this quite hilarious. I got hit on in the bathroom which was flattering. Yay for LGBTQ+ spaces! This place was voted best drag in 2022 but I don't see it being voted the best until a lot of changes are made. I still had a wonderful time!

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.

Great views! Great service! Great margaritas!…read more Friends and I came here on a Friday night with reservations, but they didn't seem necessary since it didn't get very packed and there was plenty of empty tables/seats throughout the entirety of our time there. FYI: To get upstairs to the rooftop, you need key card access to use the elevator so go to the front desk first and notify them that you're there for Azul!

Beautiful spot! Highest rooftop bar in Austin - far from the highest building but that kind of…read moremakes it even cooler from a view standpoint. Drinks - good! Desserts - ok! Our two non- drinkers got desserts and they were adorable and looked so nice and also tasted very good. However they probably were premade and kept in a fridge so the texture was a challenge - hard to cut into the brownie sundae cup. Would love to come back though - relaxing and fun!

Just wanted to update my Yelp review for the Skylark Lounge since it had been over 5 yrs from my…read moreprevious review left back in 2019. Skylark Lounge is still a great spot to check out live music & we recently saw The Reverent Few band and Brian Scartocci perform on 09/21/2024 ( see the videos included in this review of the live action!) For those who have never been to Skylark before here are a few highlights - This venue does have several tables & booths inside however, it isn't very big inside so I would definitely recommend you get there a bit earlier to grab a table. Parking is free. No food options to order. Clean restrooms! Small dance floor to get your groove on!! Till next time! Rebecca

Great spot to enjoy live Blues and Soul Music. Drinks are…read morereasonable and strong, try the tropical thunder punch. There's a guy that sells nice hats and another that sells bleach art t-shirts. The back patio is big and has plenty of seating to enjoy the night air.

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.