I was invited by a friend, along with 10 of her closest friends, to attend a 1950s-themed murder…read moremystery in The Power Room (conveniently located in the back of Manny's Bar.) Murder mystery events are pretty common in Washington State, and we have attended several over the years. We have also hosted a Star Trek murder mystery dinner at our home. In case you are wondering, the hubs is the Trekkie. Since this was an all-girls event, I was flying solo. My first challenge was deciding what to wear. One thing was transparently clear...I was not about to spend money on an outfit destined to spend the rest of its life collecting dust in the back of my closet. After some extensive "research" (mainly googling 1950s fashion and perusing my closet), I pieced together a respectable 1950s outfit. It consisted of a pencil skirt with a little swing, a short-sleeved cardigan, and a sequined top to fit the prom-night theme. I completed the look with ankle socks, flat shoes, neck scarf, and a period-inspired hair clip. It would not have won an award for best dressed, however, I blended right in. Upon entering The Power Room, we were instructed to surrender our cell phones. Wait...what? My phone is essentially my third arm, personal assistant, camera, GPS, calculator and all things essential. Are you serious?! I exhaled as I handed over my phone. You received a wristband with your locker key attached. While I may not always agree with the rules, I am a dedicated rules follower. I reluctantly complied and tried to survive the acute separation anxiety. In addition, the event required a two-drink minimum, and the food options were fairly limited. Our server did an outstanding job keeping everyone's orders straight. Considering our group size and enthusiasm level, that alone deserved an award. Drinks and food were good. The murder mystery itself differed from others I have attended. Typically, the suspects are played by seasoned performers who can think on their feet and fully commit to their roles. In this version, audience members were selected to play the suspects. While this created some hilarious and unpredictable moments, it also led to occasional responses like, "I don't know," or, "Give me a minute to think about that," which is suboptimal when trying to solve a murder. Even still, the audience participation added a unique charm and plenty of laughs. At the end of the evening, awards were handed out for Best Suspect, Best Death Scene, and the team that successfully solved the murder mystery. I am proud to report that one of our friends won Best Death Scene, proving that if you're going to be murdered, you should at least go out with flair. Now for our team... Let's just say the killer will not be losing any sleep over our investigative abilities as we did not solve the murder. Importantly, the evening was tremendously fun. Between the costumes, the laughter, the over-the-top performances, and the challenge of solving the crime, it made for a memorable night out.

We got there on time and had to wait 20 mins to be sat. We were asked to leave our table promptly…read moreat the 90-minute mark from when our reservation was supposed to begin; not factoring the time we lost at the table due to it not being ready for us. But it was more important to the Powder Room that the next group got their table on time, apparently. The drinks took soooo long, we got ONE round in, and were asked to leave the table before our second round arrived. They had no issues when taking our second round order while we were seated, but we were asked to leave the table immediately after. This round also took forever and we drank it standing, crowded, in everyone's way. I was embarrassed as it was my birthday, and I was taking a group of 7 other people - new to Austin - here to check out what was one of my favorite spots. I was bragging about it and chose it over other spots on their list. They hated it. I'm disappointed. Our server was great to us and apologetic about the service bar.

Came to Simona's with some coworkers for happy hour and was not disappointed! This place is behind…read morethe Colton hotel off Congress ave. There is a parking lot that you can get validation for 2 hrs free, but after that you will be charged. Overall though, it's totally worth a visit! The bartenders are really friendly, the bathrooms are immaculate, and the inside of the place is really cute -- think kinda pink vintage? There are some tables, and big comfy couches around a coffee table in the middle of the bar which is where we sat. I had one of their happy hour cocktails that was similar to a creamy espresso martini, and they are 50% off on happy hour days/times! My friend got one of their floral cocktails which wasn't discounted but I LOVED it personally. I also got a strawberry matcha drink (non alcoholic) that was a little too sweet in my opinion; I finished it but wouldn't get it again. Overall though the cocktails and vibe in there are worth a visit alone! When it's not too hot, the area outside has little mini-chandeliers and is also very vibey.

Located inside the Colton House Hotel, Simona's is the hotel's local resident serving coffee by…read moreday, and cocktails by night. I usually only go to coffee shops to work, but today, went on a coffee date with my dog instead. There's ground floor parking in the garage that's complimentary for two hours. I kept it simple with a vanilla latte. I noticed they had tacos at the bottom of the food menu, but at $13.25 for two tacos + an a la carte item, I decided to pass. Maybe my expectations were too high (as usual) because it's inside a hotel, but I was hoping for the kind of warm hospitality hotels are known for, but instead, the service felt a bit cold. It didn't exactly make me want to spend more money there. While sitting on the patio, I spotted the food truck outside and thought, "PERFECT. A food truck HAS to be cheaper. Take that Simona's!" I walked up to the window... only to find out it wasn't actually a separate food truck. It was just the pickup window. To order? I had to go back inside to Simona's and place my order with the delightful staff... I ended up ordering two Blue Migas tacos, and honestly, they were just... good, but nothing memorable. They tasted like your average breakfast tacos that you can find all over Austin for less. Despite loving how relaxing the outdoor patio is with its lucious greenery surrounding you and the beautiful French chairs and cafe tables, it's located right next to the hotel pool. If you're visiting on a summer afternoon, expect some extra noise with pool guests. If you're looking for a quiet coffee or a place to work, I'd recommend coming early in the morning instead.

A friend mentioned she was having dinner at The Roosevelt Room, and I realized I had never been, so…read moreI added it to my Austin dining bucket list. After attending a murder mystery event next door, I stopped in for a bite to eat. The Roosevelt Room is a whole vide...the quintessential romantic location. While the bar is best known for its expertly crafted cocktails, I enjoyed watching the bartenders at work and decided to save the cocktails for my next visit. The atmosphere blends speakeasy charm with modern elegance, featuring dim lighting and smooth sultry music in the background. It appears to be an ideal spot for a romantic date night, catching up with friends, or unwinding after a long day of work. I will definitely be back to sample their signature cocktails on a date night with the hubs.

Upscale yet fun cocktail bar with great staff and drinks…read more Food: 4 Service: 4.5 Atmosphere: 4.5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights - Classy atmosphere - Upstairs has a few tables and a quieter smaller bar - Downstairs has booths tables and a long bar which is a bit more lively - Isaac: skilled bartender that was fun to watch him make the drinks - Great temperature controlled drinks super cold classes--it's the little extra things that make a differene - Some cocktails have very cool glasses: one with a very long stem, a skull, etc. - Martinis: unique shisho and solid vesper - Grilled cheese: looked basic but the gouda and cheddar mix garlic rosemary oil on the sourdough bread, and crispy cheese on edges were great. 4.5 stars - Looks nice but no dress code where the FAQ said come in what you are comfortable in which which I appreciate - Can make reservation on open table and choose upstairs or down Midlights - Downstairs has a different menu than upstairs : down more simple by time period, up more upscale detailed - Pretzels for dessert were just simple tiny crispy choc covered. 3 stars - For the grilled cheese might have been able to go with an upgraded chip from Ruffles--maybe even a Kettle chip Lowlights - Even in quieter upstairs can't hear the bartender when right in front of him - Special board featuring drinks but they were out of the one I wanted

Cool, Quirky little bar, surrounded by open-late food trailers surrounding an outdoor patio thing…read more Good drinks, fairly reasonable prices (post-Covid). Leah and Eric are genuinely cool cats. Go drink there, and tip them good.

Met a friend here on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I was happy that it wasn't overcrowded - one of us…read moredid have to utilize the add-on parking in the back. There are plenty of different seating options but very few seats inside. The place is chill, ordering drinks took some time even with no rush. Seems like they have some pre-mixed type of cocktails. Honestly, neither of us liked our drinks much. We actually left it behind. The food truck is nice to have though we didn't get to try. Happy that South Austin is finally seeing some nice spacious outdoor hangout spots.

In search of a bar that wasn't packed on a Friday night, we were lucky to stumble across Marlow…read more The atmosphere is dark and cozy. There's enough of a vibe for this place to feel lively even when it's mostly empty, yet it also avoids the earsplitting noise that may come with a more crowded venue. The bartenders are amicable, and the menu showcases some creative - and creatively named - cocktails. Lara went with a Moon Song (rum, blackberry, lime, and honey with lavender cold foam) and an espresso martini and enjoyed both. I opted for a zero proof drink: the high and mighty (agave, nonalcoholic ginger and floral liqueurs, jasmine tea, and spiced salt). It was refreshing but didn't quite hit the mark for me. What should have been complex and balanced came across as overly floral. All told, Marlow is worth a visit even if it is unlikely to wow you.

A great reprieve from the sun and their drink the known traveler is 5 star Its made with allspice…read morewhich the flavor pops Our bartender was sweet and gave us lots of tips for the weekend

These are moments I think why do I live in San Antonio ( and often work in Austin ) when I can just…read morelive here and enjoy great restaurants, bars and weird gothic haunts like this with weird dark goth decor, a scent of palo santo , superb music, a great crowd and amazing drinks! College me would have lived here !! Enjoyed a French 75, my husband enjoyed a smoked Old Fashioned and it was a great place to grab a drink prior to seeing Springsteen at the Moody seated amongst candles , a weird alter of sorts while enjoying some Stevie Wonder as is playing now though some weird NIN or Type O might have been more appropriate

I went to Whisler's and had one of the worst bar experiences I've ever had…read more I had one drink. I was completely sober for all intents and purposes. The bartender claimed I was drunk and cut me off anyway. I was at the bar talking to a girl while waiting to get a drink (the wait was long because the service is very slow, despite the bar not being very busy at all). She was clearly into me, and the bartender kept jumping in trying to talk to her too (instead of doing his job making drinks). He was doing all sorts of things to try and flirt with her and make her laugh: pulling out and showing her buckets of pre mixed cocktails, running and sliding under the bar, etc. She was engaging with both of us , and right in the middle of that, I get cut off out of nowhere. No explanation other than claiming I looked drunk, which I very clearly wasn't. It felt very clear what was going on--he wanted me out of the way. I left and asked the bouncer on my way out if I seemed drunk. This was literally two minutes later. He said no, not at all, and asked me why I would even ask that. I then told him exactly what happened and asked him to let the owner or whoever was in charge know about this extremely unprofessional conduct so they can discipline the bartender. His response was that the bartender has discretion to cut anyone off, and let me know the bartender is supposedly married so he couldn't have been flirting with any of the customers. Well, sounds like his logic is flawed--not only COULD he flirt with his customers, he WAS, and was therefore cheating. I hope his wife finds out. This is perfectly representative of Austin customer service lately and not normal in other places. I was in Tampa for an entire month earlier this year and this would've been unthinkable there. I'm not coming back.

One of the best spots for any occasion- I've been here for a large group buyout for my birthday…read more(they have the perfect space for it), and one on one. They have fantastic bartenders and hosts that are always on point with service. Make sure to get a reservation early and request headphones to get the full experience! It's still great vibes if you're lucky enough to get in on a walk-in.

One of the best bars in Austin for an intimate couple or double date experience…read more Sound may not seem like a big deal, but the older I get the more I realize its importance. A bit hard to describe, but it's just acoustically pleasing to sit in here and have a cocktail. The environment seems to stimulate good conversation. Food is top notch (try the waffles and tuna tartare). Drinks are elevated, with a nice variety to go along with solid presentation.

A wonderful gem in the heart of downtown Austin. Sophisticated and unique cocktails with…read moreimpeccable service and attention to detail. This was the highlight of our trip and I would love to come back again.

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.