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Equipment Room

4.5 (123 reviews)
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EQUIPMENT ROOM ATMOSPHERE

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Intimate
Romantic
Happy hour specials

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Zachary S.

It's a rainy night in Austin. My girlfriend is in town because my cousin and her fiancé are getting married 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.

Wendi K.

4.5 Stars What a cool spot ! They serve up some very unique drinks and bites in a super - cool speakeasy setting. We got a reservation on a Wednesday evening for a 1 hour 45 minute slot. Everything is very expensive, but hey, that's expected of a speakeasy. We tried two cocktails, the Vitamin C and Brown Sugar ($20) - they were super boozy and well made. The Kobayashi Dog ($15) and Tuna Tartare ($18) were great - I like the Kobayashi Dog better.

Ang F.

Pro-tip: Plan to go for drinks and an appetizer/snack, a great start to a SoCo date night. Truly a fantastic and memorable experience. I feel honored to have experienced a Latin Gems evening with KUTX's Alex Marrero. Not only does he have a wealth of knowledge for Latin Music, he flows with the vibe of the room, inviting his audience to appreciate a legend of the legends. The room is indeed a music sanctuary -- every sound carefully preserved within the intimate walls of EQ. The equipment, truly exquisite. You will not hear a better sound in all of the city. Make sure to walk around, embrace the curvature of how sound bends in the room; get lost in your own world (it's okay to step away from being social) as you listen in through specialty headphones. The "A-side" drinks, a reference to the vinyl theme, are carefully curated by staff -- exotic ingredients, making it a concoction you will not be able to have anywhere else. Personally, I appreciated the herbacious Green Earrings (Carabuena Blanco, Desert Door Pollinator, sugar snap pea syrup, Giffard D'Espelette, lime, egg white, pandan, Yukari furikake, orange zest). Delicious! While the foods are pricey, and small portions, this is not just another "instagram" spot, where you're only paying for the experience. The guac and carnitas were tasty and complex in all the right ways, from taste to textures. Will be back, without a doubt.

Jacquelyn C.

Great place to chill, vibe, and hangout. It's super cozy, the drinks are good, and the ambience is amazing.

Cheese Board
Lauren E.

Loved this place so much..!!! If you want to go somewhere to just lounge with low lighting and have some delicious drinks with great music in the background , this is place is it! They play no digital music and their speakers are installed throughout the whole building. The sound is great! The menu was so cute and on theme. The furniture and decor is mid century modern. I went here for my birthday and they gave my table a round of Sake shots, which was nice! My table ordered drinks: the Brown Sugar, Goca Dünya, Suffer No Fool (non alcoholic), Vitamin C. They were all delicious and they did not skimp on the alcohol! It was well balanced! I seriously recommend the Goca Dünya--that pistachio foam was addictive! For food, we got the Cheese board to have something to pick on and we demolished it, haha. It came with marmalade and crackers. The cheeses were great, along with the dried fruits and nuts. The cheese selections seem to rotate every other season, which is cool.

Janice J.

Day 1 of 4 in Austin and we came here to celebrate my birthday! We were here in February and it is one of our favorite places! Love the vibes, the music and definitely the food! Highly recommend when you are in the area. - Carnitas Wontons with smoked heritage pork, avocado salsa verde, lime, onions $14 - Tuna Tartare with coconut leche de tigre, mango, cucumber, pork rinds, spiced peanuts $18 - Lobster Roll Steam Buns with yuzu kosho mayo, shiso, togarashi $26 - Crab Tostada with kimchi salsa, sesame, shiso $15 They gave us complimentary n/a bubbles which was super nice! Thanks for a wonderful celebration! Thank you Matt for the wonderful interactions. | September 25, 2025 |

Sake, cheese board
Teri K.

if you haven't been to Omakase vinyl at the equipment room, you are missing out at the best way to admire an artist's full work. My boyfriend and I enjoyed a recent experience, listening to Amy Winehouse. The host told us a lot of interesting facts about the album and Amy in general. Wonderful selection of cocktails, including special cocktails just for the Omakase vinyl experience. All the bartenders are great, but we've had Nick the past two visits and he is an exceptional mixologist.

Tye R.

Perfect for date night! If you're looking for a cool without being on the nose date spot or a place to take a visitor to town, this is the place to be. The drinks are so thoughtfully crafted that it feels like a journeyed experience. Highly recommended the Casio if you enjoy round drinks! Pro tip: see if you can get the booth with the jack plug in for a different experience.

entry
Stephanie P.

we booked the reservation through Resy. No issues at the door and our table was available promptly at the start of our event . We came for the outkast, Aquemini listening party. We started with a couple signature drinks off of the menu the Mamacita, which was like a Paloma and the Rosa Parks, which tasted like liquor in a cup with a splash of grenadine. I also ordered something off of the menu which was their espresso martini. The Mamacita and the martini we're both great and I would order them again. 18$ each. We also had the crab tostadas which came in three bite-size pieces for $15 - flavor was great but super small serving . guac and chips which I think was also $15 was flavorfully but very runny more like a salsa then a guac & finally a order of the shishito peppers which was intresting and missing some acidity to really make them pop. We did think the experience would have a little more narration throughout the playlist, but we did get the experience of having someone who hosted a release party for this album in the room who shared a lot of great information with us at the end of the listening session. they really promote moving throughout the room during the listening experience to hear different tones and tunes depend depending on where you're sitting they also had headphones throughout the establishment which you could grab and listen to which I thought was pretty cool. I do feel like the sound system was really not that great and it could use a little more bass and volume. Our server was great, very attentive and provided great suggestions throughout our experience. Over all we enjoyed our time here but everything was quite pricy (duh right, look at the location?!) and again we expected more from the sound system over all.

Maria Gabriela M.

Austin it's all about music and this is honestly one of the coolest places I've ever been to. Reservations are definitely a must!! I loved the whole vibe. It's a very immersive experience I barely took any photos because they really encourage you to be present, listen to the music and just enjoy the moment and honestly, I loved that. The music sounds amazing but you can still talk comfortably. We ordered a few bites to share: the guacamole and the little lobster sandwiches both were really good and we ordered a few drinks that were also good. In general it's a pricey, but you're definitely paying for the experience. You can even go up to the bar and ask what they're playing and they will tell you the story behind it. They use vinyls and they even hand you headphones so you can listen closely. It's truly incredible. Service was also super cool and matched the vibe perfectly. Loved the whole experience and would totally go back

LaNitria T.

Very cool spot. Good drinks, good service and good vibes. Some places you just have to visit. When we're back in town, we'll definitely be back.

Headphone always request these
Theo P.

Hidden Gem The vibes here are always on point. I've never have had a bad time and always hear something new. Honor and Cody are the best servers too. We tried the chicken karrage, tuna ceviche, and lobster rolls and they were excellent. I don't drink so I can comment on their selection but everything looked good. Pro Tip: Make reservations at least a week in advance a request for headphones. Trust me. This place is slowly becoming popular. Great place for a date if you want to impress your date too. 10/10 Headphones

outside
Cathy L.

This is a beautiful speakeasy right underneath the Summer House on Music Lane restaurant. You'll see the EQ sign above a black door, right by the little road parallel to South Congress. I was able to show up around 7pm on a Tuesday and get in, but like other reviews say, it can get pretty packed on weekend nights. The sound system is as good as everyone makes it sound. I even tried the headphones and the sound was so textured and scratchy I loved it. I got the Lady Marmalade which was pretty strong and funky due to the bleu cheese. It wasn't my favorite drink ever, but if you have a refined taste, you would like it. I would definitely try a non-alcoholic drink the next time, since apparently they're just as deluxe. I also got the whipped guac with wontons and the wontons are amazing. I asked for a second order of them and munched through them.

Espresso Martini and Old fashioned

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Review Highlights - Equipment Room

It's in the basement of the Hotel Magdalena directly below the "Summer House" restaurant.

Mentioned in 6 reviews

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Powder Room

Powder Room

4.0
(136 reviews)
1.0 mi

Really fantastic experience!…read more The cocktail menu is diverse and fun. The quality of drinks was excellent. My favorite part was the DJ was also playing electric guitar to accompany some of the songs in his lineup. It was really cool. I've never seen a DJ do that before. The whole time we were there the service and ambience and tastes were top-notch, but the DJ piece really created a memorable experience that leaves me wanting to come back.

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.

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Spicy margarita
Spicy margarita
Leaving Powder Room
Leaving Powder Room
Craft Cocktail Lounge

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Craft Cocktail Lounge
The Roosevelt Room

The Roosevelt Room

4.4
(924 reviews)
1.0 mi
$$$
Full bar
Takes reservations

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

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.

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The Roosevelt Room
BUCK TO THE FUTURE
 rye whiskey, manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil purée, nardini amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, barrel smoked black pepper
BUCK TO THE FUTURE rye whiskey, manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil purée, nardini amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, barrel smoked black pepper
ZOMBIE
 rr tiki rum blend, donn's mix, falernum, lime,
 grenadine, angostura, flamed absinthe, served in a skull with flamed cinnamon powder

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ZOMBIE rr tiki rum blend, donn's mix, falernum, lime, grenadine, angostura, flamed absinthe, served in a skull with flamed cinnamon powder
Marlow

Marlow

4.7
(34 reviews)
1.2 mi

I discovered Marlow through a Yelp Elite event and knew I had to come back. We stopped by on a…read moreSaturday night around 9:30/10pm and had a great time! Great house music from the DJ, friendly staff, and an easygoing atmosphere that's perfect for hanging out. I was having a sober night and tried a few drinks from their Dry January Specials menu. Wow, they did not disappoint. The Alrighty Aphrodite was delicious, and the So Fresh, So Clean was exactly that, super refreshing with a great pineapple flavor. My husband had the Dusty Trail (strong and perfect for bourbon lovers) and a Coquito that was creamy and smooth with a hint of cinnamon. Parking is limited, but we found street parking nearby. Overall, great drinks, great music, and a spot I'll definitely keep coming back to.

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.

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High and Mighty
High and Mighty
Marlow
Marlow

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Whisler's

Whisler's

4.3
(676 reviews)
1.6 mi
$$

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.

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Side bar
Side bar
Inside seating
Inside seating
Main bar

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Main bar

Equipment Room - speakeasies - Updated June 2026

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