POP

We stopped by Peche for Happy Hour and had a lovely time! I had the Royal Bees Knees cocktail and…read moremy friend had the Pink Moon. I def recommend those if you like gin or vodka. We started by enjoying the escargot and tuna tartare for appetizers. Absolutely delicious! We were splitting everything between 4 people and it was just enough! For our main course we had the Croque Madame with Pomme Frites and Half Pound Burger House Bacon, Gruyere, House Pickled Red Onions, Garlic Aioli, and Pomme Frites. The night ended with a shared creme brulee and I am a sucker for a good creme brulee; it had the perfect crack on the top and was delightfully creamy.

Cool downtown French spot - great cocktails and drink selections! I think I like the drinks better…read morethan the food here, but they have a lot of good classic French fare on the menu. Food: Came here specifically to try bouillabaisse since it's pretty much the only restaurant in Austin that makes it. Large portion of seafood and very filling from the bread! The soup was a bit salty, but probably expected from the seafood. Also ordered the quail dish - this one was a bit underwhelming, decent but nothing special about it. I would say the drinks are really nice here - they have a large variety of absinthe and comes with a very cool water drip vessel. Service: Great service - came to check in often and offered some good insight into the different absinthe drinks. Vibe: Dark and moody - a bit on the rustic/industrial side but still a nice place for a date or a group. We could hear some music playing from the venues nearby which added to the ambiance.

Interior

CHARCUTERIE CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE, SMOKED DUCK BREAST, BEEF RILLETTE, CONFIT CHICKEN GIZZARDS, PICKLED VEGETA

See all

MAC AND CHEESE * GRUYÈRE, DUCK CONFIT, GRANA PADANO

Room 725

4.7(20 reviews)

0.8 mi•Downtown

Had an amazing date night. 725 had low lighting with a songstress singing both her own songs and…read morecovers that day. The menu offered caviar, and the various flavors that emerged from the other dishes complemented the taste of each dish. The drinks were also well-done. The only thing that didn't make this a five is that we were seated in an obstructed space where we could not see the singer and were pushed into the corner. I believe they were trying to use all the space they could to bring in guests but the seating chart seemed to be reviewed by someone who was still learning.

Came to celebrate an anniversary here and was throughly impressed…read more It is on the 7th floor inside the Austin Fairmont. It has a speak easy vibe. Loved the space and the ambiance. On the night we went they had a wonderful piano player and a 2 man band that was great. You come here for champagne and caviar. And they have a wide selection of cocktails. After you can also be taken to the terrace to enjoy a cigar. The service was top notch. I must say it is a bit on the pricey side. But overall it's an experience that was worth it.

Jazz singer and pianist

Golden Kaluga

See all

Firehouse Lounge

4.2(540 reviews)

I always enjoy going to Firehouse Lounge. I love the speakeasy feel and the hidden entrance. The…read morebartenders are always friendly and they make great drinks. The prices are more than reasonable. And the best part is the live music and vibes. They always bring great artists that bring energy and fun. This is easily one of my favorite spots in Austin.

This bar is located in the Firehouse Hostel. In fact, it's a speakeasy hidden behind a sliding…read morebookshelf right in the lobby. It's rightfully named as the building was once an actual firehouse that was built in 1885. Like all good speakeasies, it's got dim lighting that accentuates the building's rustic, 1800s era architecture. Hip and cool interior design with vintage furnishings and accessories. It's cozy and comfortable. This popular spot gets busy and it's easy to see why. The hip decor and good service mixed with excellent drinks makes it apparent why they're so popular. They offer frozen cocktails (my fave) that often change. The craft cocktails are spectacular. The bar menu offers a variety of beer as well. In addition, they do an incredible mocktail and offer different varieties. If you're going for a cocktail, the daiquiri and paper plane are perfection.

Speakeasy door

See all

Inside

The Driskill Bar

4.1(475 reviews)

Love the old vibe and decor, very upscale. There was a live bank downstairs. We hung out upstairs…read moreand played pool. The drinks are pricy compared to the bars nearby, but matched the ambiance.

Two blocks from our parking garage...we heard music from the street and decided to go in. This is…read moreanother bar we had not visited for years. All the bars we visited on 6th street there was no cover charge which was nice. Generally speaking, when there is a live band there is usually a cover charge. However, there was not a cover a charge at the Driskill bar...pleasant surprise. The Driskill bar was crowded with standing room only. However, the music was nice and we decided to listen in. The bar area was crowded so even if we wanted to order a drink, it would have taken some time. They featured a country and western band. The folks in the bar were grooving with the music. We did not see anyone with food, so we assume food was not being served at that time. Overall, good experience...

Pistol sconces around the bar

Great sculptures and artwork in the lobby.

See all

Gold Rush (right) and Batini - both were amazing cocktails

Lit Lounge

3.7(36 reviews)

•$

Great music great drinks, this entire street is full of bars so if this isn't your vibe then it's…read moreprobably next door. Service is good as well. I definitely will come back when I'm in Austin

Good dance club, with reasonably priced drinks, the only thing is can be hit or miss from a "crowd…read morefeel"

1.0 mi•West Campus, University of Texas

See all

Otopia Rooftop Lounge

4.1(67 reviews)

View as amazing and service was great! We will go back again especially since they were more…read moreaccommodating then most placed I looked into.

Ambiance and the views are spectacular. The bar is nice and the seating is comfortableread more

0.1 mi•Warehouse District, Market District, Downtown

See all

Devil May Care

4.2(250 reviews)

•$$$

This place should be 6 stars. I had the oysters and burgers on happy hour, as well as the lamb…read moremeatballs off the standard menu. I also had the stirred daisy cocktail and a glass of wine. Happy hour cocktails are half off, oysters are $2 each, and a burger with potatoes is $12. I'm not sure you can find a better deal with better food in Austin. Burger was worth $25+, lamb meatballs were perfect, cocktail for $9 was incredible. Place was very nice inside and also quite busy for a Thursday early evening. Service from bartender was great. I'll be back.

Good vibes until you have to order from the incredibly miserable woman bartender with short hair…read moreand a terrible attitude. I mean I get it... it's late, you probably don't want to be there but holy moly... yelling at your patrons wanting drinks is just crazy. Cross this one off the list... better vibes out there with better people and energy

See all

Live jazz every Wednesday night

Edge Rooftop

4.3(215 reviews)

I found this via search of rooftop bars near downtown and I was pleasantly surprised at this…read morelocation and the venue itself. Arrived around 5:45-6 PM on a Thursday. This is gonna be located on the fifth floor in the JW Marriott. You have to walk through the pool area as this is on the west side of the building. Well, we didn't have a reservation and we were able to get sat right away. I forget the name of the individual who assisted us by placing our order. I ended up getting the espresso martini, and then my other person got an old-fashioned. I was asked if I wanted a shot of Bailey's with the espresso martini and that to me would've been way too much. The martini itself was almost kind of smoky. Not your typical kind of very crisp espresso martini had a nice foam on top of it. We also ended up ordering the sliders to go along as we had dinner reservations, and that bacon jam on there is magnificent. The sliders were all juicy and very well put together bun was very soft and the flavor of everything was really good. I would totally go back just for the sliders. Overall the service was great. The views were also quite stunning of downtown and the ambience overall which is very chill. The front part of the bar was actually closed due to a private event so I can imagine getting to take photos on that corner would be really pretty to see.

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.

See all

Views of Lady Bird Lake from Edge Rooftop + Bar

Nido

4.2(416 reviews)

0.6 mi

I made a reservation for 4 last Thursday evening for myself and 3 of my college friends who were in…read moretown for our annual reunion. I had hoped we would get an outdoor table to appreciate the view but all tables were booked when I made the reservation and were still booked when we got there a bit early. It was also overcast that day. Even though we were a bit early, they were able to seat us quickly. We ended up just having drinks and one side item (yummy squash dish). We made the decision to leave before a full meal because the menu wasn't as vegetarian and gluten free friendly as we'd thought it might be. Danny was our waiter and he was very understanding! He gave us several great drink recommendations. We all very much enjoyed our cocktails and mocktail with a side appetizer of squash. We appreciated the discount on valet parking if you eat at Nido and get your ticket validated. I'm sure I'll be back here on a sunny day and book far enough in advance to sit outside.

Nido has a beautiful atmosphere, and the rooftop views overlooking downtown Austin are definitely…read morethe highlight. It's a great spot for drinks. The cocktails were delicious, although definitely on the pricey side. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting. The portions were extremely small, and the prices felt very steep for both the quality and the amount served. While the presentation was nice, the taste simply didn't justify the cost. On top of that, having to pay $15 for valet added even more to an already expensive evening. Overall, Nido is worth visiting once for the views and a cocktail, but I personally wouldn't return for dinner. There are plenty of other spots in Austin that offer much better value for the price.

The swanky bar

Banana split and latte

See all

Immaculate bathrooms! Unisex wash area but the toilets themselves are booth style and have their own sinks

Here Nor There

4.7(400 reviews)

•$$$

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.