Great food for a bar! Very cozy atmosphere and the staff is very friendly and easygoing

Great spot - live music - Hayden and Gabe are legendary behind the bar. SO glad I wandered in here. Had the Texas Storm and BlackBerry Smash. Well made cocktails. Truffle Popcorn, People. TRUFFLE. I don't think I need to say anything else. Nice chill spot..... read more

The Driskill Bar - Mysterious Ghost Building - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

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What a true classic. A MUST do/stop when in Austin. Located in the historic, iconic, and stunning Driskill Hotel right in the heart of the city, the Driskill bar is a fantastic spot to enjoy a libation, a light snack (the housemade jerky is purdy darn good), perhaps listen to some relaxing piano tunes, and certainly a great spot to retreat from the Texas heat in the warmer months (which is usually about 8 months out of the year). The bar area is actually quite vast. Tons of super comfy private seating areas if you please, or snag a seat at their smallish bar and chat with locales and tourists alike. Always service with a smile. Can be a bit slow at times; however, I doubt you'll be in any sort of hurry once you've stepped foot into this wonderful, dimly lit, reminiscent of yesteryear establishment. Just sit back, relax, and take it all in...every single tiny detail...be careful lest you miss something interesting. Cheers y'all! :) Tip: You don't have to be a guest of the Driskill Hotel to enjoy the Driskill bar (ssshhh, don't tell anyone else). The bar has a private entrance on 7th Street; however, I suggest walking into the main entrance on Brazos Street to take in all of the Driskell's interior beauty. Walk up the stairs located to the right, prior to the check-in counter, and you will find the lounge/bar area. read more

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Stopped by after a long absence to meet with some friends from Scandinavia and had a Manhattan made from scratch. If you have only had drinks made from mixes, it is a sad thing. A true barkeep knows his drinks and how to make them perfectly. This is where I come for perfection. I expect perfect and that is exactly what I get. You can get cheaper drinks elsewhere, but this is where you come to savor. Well done and good form! read more

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Catch me sitting on the piano at this swanky Texas lounge. After two nights of passing by this bar going to and from my room, I finally decided to relax at the bar and absorb the Hill Country luxury. I met my gals Melody L, Tiffany C and Tess H here on Saturday night after the Austin Yelp Open Party and the ladies were smart enough to grab the high table that was actually the piano. Now this is what you call a piano bar--pun intended. The gentleman playing the piano, Rigel Thurston, was as friendly as they come, taking our requests and participating in casual and entertaining conversations with the crowd. "How about some of Beatles?" ... "'Piano Man,'" you say? What do you young ladies know about 'Piano Man?'" Blushing... The drink menu had a lot of wines, champagnes, mixed drinks, bottled and draft beers to choose from. I kept it simple with Coors, while some of the ladies went for cucumber-infused gin, vodka tonics and sangria-like mixed bevs. And the food menu. Oh my. I should not have been sitting on display like that on the piano with the way I was scarfing down the huge mound of truffle popcorn. We also shared a gourmet grilled cheese with fries. We keep it classy, folks. It was a great night, and I recommend anyone who wants to escape the sophomoric scene of 6th street to head upstairs at The Driskill for a romantic, laid back and classy night by the piano bar. read more

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Cool bar located in the oldest operating hotel in Austin. Definitely a country old bar feel, which is neat, because there really aren't a ton of those around Austin. When we were there, we had some live music playing, which was great while we enjoyed a drink before we went out to go enjoy dinner. Definitely worth at least checking this place out and having a drink as it's history. read more

When one of my friends heard that I was heading to Austin, she highly recommended the Driskill. After checking the 2 restaurants, we decided to just try out the bar for some libations and snacks. You amble through the lobby and up the stairs (or over to the elevator) and the bar is in the 1940s addition to this historic 1880s hotel. The bar is gorgeous! As we walked in there was a piano player setting the mood. The service was great. The food and drinks were good. The price point was reasonable. Seriously a great spot. We even toured a bit of a private room...OK toured might be the wrong verb. Wandered into, yeah that's it. And the man moving furniture from a private function told us that the *gorgeous* wood paneling was made from the original headboards. Wow. The most impressive thing I noticed is how proud each and every staff person that I met was of the building. That sort of pride means a great workplace. Now I just need to go back and stay at the hotel. Our cocktail server said to always ask for the historic section. read more

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Wow, having such a fabulous time in Austin, kept the party going at our hotel bar. Fabulous service and food. We had many drinks and jerky, popcorn and I forgot!! Wow what an amazing time with live country music, great service and a huge longhorn on the wall. Wow!!! All at a happy hour price!!! read more

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Tonight I proved to myself that this is the country bumpkin's perspective. In the endeavor to seek out new and exciting happy hours; the Driskill looked poised and ready. If you're keeping score this hotel has its kudos and a 5 star restaurant in the Driskill Grill. I pondered what creativity they would feature in their bar menu. The interior of the Driskill is wonderful until you get into the bar. Think Cowboy library. No single table was comfortable to us and we had plenty to choose from. The happy hour is from 5-7 with 1/2 price featured drinks and an interesting mix on the menu. My $5 Tex Mex margarita was quite tasty. Jenny felt the Cheeseburger was a solid three stars. The Truffle Oil popcorn with chives added another middle of the road nod. My tower of sliders impressed on taste but the presentation was comical. Please look at the pic I posted. A talented chef seared them to order and it was spot on. The fries were crispy and numerous. The Seared Scallop slash Crab Cake tower wasn't worth the copper panels on the ceiling. A complete lack of seasoning plagued the dish including the amazingly bad chive hollandaise. Our service was good with the exception of the snooty bartender. I started to remember I actually contemplated meeting Jenny here for our first date and that was what we were out celebrating this evening. I'm honestly glad I didn't as it was just awkward and frankly a generous three stars in my bumpkin opinion. After we left we were drained of all young life we had in us. We headed over to Spider House for a better vibe. With the $$$$ Driskill Grill steps away, I really expected to be wowed. Instead, the atmosphere and feel left us wondering if we'd ever return. read more

The Driskill Bar - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

Came to the Driskill Bar after attending a wedding. Drinks were fairly priced and selection of Bourbon was pretty good. read more

The Driskill Bar - Bar - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

this is my type of hotel bar, lots of history, not pretentious and not a gimmicky speakeasy where you have to walk into a phone booth and enter a code and hop on one foot three times. a good place to have a solo drink. too bad I was not there for the live music, but they did have a good playlist. also too bad the boulevardier was too sweet. read more

Historical must see hotel and bar Live music even on a weekday Weekends you prob can't get a seat here, been here before Found a vegan dessert! Sherbet with sparkling wine. Yum! Not cheap, was hoping to spot a ghost to justify the prices I paid, at least add a bonus story to my bill read more

The Driskill Bar - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was at a work conference a couple of years ago, and you know what happens at night after a long day at work in a new city, we grab some drinks and explore the town! A colleague suggested we visit this luxurious and iconic hotel to admire it's Romanesque style features and then of course start our night off with some drinks at the bar! We all were raving on how great our cocktails were, and I have to say the Sage Advice Signature Cocktail (Beefeater gin, St. Germaine, Pineapple Juice, and Sage) is one of the best unique and delicious cocktails I have ever had! If I could just rate the cocktail, it would be easily 10 Stars! And wow was it so smooth and not too strong! We had a great time enjoying the bar vibes from the music to the amazing fragrance of yummy snack foods in the air! We didn't order appetizers, but next time I'm in Austin I'll be visiting this bar again to enjoy drinks, appetizers, and the atmosphere! read more

The Driskill Bar - Sage Advice (Beefeater gin, St. Germaine, Pineapple Juice, and Sage) Signature Cocktail - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

The Driskill Bar is inside the Romanesque hotel that holds the record for oldest operating hotel in Austin. As one of the best known hotels in Texas generally speaking, the bar restaurant and night life hold their own. On the night we were in a gal with a violin and a man with a guitar played for guests. Finding a table was a challenge, be prepared to have a couple touch down spots while you scope out your final destination. We ordered the popcorn to start that was lightly seasoned with something that hinted around as Hidden Valley range seasoning packet with a shake of something Chipotle. My hubby had the sliders, they came out stacked to the ceiling with Wagyu beef. I had the fish and chips, some parts were tastier than other. Fries were great. It felt special to sit in this grand dignified space with the dark wood and stately color choice it reflected that regal distinction that's given the hotel life since the 1880's. It has been confirmed that former President Lynden B. Johnson met "lady bird" Claudia Taylor here for breakfast on a first date that later lead to a proposal. I'd say the cattle barons goal to create a jewel of the South worked out in the end. You won't want to miss this rich piece of Austin history. read more

The Driskill Bar - At our pseudo table scoping out our next table opportunity - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

Portions are TX sized and the ambiance is fantastic. Cocktails were solid and our waiter was attentive without being overly bothersome. I highly recommend the pretzel - it's amazing. read more

We ordered the burger, bacon covered dates, and crab cakes. The burger was average for all burgers but certainly below average in flavor for wagu. The crab cakes were average. The bacon covered dates were good and served with a nice presentation. read more

The Driskill in general is a cool place to visit at least once. The hotel is old and lovely looking and right on sixth and has a lot of history and it's just one of the many places that makes Austin famous! I like the Driskill Bar for it's happy hour. They've got a lot of nice appetisers for half off and cocktails and beer are reduced. The lounge area is super romantic and dimly lit. It was fun to just sit and watch people, because we're creepy like that. The service wasn't fantastic, but I just went up to the bar and ordered drinks and food, so that was fine. We had the shishito peppers and brussels sprouts. They were toooootally delicious. I was also a fan of the Bluebonnet cocktail, but be careful it's super duper sweet. read more

The Driskill Bar - Brussels sprouts - there's bacon in them!!!!!! Which is great for some but not so great for non-observant vegetarians - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We started a tradition where every year we go to the Driskill bar at Christmas and take our annual tree picture in the lobby then sip on hot toddies. This historic building is a must see especially at Christmas!! read more

The Driskill Bar - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

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For 5 years, I've been wanting to visit Driskill - not particularly because of anything going on but more because it's a historic place and I thought there might be some nice photos to be taken from there so when an opportunity to meet some people there came along, I decided to visit and see. To be honest, I came on a very busy night and it was an absolute zoo - all the rooms before coming to the bar were full with weddings or other parties and the bar itself was elbow to elbow so I didn't get the full experience. It's more of a lounge than a bar I would say so you can still talk and it's high end. The bar itself is more in the back and for all the glitz and glamour, it's not too expensive. Like most things in downtown Austin however, parking is a real pain. Like royally...even worse than Houston. At least in Houston street parking is free after 6 but not in Austin! It didn't really matter however so I ended up paying $15 a couple of blocks away in a lot...Not really the hotels fault...or wait, considering they don't have a parking garage of their own that validates parking, it kind of is...standard practice or not. But I digress. it's a nice place. read more

Great ambiance. Loved the old world charm and so cozy on a December day. Drinks were just ok but great pretzel!

This place is just cool. It's inside the Driskill Hotel. Just go up the first set of stairs in the lobby and head back. The bar has a speakeasy vibe going with dark paneled walls. There are couches and tables along each side as you walk back to the main bar. You can sit at the bar or get a cozy spot at a couch or even just grab a table to chat with friends. There are a couple of mounted hunting trophies on the wall so it's got a little bit of a hunting lodge feel as well. I was here a couple of times while in town recently, and both times we had very good and friendly service. I highly recommend the Bat-ini on the menu. The Austin bats are pretty well-known so they named a drink after them! The menu has something for everybody. I haven't sampled anything other than the cocktails here. They were all refreshing and well-balanced! Both times we were here there was live music at the stage. I really enjoyed the second group we saw! They were lively and moved around the stage entertaining patrons at their tables sometimes. Really fun! Also be sure to ask the staff about stories about the hotel/bar. I plan on stopping by next time I'm in town! Very cool spot! read more

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Such a great bar for live music, drinks and small bites like queso and chips. Tables are first come first serve with water service. The band playing was so much fun and watching couples dance was in itself pure entertainment. Really felt like I was in Texas. Tip-Roam around and explore the gorgeous Driskill building. read more

The Driskill Bar - Drinks, food and live music. Great spot. - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

I was so looking forward to this place, marketed under live music, great drinks, what more can you ask for? I did my research and decided to spend my Sunday evening here as I am in town for thanksgiving week/weekend and visiting an old friend. Unfortunately my expectations were not met. My friend and I sat down for 20 minutes without being acknowledged. I befriended our neighbors at the table next to us and he was able to wave the waitress down, finally as he was getting his check for his table. The waiter barely said hi, did not offer water, and rushed away. The only inquiry she made was asking for the card. I asked for water and it did not come after another 20 minutes. Ultimately I had to physically get up and go to the bar to ask for the manager as I felt uncomfortable by the way we were treated. The manager apologized and made the situation right by refusing to let us pay. I appreciated the gesture but couldn't help but feel disappointed. The new folks who sat down at the adjacent table were immediately attended to and the contrast was apparent. The drinks and food were actually quite lovely. But the service was mediocre at best. read more

Great bar and music! Must have truffle popcorn! . I would highly recommend this place, but you have to get there early to get a table or seat at the bar. read more

The Driskill Bar - Happy hour! Truffle popcorn, crispy Brussels sprouts, and cheesy fries - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

I just love that the Driskill mounted the head of the very first Bevo (University of Texas' mascot) above the fireplace in this bar. read more

The Driskill Bar - The head of the very first Bevo! - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

Truly the best wings I've had in Austin. Come to find out it's because they smoke them 3/4 the way through cooking. great staff, I love the dark moody vibe. read more

So amazing. There for the vibe and the red wine. The live music is also great and it's a very relaxing atmosphere

This is one of the oldest buildings in Austin, but is so well restored it really sparkles and shines. The Driskill Bar is upstairs, and has craft cocktails and a full bar with very friendly staff and knowledgeable staff. There is a brunch here, unique cocktails, and live music. It's the perfect spot for grownups in Austin when you want upscale. read more

We had an Ah-Mazing dinner at Driskill Bar, but what made the experience over the top was our server Emily. Emily made the experience over the top. Her knowledge of the menu and wines made all the difference. read more

Great, relaxed bar with a elegant Texan vibe. i loved the interior of intricate, timeless ceiling. cow hide couches, glass lamps & cowboy decor. this place is fit for an oil money cowboy! Drinks were made strong! read more

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Dayna our server was a delight! We were astonished at the size & presentation of the Jumbo Pretzel! Hilarious, delicious & just what we needed for our pre-concert snack! Love the Texas Cowboy vibe of this bar. read more

Overrated in my opinion. The place itself is beautiful! Love the architecture. The drinks were expensive and not the best quality. Took us awhile to get waited on. To say the food menu is lacking would be an understatement. I would recommend coming to the Driskill to see the place but you won't be missing much if you don't come to the bar. read more

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We visited the State Capitol, then headed to the Driskill for a cocktail per instructions from other Austinites! It has a beautiful lobby and bar on main level, but we wanted the full experience of the main bar! So upstairs we went (didn't open till 2:30 this day, so we sat in the huge comfy old western chairs and waited (some of us napped!) When they finally opened, we got 4 different cocktails - I can only rate the hotel based on our cocktails & 45 minutes sitting at the bar. We had a great time, excellent drinks, friendly (quiet) bartender at this iconic Austin hotel. read more

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Not sure how there are so many positive reviews. We dined here on Aug 7th and it was HORRIBLE. The food isn't seasoned, except with salt. Way too much salt! Couldn't taste the burger or fish and chips ... needed ketchup and tarter sauce to make the items edible. We were both sick later that evening... probably due to the salt and grease. Stay away! read more

The reviews before mine really say a lot about the Driskill Bar, and there is not much more to say. We went mid-day for cold drinks and a snack so it was pretty empty. There were initially four of us, and we were seated almost immediately. Then, we found out two others were joining us. There was not a table for six so we waited for one of the tables next to us to clear. It took a little while but finally, we were able to move the tables together and our other friends were able to join us. Being mid-day, and knowing we had a wedding dinner to go to that night, we did not partake in alcohol. My wife and I had iced tea - it was very fresh, cold, and delicious - something I can't always say about restaurants. Some had snacks - cake, ice cream, and everyone said it was good. I'd like to try it again in the evening to get the full experience. For an afternoon snack, it was fine. read more

2 stars for the AWESOME truffle popcorn and the really cool atmosphere (live music, painted glass on ceilings, wood bar-very classy). However, cocktails were pretty average and the cheese flatbread was NOT good. It was supposed to have arugula, prosciutto, and goat cheese on it-yet all ours had was a massive amount of arugula and some syrup/vinaigrette. Will not be back. read more

The Driskill Bar - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Beautiful building/hotel, located in the downtown area. It has a mysterious charm :) The live music on the bar area is really great, nice sitting area where you can just chill enjoy your drink (I had the Ladybird and it was amazing). They also have a good happy hour. Nice TV's to watch your favorite sports. I decided to order a burger and let me tell you the freshness of that burgers....yummy! You can tell it was never frozen, and the bread tasted like freshly baked, never have I had a burger so delicious like that one! And of course the servers were great! You know it, of course I'll be back! read more

I have to say I really dug this place. After some of the rowdier saloons and bars on 6th Street I found this place to be just what I was looking for. The seating was plush and plentiful. Live music started at 9:00 on the Saturday I was there, and although I didn't particularly care for the band (really twangy honky-tonk) I appreciate live music of all kinds and liked the fact that it wasn't so loud that you couldn't hold a conversation. The drinks were good, abet a bit pricey. But I wasn't buying so I enjoyed a few of their specialty cocktails. I liked the Texas Orange Blossom the best. We had just come from dinner so we didn't eat. The service was great and we didn't feel rushed at all when we stayed a bit after our last drinks were finished. This is an amazing place to people watch. The crowd was very mixed in age and the ambiance was very relaxed and chill. The hotel itself is just stunning and this is the perfect bar for this hotel. Hotel bars are usually pretty amazing or a total bust, this one definitely nailed it! read more

Definitely the oldest, old school bar in Austin. The vibe is spot on. You feel either feel like a cattle baron delivering the cattle to the depot or an oil baron when the price of oil hit's $75/barrel. Take your image, imagine the good times rolling, and show up to the Driskill Bar. With all the crazy drinking spots along 6th Avenue, this place is still packed on weekends. It doesn't hurt when they have a live band playing. We enjoyed some great rock-a-billy tunes in a far corner. We were lucky to score a spot as many would troll thru and out the door to another locale. Drinks were great. I think I got addicted to the Texas Orange Blossom. It was a divine drink that would have gotten me shot back in the day for either not drinking a manly enough drink or for using the word "divine". The Old Fashioned brought my man card back, but after the TOB was a watered down affair. Finished off with a solid gin & tonic. I got hungry and on a whim decided to pass on the typical bar fare for the bacon wrapped figs. Wow, you don't see or eat those every day. But boy you should. Especially when that barrel of oil starts running up. That was the most intense combination of salty, fatty bacon, and buttery smooth baked, sweet figs. I can't believe I wasted dinner beforehand and didn't go straight to that hungry. The only down side is that the entire bar staff should be replaced. Or, just replace the manager responsible for them. They were probably going for the "aloof" imagery and only pulled off the "please god give me a different job" vibe. They were not having any joy in their lives and really the guy I tried to order from is best described with a more profane term than I'm willing to write. Go, enjoy the weekend people watching and ignore the staff. You'll have a fine time and a fine drink. read more

I'm no stranger to the Driskill Bar, but I'm no regular either. The Driskill Bar is one of those rare places you go when you want to savor a martini and enjoy quiet conversation; as opposed to downing six double dirties to the loud thumping of house music, and a guy's crotch in your face. Most of the time I prefer the latter...hence why I'm not a regular. My reviews of the Driskill Hotel for the Democratic watch party during the 2008 midterms, and my subsequent update chronicling Yvette's fabulous wedding probably already made clear as glass that I am a big fan of the hotel, and the bar is no exception. Once, I had a woman ask what a good date around Austin would entail. Rapidly adjusting for their demographic, I decided not to suggest my idea of a good date, which is usually one that involves a sea of vodka, not a penny out of my pocket, and spontaneous vehicular activity that probably makes Kar extremely uncomfortable. These were people in their 50's; I had to vamp until I came up with a plan. First off, I suggested the Driskill as the perfect place to grab a martini. It's intimate, but there is a copious amount of decor that provides excellent conversation starters. Cowboy statues, guns for lamps...the list goes on and on. It's a desirable blend of low-key and high-end. Afterwards, I suggested dinner at any number of venues, followed by a show at Esther's Follies. My brain refused to play the tape forward after that, but hey, I thought my contribution sounded nice. My best friend, Jen L., had come into town, but this was no ordinary visit. This go around, she was interested in MOVING to Austin, which would truly be the final cap on crowning this city the most amazing city for me, even though it already is. With Jen having grown up in LA and Marin County, and having lived and worked in Boston, it was my job to portray Austin as the living, breathing embodiment of everything that is desirable about the Coasts, right smack dab in the middle of Texas. Luckily, Austin pretty much sells itself, but I was on a mission nonetheless. I decided the Driskill Bar would be a perfect place for Jen and I to grab a pre-dinner cocktail, and would be my answer to the historical hotels she introduced to me during my visit to Boston and Pasadena. She loved the ambiance immediately, as it was very much in the same "old school" vein as the Omni Parker House in Boston, or even the Adolphus in Dallas (the lobby only; remember, the service sucked). Of course, it was old school heavily infused with Texas imagery, but more along the lines of elegant Texas imagery, and less along the lines of trailer parks and gun shows that the rest of the country imagines. Our bartender was the older gentlemen who has been there forever, and from what I've seen, is quite the staple. He mixed an excellent Grey Goose martini, and even randomly serenaded us once our fried oyster platter came out. I loved the presentation of the oysters, and the olive tapenade included in the bruschetta sampler was quite flavorful. We enjoyed a second martini before heading out. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this place epitomizes the phrase "hard drink in a dark bar." Occasionally you'll find me here for a date, before a night out, or after a church service. Sometimes, I'll be there for all three. 4 Stars. read more

The Driskill Bar - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

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