This place is always lively. Live music with a nice dance floor. My only issue is the service always sucks here. It takes forever to get even the simplest of drinks. Zero urgency to service which is why, even though it's a slow night, there's a line at the bar. I invite people to check it out but expect long wait times and junky service. Pictures: empty tip jar at 1am on a Sat night bc, like I said, service. Sucks. read more

The Highball - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

I went here to hear a band which cancelled(another band took their place). I ordered a beer(a Belgian white locally brewed) and was charged $11.49. I have never been charged that much for a beer in any bar I've ever been in including Chicago and New York. Needless to say, I won't be returning anytime soon. read more

The quirk of The Highball is not lost on me despite their best efforts via dark interiors and innocuous details. The floor made from old bowling lanes, the seats of glittery vinyl and the sharp, old school paint job all adds to its charm. It's a theme-lovers paradise and I happen to have an addiction. I'm a keeper of kitsch, I crave the corny concoctions that Alamo Drafthouse serves up. The Highball does not disappoint my deepest expectations. I've been for a beer before a show and a night of 80's dancing, everything here lends itself to success. While I wouldn't fight the parking perils to come here sans Alamo tickets, I definitely would recommend coming a couple minutes early to enjoy the cocktails and bartenders at Highball. read more

The Highball - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

I really like the Highball. I've been on many different occasions; 90's night, 80's night, and most recently for MOTOWN MONDAYS! It was such a blast. The band and the crowd just add to the great vibe. SERVICE: It's always hard to get the bartender's attention here. It's smaller than you think and everyone is trying to get a drink all at once so it makes it hard. I've never had a problem with the bouncers or the guys checking your ID's at the front but this last time he had a massive attitude and was really rude. He really killed the first half of the night. I understand the gentlemen at the front have to be strict but they don't have to get aggressive with us. FOOD: I've never had food here - only beer! They have a decent selection, definitely more of a selection than your everyday dive bar. LOCATION: The Highball is located adjacent to the Alama Drafthouse. It's has a decent sized dance floor and a cozy sized stage. The booths up by the stage are always reserved or taken so don't expect to find a place to sit near the stage - GET UP AND DANCE! Will I be coming back? YEAH! Especially if I'm here on a Monday for those Motown Mondays!! read more

This place was great. On night one, we saw a multi-piece band singing Motown and the like. The crowd was all ages, colors, and sizes, and people were dancing and having a good time. It was crowded, but you could still find a seat if you really wanted one. The bartenders were not too swamped. There was such a sense of camaraderie - like the people at this show came last week, and the week before, and the week before that, too. Free parking in the covered multi-level parking lot with elevator. omg you guys. I went upstairs to look for the bathrooms (spoiler alert - they are not upstairs, they are downstairs to the left of the stage, by the end of the bar), I found the karaoke rooms. They are really really cute - each room is 110% committed to its theme. Cost is about $20-$35 / hour depending on room size. On night two (cause yes they seem to have events just about all the time and we had such a good time the first time it seemed like a guaranteed win to return), we saw a new orleans style brass band for Fat Tuesday. The crowd was completely different, although people were still pretty friendly. A woman was walking around handing out beads. No cover. Then as it got a little later younger people who seemed like college kids started arriving for tittie bingo. I was pretty torn between bingo and karaoke. But the scene downstairs was clearly about to get crazy and who even knows when we can do karaoke again in a room all crazy like the Fifth Dimension. Worth it. 110%. read more

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Fun place with great live music, good drinks, and conveniently inside of the Alamo drafthouse if you want to keep date night or girls night out going!! Plenty of free parking in the parking garage located all around and their food is good too. Frequented this place a lot before Covid and have gone a few times since the pandemic started when it was safer to go out. Love this spot! read more

Sometimes I wish you could choose a day or specific aspect of a place and review that. I usually have great experiences at Highball but Motown Monday? Now that's something special. If you want to people watch, burn calories and listen to some awesome tunes at the same time, this is your jam baby. First the matchmakers melted our faces off. Then the nightowls picked up right where they left off. I haven't sweated so much since the 100 degree temps last year because of how packed the dance floor was and because of the sweet soul stylings. read more

The rebuilt Highball is here! And from what I could tell they salvaged/retained as much of the old one as possible: -- dance room area (where they hosted tonight's trivia) -- karaoke rooms (we saw only The Freak Show room downstairs as I cannot hobble up the stairs to see the other rooms just yet) -- delicious cocktails although my favorite, the basil strawberry, was missing from the menu Featured is a new, ginormous parking garage to make all of your adult indulgences come true. It was a little confusing how you get from the garage to the actual Alamo/Highball area, but a few more visits and I'll have it down. The staff did their absolute best to accommodate and serve the hoards of folks who'd come in for the first preview night. The Tomm (or Tommy's?) margarita was delightful, and they have a delicious stout on tap. The charcuterie plate wasn't too big for $16 (a sadly small but delicious bread, 3 olives, tomato paste, and two quality meats), but we got it for half off during opening week so I'm okay with that. The Frito Pie was a spicy heart attack waiting to whisk you away into the netherworld of artery-clogged bliss. I'm not sure how they will reconcile this space being right next to the Alamo Drafthouse. It's much smaller and liable to get ridiculously crowded, but as far as fun weeknights go, I'm game. Missing are the bowling lanes, the skeeball tables, and most other games (now in the space occupied by the Alamo). Karaoke rooms persist, but that's about it. Weekend crowds may prove to be too much for this gal, but I will definitely go. Mowtown Mondays, you're calling my name! [Note: Reserving a star for a full-on visit.] read more

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The Highball is back with the same swanky theme but pint sized. After catching a movie during the soft opening at the newly remodeled Alamo we stopped in for a drink at the neighboring Highball. While I will miss the bowling alley and the other games the old Highball provided the new Highball is still a wonderful place to grab a drink before or after a movie. They did keep the themed karaoke rooms, stage and dance floor. I love that each bar associated with the Alamo Drafthouse has their own unique personality. Highball is definitely the swanky lady of the group. They have a wonderful signature and traditional cocktail menu and an excellent selection beers and wine. During our visit I found the bartenders attentive and friendly. Heather ordered a witchy woman and I ordered a Cava rose wine. The rose was nicely chilled and refreshing. Let me tell you it is hard not to feel fancy drinking a pretty drink while swiveling around in a plush gold glittery bar stool. I look forward to coming back for an event! Their website indicates that they will have fun events nightly from music, karaoke night and action packed dance parties. read more

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Something has gone terribly awry in the new incarnation of the Highball. This new place is soulless and charmless compared to the original spot. The old Highball was a quirky, lovingly-nostalgic nightspot with vintage charm, odd touches, and great cocktails. The new Highball is a bar attached to a movie theater. That's it. We tried to visit on Saturday evening for a quick cocktail after dinner. Upon entering, we were stopped and shunted aside to a couple of terrible, featureless side rooms due to a ticketed show in the main bar area. With no available seating and no discernible character to the rooms (maybe a clever riff on minimalist design, aka a big, ugly rectangular room?), we got the hell out of there. Highball used to be a perfect place to lounge and enjoy a cocktail. That place is long gone. Whatever the new Highball is now is not for me. read more

On the advice and beckoning of a friend, we popped in to hear The Monster Big Band on a recent Tuesday. They are fantastic! Each band member is a singular talent and the whole is amazing with 15 members the night we were there. Billy Murphy, a local lawyer, accompanied them belting out wonderful songs reminiscent of the, well, you guessed it, "Big Band Era"! Drinks can be pricey. My $9 wine came in a tiny 4 oz glass but it was good. I don't miss the bowling at all. The Highball has returned with more class and, thankfully, the average patron's age has been raised by at least 10 years. read more

HAPPY HOUR REVIEW: This is an excellent place to stop in for some happy hour or bites before you see a movie because of its proximity to Alamo. However, they may be beaten out by competition after a while since there are some really tasty places popping up and I fear they won't be able to compete on some food quality items. The interior is very swanky and I felt like I was back in a NYC lounge. I really loved the overall feel and the furniture. The service was decent however; I think items could have been delivered quicker. The bathrooms were also very stinky and dirty so, I would wait until you venture to Alamo to use theirs. Food Break Down: Garlic Fries with Garlic Aioli: The fries were cooked well but, the fresh garlic was too plentiful and overpowering, especially in conjunction with the garlic aioli. I am a huge, can't get enough, garlic fan so, for me to say that it has to be excessive. Fried Chicken: It definitely had the burnt-esq taste to it so, it was hard to pick up on the other flavors besides that. The chicken was juicy on the inside and the portion size was good but, I would pass on this next time. Deviled Eggs: They were unique in flavor and the blend of spices worked well together. I especially liked the mustard caviar on top but, they were kind of runny. They should have been chilled for a bit longer in my opinion. Cocktails: This is where they have a win! The discount happy hour champagne was an amazing quality compared to other happy hour discount champagne that I have had around town! Definitely stop in for the happy hour pricing on adult beverages! read more

The Highball - Garlic fries with aioli, fried chicken, deviled eggs and happy hour priced champagne! - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

This review is for 3.5 stars. Fairly typical bar. About 12 on tap but a few good IPA for those craft beer lovers. Reasonable prices at $6-7 each and Wednesday all day happy hour so all $6 or under beer discounted. Food is pretty poor but will fill you up. Had the poblano dip and Brussels sprouts. Dip large portions but no spice whatsoever. Easy dish with raw celery, carrot, cucumber and pepper slices and some hummus and crackers but nothing homemade about it. Brussels sprouts at least got stir friend but over sauces on top so tough to get consistency with each bite. Beer food and food average. Lots of theme nights and trivia on Wednesday. Nice location on South Lamar as well as pre or post game to a movie. Reasonable spot if I. The area but nothing going on that makes it a destination bar in Austin. read more

Choices for food and appetizers were unique for the venue but not anything I could get excited over. I had to settle for a salad I was unfamiliar with but still tasty. My friend had the Frito pie dish but didn't finish it because it was so spicy hot. I had a glass of champagne that was OK, again, an unfamiliar name and not at all pleasing but the only champagne offered. Our server, Brittany, was very attentive and brought two different white wines to try instead of the champagne. One of them was very refreshing, can't remember the name though. The band that played that Friday evening did popular show tunes. They were very talented and many people were on the dance floor. We plan to return for MoTown Monday but probably will eat dinner where I know the offerings much better. read more

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Tonight, we reserved a karaoke room for 2 hours (the rate was $35 per hour). As soon as you enter the karaoke room, you were hit with a wall of stiff gym-sock rank. You somehow get used to the smell after awhile, but you need to readjust to the mildew-scent if you leave for the restroom and come back. The song selection was mediocre. All of the "essentials" are there for karaoke, but do not expect there to be more recent songs. Even Despacito wasn't bothered to be added. Overall, I would not advise paying $35 per hour for a room at Highball. The only advantage the room brought us was that we could sing old ballads without having to wait in a ridiculous line at Ego's or another karaoke bar. read more

This review is for the karaoke room: I was surprised by how affordable their room rental rates are given Highball's now high-end district and new swanky renovation. My group of 8 friends rented the smallest room for two hours and only had to pay $5/person. THAT'S A STEAL! Some pros: +Great hourly rate for karaoke room rentals +Bar food/drinks menu is available to order from the room with great service +Two screens for song lyrics so you can see the words no matter which direction you face Some cons: +The room is pretty cramped for their recommended max. limit of people (ex: for 8 people, only 6 people can fit in the seating area and they assume that 2 people will be standing up to sing at all times) +Not enough table space to put drinks and food...it caused us to not order any food because we didn't know where we'd put it +You'll find the song you want maybe 60% of the time (probably not Highball's fault; I assume it's copyright issues) Overall, we left very pleased with our night out and with very sore throats. I would come back and maybe stay longer to hang out downstairs on the dance floor. ;) read more

An Austin institution. A bar area and karaoke place in one. Recently remodeled to have some of the most unique karaoke rooms, including the Mario Bros one that I used. I miss the bowling lanes, but at least they used the materials to make on hell of a bar. All my friends love this place and it has some of the most unique experiences in Austin. read more

The Highball - Legit Mario Bros Karaoke Room - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great cocktails and staff! My favorite spot on south lamar. Try the Pyrat Cask "neat" or any of the signature drinks, my favorite is the Highball Old Fashioned - but the Heirloom is also special with pepper vodka, tomato, and smoked salt rim. They also have a dozen or more local beers and you can order those in flights or pitchers. The menu is full of great snacks, but the smoked pork tostadas always makes my night. They host a very broad selection of music talent every night - each with their own unique fans, so be prepared for an adventure or check their site before you go. read more

The Highball is the bar that is attached to the Alamo theater. Their kitchen turns out the food that you can order while seated at the movies. I enjoyed their fish tacos and their fried Brussels sprouts. They have a wide selection of great beers too. Overall its hard to go wrong chowing down at the highball! Highly recommend! read more

Austins south side bowling alley turned bar. Downstairs is a cozy lounge with big booths and a dance floor made from the old lanes. There is a stage for bands and events. Upstairs there are private themed karaoke rooms with digital song lists and lyric tVs. Fun and entertaining for $20/hr plus drinks. We rented the "The Black Lodge", which held up to 6 ppl. It was small, but adequate. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. The only thing that would have made the experience 5 stars would have been a better room temperature. With four of us in the room moving around singing it heated up quick. They turned the air down to 67, but it was still warm. Would not recommend wearing heavy clothes or sweaters. read more

The Highball - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

I have not been to The Highball for about a year. I went last week and the unfriendly bartenders convinced me to NEVER go back. 2 different bartenders - 1 male and 1 female, were about as unfriendly as a prison guard. NOT one of them said "hello" or "thank you". Such a basic customer service skill was completely void. I walked up to the bar to get drinks for my wife and I and on two separate occasions, the bartenders just stood and starred at me. I waited for a VERY awkward moment and then realized, they were so rude and unfriendly, that unless I said hello, they would just stand there with angry looks on their face. Whoever the manager is, should go back for some very basic training. Since last week, I have told this story to multiple people who have had similar experiences with the RUDE and UNFRIENDLY staff at The Highball. I will not be returning to a place that acts like they are doing you a favor by taking your money. NEVER AGAIN. Tom read more

We booked a private room for a couple hours of karaoke. Everything was perfect, we had a blast. The service was an absolute joke. Our server (Marisa/Melissa?) clearly hates working in this environment and was quick to judge us. We were blamed for bad service. For example, the second drink my cousin ordered never arrived. The server blamed us as if we were irresponsible drunks (which we aren't) and rolled her eyes. She realized she never brought the drink and did not apologize for the way the way she spoke to us. She also brought me a bottle of wine i ordered without a glass, so I used a regular water cup and she just shrugged her shoulders. She seemed miserable the whole time and made us feel like we were interrupting her night. I would recommend the the karaoke--so much fun, but hope you don't get this server (huge buzz kill) read more

Awesome selection of drinks. The layout of the place is great. Tables/seats in the back for a dinner setting. Booths off to the side for more casual dinner setting and high stools at the bar. Dance floor in the middle. Karaoke singers are always fun to listen too and they have an actual stage and curtains for the singers. read more

Great quality food in an eclectic Austin atmosphere. I know you'll have a good time. I always do! It's a place for the young, the old, and for the very people who call Austin home. I love The Highball. It's an extension of the Alamo Drafthouse Family and that means they share a lot of the same delicious and outgoing quirks. "Dine With Shayda Reviews The Highball - a place to relax with friends, share a song, eat some ribs. You'll have a good time. Check out their new menu." read more

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my friend and i went for drag game show night, we were not sure what we were expecting but it was a blast! performance artists were funny and interactive with the audience, bartenders were friendly, drinks were tasty and games were fun! - they even had prizes to win read more

Was in the same room as another reviewer. We got to the high all at 8 pm then did karaoke at 9 to 11. Once karaoke was over we had planned to go back to the main room and dance. The server for the karaoke room said we had to go down a different staircase to the Alamo rather than into the Highball main room which we had been in previously. The person we talked after we were dumped into the Alamo said we had to wait in a super long line to get back into the highball. Also, that if we wanted to talk to her manager they would tell us the same thing. Pretty frustrating considering we had a large group that had hung out in the main room for an hour while the band was setting up and we were waiting for a karaoke room. Definitely won't be coming back considering how we were treated. Common interest on Burnet is solid if you're looking for a karaoke room and nice staff. read more

Want to go out for a nice night and deal with SLOW, egocentric, jerk-faced bartenders who think they are doing you a favor by waiting on you? Well look no more....this is your place!! read more

After leaving Austin for nearly 5 years, I return to find out this place isn't a bowling alley anymore?! :( That said, once you enter and have your ID checked inside the Alamo Drafthouse door, this place looks very swanky and I dig it. The bartenders were also super nice. We went for a live music show and I managed to snag one of the really comfy bar stools, which was a bonus. While the dance floor is small, and it was packed, there was still lots of seating toward the back, which may only be for diners... not sure. The main reason I can't give this place more stars is because it's just too dang expensive. $12 for a signature cocktail? This ain't Manhattan-- hell, it ain't even downtown. It's South Lamar, and that's just too pricey. read more

Darn it! I forgot to close my tab at Highball last night. When two lemondrop shots and a Topo Chico runs you $22, a forgotten tab is cause for concern. Though this is the "new" Highball, some things never change: it's mostly full of d-bags, drinks take as long as Christmas, and cost about the same as Christmas, music and events can be stellar, yawnable, or an utter shit show, and you never know which, like Christmas. Dang, some reviews just write themselves, don't they? The main thing that's changed: it's smaller. Seriously who's idea was that? They should have made it the same size, doubled the bar size and number bartenders, and nixed the bowling alley for more dance floor / seating. If it wasn't for Motown Mondays, there'd be no point for me to come here. And they can even manage to mess that up sometimes (but so did Berry Gordy ultimately). The secret to not messing it up? Don't mess with the formula. Last night, we went at 9:45 and no music was on. None, zero zip, nada. Usually between sets they spin Motown records. Was this a funeral or a show? Then, at 10, The Nightowls were on but usually The Matchmaker Band plays the first two sets. It was as tragic as moving the label to LA, a definite"no" to switch up the order or omit the MMB altogether or whatever was going on tonight. And if there was a permanent change or temporary change, the singer from NO could have said or if the event actual had a host, maybe that person. Also, some jerk almost ran me over when I was coming out of the ladies room and you can bet, even in heels, hose, and a nice dress, I shoved him back and the only reason I didn't push him hard enough to fall over was because I didn't want him to fall into the innocent people behind his stupid ass. And some dude was trying to do the chicken dance with my friend which mostly consisted of him jutting his butt awkwardly in her direction over and over. And another dude was trying time do swing dancing with his date, which mostly meant throwing her into nearby dancers. And then a lot of people were almost dancing in a line. Like line dancing. To Motown. Yep, utter shit show. We'll be back, but with more prepartying, probably not dressed a nice, cause what's the point?, and paying with cash so I can understand exactly how two shots and a mineral water costs a week's worth of my allowance in 1996. read more

This place is a joke. They don't truly know what they are looking for as they cut off people far to early. They don't listen to the clients and they don't listen to the clients correct drink order. They are quick to judging and it's all based off what they think is correct. 5/5 do not recommend butt stuff bingo if they can't handle the crowd read more

My wife and I rented out the Highball for our wedding reception - and it was absolutely perfect. The rates were reasonable, Christen and the rest of the staff were fantastic, and everybody had the best time. The space is very versatile - offering karaoke rooms, a lounge space, a dance floor, bar, food, and more. Couldn't recommend them more for events or as a place to stop by for a drink, an event, or some karaoke. read more

Eighteen months later and the remodeled Highball returns a dark, swanky, and tufted rendition. Situated next door to the new Alamo Drafthouse, The Highball still features plenty of drinks, plus the old bowling alley turned into the dance floor (and benches and bar too!), the stage and events, along with upstairs private karaoke rooms. With an id check-in stand at the door it's useful to know that the private karaoke rooms are 21+ only. Touting themselves as a "karaoke mecca" in a town with plenty of options, there were definitely a few pros and cons! Pros: *a fantastic friendly server who was fun, sang along, attentive, and facilitated our laze for drinks and snacks *the per hour room charge (ranging from $20-50/hr) is easier to calculate than other places *the 7 themed rooms (up to 22 people) are kinda cute, but you forget you're in them once the singing begins *higher quality song files than most *online reservations *drinks and snacks available (small)Cons: *the song bank was limited, I searched for a few songs that I always play at other karaoke places but couldn't find here, fortunately I did notice they have a request form on their website and I'm making good use of it *the sound quality was decent, perhaps it's the padding or the enthusiasm but we could hear both rooms on either side, while at other places I only hear them in the hallway outside of the room *we all missed the big book of songs to peruse, there is one small 15" screen near the door to browse through songs...but, again, they do have an app you can download for iPhone or Android, it would have been nice to know that then *drinks and snacks available Drinks were tasty and particularly citrusy, the prices on par with the handcrafted cocktail prices of many of their other establishments. Happy pours of Jameson are $6. The food menu is sufficiently snacky, nothing really called out to me, but I planned to snack so I ordered the frito pie and the jalapeno corn fritters. The big portion of jalapeno fritters were delicious- crispy but soft, slightly spicy, and well seasoned. The frito pie was better than most, it had lots of nice fresh toppings, but I've never had a frito pie that didn't soak through at least half the chips and these were maybe 15% coated. I understand the meat, but don't be stingy with the juice! I visited on a Thursday night and they were open until 2AM, but at 11:15ish, after the live music, all music... just stopped. It felt like they were cleaning up for the night with 3 hours left, I'm not really sure, my plans were thwarted when I got out of karaoke hoping to try out the beautiful new bowling alley dance floor and after waiting around and having a few drinks, conceding, and leaving as it felt dead. Without other games like in the previous Highball, it gave me the impression that the focus really was karaoke and pre/post movie drinks. Regardless, I had a 5 star time, largely due to good times with great friends, liquid courage, and voice synthesizers! read more

I really, really hate being the first one to diss on the new Highball but after my group of friends' triumphant return, we all walked away pretty disappointed. I won't draw a ton of comparisons to the old Highball as that seems rather fruitless. We definitely dislike how much smaller it is, and subsequently how much louder and crammed it feels with a full crowd. Having been for just one night of activities it seems like the talent and vibe are all the same, and we do really love the new decor, especially the bowling lane floors. None of us have seen the new karaoke rooms so cannot pass judgment there. Our biggest beef is with the food and drinks. I have no idea who designed that tiny, ridiculous menu but it's one of the only times I've ever been to an eating establishment and legitimately did not want a single thing on the menu. Nobody at my table of 6 did. Two of us finally broke down and ordered hummus because we were starving, and it was fine hummus minus looking creepily like bright green baby food, but we are a long way from the delicious offerings of old Highball. When I asked our server about it he even confessed that he and most of the staff hate the menu too. He says it's almost impossible to sell but that they are limited to offering things the Alamo Drafthouse kitchen can produce without getting bogged down since Highball no longer has its own kitchen. Seems like a major design flaw if you ask me. Second - drinks. It seemed like plenty of folks were enjoying their fancy $12 cocktails, but we were keeping it simple with some Scotch, whiskey on the rocks, beer, etc. Beers were fine and priced fine, but there were several complaints about the whiskey+soda's being extremely watered down and some of the Scotches being served improperly (in an ice cold glass vs a room temperature/warm glass). Maybe that seems nitpicky but for a $14 shot of Scotch we expected it to be served properly. My impression is that Highball was added on to be sort of a "while you wait" bar to Alamo South Lamar, kind of like how 400 Rabbit is for Alamo Slaughter. At least you can order queso at 400 Rabbit. Big bummer. read more

I think the Highball is quite an overrated spot. I was here for a trivia event, and first up, what's with the $5 flute of mimosa. Its cheap champagne with tropicana. I mean if you hand squeezed the juice out and used some fancy champagne I would understand the pricing, but that's not the case at all. Ok the shishito peppers are actually really good. The fries are good too. But that's where it ends when it comes to vegetarian food. The other flatbread you guys were out of. Again the prices for these little servings are kind of not justified. I would say step it up a notch Highball. Be more creative, if you're gonna charge that kind of money. read more

Nu Highball is decorated with the remains of its predecessor whose absence is still felt on South Lamar. Looking at the slats of wood that once formed the bowling lanes leaves me reminiscing for that pre/post-Alamo activity. Nowadays I only rarely stop by Highball to grab a drink before a late night movie. Supposedly the karaoke is fun but has long wait times and is rather expensive. You can take your drink from Highball into the Alamo Drafthouse for your movie. Or at least I always do and no one has ever told me otherwise. read more

I actually miss the old Highball. I don't think it's fair to call this new establishment Highball. It lacks the charm and feel of the original space and overall just doesn't feel like South Austin. There is no division of space and has the look and atmosphere of a downtown night club to me. The karaoke rooms are ok, but are not made for comfort. We were told the room holds 20. I can only assume it holds 20 toddlers comfortably. Service is robotic and lacks any sort of personality. Drinks are good and moderately priced for the quality. The food actually took a huge step down. We tried almost everything on the menu and I can honestly say that there was nothing that stood out as remarkable or memorable. Granted, fault may lie with the fact that we had a pretty large group. Maybe Highball is a better experience with smaller groups. read more

I like the Highball a lot but it is not my crowd. Every time I walk in there I want to punch someone in the face. Most of the clientele seems like grade A douchebags with an entitlement complex. Outside of that the bar staff is great. As with the entire Alamo family they are friendly and helpful. Love the karaoke rooms. The food has gotten better with the remodel. Also they have a photo booth in case you want a strip of pictures to remember your evening by (which may be useful considering how strong the cocktails are. read more

My friends and I went for '90s night and it was awesome! There's nothing like losing yourself on the dance floor to a little Destiny's Child, Britney, Puff Daddy, Coolio, Spice Girls, and '90s techno jams! Rhythm is indeed a dancer. The only downer of the night was the jerk bartender. Upon arrival, I ordered a birthday drink for my friend and a soda and lime for myself because I wasn't drinking that night. The bartender asks if I want to open or close my tab. I say close. He rolls his eyes and tells me not to be opening and closing a tab all night because they're busy. Believe me, man, after your unnecessary attitude, I wouldn't have been ordering drinks anymore even if I was drinking. He proceeds to say other unnecessary things about how he's actually being a nice guy. I'm not seeing it, dude. Just make the drinks and let me go dance. Despite the rough arrival, my friends and I danced the night away. The DJ was awesome and I love how the music videos played on the screen. It was such a great throwback night! read more

The Highball Phoenix that arose after the previous version was razed along with its neighboring classic Austin businesses is smaller, darker, swankier, and way less funky than the original rendition. The bowling alley and games tables are gone, but the Karaoke rooms (not my thing, 'cause I can't sing) and the dance floor and bar area have been recreated in a more compact form that reflects the outer modern architectural design, which reminded me of a bomb shelter built from stacked charred sticks and sheet metal. It's no longer Austin retro, it's more like modern downtown Big Band era with a side of Steampunk. You might have a tough time finding it from Lamar, because you can't see the sign. Look for the Shake Shack, then turn between the two black rectangular buildings toward the Alamo Drafthouse. It's nestled in the right armpit of the Alamo. Motown Mondays are back, with the fabulous Matchmaker Band at 9PM (no cover), and a local dance instructor still offers a free hour-long group swing dance lesson at 8PM. Plenty of couples were taking him up on that last Monday. But here's the thing: the dance floor is narrower, with booths on one side, the bar on the other, and the restrooms all the way at the back, so there isn't much room to swing dance when there's a big crowd. It almost looks like a long, wide bowling lane, especially with the hardwood plank flooring. So most of the pro swing dancers who used to frequent the Highball are gone, along with their cool retro costumes. Our group was content to "pack-dance" for just about the entire evening. And it was fun. The drink menu is a veritable book of designer mixed drinks that run up to around $10, various beers ($4-6 average), and a few wines. I scanned it, grew bored reading descriptions, and just ordered a mixed call drink. They didn't stock my Austin-based chosen brand. What? Our group's mixed drinks were disappointingly weak. They also have food, but I doubt many people are going here to eat dinner, so it's mostly quick bites at less than modest prices. We didn't order food, because we were there to dance. I tried to pay the server for my drink, but strangely, he said no and disappeared for hours. He then presented me with a check on a tray, as if it were a restaurant. I gathered they're wanting everyone to run a tab. I like to pay cash as I go, thanks. Parking in the adjacent garage to the right is free, but the lot was tight and full, largely due to the fact that there are now a lot of other businesses that share it. A friend valet-parked at the restaurant down by Lamar. If you do this, be aware that they close at 11PM. Overall, I'd go for a fun themed evening or a cocktail if you're in the area, but don't expect the old Highball. Sometimes it's better not to have the blueprints of old Austin with you when you're heading downtown. It is what it is, and it ain't what it was. read more

Very interesting set up. The food was okay... I wish they had more of a selection. The bartenders were super swamped and it took about 30 minutes to get a beer. They were friendly but very short and not super helpful. Definitely whisk they had more seating especially since they run such big events. Parking was a nightmare. I'm gonna have to give it another shot... Maybe on a night when there isn't an event. read more