Went here for the first time in May during their Cinco De Mayo Margarita Month promotion. It was packed on a weekend and had a fun vibe. We got the discounted margaritas at the bar and I think they were only $7 each. We really liked them! It was hard to find a spot to stand let alone sit since it was so busy. Eventually we got a spot on a couch inside. A company was hosting a party with a buffet and when their event was up they offered the other guests to enjoy what was left of the buffet. We had chips, salsa, tacos, and tuna poke! It was so good! We will definitely come back to eat here. Fun random Saturday! read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super chill rooftop in the aloft hotel on Congress. Food: N/A Service: 3 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: no walk-in only Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Liked the casual relaxed vibe in a rooftop so didn't have to be fancy - Mix of ages - Plenty of seating - Cute white lights hanging - Could go full party drink mode or relax with a few - Have water jugs out so you can fill your own Midlights: - Order at bar line can be long and not many working behind it but then saw waiter coming around when was seated - Drinks just ok--there more for vibes Lowlights: - Didn't get to try the tacos since we were off to have a meal after read more

I recently visited Upstairs at Caroline for a Logitech SXSW installation event, and the experience was a great mix of creative energy and Austin atmosphere. The venue itself has a lively, open feel with an urban backyard vibe and plenty of space to move around, mingle, and actually take in the installation without feeling crowded. What stood out most was how well the space complemented the event. The layout made it easy to engage with the installation while still enjoying the social vibe. They had space for working virtually as well as displays to test some of the technology. There's a nice balance between indoor comfort and that signature rooftop-style setting, which gives it a relaxed but elevated feel. The staff was friendly and kept things running smoothly, and the overall setup felt thoughtfully organized. Whether you were there to focus on the installation or just take it in casually, the environment supported both. The line was somewhat long to get into the event as it was at capacity and could only allow more people as people were leaving the event. I was given a drink ticket and got to try the Patio Pounder with ilegal mezcal, primo aperitivo, tropical citrus, coconut, grapefruit soda. The bartender was efficient even though the lines were long. The cocktail was enjoyable with the balance of smoky and citrus flavors. They also had a variety of food bites available including chips and queso. creamy street corn, and sliders. The food was gone relatively quickly due to the crowds but it would be replenished periodically. Overall, Upstairs at Caroline proved to be a solid venue for a creative SXSW event versatile, welcoming, and very on-brand for Austin's arts and tech scene. read more

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I ended up coming here a couple times during our trip to Austin since I was staying nearby. The outdoor patio was really nice and lively, especially with the great weather. It's a fun place to hang out and people watch. The casual setup was a bit confusing at first. We weren't sure if we were supposed to wait to be seated or just grab a table, and there wasn't really anyone guiding that process. Service was friendly across the board, but it took a while to get both drinks and food, and we had to flag someone down a few times. Not a huge deal, but noticeable when the place wasn't overly packed. For drinks, we tried the sangria and the espresso martini. Both were fine but nothing particularly memorable. The food was the highlight for me. We ordered the brisket tacos and the queso with corn dip, and both were really good and hit the spot. Overall, it's a solid place for a casual bite and drinks. I'd come back if I were nearby, but probably wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Outdoor area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Felt like we had bad service, the lady waiting on us was very argumentative and rude and rubbed everyone the wrong way. We asked if we could order at the bar and she told us no. She wasn't great about coming around and most people just ordered at the bar and got better service. She just seemed annoyed and irritated. I've never understood people in the service industry who lack basic friendliness and willingness to be helpful in any way possible. The food was just OK, I try a shrimp taco and I noticed how there was no attempt in any way to serve with a warm tortilla. You can tell they just took it out of the bag and threw some meat on it. read more

I was here a few months back and really enjoyed it. However, I went back on Friday night and had a very different experience. To be fair, they were a bit busy but even with taking that into consideration the service was still exceptionally slow. I ordered a special Galentine's margarita that was supposed to be blood orange. It came and what was made was definitely a regular margarita. I asked the bartender about it and she insisted it was the special margarita and that she made me the correct drink. I included a photo of the margarita in this review for reference. If anyone sees blood orange in that drink, let me know. All that being said, there is plenty of seating and the place has a fun vibe. I truly hate to give not so great reviews but I do feel it was warranted. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Friday the 13th margs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

The nacho topping distribution could have been better and there needed to be more shrimp in the shrimp taco but it was quite a vibe of a place and I can't deny a draft cocktail read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

A total vibe! I loved this spot and the outdoor bar area. It's lit up by twinkle lights with plenty of TVs to watch the game. They had a frozen watermelon rose I tried which I really like, if you get an additional shooter to go with it, make sure you mix it in! They have a good amount of drinks to choose from, it's a great place to chill with friends and enjoy the weather. Lots of seating and picnic table style seating. I've been twice and would definitely go back! read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I had this placed bookmarked but happened upon it while walking on Congress with some friends, so of course we decided to do the patio upstairs during the daytime. The patio itself is an indoor - outdoor layout where the indoor area has some TV's, pool table, foosball with couches and some table for seating. It also has the bar which opens up to the outdoor where you can service both fronts. The outdoor area is has filtered lighting to mitigate the direct sun but is open where the air can flow in. It also has big ass ceiling fans along with fans in various corners. Genral seating on the patio is a combination of couches, picknick table with high top seating in various spots. Overall vibe is pretty cool and had plenty of seating with people continuously arriving. Service was very good and prompt and the cocktail and drinks wasn't too large but enough to choose from. We had the Hipster-Jito and Strawberry + Me. Both very tasty and would recommend. For food we ended up with the Nachos corn tortillas, green chili queso, black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, lime, crema, scallions, cotija with carnitas, brisket, & chicken. I really liked this hangout and definitely recommend to anyone to add to your list of places to come while in the downtown Austin area. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Upstairs patio - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This place had a great cozy vibe, like you were chilling at a friend's place. We didn't get a chance to hang around, we had already eaten at the restaurant downstairs and were ready to call it a night. But if we had had an extra night in Austin, we would've definitely come back here for a beer. read more

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Awesome roof top patio with tons of fans to keep it cool. Great spot to hangout, shoot some pool and play other games. Drinks were on special Wednesday from 3-6pm. Only $10 for a tasty old fashioned. The nachos hit the spot and the added brisket was excellent. read more

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Service and ambiance are great! Ambiance is so fun, love coming up to this area! Food is good, nothing amazing but drinks are great! Def a fun vibe! read more

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Needed a snack at my hotel and Upstairs at Caroline had the right amount of small food. Ordered braised brisket tacos, pork carnitas tacos, and chips with guacamole. Definitely liked the brisket tacos more than the carnitas tacos, but both were good. And it's really hard to mess up chips and guacamole. Staff here were fine, no complaints. read more

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I wound up here on a Tuesday at 3:45pm and thought it would be somewhat dead. Nahhh, this place is BUMPIN'. There was only one bar seat left! I'm not sure if it's the connection to the hotel or what but woah, this was a surprise. I had the Tuesday special, a guava margarita. It depends on who makes it but sometimes I felt like I was drinking juice over ice. My small gripes about this place are 1) everything feels rushed, 2) I didn't feel like I was "deserving" of being there & 3) it was so crowded that I had to sit uncomfortably in my own chair, & 4) I was charged for regular guava margs I will give it to them for their service -- I had so many people asking me if I needed something from behind the bar or a drink runner from the side. Perfect service. Would I go back? Sure. Only for happy hour. I'm gonna hit that bell I swear! read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Guava-Rita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nice first place to stop in after we arrived in Austin. Lovely rooftop patio with picnic -style tables and loungey areas, too. "Big Ass" fans blowing to keep it cool, as well. We hungout here for a while and enjoyed some people watching, a game of pool, and some drinks and snacks. Happy Hour is from 3-6 and the Wednesday special was $10 Backyard Cocktails. We enjoyed the Pick Me Up and the Old Austin. Tried a few local beers, as well. Had a Braised Brisket Taco ($5) and the Nachos with Brisket ($16), which were both fine. Nothing to write home about, but filled us up. Easy-going vibe with some sunshine and music. I'm sure this pace is hopping later in the evening and on weekends. read more

This rooftop bar is absolutely delightful. We stopped in for a break from the heat for a quick drink and snack. They have tons of fans and air cooling options that keep it very cool. We both really enjoyed our drinks. I got the sipping sangria and my husband got the mule on the roof. They were both refreshing. We also got the street corn and plantain chips, which was also extremely good. I'd also call out that the bartenders are exceptional. Attentive without overbearing and very friendly, they were great at keeping things moving. Great bar, food and drinks. This is a wonderful spot to stop and hang out. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Sippin' Sangria - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Visited a bar with some city views and a pool table. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed, with a great spot to enjoy drinks while taking in the view. Definitely a nice place to hang out with friends! read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Went to play trivia and for a hot day it was nice and cool with fans and coverage. Service was solid we got drinks and food on time. Taco salad was great and filling with fresh ingredients and great dressing. Chips and queso definitely hit the spot. We got corn later and was just as good. Great spot for happy hour or drinks before night out. read more

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We went on a weekday and it's not packed around that time. Ambiance was okay and the was okay as well. I would just probably go back for the drinks but not for the food. read more

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Really friendly service, good food, and fun location. My server went out of their way for me, and every interaction was helpful and professional. I had beef, shrimp, and chicken tacos and all were tasty and served quick. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Is it possible to be swank and chill at the same time? I think so, based on what I've seen here. It's an upscale bar scene with thoughtfully crafted cocktails, but you'd be just at home wearing shorts and a t-shirt as a little black dress. You've got comfy lounge seating, a spacious outdoor area, and views of downtown all over. It strikes me as a great place to take a date without looking like you're trying to hard. Especially if you go for happy hour, you'll be balling on a budget. Fantastic deals and cheap eats that taste like a million bucks. read more

Lively space open air bar at a hotel. The bartenders are on it if you're sitting at the bar. Otherwise it took a while to get drinks sitting outside. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Came here for a quick drink and bite to eat before a concert at Stubbs! The menu was limited and service while friendly, was a a little slow albeit they were pretty busy. The ambience was nice outside, but it being jam packed did not help the heat. The food was really really just OK. It came out quickly, but portions were small and the nachos came out cold. Gave the impression they have the ingredients pre-made on standby and are just dumping them out when ordered. Wouldn't come back personally read more

If you read the reviews you will see varying consensus, and the majority rave about the drinks and various entertainment options which I whole-heartedly agree with. Maybe it is an Austin thing, but the BBQ is different around these parts. I had the Braised brisket taco with supposedly pickled red onions. Correct me if I am wrong, but braised is a two-step process meaning "to sear first". The brisket tasted as if they boiled it then smoke flavor was add as an afterthought and the red onions were raw (can we at least sauté them?) I was safe this night, but the other person in my party ordered the pork carnitas tacos and let's just say the exogenous stimuli of the tacos made their emesis look like a Jackson Pollock painting. The bartenders were lively so it negated some of the issues, but the price for valet in relation to the service leaves something to be desired. Good location away from high foot traffic and rowdy partying patrons from a block over. read more

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We sat for over 20 minutes by the kitchen door waiting for a server. Several staff members walked past us multiple times, yet not one person acknowledged us, even with menus open and ready to order. I finally went to the bar to order drinks. When I asked the bartender a simple question about one of the infused cocktails, she rolled her eyes and gave me attitude. That set the tone for the rest of our visit. While seated near the kitchen, we could clearly see into the prep area. Staff wore gloves, but they were touching doors, equipment, and other surfaces before going right back to handling food, completely defeating the purpose. Even more concerning, we saw a bartender handle cash, walk into the kitchen, and start preparing food without washing hands or changing gloves. It took 45 minutes before anyone came to check on us. The lack of service and basic hygiene awareness made this one of the more disappointing dining experiences we have had. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Upstairs at Caroline has a separate entrance right beside the restaurant. It is an open, airy space with various types of seating accommodations and a ton of space. The environment felt very chill when we went. I saw some people playing jenga, so it caters to many audiences! You can order at the bar or at your table. The service was friendly and the food came out pretty quickly. I ordered some brisket tacos and they were delish and very fresh! As well, the draft cocktail was very smooth. It's def a cool hangout spot and good place to visit, esp if you are going to other places in walking distance. Would def recommend to add them to your list! read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Brisket taco - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Still as great an experience as my previous visits. Of course prices are higher than my other reviews now due to increasing prices everywhere. Beer is now $12 off HH - which is a quite a stretch. Reg taco prices are $5 each off HH. You can go somewhere cheaper but it's not going to have the atmosphere. Great service! read more

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Nice, casual rooftop bar in Austin. No reservation is needed - just walk up the stairs! I came here by myself on a Friday around 6:30 PM. It wasn't too crowded, but most tables that weren't taken were reserved, so it was a bit hard to find a seat even for one person. Given that it is open seating, you're not guaranteed to find a spot to sit and makes it hard for solo guests, which is something I'd dock off ambiance-wise. The vibes seem great, especially for groups of 2+ people. Lots of outdoor games and gives off a good, social vibe. The outdoor patio is lovely, especially when the weather is good. I ordered a Sippin' Sangria at the bar, which was a white wine sangria. I enjoyed it, as it had fruity notes to it. The menu is a bit limited in my opinion. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Sippin' Sangria - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super cool spot in a happening area of ATX! The drinks were great except the Honeydew something or another listen Honey DONT DEW IT! Their 2 frozen drinks on the menu were life bc it was hot as H E double hockey sticks. One has guava nectar and it the BEST! Although they did have fans and AC in the bar area. The bartenders were friendly, personable and kept checking on us. And the bathrooms were clean! I will definitely return for drinks and maybe even eats! But I do recommend making reservations! read more

Honestly for how packed and popular this place is... service and drinks just weren't good. We stopped by after dinner at Uchiba and before a show at Paramount for one more drink and were escorted upstairs. We ordered a craft cocktail and the bartender basically rolled his eyes and said it wasn't a good drink. Now was it not a good drink or did he not want to make it? Maybe both but I don't know because based on his enthusiasm I just went on his suggestion of the margarita. Which happened the be batched, which is fine but again shows possibly another motive to suggesting to order this drink. There is nothing wrong with a batched drink, as long as it's done properly, this margarita was mostly sweet and sour and quite possibly one of the worst drinks I ever had. It would be more on par to what I would expect at a dive bar rather than a "cute bar". Probably won't try this place again just based on the vibes of the staff, there are many other places in Austin to go to that are just as busy or busier but don't make you feel like a burden. read more

Extremely popular spot during ACL weekend. Busily chaotic. Great patio with giant Jengas available. A couple of dogs in attendance. Fairly attentive service despite the crowd. Yummy food and drinks. Came up to wait on Caroline's reservations but we weren't super hungry and ended up just eating here. read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Mule on the Roof - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Upstairs at Caroline is Austin's premier urban backyard party and provides a fun atmosphere for us 21 and over folks. This establishment provides games and craft cocktails with a view on an open-air patio. The convenient location of Caroline makes it easy to reach by strolling down Congress. The drinks are moderately and on par with the bars and pubs in the area. The last time I came in was with some of the local "celebrity" elites... Scott, T. https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=ChM7ZL6LOPFmEy-zxrmIkg & King Richard A. https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=mdP18-vCtV9nu8DT2Bk6lA For those who visit this establishment once, twice, or ten times, each experience will be different than the one before as there are different D.J.s spinning on various days, days designated just for fur babies, pool tournament days, and the list goes on. If you are in the area, tell the staff, King Richard, Scott, and Courtney sent you! read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Your favorite OCA with King Richard (Yelp Elite) and Scott T (Yelp Elite). Cheers from us to you! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'll preface this by saying im from San Diego so my taco standards are high....the pastor taco was a 4 or 5. It had absolutely NO flavor but it wasn't bad in any way. The brisket tacos was decent--I'd say a 7/10. Good, but nothing to write home about. The cocktail I ordered was described as a mojito but it tasted like a stevia syrupy mess. I could barely drink it, it was so sweet...but like fake sweet taste. Service was fine, environment was pretty but felt kind of expensive for what it was read more

General: definitely recommend. I enjoyed it. We went on a Monday early afternoon. It wasn't quite happy hour, I think that is a good time to go...or right at happy hour. Food: soooo good. We got a few tacos, the corn dip, the bean dip, guacamole and chips. The taco had so much flavor. Simple and delicious. The dips were also Devine. You can eat them separately, but if you really want to tantalize your taste buds, get different combinations of dips on one chip for one bite!! Whew! Service: we were seen pretty quick because it wasn't too many people there on a Monday early afternoon. Our waitress had great recommendations. I will say, once happy hour started, she was a little less present and I had to go find her to close our tab. But overall, service was good. Atmosphere: the restaurant is just so cute. Find a corner for whatever vibe you're feeling. Covered, uncovered, Long Tables, small tables, booths, couches, benches...you name it! Such a beautiful space read more

So, Caroline is known for many things: + Their frozen bevs... some that they top with Everclear. No thank you to that, but cheers to those of you who partake! + It's a rooftop bar with games like giant Jenga, foos ball, cornhole. It's like someone's backyard elevated (literally and figuratively). + Happy hour is Monday - Thursday 3pm-6pm, Friday 12pm - 3pm; on Sundays, if your fur babe joins you, you'll receive 25% off your visit. I really like this spot (especially since I LOVE dining at Caroline downstairs). However, on my recent visit, we dropped in before a movie... we ordered two frozen margs and chips and queso - we never got the chips and queso (~$9). I feel like we did our due diligence - I checked in with the bartender (Brian?), who assured me he'd bring them out even though we weren't given a table-top number. We were finally in such a hurry to leave to make our movie at the Paramount Theatre, I informed the bartender just to keep them. Didn't even have time to cancel/credit the tab... read more

While visiting Austin... we came here for happy hour and to just relax after a long day of traveling. The whole vibe is super cute... they have games and a pool table... there is open seating... some inside and some outside. The food was good. It really just like small bites... even though I wanted meal. The flavor of the tacos was really amazing and the salsa was great. Service was fast and everyone was really friendly. I would come back, I think it would be a perfect first date spot or to watch a game. read more

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Servers seem to enjoy their job. Friendly & attentive. We got there right after HH. Our waitress still honored HH prices. Food was excellent. Flavorful & fresh, nice portions. Not much of a beer selection. Music wasn't the best. (But) I'd eat their shrimp tacos & gauc again n again. read more

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Cool vibe, good food and drinks.. Uly was a fantastic bartender! Will definitely come back.

Poor quality service, the staff lost our credit card and was very rude when it came to owning up to the fact that they had lost our card. After denying that they even had the card they somehow magically found it once we had froze the card. I also suspect one of the bartenders was high (he was definitely under the influence of something) which I suspect is how the card even got lost in the first place. Very shady staff no one wanted to help us instead I was told by the staff to "back away" from the bar area at one point even though I was certain AND RIGHT that they had our card. Excellent ambiance horrible staff and service. Won't be coming back or recommending. read more

Love the vibes of this place. Walking in I was not expecting the outdoor part but it really added to the aesthetic of the place. Lots of fun and unique drinks! I got the bad life choice and it was delicious. Loved the watermelon flavor. It is strong! But worth!! read more

Upstairs at Caroline - Strawberry Mint Mule Bad Life Choices - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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