The Most Delectable Lounges in Austin

Cody's Restaurant Bar & Patio

★★★★★ 4.5 (523) • $$$

"Food was 10/10Service was 10/10Ambiance was 100/100 very chill relaxing vibes and of course drinks were spot on!! Margarita pleaseP.s I didn't realized I took the napkin with me till my boyfriend was like why did you steal the napkin haha omg! Sorry!"

The Golden Goose

★★★★☆ 3.6 (104) • $$

"Time to give a slow clap to The Golden Goose because this bar is so much damn fun and you'd outta be ashamed if you haven't been here yet! This spot is such a moment throughout the year and I really love their programs. From daily specials to a mean signature cocktail program, you're in good hands here.If you're in the area you absolutely have to come here for a drink or three."

Devil May Care

★★★★☆ 4.2 (218) • $$$

"The ambiance is sexy and sophisticated. The service is efficient and friendly! The food is delicious! The oysters are a must!"

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.4 (269)

"Love this place! It's super cute inside and outside. The weather was perfect so we sat outside on the covered porch. They have happy hour food and drink specials M-F from 4-6 which I totally recommend if you're on a budget. Portions are shareable. Definitely get the biscuits! This spot is great for date night, girls dinners, brunch, and everything in between!"

Carpenter Coffee Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (79) • $$

"Staff was incredible, the vibe was perfect for a rainy Sunday, and the matcha was delicious! I recommend stopping in at Carpenter Coffee Bar. Just be sure to stop in early if going in the morning, or just be on the lookout for seats, since it can get packed quickly. There's also tons of easy street parking available."

Nido

★★★★☆ 4.1 (285)

"We were looking for a great "girls night out" spot and found Nido during a Google search! It was incredible y"all! We reserved a table outside on the patio and had a beautiful view of downtown Austin. We ordered drinks and shared a bunch of dishes. The drinks were good and the food was absolutely delicious! Pictures below!Highly recommend for couples or groups. Make reservations ahead of time and do the valet parking for $10."

Carousel Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (85) • $

"It's a set up bar but it's an Austin classic. If you're looking for weird and authentic, look no further."

Uptown Lounge Craft Kitchen and Cocktails

★★★★☆ 3.8 (8)

"I was very pleased with my dining experiences at this restaurant. At both breakfast and dinner I received great, attentive service. And, at both breakfasts Amy made me feel especially welcome!The table came with a bottle of water for self-service, which I appreciated. The wine list was of good quality. My server at dinner was able to give me a solid recommendation for one to pair with my salmon. She was dead on with how well it complimented the fish. As for the salmon, it wasn't overly seasoned and was incredibly flaky. It was a good size as well.For breakfast, The Breakfast Plate's eggs were cooked perfectly with appropriately cooked bacon. I enjoyed the potatoes that accompanied it as well. The Buttermilk Pancakes meal was a failure though. The pancakes were gooey inside. My server, Amy, offered to have them remade, but I declined the offer. So I accepted a parfait, which was easily one of the best I've had in Austin. The granola with the berries were perfectly balanced, and the granola wasn't super chunky. Amy was 100% invested in my meal satisfaction. The dining room is quite pretty with lovely set tables. Every time I ate, I felt a tad underdressed! But they don't care if you're comfortably casual, and i saw a family with small children looking very relaxed and vacationy and they were welcome."

Sahara Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (98) • $

"I don't go out much at night, but one NOTABLE EXCEPTION is that I go REGULARLY to Ladies Night (3rd Fridays) whenever I'm in town. This is THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! Seriously! One night dancing here is better than a day at Disney! ;)EVERYONE is smiling & dancing to the GROOVE that the DJs are playing (70s & 80s disco, funk & soul).EVERY gender, age, race, etc etc are there & having fun! There's a big outdoor area, too, with a food truck, too cool off (it does get WARM inside, so dress LIGHT!)When u go, chances are I'm up near the front dancing by the stage (or ON IT!) COME JOIN THE FUN!! ALL ARE TRULY WELCOME HERE!"

Firehouse Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.2 (529) • $$

"Here out of town for Thanksgiving. I liked the music and customer service. Very laid back settings. Very nice choices of whiskey and beers. This is small speak easy type lounge with a very diverse customer base . The music is great and pull from various genres. Adrian is good bartender, very attentive, very knowledgeable of different drinks and very welcoming."

Mayfair Austin

★★★☆☆ 3 (12)

"Every time I return to Austin I will make it a point to go to Mayfair! Shoutout to Dillon for finding us. Being tourists we weren't really sure which bars on 6th street we should check out. Dillon found us when we were crossing the street and invited us to Mayfair. He said "A bottle of champagne on me!". Ladies love free champagne so obviously we took him up on it. Dillon and the rest of the staff at Mayfair were so attentive that it made it hard to want to go anywhere else. In fact, we went back the very next night!If you're looking for a club-like atmosphere with great music and good vibes - look no further because Mayfair is THE spot. I highly recommend getting a table too."

Bender Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (333) • $$

"I've spent far too much time at this neighborhood dive. But nowhere near the time others put in here. Hidden in a strip center just off S First and 71, there is a little something for most. A decent bar food menu that serves late night- although I miss the waffle fries, Pool tables and dart boards, several tvs, a back (smoking) patio, and a highly contentious jukebox- its controlled via phone. The clientele ranges from off- duty teachers, mechanics, doctors, accountants, bikers, and anything in between."

The Little Darlin'

★★★★☆ 4.2 (538) • $$

"If you're looking for a great South Austin hangout, look no further. This place has all the things you didn't know you needed until you walk through the door (or stroll into the yard). From the second you arrive, the vibe here is laid-back, fun, and welcoming.First off, let's talk about the crowd. This is the kind of place where everyone feels at home - a mix of awesome people that makes people-watching an activity in itself. It's got that quintessential South Austin flair--eclectic, warm, and a little funky in the best way possible.Now, on to the food and drinks, because obviously, that's important! The food here is legit. Whether you're digging into a burger, snacking on some apps, or trying one of their rotating specials, it's all really, really good. This isn't one of those places where the food takes a back seat to the vibe--both are equally stellar. And the drinks? Always on point. Whether you're grabbing a cold beer, a craft cocktail, or just something simple, they nail it every time.One of my favorite things about The Little Darlin' is that it's the perfect spot for just about anything. Want to chill outside with your dog and sip a beer? Done. Looking for a spot to catch up with friends or kick back after a long day? This is the place. Need somewhere to take that friend visiting from out of town who wants to "experience South Austin"? You're covered. It's a versatile little haven that never disappoints."

Urban Rooftop

★★★★☆ 3.9 (156) • $$$

"I love you a whole brunch! Highlights:* Cocktails * Brunch* Rooftop Views Review: The migas were bursting with flavor and a bit of spice. The potatoes were perfect, the bacon extra crispy, beans were earthy and delicious. The Bloody Mary was balanced, refreshing, spicy and boozy. The highlight of the day were the waffles, crunchy exterior, warm, fluffy center with richness from the butter and sweetness from the syrup. Can't wait to go back and try their other menu items. Rating: 9/10 Tex-Mex Migas- egg, pico de gallo, grilled jalapeno, cheddar jack, avocado, sour cream, refried beans, breakfast potatoes and bacon.Waffles with fresh fruit and a blueberry sauce."

Péché

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"Unbelievable! You should go here! Service was excellent. The owner came out and had a great conversation with us and helped us pick out a cocktail to start our evening and it was amazing.! My son decided on the wild boar Ragu and I picked the tenderloin . Both were 10 out of 10... Like lick the plate good! It's not cheap to eat and drink here but you get what you pay for. It's worth every penny! I gave it five stars if I could give it six I would! Thank you for your hospitality, Robb from the Minnesota boys!"

Knomad Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (262) • $

"Knomad is a neighborhood bar that occasionally offers live music indoors, which is why we visited, to see a couple of bands we like. It seems like a hot spot for the local hip millennial crowd with a few Gen-Xers (like me) mixed in. They offer a full bar and sometimes have food trucks. The latter were not there when we visited, so I can't comment on the culinary fare. It's a long, narrow space with a few tables, bar stools, and booths, with the stage at the back. The patio has a secluded feeling, since it's not only covered, but virtually enclosed with high lattice work barriers that separate it from the parking lot. It includes multiple tables, a TV, and speakers, though the speakers are connected to the bar's internal sound system and not the stage. So if you sit outside, you won't hear whatever live music may be happening. If you smoke, you'll be happy to hear that the entire patio seems to be a smoking section. If you don't (like me), you'll be disappointed to hear that the mounted fans don't clear the air past the patio enclosures, so the back patio will be reminiscent of what bars used to smell like in Austin before the indoor smoking ban. Parking is free in their attached lot, but it may fill up fast when the club does. Knomad was pretty full with small groups of chatty folks the night we visited. Overall, a decent club that you may love or not, depending on what you're looking for. IMO it beats the circus bar up the street. 3-1/2 stars"

Azul Rooftop

★★★★☆ 4.1 (125) • $$

"Our large group went to Azul Rooftop for drinks after having dinner downstairs at Stella San Jac. We did not have reservations, but we managed to walk in and get a cabana because some of the people in our group were staying at the hotel.I don't know if the bar has an age restriction at night, but when we were there (around 10 pm on a Saturday night), there were children swimming in the pool with their parents. It sort of killed the vibe for me. The views of the skyline helped at least.Our server Britney was very nice and attentive. I ordered a drink called the Lavender Haze which I enjoyed. When last call came, Britney informed us that we could take our drinks back to the room or the hotel lobby. Azul was nice, but I wouldn't pay for a pool pass to visit."

The Butterfly Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (176) • $$

"Just got a sangria while waiting for my food, was pretty good! They are fast and will help you order if you are unsure what to get. Nice ambiance def recommend coming here"

Shangri-La

★★★★☆ 3.8 (337) • $$

"Thinking of making this spot my fiance and I frequent, if we can get past the bartender who likes to play mind games. The $4 happy hour well drinks (which end at 6pm) and $10 for 3 Nashville Fried Chicken Sliders (which are the size of McDonald's burgers EACH), make this a great spot 5pm to 6pm while the happy hour deals are on! I asked the bartender for tequila and lime juice, and he looked confused when repeating "lime juice??!!!" back to me. Does a bartender really not know what lime juice is? After he got over himself enough to make the drink, he asked if I wanted a tequila cranberry as a second drink. Barely able to hear, I said "Yes, thank you. Oh no, wait. I just want the drink I asked for. No additions please." He raised his hands in the air as if beside himself. I don't care what his problem was, but I wonder why we even tipped. Etiquette, I guess..."

The 04 Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.8 (76) • $

"This place is a dump and I love it. $1 Millers after 8 on Tuesday, $1 pool games, and the place goes completely silent if someone isn't paying for a song on the jukebox."

Small Victory

★★★★☆ 4.3 (179) • $$

"Best craft cocktails in town. The owner is an awesome lady with a vision. It is a small venue but perfect spot cozy up with yummy drinks and good company. Definitely check it out!"

Drinks Lounge & Records

★★★★☆ 3.9 (139) • $

"This place's aesthetic is really cool, tall leather booths, funky chandeliers, pool tables and an awesome outdoor area. The bartender was super friendly to everyone and had interesting conversation. I had the frozen cherry limeade and it was great, the loaded cheese fries though...those were absolutely incredible. I usually shy away from cheese fries because of how soggy they can get but my fries were so crispy, had a bomb queso on it with bacon and jalapeños. Their front patio is a good size, with a few fans blowing and turf instead of concrete which was a nice change. I love being on the East Side more these days and I would definitely add this to my list of go-to places!"

Valhalla

★★★★☆ 4.1 (49) • $

"When you absolutely, positively need cheap beer, a battered pool table, live music, and a killer jukebox in your life? Accept no substitutes. Valhalla sits in the Red River District, offering up a laid back vibe and a handful of brews on tap. Sit and stay for a show or just groove to some vintage Iron Maiden and idle the through the night"

Highland

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (82) • $$

"I enjoyed the time I had here. I came on a friday night and a few of us were visiting from California. It was one of the few places that had business and people around town. We visited two other places and couldn't stay longer than 30 minutes but this was definitely a heart part of town. If I was in town and had no plans friday night, I'd come here again."

Zanzibar

★★★★☆ 4 (551) • $$

"My daughter and I were visiting Austin from California, and our friends brought us to Zanzibar so we could get a 360 view of Downtown Austin and also check out the lake. From the moment we stepped into the elevator from street level, I could tell we were going to walk in to some very nice paradise themed interior decor and food/drink offerings. Zanzibar did not disappoint! It was a muggy, hot day, and they had their ceiling fans on full blast. Aside from the bar seating, everything was set up in an outdoor patio style setting and flanked by lots of plants and greenery. We ordered an assortment of food: banh mi, cubano sandwich, crab tostado, and their pupu platter, which consisted of jerk wings, shrimp skewers** - these were my fave!, duck egg rolls, pineapple salsa, and chips. We also ordered a Feels Like Summer (#1 ordered alcoholic beverage), cider, and the Clean Wave (non-alcoholic). Feels Like Summer was surprisingly smoky and spicy. Not my favorite, but not bad either! I love a place that does mocktails and non-alcoholic alternatives, and Zanzibar hit the nail right on the head.I took off a star for service; they were really busy and some things were missed. Otherwise, great experience overall. Zanzibar encompasses the vibrant energy that is Austin. I would highly recommend anyone from out of town to drop in here!"

Living Room Lounge - W Hotel Austin

★★★★☆ 3.7 (103) • $$$

"Maybe I was a bit ignorant, but I was hesitant to join my friends at the W Bar because for some reason in my mind, I was associating it with the last presidential administration. I was thinking GW had opened up boutique hotels to continue to flaunt his presence in our lives now that he's not on the news everyday (thankfully). I think this misconception was due to that movie "W", and if this was W's establishment, I'd be damned if I was gonna darken its doors. I imagined his decor to be of the shabby chic/decorative dead animal variety. Then I looked it up and discovered the "W" is for Westin, and I had a forehead slapping moment. So a few of us went early one Friday evening to check it out. And unlike the last president, this place is sophisticated, sexy and smart! It is actually divided up into four bars that reminded me a bit of the boardgame "Clue". The front bar is called the "Living Room Lounge" as it''s all comfy couches, wingback chairs and a large fireplace. The bar to it's right is the "Music Room", again with couches and fireplace and walls of stacked vinyls as well as a DJ booth set up (do they eventually play those vinyls? Would be a cool concept). The bar next to this one is called "The Secret Bar" and is all red lighting and red furniture. I couldn't help but start muttering "Reeed Ruuum" while walking through. This bar is very dark and conducive to murder :) And the last I believe our waitress called the Terrace which is the bar associated with the Trace restaurant and has an outdoor patio. I only give you this little internet tour because we all went in very confused, not knowing if they were all separate bars and also looking for The Library Room which is nonexistent (think it's the Music Room). There's just the one entrance for them all which is the main hotel entrance (except you can get to the Trace bar separately). Early in the evening (6ish) all of these bars were easily accessible, not crowded and all very cozy like being at someones house. We kicked our shoes off and tucked our legs under us in the plush chairs, just like home (if only they provided Snuggies!).Well, just like home with a waitress (and less dog hair). Like many bars now in Austin, they are trying on the mixology hat. I tried two drinks with "mixed" results. The first was the cucumber, jalapeno drink. Very spicy, very green and fresh tasting. I liked it pretty well but don't think I could drink a bunch of this very strong (in flavor) libation so I ordered a black pepper martini. Tasted like kool aid. Blech. Two drinks down and nary a buzz either. Not even a buz.We stayed til about 7:30 and that's when it did look like the crowd was picking up a bit. None of these bars have happy hour, altho they are starting one at the Trace bar and patio this month. Also, they brought us a Trace menu to the Music Room and offered to bring food to us there (did I mention how incredibly nice and accomodating all the staff were??). My grrrl was looking for tuna. She's on this crazy bodybuilding diet and not that much fun to eat and drink with anymore, but they didn't have any tuna so we left for Imperia. I will be back soon, I hope with some women who wine in tow for happy hour on the patio. Something symetrically beautiful about a W3 at the W. And we'll leave politics out of it."

Violet Sky Rooftop Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.8 (8)

"Marc, our server, was fantastic and the elote dip was amazing! I would highly recommend this hotel, the rooftop bar, and the view!"

Zest Indian Kitchen + Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (151) • $$

"Solid Indian food for this area. Modern decor the light fixtures need to be dusted. Ordered 3 main dinner entrees, garlic naan, and 3 orders of Samosa appetizers.Chicken Tikka Samosa was greasy and lacked flavor. **Potato samosa is worth it and very tasty**We ordered "Very spicy", we could have used even more heat. Not sure if the entrees include rice but having two saucy dishes plus the other meat entrees we needed more rice. Service was good. Maybe we'll try the buffet sometime. The server highly recommended it. Overall a nice experience."

Yellow Jacket Social Club

★★★★☆ 4 (447) • $

"Why have I been sleeping on the Meze platter all these years? It's the perfect thing to eat slowly while sitting at their picnic tables under string lights. It's light enough you can keep grazing for a long time, but also flavorful enough to satisfy. My favorite part combination was topping some pita with hummus and the carrot mint salad. The pickled jicama was a little spicy, so the cool tziki complemented it well. This isn't my usual type of order, but I highly recommend this dish!"

Summit Rooftop

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (80) • $$

"My friends and I bought tickets to see VAVO at Summit on NYE. I was worried it would be a very young crowd since we are all in our 30s, but there was definitely a mix of ages from young 20s to 50s. Once the clock hit 10pm, the bouncers started getting people inside swiftly. The first bartender we went to poured a super weak drink. The second bartender we tried poured a great drink and I visited him the rest of the night. Basic cocktails were around $10. VAVO put on a super fun show. It was crowded, but not so crowded it got annoying. We still had plenty of room to dance. The space is on the rooftop, but I appreciated that they had powerful heaters and it was enclosed for the night. Tip- don't do bottle service. The booth areas are right next to the dance floor and the prices didn't seem worth it. I'd definitely recommend this place to see a good DJ. We all had a fun time!"

The Gramercy

★★★★☆ 4.3 (110) • $$

"Excellant, major change! I love the new look with book shelves with interesting decor. I can't imagine how this hard step of changing a bar this much in a short amount of time. Actually I am spending more time here. The bar booms after 9 pm. That's where fun party people emerge. Great for singles and couples, very impressed how the party music been selected it's perfect! I will be coming regularly great bartenders and the attentive waitresses. You can't go wrong you will have a blast. Food is tasty and succulent, I highly recommend the steak and appetizers, burgers as well. Stays open till 1 AM. All positive energy here and regulars tell me how happy customers are, I cant tell you enough positive changes. Take a plunge and check it out. Mingle with a fun crowd and stays busy at night. Highly recommend this location parking easy, no problems. Owner manger gets AAAA+"

The Driskill Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (465) • $$

"Always our top happy hour spot! Fresh new cocktails and bites for the holiday season 2024."

Kinfolk Lounge & Library

★★★★★ 4.6 (55)

"In spite of it being election night and that my team was not on the winning side, spending it at Kinfolk did not disappoint. The ambiance is cozy and cool, the cocktails are stellar (not kidding...the BEST whiskey sour I've ever had), and the staff were attentive and know how to mix a mean drink. We also had some lovely and delicious snacks, including the best macarons I've had outside of Paris. I would happily spend another evening at Kinfolk."

Colette Austin

★★★★☆ 3.9 (32) • $$

"Visit: 8/11/2018The club is located about 15 miles north of downtown Austin. If traveling one 1 North, it is two exits down from The Domain, which is a fun entertainment district that we like to go to. If traveling 35 north, the club is less than a mile from the highway; so it is very convenient to get to no matter where you are coming from. Speaking of convenience, there is a gas station essentially around the corner from it which proved to be a perfect spot to stop and grab some drinks (they had beer and wine).Like many clubs we have encountered, it is located in more of an industrial area. However unlike most clubs, Colette has a huge sign saying "Colette" which is surrounded by bright neon lights, so there is no confusion if you are at the right building. The only possible negative we might have saw was the parking area seemed fairly small. But there is a possibility that the lot extended behind the building and we just didn't see it since we were able to get a great spot up front and it was raining so we rushed inside.After being let in by the doorman, we entered the foyer entrance. This area is closed off to the main club by two big double doors, so it allows for some privacy during the check in process. There were two leather couches to the right with a table, and then the main check in desk directly ahead. We were greeted by three gorgeous staff members who were aptly dressed to the Naughty School Girl theme. Especially Candace, which may be my future wife. Since we have been to the other clubs, we were already in their system and we had pre-purchased our tickets online (which I strongly advise), so we were ready to go on a tour hosted by Candace.You walk into the club and you are in the main social area. Directly in front of you is the bar where you can drop off your drinks with the lovely bartenders, April and Casey (check out Casey's music name and page under Janissa). The ladies quickly took our drinks and gave us a few ice buckets for our drinks for free. You can also purchase Red Bull for $3, water for $1, or you can get free fountain drinks. If you want to hang out at the bar, there are 12 bar stools going around the bar as well as 2 TVs that were playing porn. There was also a small reserved section of the bar off to the side that had 3 stools.The main social area had 12 high top tables with four seats each. On the back side of the room, there is a spinning stripper pole on a platform that is surrounded by four couches and four circular tables. There was also a large TV above this area that was playing porn.In the front is the main floor which is where the dance and VIP area is. There are 3 of the signature white half moon couches, as well as about 4 whole section black couches/booths and 2 half sections. These areas were marked as VIP Reserved, which we will discuss here shortly. The dance floor was large with plenty of room for people to dance. They had a live DJ who did a pretty decent job playing a variety of music that kept the vibe up. There are also 2 stationary stripper poles on the dance floor which go from floor to ceiling, almost two stories. The first play area has a small theater room which has 3 three-person couches lined up theater style with a large TV playing porn. In the area next to it, there are 6 full beds which provide you options for your playing please: 1) Curtains open, 2) Sheer curtain closed, or 3) Both curtains closed. The beds all have the signature heart pillows to indicate that the bed is clean, and a simple turn up of the corner sheet will indicate to the staff that the sheets need to be changed. Across from these six beds is a sitting area with 7 bar stools and a bar counter (not an actual bar) to place your drinks. They do ask for no drink setups to be in the actual play rooms or even on the bar across from the beds. They also provide condoms and wipes throughout the club including the play areas. This area is also where the lockers are located, as well as some hanger space for your clothes and a small couch.Crossing the main floor and heading up to the second play area above the bar, if you take the stairs to your right you will come across the DJ booth halfway up the stairs. The DJ does take special requests. Once you get to the second play area, you will find seating overlooking the club including 5 high top tables. There are two private rooms on this level. The first room has a king bed with two mirrors caddy corner to each other. The second room is a voyeur room with a large window and with two queen beds with mirrors in front of each bed. If you walk down the other set of stairs, halfway down you'll come across the signature 9-foot circular bed on a mezzanine-type level. This is completely out in the open with no walls, doors, or curtains. We had an unbelievable time. Can't wait to go back."

Meridian 98

★★★★☆ 3.7 (55) • $$$

"This place has a great view - sunsets here are pretty if you get the right spot (where the balcony wraps around the bar).Service - slow but friendlyFood - subpar. The fries here were great- crispy and full of flavor. It could have been elevated if they had any other dip other than ketchup (truffle aoli, chipotle mayo...anything). The pizza was lacking in flavor except for screaming fig butter in each bite. Overall just ok food.Drinks - they were generic, bar drinks. I would have expected them to be better. Neither Manhattan or lemon drop stood out, and I switched over to their dry wine rose which was a good choice.Parking - free and in the garageAmbiance - its lovely. Great views, and I liked the interior decor as well. This place has the basics down. If they added hanging plants, lights, better dips and drinks I think they would be a lot busier."