Elephant Room

We were looking for some live music venues in Austin on our last evening there. Having been deterred somewhat from locals previously, I did a search and found the Elephant Room which was within walking distance of our hotel. It's downstairs in the basement level. There is no cover prior to 8 pm on a Monday evening but after that, they charge $5 per person and they let you know at the door when you come in. The cover charge varies depending on the day of the week. Even if you're in the venue prior to 8 pm, they will automatically add the cover charge to your bill, which they remind you of as the time nears. We arrived at 7:45 pm and were told at the door. The Elephant Room is a long room with bar on one side and a small stage at the end of the room. I had to wonder what the fire codes in this place were but there was no line when we arrived. We were just told no standing and we had to find seats. At first we had a few seats at the bar but found a table that people were vacating soon after. Luckily, we had eaten dinner beforehand, so all we planned to do was order a few drinks and listen to the live jazz acts playing that evening. The cover charge was minimal and we ordered a couple of beers to sip while enjoying the musical acts. When we arrived, there was a large jazz band playing and once they were done, they switched to a jam session format where random people could join the band for a song. I thought it was pretty neat to see. For $10 and the cost of two drinks, we had a pretty chill evening listening to live music. Not a bad way to spend our last night in the live music capital of the world.

Awesome jazz bar! Seating was limited and my party of 3 had to wait in line for a bit to get a table. There is a cover charge that is added to your bill if you go on a Friday or Saturday night.Drinks were great. I ordered an old fashioned and it was perfect. I plan to come back and arrive earlier to get a better table, closer to the stage. Overall a good time!

Great spot for live music. We only paid $10 pp to listen to get in. We got there fairly early so we did not have to wait to be seated. There is a host who checks to see what is available and will let you know where to go. At one point there was a line going all the way up the stairs into the street. Our servers were great. The place was packed but they were attentive. Loved the live jazz. We had a great time!

On our first night in Austin, we stumbled into The Elephant Room and found ourselves in for a memorable surprise. This spot has been an underground hideaway for jazz lovers since 1991, with live music filling the low-lit, basement space almost every night. We waited in line for a few minutes--totally worth it--and somehow ended up with a table right in front of the stage, just as the house band started. The next couple of hours were a blur of fantastic jazz, a packed bar, and that joyful, easygoing Austin energy. If you're into jazz or just love discovering places with real character, The Elephant Room should be on your list.

This place was awesome. Traditional jazz speakeasy / basement vibes. Intimate setting with Great sound. Nice draft list and classic cocktails. Quick service all around. Definitely keeping this on my list when recommending ATX spots.

Simple drinks, divey ambiance, and servers that don't care to make you too comfortable...but it doesn't matter who's playing because it's always going to be a great time at Elephant Room. If you're visiting Austin or hosting out of town friends - come here to get an authentic Austin / live music experience.

Music every night is a very impressive claim to be able to make! But this is the live music capital of the world after all. The stage is in the back, so, just by nature of the shape of the venue, you can't always see the stage. There is an area by the stage meant more for viewing and listening. Also, this is a place where you may end up sharing stables with new faces. There is a bar, and servers who come to your tables. It's about as charming as you'd expect a 32 year old basement bar to be. Also, take a look around and notice all the decor and details that give this place the character that it has. I love the drink option on the menu "Placebo" being that it is a non-alcoholic drink, but the bartender's choice. It's fun! I've been here with crowds of all sizes, and most recently, solo! Don't be shy, give Elephant Room a visit!

Swanky vibes and good music-- but the drinks are a bit expensive, the line has been really long (30+ minutes) the past times I've been, and the format of the bar is really long and narrow, meaning you can't really see the performers at the front of the room if you're unlucky enough to be seated in the back.

Do you like Jazz? Do you want to vibe with great drinks? Do you like to saunter?Well slide downstairs and grab a drink in this gem of an establishment.Nothing here is bad seriously!Bring friends, make friends, or solo in this hip joint.Drinks come fast and hard! They don't cheap out on you at all. Service is fast and they check in often. I've never been sitting without a drink and they keep an eye on your drink!

One of the greatest gems to be found in Austin, and still going strong after decades. There's a reason Wynton Marsalis included this icon in his list of ten essential live jazz joints in America. Locals and tourists alike of all ages and backgrounds sit and enjoy cocktails, cocktails, beer and wine as they listen to live jazz. What's most unique besides is subterranean location in the heart of downtown is its decades of support for jazz musicians in their late teens and early twenties attending local universities. Fostering that love for jazz on through the generations. A peaceful place and vibe, great for a post-dinner in the city. In my most recent visit--I'd grabbed dinner upstairs at Swift's Attic, another great Austin establishment. Enjoyed a mocktail at the Elephant Room bar and soaked up the scene. Here's to many more decades for you, Elephant Room!