The Driskill Bar

We kicked off our 2024 festivities with happy hour at the iconic Driskill Hotel, a favorite Austin spot during the holidays when the Christmas tree is lit. The bar was bustling on a Saturday night, and despite our large group of nine, our server was impressively attentive and even accommodated separate checks--truly outstanding service.The atmosphere was lively, with music adding to the festive vibe, though our spot was far from the stage, so the sound didn't quite reach us. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to find they had stopped serving a couple of my favorite dishes--brussels sprouts, bacon-covered dates, and flavored popcorn.That said, the evening was still enjoyable. After appetizers and drinks, we took photos by the beautifully lit Christmas tree, which was a perfect way to embrace the holiday spirit. For parking, I recommend nearby garages or a short walk from streets with more available spots. A festive start to the Christmas 2024 season!

On our first day in Austin, we were wandering around getting the lay of the land. We walked into this really cool looking hotel called the Driskill. We found the Driskill Bar upstairs from the lobby and wandered in. It looked really cool and iconic. We noted it would be a good place to grab a drink later in the evening. So we left and walked around some more. My husband's family was meeting us after dinner so we opted to walk back to the Driskill from our hotel. We ended up having seats in the lounge area and had the perfect seats to listen to the live band playing next to the bar. My stepfather in-law had gone to University in Austin so this was part of his old stomping grounds. Once seated, we ordered a few drinks to try. My husband and I tried the David Old Fashioned and the Bluebonnet. My in-laws tried the margarita along with a shot and Topo Chico. Our aunt ordered an espresso martini. It was lovely with the live music and while the minutes ticked away, I got hungry. I looked at the menu again and opted to order the Driskill chocolate cake. The cake is this decadent layered cake with "1886" frosted on it with chocolate shavings on the side. It was really good and perfect for sharing. My stepfather in-law requested green tea from our server and she told him she wasn't able to serve him hot tea. It was a little absurd since we were in a hotel bar. Maybe it was the time of day but it wasn't that late in the evening. He was a little put off and didn't even finish his margarita. We settled up and left. My husband and I enjoyed our time at the Driskill Bar but they should really offer coffee and tea to patrons if they request it.

Service is slow so would recommend being on top of ordering ahead of when you want things. Hummus and pita were good (I can always use more pita), but was satisfied with the amount of pita.Bluebonnet was perfect for those that like a sweet drink with balanced amount of liquor. My friend who got the rusty nail said her drink hits the spot if you're looking for a classic - and emphasis on accounting for slow service.

It was our first night in Austin and we checked in late so we decided to eat at the hotel. There were no open spots at the bar so we sat at the lounge area. If we just had drinks I wouldn't mind, but due to the seating arrangement, it feels uncomfortable for eating.The cocktails were good. Good table service. I wanted to get the steak frites but for the price I didn't want to gamble so I had the creamy penne pasta. Which was reasonably priced. The pasta dish was good -lots of fresh ingredients. It's very saucy, while the sausage was okay. Overall, we would come back for drinks but I wasn't impressed with the food.

This charming bar has it all! Classic cocktails, beers, spirits, and more.The decor and ambiance transport you back to a time long before any of us were here.

This is a charming bar inside the historic Driskill Hotel. It's kid friendly, by the way.The decor is wonderful.Everyone--EVERYONE--orders the Jumbo Pretzel, and you should, too. It's absolutely enormous so be prepared to share. It comes with beer cheese and mustard.For cocktails, I tried the El Rancho but didn't love it. It is sort of a ranch water/watered down margarita. But in general, the cocktails looked good here.They were a bit short-staffed (like everyone else these days) so service was friendly but a little slow.They don't open until 2:00 p.m. and they have live music at night, per the website.The hotel is worth visiting and exploring (even the restrooms are gorgeous) and the bar is worth checking out.

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

If you want a drinks and a bite at the famous Driskill then stop in and grab a drink. Extra star for how comfortable and cool decor. Service was also good. Food was okay and you pay for the location. We stayed at the Driskill which had a nice old time feel with clean class flare. Service was great. But the bar just and that same old feel but with a classy feel.

This bar is in the 1886 Driskill Hotel and is totally Texas OG.Guns and severed cow heads adorn the walls in a completely true to Texas style. My server was friendly, and the place was hard wood and leather packed with mostly hotel guests. I had an excellent espresso martini to start off. My grilled chicken sandwich was moist and delicious, and I upped to Truffle fries, and that was worth it! I recommend having a cocktail and eating here if you get in late and are staying at The Driskill Hotel!

I had some time to kill before my flight and hung around at the Driskill. I walked around and checked out the historic hotel, and spent a couple hours at the bar. They pour a great drink and you can either have table service or go up to the bar. I didn't have any food but everyone seemed to enjoy it! I liked that I would sit at a couch and move to a table or the bar when I wanted. I got some writing and other work done and is a great place to people watch too since everyone likes to check the place out even if they don't grab a drink.