Mixology at Here Nor There (photo: Travis Hallmark)
The best speakeasies in Austin require a little planning to visit.
The good news is your effort will be rewarded with fantastic and creative cocktails from some of the city's best bartenders, served in intimate spaces throughout downtown and East Austin.
The following list is based on my personal experience since moving to the city in 2016.
Whether you're going out with friends, a date, or just looking for a unique place to grab a drink, these speakeasies and secret bars will be worth your time.
Yah-Sas cocktail at Midnight Cowboy
The 3 Best Speakeasies in Austin
Midnight Cowboy
Opened in 2012, Midnight Cowboy was one of the first speakeasies to set up shop in Austin.
This small, shabby chic cocktail bar is an island of class amidst a sea of kitschy dives on Dirty Sixth, a section of 6th Street in downtown Austin catering to college kids and tourists.
As of 2019, the cocktail menu is in the form of a passport, with travel-inspired drinks to fuel your conversations.
The bartender makes some mixed drinks, such as the Greek-inspired Yah-Sas.
Others, like the colorful Alaska-inspired Kaleidoscope, are made table-side for your viewing pleasure.
Drink prices range from $12-$14. Discounts are available for some cocktails if you order two or four of the same. No beer or wine is available.
If they're fully booked, your time inside may be limited to two hours.
How to visit: Make a reservation via their website. Show up at our assigned time and push the button for “Harry Craddock.” A member of the staff will greet you. Push the button.
They also accept walk-ins, space-permitting. If the red light is on above the entrance, they're open. Ring the bell and see if space is available.
313 E 6th St, Downtown, midnightcowboymodeling.com
Cocktail at Here Nor There (photo: Travis Hallmark)
Here Nor There
Here Nor There is a relative newcomer to the Austin speakeasy scene, having only opened its doors in June 2018.
Unlike the other bars on this list, I was already living in Austin when it opened, so I had the opportunity to go early, and go often.
It quickly became my favorite cocktail bars in the city.
Entering the bar is an experience unto itself, from needing a door code to walking down the artfully-designed stairwell into the paws of a life-size bear.
The underground bar is dark and intimate. Where you're seated will depend on preference and party size.
I've sat at the bar a few times and enjoyed chatting with the bartenders and other patrons, but the sofas can be comfy, too.
The cocktails on the current menu evoke the flavors native to specific parts of the world visited by the bartenders. I've tried over a dozen drinks and enjoyed them all.
The only beer offered is Guinness, which is available on tap.
Contrary to what you may read or hear, you do not need to be a member to get a drink there.
That said, Here Nor There offers an annual membership with exclusive perks for $500. Membership is by invitation only.
To maintain the privacy of guests and members alike, there's a strict no photography policy.
How to visit: Download the app from iTunes or the Google Play store. Fill out your profile and follow any directions. Once approved you can request a reservation, preferably 24 hours in advance. If the booking is accepted, you'll be given a door code to use at the entrance.
612 Brazos St, Downtown, hntaustin.com
The bar at Small Victory
Small Victory
Small Victory was one of the first speakeasies in Austin I visited, and it remains one of my favorites today.
One of the reasons I like it so much is that it's quite small, with the bar running along the left side, including plush, swiveling seats, and small tables along the right side.
A few larger tables in the back can seat four to six people.
Small Victory offers a selection of wine and beer in addition to their cocktails, ensuring there's something for everyone.
Speaking of drinks, they also make their mixed drinks menu available online.
Prices range from $12-$14, except for a Philadelphia Fish House Punch recipe dating back to the 1730s for $60.
Further classing up the joint are charcuterie and cheese boards, so you have something to nibble on during happy hour, which runs from 5-8 pm, Monday through Saturday.
How to visit: Look for the glass door next to the parking garage entrance. First come, first serve.
108 E 7th St, Downtown, smallvictory.bar
See also: Best Speakeasies in San Diego
Mezcaleria Tobala
Best of the Rest: Secret Bars Worth a Drink
Mezcaleria Tobala
The tiny Mezcaleria Tobala is an Oaxacan-style mezcal bar on the second floor of Whisler's, everyone's favorite East Austin bar.
If you can pry yourself away from the expansive patio, head upstairs to taste some of their 180 varieties of mezcals, priced between $7 – $35 per pour.
Mezcaleria Tobala is open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 pm to 2 am.
How to visit: Enter Whisler's and walk up the exterior staircase in the courtyard.
1816 E 16th St, East Austin, whislersatx.com
Wall of kisses
The Good Life Bar Bar
The Good Life Bar Bar was created to make use of extra space adjacent to The Good Life Barber Shop (note the play on words).
What makes this bar unique is the old brick wall which was discovered to have lipstick prints on it. Who those lips belonged to is unknown.
Today, the bar offers free lipstick and drinks to anyone willing to add their lip-prints to the wall.
The bar is licensed to serve beer, wine, and sake (cocktails). If you want to drink liquor, it's BYOB — bring your own bottle.
Liquor setups are $10 per person, with the first mixer included; then $3 per mixed drinks thereafter.
How to visit: Look for the sign for The Good Life Barber Shop, and if the red light above the door is on, head downstairs. Walk past the barbershop and the bar entrance will be on your right.
201 East 5th St, Unit 100B, Downtown, thegoodlifebarbar.com
Live music at the Milonga Room in East Austin
Milonga Room
The Milonga Room is a speakeasy in the basement of the Buenos Aires Cafe. It's a small space, with a low white-tile ceiling.
A variety of seasonal and classic Latin cocktails are available, including cocktails featuring Fernet, an Italian bitter popular in Argentina.
Wine and beer are also available. Wine by the bottle is 50 percent off on Mondays.
How to visit: Reservations are required and available in one or two-hour increments. To make a reservation, text 512-593-1920 with your full name, date, time, and number of guests in the party. Once accepted, you'll be provided a password. Knock on the blue door in the parking lot. Have your password ready.
1201 E 6th St, East Austin, buenosairescafe.com
Firehouse Lounge
The Firehouse Hostel and Lounge is located in the oldest firehouse in Austin (built in 1885).
The lounge is more open and spacious than the other bars on this list and features a stage where live bands and DJs perform regularly.
Firehouse Lounge is a well known and popular speakeasy amongst Austinites and can be crowded on weekends.
How to visit: Enter the building and turn right. Slide the faux-bookcase door open. First come, first serve. No reservations are taken.
605 Brazos St, Downtown, firehousehostel.com
Look for the Floppy Disk Repair Co. sign
Red Headed Stepchild
Handlebar is one of my favorite rooftop bars in downtown Austin.
Its owners are also behind the funny looking Floppy Disk Repair Co. sign, which is a front for their speakeasy: the Red Headed Stepchild.
The door code can be hard to come by as it changes monthly. Both times I've been, it was out of sheer luck standing outside the door and either following someone with the code inside or ducking in after people left.
Inside, it's dark and uninviting, despite the warm glow of the often-Instagrammed neon sign saying, “Mmm….your hair smells pretty.”
I can't say much for the cocktail menu, either. It's more focused on serving classic cocktails than innovative signature drinks.
Overall, I feel like this bar is more of a novelty. I was glad to have seen the inside, but it didn't inspire me to become a regular.
How to visit: You'll need an access code that's not publicly provided and changes monthly. Ask around, ask a bartender at Handlebar, or try your luck at the door.
119 E 5th St, Downtown, floppydiskrepair.co
Garage Bar
The Garage Bar is easy to miss, as it's tucked inside an actual parking garage. However, once you enter this dimly lit bar/lounge, you'll forget the outside world.
I've gone a handful of times, and while I've always enjoyed the mixed drinks and music, I don't find the seating and interior as warm and inviting as many of the other bars on this list.
How to visit: Look for the neon sign. First come, first serve. Reservations aren't necessary.
503 Colorado St, Downtown, garagetx.com
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There you have it, my take on the best speakeasies in Austin, from those that are cocktail-focused to a mezcal bar, and a little of everything in between.
I'll be updating this list regularly as I discover new spots.
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