Veken 8 Set Packing Cubes for Suitcases, Travel Essentials for Carry on, Luggage Organizer Bags Set for Travel Accessories in 4 Sizes (Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small), Black
$24.99 (as of December 20, 2024 21:41 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Immerse yourself in the hidden world of speakeasy bars in Austin, where clandestine cocktails await. In a city with a burgeoning population and limited options for the best cocktail bars, these secret establishments provide the perfect escape from the crowds. Whether tucked away behind restaurants and live music venues or disguised in alleyways, these speakeasies offer a unique and intimate setting to enjoy a quality craft cocktail. From Trona in East Austin, with its weathered iron door and low-lit interior, to the Kinfolk Lounge & Library downtown, where a sliding bookshelf reveals a hidden bar, each speakeasy has its own allure. Venture into these hidden gems for an evening of sultry ambiance and exceptional drinks.
The Best Speakeasy Bars in Austin for a Clandestine Cocktail
Austin’s getting busy these days. A compact city with a booming population means a lot of thirsty folks and not a ton of best cocktail bars. So where do you go when you want a little intimacy? Enter Austin speakeasies, the secret bars, and the hidden gem watering holes. Prohibition may be long gone, but we’re still hiding…not from the law but from the crowds. While bachelorette bashes cause mayhem on Sixth Street and tourists snap selfies on downtown hotel rooftops, we’ve got just the boudoirs for discerning drinkers in search of a quality craft cocktail in good company. Some are concealed behind restaurants and live music venues, others are in alleyways that look rather dodgy, but no fear, what lies beyond is a bar experience like few others in town. Here are our absolute favorite Austin bars for an intimate and sultry evening.
Trona
Location: East Austin
Behind a weathered iron door marked by a lightning bolt awaits the latest speakeasy bar in East Austin from the folks behind El Tigre Coffee. Through an alleyway find an intimate, low-lit space harboring fine tequilas, top-shelf mezcals, natural wines, and rare Japanese whiskys. Under the sexy glow of ceramic sconces, sip on a buzzy play on the carajillo made with charanda and the addition of cinnamon syrup, cold brew liqueur, and foam bitters. Whatever you imbibe, it’s the exact place you want to be doing it. How to Book: Resy
Kinfolk Lounge & Library
Location: Downtown
Google map Moonshine Grill, and when you get there, head downstairs to its awesome underground space that seats just 20 well-dressed patrons. The cocktail lounge and huge spirits library feature a special collection of whiskeys, scotch, mezcal, and tequila in inventive concoctions. If you’re peckish, they also offer charcuteries and cheeses, plus macarons from La Patisserie in Austin. We love coming here and making new friends around the table. Tip: if you’re single and ready to mingle this is where to go. How to book: Reserve via Resy.
The Treasury
Location: East Austin
This Eastside bar opened softly in 2022, and it’s still semi-secret. Look for the Shangri-La on 1016 East Sixth, and behind that is a staircase leading to a tiny room that’s almost like a vault. It’s a first come first served situation here, so we advise coming early and skipping weekends to avoid disappointment. Best for classic cocktails like old-fashioned or espresso martinis, The Treasury is open Tuesday till Sunday from 6 pm till late. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
Small Victory
Location: East Austin
Small Victory certainly lives up to its name when you eventually track it down. Google Maps will lead you to a dingy parking garage but fear not—from there you’ll head up the stairs at the corner and through a door where a narrow corridor of comfy booths and sofas await, beneath a sea of stained glass lamps and, um, parrots (you’ll see). The ambrosial punches are especially popular, as are the well-curated charcuterie and cheese boards that accompany them. How to book: Reserve via Resy.
Milonga Room
Location: East Sixth
Enjoy a nightcap, go for a tarot reading, and catch an intimate live music performance inside this secret basement bar beneath Buenos Aires Café, a majorly date-worthy Argentinian eatery. The menu includes tapas and wine, but here the spotlight shines on amaros and fernet-focused cocktails, as these herbal concoctions are major players in Argentinian drinking culture. Opt for a flight if you fancy a journey of bitter delight. To get there, walk around the back of Buenos Aires Café and knock on the blue door, Emerald City-style. How to book: Reserve via their website.
Firehouse Lounge
Location: Downtown
Housed in a former fire station, this stylish hostel takes a Harry Potter-ish turn with Firehouse, a secret bar accessible through a sliding bookshelf in the lobby. Inside, you’ll find a warm, inviting atmosphere, bespoke cocktails (tell the bartender your preferred spirit and let them do the rest), live performances, and—because it’s still a hostel—probably a little late-night debauchery. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
Continental Club Gallery
Location: South Congress
While the Continental Club (a.k.a. the granddaddy of live music venues) requires no introduction—nor directions, given the spot’s iconic neon sign—the Gallery is a tad less of a visual landmark. The Continental’s upstairs companion bar offers music, art, and mixed drinks in a far cozier environment than its larger sibling. Visit the website for the live performance line-up—it’s as close to a private living room concert as it comes. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
Garage
Location: Downtown
Typically, the only drinks we consume in parking structures are those of the paper-bagged variety, but Garage flips this notion on its head by slinging crowd-pleasers like the rosemary-infused Indian Paintbrush (vodka, grapefruit, lime, rosemary) and the Poliwinkle, made with exquisite Brugal 1888 rum, lime, coffee-infused agave. To get there, head into the parking garage on the northeast corner of Fifth and Colorado, where the word “cocktails” adorns the wall, and a neon sign marks the bar’s entrance. How to book: Reserve via Resy.
Mezcalería Tobalá
Location: East Austin
Fashioned after an old-world Oaxacan mezcal bar, Mezcalería Tobalá is the secret watering hole above party palace Whisler’s. The second-floor retreat is more relaxed, with stone walls, a handful of stools, and a thick slab of a bar. In terms of drinks, it’s all mezcal, all the time—if you’re looking for a low-key evening on the East Side (and want to indulge specifically in this unique, smoky spirit) consider Mezcalería Tobalá the ideal destination. Just ascend the staircase on Whisler’s patio on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 pm to 2 am. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
James Wong is a contributor for Thrillist. Follow Thrillist on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter,Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.
