1. Péché
8.8
208 W 4th St (Colorado St.), Austin, TX
Cocktail Bar · Downtown Austin · 191 tips and reviews
Tammy Gordon: Intimate artisan cocktail bar with great old school recipes (my fave was Spicy Bees Knees)... and absinthe. The farm salad with egg and pork belly were great.
alex hopes: Cool place, knowledgeable staff, phenomenal cocktails.
Max Sirenko: Try the 75 or 77 cocktail, both are fantastic. Can't go wrong with any of the mixed drink cocktails here
3. Midnight Cowboy
8.5
313 E 6th St, Austin, TX
Speakeasy · Downtown Austin · 76 tips and reviews
Natalie Lin: Former brothel, beautifully remodeled with deliciously potent craft cocktails (esp the Smoke + Mirrors, a 12-yr scotch drink with flamed orange that's made table-side). Online RSVP required.
Austin Fine Properties: Speakeasy style, you have to make reservations prior to going. The cocktails and ambiance make everything worth it!
Paul Lorsbach: Some of the best cocktails I've had. Plenty of unique off menu options if you ask.
6. Garage
8.5
503 Colorado St, Austin, TX
Cocktail Bar · Downtown Austin · 38 tips and reviews
Sara: Great, tasty cocktails. Quiet, dark atmosphere. Great for happy hour and waiting our traffic in downtown Austin. Located truly in a parking garage.
Ernesto Galicia: One of the places with the best cocktails I've had. Mixologists are pretty cool and the live jazz is amazing. Cozy place excellent for a date or just chill with a couple of friends
Borys Pierov: Quiet and amazing! Loved everything here - location, setting, cocktails! Restroom is a little bit too dark though.
7. Half Step
8.4
75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX
Cocktail Bar · Downtown Austin · 48 tips and reviews
Aaron Jones: This is hands down the best cocktail bar in Austin. Ask any reputable bartender in any city, this is the best place to drink cocktails in Austin. Also, Chris is a renowned cocktail artist!
Abner Aceves: Best old fashioned I've had in a long time. This place has an ice shed that makes perfect cuts of ice. So cool. A must!
Bryan Peterson: Excellent, well made craft cocktails.
8. drink.well.
8.7
207 E 53rd St (at Avenue G), Austin, TX
Cocktail Bar · North Loop · 56 tips and reviews
Austin Chronicle: Small but snazzy, offering a slew of creative craft cocktails and a rotating draft beer selection. Upscale bar food includes sliders al pastor, bourbon beanie weenies, and a Texas Kobe burger. Read more.
Brook Shelley: Go on an off hour, and enjoy a fabulous bourbon selection, amazing cocktails, and tasty snacks. They mark gluten-free options well. It can get quite crowded here.
Rachel Lasseter: Amazing cocktails. Try the Vieux Carre or The Right Hand. Bar food is a cut above. Very busy on Fridays and weekends. Can be standing room only.
10. The Driskill Bar
8.7
604 Brazos St (6th St), Austin, TX
Hotel Bar · Downtown Austin · 117 tips and reviews
Charles B: wanna come back and visit this great spot on a non-SXSW day, bet its a great place to catch up over a cocktail or 5.
Scott & Heather Peisner: Try the Batini - worthy of being Austin's official cocktail! And more reliable than the actual bats...
Matthew: Surprisingly, the hotel bar at the Driskill is legitimately great. The bar staff is knowledgeable and courteous, and you can get a delicious cocktail for a reasonable price.
Elyse Estrada: The brunch is out if this world. Start off with an incredible $4 bloody or pomegranate mimosa, don't miss the candied yams, cornflake chicken, jalapeño sausage, king casserole and bread pudding.
Brian Brown: Outstanding mint julep. Also, don't miss the fried chicken and waffles.
A Ross: Have been here twice & no one has left disappointed. Waterloo Compound is my cocktail of choice, all the food delivers (yummy green chile grits!) Seems to be constantly packed, so make a reservation.