1. Péché
8.8
208 W 4th St (Colorado St.), Austin, TX
Cocktail Bar · Downtown Austin · 191 tips and reviews
Morgan S: Very nicely executed cocktails, both classic and new. Corpse Reviver #2 = the end.
Niki Taylor: Recommendations: Sazerac, Fig Manhattan, Steak Frites, and save room for the Peche Milkshake!
Nikki Wegner: Fig Manhattan was delicious. Great whiskey collection
3. Midnight Cowboy
8.5
313 E 6th St, Austin, TX
Speakeasy · Downtown Austin · 76 tips and reviews
Keith Cavey: The cocktails are $12 each - and worth every penny! Very cool atmosphere - great place to escape the chaos of Sixth Street. Visit midnightcowboymodeling.com to make a reservation.
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.
Ashley Rudolph: Love the cocktail menu here and, of course, the speakeasy vibe.
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
Irena Pierova: in terms of cocktails and vibe - this is one of the best places i've visited in USA (and I visited up to hundred). Try anything from custom list.
7. Half Step
8.5
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.
9. drink.well.
8.6
207 E 53rd St (at Avenue G), Austin, TX
Cocktail Bar · North Loop · 56 tips and reviews
Matthew M.: Fantastic Vodka Gimlet! Grab a seat at the bar and enjoy a drink, some food, and all the action! Great space in a wonderful neighborhood!
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.
10. Taverna
8.2
258 W 2nd St (Lavaca St), Austin, TX
Italian Restaurant · Downtown Austin · 110 tips and reviews
Bailee Cox: Prepare to get "Bellini happy" with $1 bellinis & mimosas ;) amazing Sunday brunch, shrimp & asparagus omelet will never fail you! Super hungry? Brisket calzone all the way!
Holly Jones: One of my favorite brunch spots on Sat or Sun! $2 mimosas and bellinis. Most foods less than $15.
AFAR Media: Check out the cheap brunch cocktails, and order the frittata of the day or create your own omelette. Finish off with the vanilla French toast served with Mascarpone cheese and fruit. Read more.
11. The Driskill Bar
8.5
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...
Jennifer: Celebrating an important occasion and need a cake? Buy from the Driskill Bakery downstairs and avoid the $15 cake-cutting fee. Sweets & cocktails - a match made in heaven.
12. Casino El Camino
8.4
517 E 6th St (bt Red River & Neches Sts), Austin, TX
Dive Bar · Downtown Austin · 229 tips and reviews
Taylor McKnight: Killer bloody marys w/ bacon, bleu cheese, olives, pickles, celery, okra, cilantro and a spicy kick.
Valerie Brown: Get the green chili sauce on your fries loved by all who enjoy a bloody mary. The quality of the burger is great here but the flavor did not blow my mind as a professional burger eater.
Stefanie Snider: Awesome bloody mary's on the sunny back patio. Do it.
Margot Bloomstein: Cucumber martini perfection.
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.
15. Here Nor There
8.7
612 Brazos St (7th Street), Austin, TX
Speakeasy · Downtown Austin · 14 tips and reviews
Ale Kuri: The best cocktails in town. The way to get in may feel a little pretentious but it’s totally worth it. Great prices for the high quality of the drinks/service.
Jeffrey: What a great find! The reservation app works well. This place is classy and amazing cocktails. Great conversation at the bar. A measure of a great cocktail is the quality of ice. Clear as glass.
@livehappy8 Forbes: Beautifully crafted cocktails and seasonal menus. Knowledge yet approachable staff. Professional but not stuffy. Everything a great cocktail bar should be.