Equipment Room

"For fantastic high-end cocktails in a cool indoor space soundtracked by hip music, head straight to this stylish bar tucked inside the Hotel Magdalena. The bar offers classic cocktails like an espresso martini along with its “b-side” version, like Bottom of the River with gin, nori amaro, black sesame aperitivo, macadamia liqueur, and coffee. The bar also offers snacks like shrimp chips or a kobayashi dog. Reserve online to ensure prime seating." - Erin Russell, Nadia Chaudhury

"Located in the basement of Hotel Magdalena on South Congress, this extremely aesthetic vinyl listening room takes the music selection as seriously as its cocktails. There’s a menu of snacks like a cheese board with yuzu marmalade, carnitas wontons, and steamed lobster buns, along with creative cocktails like the Mutt with prosciutto-infused vodka. Twice a month, Equipment Room hosts Omakase Vinyl, where attendees listen to a significant album in its entirety, in silence, and then discuss it afterward (reservations are required)." - Erin Russell

"What’s fun about this cocktail/listening bar within the Hotel Magdalena is that it isn’t obvious that it’s part of the hotel. Instead, enter through a door near the entrance (look out for the red light), and inside, experience top-notch cocktails — like the Alone in Kyoto made with a rice milk kasu, vodka, a simple syrup made with chrysanthemum flowers, cardamom bitters, and apricot, lemon, and vanilla flavors —while enjoying a curated soundtrack of fun vinyls. There are also high-quality nonalcoholic drinks and snacks." - Taylor Tobin

"Mixologist Robert Bjorn Taylor developed the cocktail menu at the hi-fi bar within the Hotel Magdalena in Travis Heights, which includes a very thoughtful nonalcoholic section. The Multi-Love is made with Ritual gin, Lyre’s Rosso aperitif, Bonbuz Slowburn, Giffard aperitif, Tennyson Black Ginger, Pathfinder, blood orange, and orange oil; the Million Reasons uses Odd Bird Blanc de Blanc, Giffard Elderflower, strawberry balsamic shrub, lemon, and soda; and the Japanese-inspired Underdog combines Pear Cinnamon Amazake with Seedlip Spice 94, yuzu, shiso tincture, and blue lotus flower. There are indoor dine-in services." - Lane Gillespie

"Fittingly located in the Music Lane development on South Congress, the vinyl listening and cocktail bar Equipment Room looks more like the living room of a very wealthy audiophile than a bar in the basement of Hotel Magdalena. It’s a place that takes its inspiration from mid-century Japanese listening bars, but instead of fully committing to the theme, musically, you’ll hear little bits of David Bowie and glam rock mixed in with old school jazz. The drink menu is made up of a combination of classics and new creations—A-Sides and B-Sides, respectively—so whether you’re in the mood for Manhattans and boulevardiers, or a cocktail with sesame-washed sake, orgeat, and furikake dust, there’s plenty to try. There’s also a small menu of snacks that you should probably not try to make a meal out of like we did. Instead, come here for drinks before or after a dinner on South Congress, or when you just want to listen to some high quality audio in a very cozy space with a martini in hand. " - nicolai mccrary