Idle Hands

Atmosphere is awesome. Great live music and sports viewing experience! Timothy and the rest of the bartenders and staff are incredible! Relaxed and fun vibes. Just good people and good times! This place won't disappoint!

I was invited for a little networking with Earnnest over drinks and snacks at Idle Hands during the Keller Williams Agent Mega Camp. The venue was pretty cool. I really liked the designed elements inside and out - it gave the place a cozy, earthy feeling. The staff were very nice and attentive. We had some fresh cooked nacho chips, queso, and a couple of different street tacos. The food was fresh and tasty. I would stop by here again given the chance, and would recommend a visit.

Well, yes, fantastic burger. Great fries. Drinks were fine. Laid back atmosphere. I love that the menu is just burger, fries, and ice cream. That's confidence! Drinks were fine. Back room was playing mellow music at a volume that allowed for conversation. Nice!

$18 for 2 draft beers. Not one employee greeted us or acknowledged us when we walked in. The place was pretty much empty too…we were the only customers in the bar area. Cool place but overall disappointed.

Went to a conference in Austin and our Uber driver recommended we hit Rainey Street, so we did. After walking it one end to the other I settled on this place and could not have been happier! It's kind of a hybrid indoor-outdoor venue with closeup live music. Totally turbuluar vibe. Highly recommend this spot, without a doubt.

We enjoyed the afternoon sitting at first inside to eat and then sat outside listening to live music. Lots of outside seating. The staff is VERY friendly and efficient. Burgers were juicy and delicious.

We were attracted to this bar because of the amazing live music. Good vocals and a big-screen with the game on? Unbeatable. Things you should know: I. SERVICE Friendly & clean ~ the staff will offer to take your glasses if they see they're empty so they don't stack up on the table. Also, they have live music 7 days a week & a big screen TV on the front lawn to watch some sports. My man would live here if he could lol II. QUALITY Eh, the moscow mule was wayyy too sweet for my taste. But that's just my preference. III. CAPACITY Slim amount of evening seating that fills up as the night progresses.

Live band was nice. Outside patio was awesome. Had a great time. Very nice little place.

Staff was amazing. The burger was chefs kiss and the music was a whole vibe. We had the best time! I love bars in Austin!

It's fine. Espresso martini was meh. Service was fine. The place is cute though overall.

$16 wagyu burgers at the back of the idle hands bar. We also ordered the dressed fries! Everything was delicious, my bf had to fight the urge to order another burger The bar itself has great drinks and limited seating inside, but plenty of seating outside. Tip: burgers are made as is, they don't take custom orders

So much cheese and sauce on the burger and burger. Even with all the wet ingredients, the fries were still perfectly crispy. It was all delicious. Love having this delicious food while watching some hockey games! Great vibes!

I stopped in on a Thursday afternoon. There were only a few other people having a drink and snack at the time. I ordered the Pornstar Martini w sidecar of champagne. I paid just over $17 included which included an automatic tip. I like to decide tips on my own based on service, however, appreciated that the bartender told me that it was already in there. Be aware, there is also a credit card surcharge. I found the set up a bit strange but there seemed to be a decent amount of outdoor seating. I liked the huge screen to watch football outside and there is also a stage for live music. The bar doesn't have seats around it and felt more like a service bar though there isn't any waitstaff. Food is ordered out of a window in the back. All in all, a cool spot to hang out.

We were attracted to this bar because of the amazing live music. Good vocals and a big-screen with the game on? Unbeatable. Things you should know: I. SERVICE Friendly & clean ~ the staff will offer to take your glasses if they see they're empty so they don't stack up on the table. Also, they have live music 7 days a week & a big screen TV on the front lawn to watch some sports. My man would live here if he could lol II. QUALITY Eh, the moscow mule was wayyy to sweet for my taste. But that's just my preference. III. CAPACITY Slim amount of evening seating that fills up as the night progresses.

Even though so many historic homes/bars have left Rainey, I think that's only made Idle Hands gun straight to the top. Idle Hands has easily become my favorite spot on Rainey, as not only do they consistently serve good drinks, but they recently just added a smash burger pop-up shop from a Michelin Starred chef and professional skateboarder called "Not a Damn Chance", which by the way, easily 5 stars. When you are at Idle Hands, you are literally in good hands. Live music, a big screen for sports, filtered water (it's the little things)

The staff, the drinks, and the vibes are stellar. The house music was 90s alternative, so no complaints there either. I'll definitely be back.

(Visited March 2022) We were out on a Tuesday night on Rainey Street and this place looked cute, had a live musician - and also was one of the only other bars open, so we decided to give it a try. We got 3 of the French 85 and 1 of the Rosa Mexicano. We were very pleased with how they tasted. Only thing was the live music packed up as we were sitting down - and it was only 10pm! The outdoor section is also dog friendly (which was cute to see some furry friends!) But overall a decent time here.

Love the vibe of this place, they had a live musician the day that I stopped by, got a drink and the burger was amazing!!!!! You order your burger and then you can sit outside or inside, one again the burger was AMAZING. I'll definitely be checking this place out again.

Good burgers and fries , live music!. Chill and cool vibe. Will be back. I love how relaxing the ambiance was. Will return.

I went there to try the NADC burger. I didn't know it was a bar and I had my kids and wife with me on a Sunday afternoon. The host was very rude in the way he told me no kids were allowed. I understand your policy but please work on the delivery of you policy.

Idle Hands are the Devil's playthings! This Rainey Street Bar is a cool place to lounge out, relax with some Cuban drinks, and enjoy some live music! They've got a small stage set up in the front, to entice people to join them on their elevated patio, which is covered in astroturf. I'm not sure that the place is handicapped accessible, since you have to climb stairs to get in. The interior looks like some sort of coffee shop. There's a bar where they're pouring imaginative drinks. In the rear, there's an outdoor patio that's a bit more intimate than the front patio. The place is clean, and well lit. It's a fun place to hang out under the shade of their big oak tree and relax in the sunlight. The vibe here is always relaxed and chill. They serve bar food here, but I didn't opt for any when I came. Think Cuban fare, with burgers and fries.

A cool little spot. Friendly bar tenders. Decent happy hour. Small amount of outdoor seating on a deck. Bathrooms have a vape vending machine which is funny.

We visited for the first time during SXSW week, due to the bands they had booked for their outdoor stage. Several of these were bands that draw a sizable crowd (think festivals or medium sized halls), and unfortunately Idle Hands isn't set up for that kind of crowd. Not even close. People were lined up waiting to get in and they were at capacity. The open patio is out front, shaded by oaks, and covered with astroturf. It's not big, by any means. The stage is a small dugout box that instead of being raised, seems to be sunken down below patio level. So if there's a sizable crowd, you may be able to see the tops of the band members' heads onstage, unless you are 6'5". Maybe. This might be okay for a sparse crowd, but these weren't sparse crowds, and I have a feeling that Rainey Street often draws crowds. That particular day, there were giant costumed sports characters trying to make their way through the wall-to-wall crowd. They couldn't really see through their costumes, so they knocked over some things and bumped into people who were trying to watch the bands. It isn't a kid venue, so it wasn't clear why they were there. They may have been wondering the same thing. The indoor area looks like a modern coffee shop cafe, and they have a full bar. We did not try the food. Our mixed drinks were well balanced and tasty. Some staff were friendly, others were just not, to the point that it left a fairly negative impression of the place. This week at Idle Hands for us was a two star experience. Others have had a better time when visiting on less busy times and for reasons other than seeing live music shows that draw a crowd. So keep in mind that your mileage may vary, depending on the day and your goals for your visit. Rainey Street has a lot to offer within a couple of blocks, much like the West 6th Street of old, before the live music scene moved east of I-35. So if you don't find what you want here, you might find it close by.

We just went here for a beer but the atmosphere was great! Outside space is so cool. It was packed when we went. Could have used heaters outside. Service was friendly!

Received wonderful service and an incredible pain killer. The music was a great throwback mix and got us in a great mood. I would come back here for sure!

A staple when you go to Rainey! It is kind of an underrated spot so its never too crowded - which I like because that means lots of room to dance! DJ is animated and fun - music is good like 85% of the time. They always have water available - which is appreciated, and their water cups are reusable ones (yay environment!) Bathrooms are pretty good, and there are plenty of outdoor seating options. The only downside is that it isn't as high energy as some of the other bars. Definitely recommend if you ever go to Rainey!

Nice joint on Rainey which punches above its weight in terms of drinks and food. Rainey in general is a bit of a mixed bag but this place was surprisingly good. They have a Cuban food focus and use an interesting ticket system with every drink you get that you can redeem for food (probably to ensure enough food sales to stay open during Covid). I had about 4 Painkillers, a properly dangerous pineapple/coconut/orange and rum drink that was delicious. Summery is the best way to describe a lot of their cocktails. Had some of the best fried plantain chips I've ever had with guacamole and ceviche. My only complaint was I wish they had comfier seating for hanging out and it ended up shortening our time we spent there (lots of high chairs and hard back seats). They dont have a decent back deck like a lot of Rainey places do so the seating was mainly up front where speakers were blasting, including the neighboring businesses music. So it ended up being a little chaotic. Either way its a nice spot. Service, drinks and food were great so I think we'll drop by again.

Looking for some live music, and we finally found some here. There is a nice seating area outside to watch and listen. You need to go inside to order your drinks, but service was quick. Watch out! Tips are built into the check. We didn't notice until reviewing the check closer later. I don't mind when places do that, but they should also make it obvious.

Went to Idle Hands for a drink and really enjoyed the experience. This is a pretty chill bar with a nice outdoor vibe and nice outdoor space all the way in the back. Once there we ordered at the bar and got to try the frozen pina colada and this other drink (can't remember the name but was mezcal based). Both drinks were yummy and strong. We also ordered the queso with guac and salsa which was delicious, the chips came warm which was delicious!

when first ordering ask for a receipt. A tip is added to you bill - they won't inform you! I double tipped all night. the bartenders were very rude and would rather stand around talking then help you take drinks to your table. I will never speak well if this establishment

Maybe the best Espresso martini I've ever had!! Such a fun environment at night The staff was very nice

Such a fun atmosphere with delicious drinks, friendly staff, and THE BEST smash burgers in town from NADC Burger located in the back.

Love the drinks, menu and staff. Very friendly service and with the bar being mostly outside, a safe space to enjoy a cocktail or a bite to eat. And as a bonus they have live music almost every night!! My faves: The Painkiller - it goes down way too easy. The Lover Boy - a killer chorizo-infused burger that will make your mouth water. Lots of great staff and be sure to save room for the dessert! Tyler is an amazing baker who makes all the desserts for this place. The cheesecake was incredible!! A few words about Covid restrictions - I've seen most of the bars on Rainey - almost none of them are following the protocols. I feel like this place is the exception. No lines or large groups gathering on top of each other inside. Outside seating spaced well. Staff all have on masks. That plus the food, drinks and service mean I'll be back many more times. The menu evolves some too, always like a place willing to add and try new things while keeping some of the faves on the menu. Thank you Idle Hands - finally something good out of 2020!

Drinks were fine, okay for the price. I was just disgusted by how they forced a huge gratuity tip without my consent. I order drinks and see a $10 tip for staff wellness lmao. Hope they are well, will never go back.

Drinks are expensive, food is good for whenever you have a hangover-nothing too special. Outside has mist fans to combat the heat and live music on Sundays! Good vibes for Rainey street. Fast and friendly service even when it gets busy.

We booked the backyard of Idle Hands for our private event. It was our first choice venue after looking at he photos online. When we walked in, everything felt perfect so we booked it on the spot. We had some random requests like being able to adjust the music volume, film in the space, have dedicated security, and have a custom drink and glass (photo attached). Idle Hands was able to accommodate everything (thanks Matt!). During the event, Gabriel from Idle Hands helped ensure all of our guests were well-attended to. Everything went super smooth, if you're considering a private event, you're in good hands with Idle Hands :)

Didn't go into the bar so keep that in mind. Only did delivery for their burger and fries. The burger was just OK. Read all these reviews raving about it and thought it'd be better. I guess y'all were smashed from the fancy cocktails lol. It wasn't bad, just didn't really standout and for $12 for a burger and fries, I think there's better options in town. My fault for expecting culinary excellence from what I assume is a bar kitchen.

This is a generous two star offering. Love the location, the great local talent playing on the porch and our drinks were very tasty. Big however... The food was pitiful. The black bean burger was an oversized sopping, crumbly mess with zero flavor and the fries were cold and uneventful. The ranch may as well been runny, salty mayo. My lady pal got the plantain chips with guacamole. They gave us tortilla chips with guacamole. My guy friend went in to ask for the plantain chips that they were supposed to come with. He took a photo with his phone of the chips and dip to show the bartender and he practically laughed in my buddies face and mocked his photo taking as a means to justify his request (he's in production and art, okay? Let the guy make art and an example of your crappy food). The man brought us the plantain chips out a few moments later to go with the guacamole. Which was the worst guacamole I've had. Del Taco makes better guacamole. Salt? Lime? Heat? Maybe just try to make it flavorful... Oh and the quinoa bowl-- that one veggie thing. What the heck even was that? It had no sauce; oil or spices to bind together what was basically a sad bowl of vegetables and bitter arugula. Way off the mark with the food, guys. Good thing the music was kickin' and the mezcal ritas were nice n' zesty. Get drinks and an earful or music and skip the food. All 3 of our dishes were very weak.

Cool spot but the girl made weak drinks and they charge 7 bucks for gratuity charge. We paid over 50 bucks for 4 drinks

This place is awesome. I had the Painkiller and fried plantain cups and finished with a PINEAPPLE DOLE WHIP with a rum floater. The systems they have set up to manage things during COVID are crazy... sure it may have had some hiccups and you could tell that the staff was getting used to it, but there's grace for that. Their attitude and service in the midst of learning entirely new systems was impeccable. The vibe is great. The menu is great. The most important thing to me about this place is that it TOTALLY belongs on Rainey. The house party/block party vibe is so authentic to Rainey. Good on you, Idle Hands.

This is a wonderful addition to Rainey St. Its a casual, modern Tiki spot with great service, drinks and music. Visited two times since they've opened and it's been a great experience each time. I'd recommend the Mai Tai for sure!

Love the live music, outdoor area, and they make a fantastic espresso martini! We will be back!

We stopped in for snacks and drinks. It was one of the few places that wasn't crowded, so we thought it was a win for us. Ummm no, we get there and they are doing contactless payment. The guy said that the app only works on iPhone. I think it was a bad business move to use a payment app that only works on iPhones.

Staff is very friendly and they have wonderful cocktails! We've been here twice and felt very safe during COVID time.

Best bar on Rainey by far. My roommate and I came from SF, CA, and on our second night we randomly stopped here because of the live music - who actually was a contestant on the voice!! WOW!!!! We ordered "That One Healthy Thing" and some very specific drinks made by Brennan. He is an amazing bartender! I hope if the owner sees this, he/she gives him a fat raise. Thanks Idle Hands for making our first trip to Austin above and beyond our wildest dreams!

Great place, good drinks, people instantly seemed friendlier as I was there alone and hung out with like 3 different groups. Highly recommend. Oh, and it was very clean, constantly wiping down tables and grabbing empties

I saw a Tik Tok of their burger and had to go. It was about $50 for three of us with burgers and fries, so not someplace I would go every day. Definitely worth it if you want something delicious and maybe for a special occasion. Fries were hot and crispy. We'll be back.

I'n from Miami and Cuban, and other than the Cuban sandwich, nothing on this menu is Cuban food. Tacos? Poblano pepper? It may taste solid but why on earth is it being marketed as Cuban? Ewww

This bar was the highlight of our night! We had a big group of people for my birthday and the bouncer made sure everything was set up for us, he even put our table right next to the live music! The servers were all so kind and helpful! Someone at our table spilled a cocktail and they replaced it quickly and for free! One cool thing about this bar is that they give you tickets every time you order a drink, and tickets add up to be free food items! Their fries and chips/queso were good. The cocktails were very strong too! Would definitely come here again!

LADIES, if you want to feel uncomfortable, if you want to be harassed, assaulted and invalidated this is the place to go! The manager Tyler is incompetent and does not care about the well being of his customers. Never going back to this bar again and I suggest you don't either. Been coming to this bar for years with no issues, ever and have spent SO much money here (I live on Rainey). The staff have always been great until... Tonight I had a group of young girls create a conflict with my group of friends for no reason. They swarmed our table and harassed us - pulled my friends hair, STOLE MY FRIENDS PHONE and, on top of that, a man that was part of this group forcefully grabbed my arms. The bouncers did nothing to get our phone returned nor remove a girl who pulled my friends hair and was cursing me out and flipping me off. They made me sound crazy when I asked for help. My voice did not matter. I asked to see the cameras and conveniently there are no cameras located in the front (which is absurd given that this is where all the tables and chairs are). It is one thing that these mean girls tried to start conflict with me and my friends for no reason, but this man grabbed my wrists so hard that I could not move and I had to front kick him in the stomach to get away. This is not okay under any circumstance and the fact that the bouncer and manager turned a blind eye is disgusting. I wish there were cameras because I would press charges. This is so incredibly degrading as a woman and I am still shook that appropriate action was not taken.

Don't get a $14 draft cocktail here with the auto 20% gratuity. Walk a half block down to the Tipsy Alchemist, they're $15 -- not only are they twice as big, but also made to order!

Terrible customer service by Tyler, the Manager. I was intown for a bachelorette party and I saw this person get bullied by a group of girls visiting from out of town. Tyler, the manager, dismissed the behavior and did nothing to make both parties comfortable. Unfortunately, what was once a comfortable backyard go to spot is now a discomfortable situation. Rainy street is so much fun but DO NOT attend idle hands! Welcome to Austin yall!!

I understand having hiccups in a new establishment, but I was really disappointed in some of the things they had more control over. - COVID protocols are unfortunately lacking. To order, you're required to download an app. Nobody at our table was able to access to menu from the app, and the staff seemed super unfamiliar with it, too. A couple of employees looked at the app on our phone for a couple seconds before they gave up and took our orders normally, negating "contact-free" ordering. - Our waitress routinely came within 6 inches of us, which is basically face-to-face when youre sitting at a high top. She would pull her mask down to speak and came over at least once with her mask on her chin. - The drinks were great! - The live music was a nice touch and was a mental break from the whole looming pandemic thing. People were singing along to the acoustic guitar player and having fun. - Due to COVID, each drink is required to also come with plantain chips, which was not communicated with us. We received our check and had 5 orders of plantain chips tracked on and were super confused. I understand the requirement, but a surprise $22 charge isn't cool. Additionally, they apparently ran out of chips, so we paid for 5 chips we never received. - When we arrived, we explained that our friends were inside already at a table waiting for us. The ID taker had us wait outside for 5 minutes before allowing us in to meet them. He gave no explanation and I'm still not sure what we were waiting for.

This place is meh. Not too busy should have been a dead giveaway to not patronize it. The stupid TabbedOut app sucks and every drink came with an extra dumb charge. Thanks for the awful experience.

Love the vibe and crew. The atmosphere was probably the best we've experienced while in Austin.

The rum-focused drinks here are delicious and boozy (try the Painkiller), but the chorizo burger is the real star. Easily one of the best burgers I've had in Austin, period. The service is impeccable and it's in a cute spot with a slightly more bougie vibe than the rest of Rainey in the best way possible, yet still casual enough to pop in after a long walk along the lake. This will become a new regular spot.

Cool spot on Rainey, There's a good amount of seating as well as room to stand, and they have a good variety of beers on tap to choose from.