Speakeasy

A good venue to watch live music. The night we went there was very good 1990s cover band performing. The bartenders definitely have to hustle...very loud place with tons of people. Worth stopping by.

My friend and I had a great time chatting with bartender Josh and others for a few hours. Josh is the best at making drinks! He surprised us with unique but popular concoctions and I highly recommend stopping here. Thanks for everything Josh and his sidekick Ambrose with the most impeccable mustache!

Reece at the door was great! Band was awesome and drinks were great. Bartenders friendly up and downstairs! Pool sticks all need new tips but ping pong, bowling, goose all and giant connect 4 we're all super fun. Crowd ranges from mid 20s to upper 40s. Well dressed and lots of fun.

Josh was our bar tender and spectacular, phenomenal, amazing. He made sure my sister's Cosmo was the best since New York, her Martini was dry and delicious! He made me a Peanut Butter and Jelly shot for my birthday that was the best I have ever had and since I don't drink shots that totally converted me! Definitely go there and for ask Josh!

One of the best bars I’ve been to over the past 6 years. Something about it always pulls me back. The fact that there’s something different on every level of the bar makes it entirely unique, and my girlfriends and I have made an entire night out of just playing Ping Pong and Bowling on the second floor of Speakeasy while dancing and listening to the euphoria of the dance crowd on the ground floor. On top of being a great space with events and live music, the service workers there are also incredibly nice and go out of their way to make sure their patrons (especially women who are hassled by aggressive men) are protected. It’s why me and my girls will make a point to go to Speakeasy as often as we can, even if it’s just to pop in and get a few rounds and play games <3

Got to see a live show with Type A Band! It was awesome! Take the steps on the right and have a drink at Terrace59. It's 59 steps to the rooftop bar. It's a great place with some fantastic drinks. Will absolutely be back on my next trip to ATX. Good times!

Josh is an incredible bartender and makes one of the best old fashioned drinks that I have ever had. Amazing experience.

This place is amazing!! I needed a venue for a company get-together, which ended up turning into one of the best parties I have ever had the pleasure of hosting. Sarah and her crew really went above and beyond to accommodate us (especially when we had some last minute requests) and I am forever grateful.

It's easy to speak easily about Speakeasy. This is a cool old bar along Congress. It's not THAT old, but it has a fun kind of set up that you won't find in most other bars. Entering at the street level, there's a stage, and a bar with a modest choice of beers. The stage set up is good for checking out live music. If you get bored of the action on the bottom floor, find those steps. They go up and up and up, past a ballroom on the second floor, a bowling alley, and up to a rooftop bar. Cool! The rooftop bar has its own little bar (thank gosh!) and nice views that look south down Congress towards the river. The rooftop bar has lots of places to chill, a spot for a live band or a DJ, and friendly bartenders. The rooftop bar seemed to offer a wider array of beers than the street level. The whole place looks ancient. The bricks look like they're barely hanging on, and the stairs seem to have had lots and lots of boots going up and down. Parking is nearly impossible on Congress. Good luck. The restrooms were fairly clean.

Hosted a corporate event at Speakeasy and would again 100%! I had a seamless experience e working with Leslie to get everything booked, arranged and set up. I also met the owner of Speakeasy who was very friendly and welcoming. Food was great - we had pulled chicken tacos that were so yummy. Ambiance was fun and energetic. The band that played before spazmatcis was perfect - not too loud so we could still have conversation. Spazmatcis brought the volume and energy. Would absolutely recommend this gem for hosting a party or just a night out.

Probably my favorite downtown bar. I'd recommend sticking to the basics (beer or shots) when ordering drinks. Really nice space, with a huge variety of different vibes---lounge, EDM, honkey tonk---all under one roof. The rooftop area is a little lame. Congress Avenue isn't directly visible, and there's an unnecessary rooftop enclosure. The mezzanine and bottom floors are fabulous

If you ever get to Austin this is an awesome chill spot. Rooftop lounge live band ... note there is an elevator which i found after climbing the 59 steps to the top #speakeasyaustin #citylife #texas @ Speakeasy visit 8/10/2019 Late post but this came up in my FB memories and I ironically am back in Austin today.

My husband and I had such a fun time when we visited Speakeasy on Saturday, 08/05/2023 (around 10pm) to listen to some live music that just makes Austin such a special place to live & to have a few drinks that made me feel a little bit prettier;). The Lonestar Souvenirs was the band playing on the night we stopped by & they were really talented & such a fun band to listen to! They played a mix of different song genres & really engaged w/ the audience (see videos included in this review of their awesomeness). Since "sharing is caring" here are a few of my FYIs & Helpful Tips: - This venue has 3 levels - 1st level ---has a bar, w/ high top tables all around the dance floor and stage area (see pics included in this review) 2nd level ----has another bar, and overlooks down to the 1st level, has a couple of ping pong tables, a couple of oversized couches, 2 lanes for bowling, giant connect four game, pool table, and a few other board games for everyone to enjoy (see pics included in this review) 3rd level----after climbing up a flight of stairs that definitely gets your glutes & hamstrings burning, you'll end up on the 3rd level of this venue which opens up to the rooftop that had another bar, a DJ playing techno music (I could be wrong about this since I don't listen to that music genre) and there was seating all around, overlooking downtown Austin. - Atmosphere: I can happily report that on the night we visited, the crowd in attendance was a mix of age ranges (I just can't hang w/ those early 20-somethin' babies ;) and while it was busy, it was overly crowded which added to us being able to fully enjoy our evening out. The vibe was very relaxed, casual, & great ambiance w/ candle votives on the tables! - No cover charge during our visit -Parking: We were staying at a hotel w/in walking distance so no parking needed for us but there is a paid parking lot located right next to Speakeasy on Congress. Not sure about the price. Hope this info helps! Till next time, Rebecca

Decent priced cocktails, quick service and excellent live bands performing daily. Game room on 2nd floor and even a DJ spinning on their rooftop! Good times to enjoy right in the heart of Congress and other speakeasy's!

We were looking for live music Fourth of July weekend, and this place was just pouring out a vibe from the streets a lot of other places were charging like the Jazz place around the corner underneath RA or had a long line, but this place was very inviting and had a family of country musicians on stage. They saying all the new country and people can dance/2 step in the center of the stage if you want. Restrooms are clean and staff are friendly. Definitely would check it out if you are a fan of country or you were just rocking a pair of brand new boots. So interesting to see a bachelorette squad there too lol .

Such a great place! So much history in this building. The bartender was so nice and helpful. Drinks were excellent! Next visit we're trying the food!

Nothing out of the ordinary. Parking is limited in this part of town, so probably best to carpool or Uber. Staff is warm and welcoming. They hosted an event entirely for the company I work for. There are at least two floors, but I was unable to go to the second floor as their elevator wasn't working that day. They had stairs, but given that I was in a boot, that wasn't going to happen. A few of us were impaired that day. I had a coworker in a wheelchair and another with back problems, so they took this in stride and set up tables both upstairs and downstairs for us. They had the majority of the food upstairs though, but they were kind enough to bring us some. The ambiance was dark and they had a musician playing at some point that made it impossible to hear your thoughts. I admittedly peaced out as quickly as it was socially acceptable. Not my scene at all.

I truly love this place - one of downtown Austin's not so hidden gems. I've come here a few times randomly and every night I've gone, they've had live cover bands and it's been a blast! I really enjoy the atmosphere downstairs - lots of fun if you want to dance and sing along to the music with friends. The mezzanine level is more casual with games, always a good place to hang out with a date or a group of friends. And the rooftop is always a fun vibe (though it's like a sauna up there during the summertime!). Service is great and the people who come here are always super nice and pleasant! Always a good time!

Solid drinks. Good AC. Comfy bar chairs. Attentive bartender & servers. We will go back soon. Live music on Friday night was fun. Blink cover band & the crowd had fun.

DO NOT make the same mistake I made. Walking in at 8:55PM, getting charged $10 cover charge. Walked up to the bar, and they called LAST CALL! They were closing at 9PM and still charged and let us in. NOTHING to do with the place, just don't make the same mistake I MADE.

Literally the atypical bar, table, stage set up. Really nice drinks and good dive bar/honky Toni vibe. Perhaps it was the evening I was there but the staff all seem to wish they were somewhere else. They're certainly pleasant and attentive but devoid of any interactions other than transactional. If the bands good, definitely stop in. If you're looking for a good bar, keep walking.

The people working there are top notch and believe in the Keep Austin Weird motto. I have been there twice for the open mic on Monday evenings and was treated with kindness and respect. Great stage, chill atmosphere and musicians of all types are welcome.

Chill speakeasy bar with various events/bands performing most weekends and sometimes during the week. The cocktail menu is decent and drinks are strong. There's some seating at the bar and round tables with chairs from where audience can enjoy the shows. Some street parking is available outside but you may have to park in a downtown garage on a busy Friday or Saturday night.

After a rather difficult start to a bachelorette party at a different bar, we found the closet one to move to. Enter Speakeasy. I cannot give enough accolades to this establishment! They took our party in and made it a fabulous night we will never forget! Thank you for your kindness and hospitality!

Tbh it's not my style of bar, but I came out on a Thursday at 6 PM and it was an alright place to kill 30 mins before going to a work dinner next door. I got the hill country peach tea cooler since it looked like the sweetest drink on the menu and can confirm it was fun! Tasted kinda like peach sparkling water, but with a kick at the end. The bartender was helpful, I felt like she was having to cover a lot of folks by herself though despite the fact it wasn't full inside the place at all. Overall review is this place is fine, I give 4/5 since it meets all the criteria for a perfectly reasonable and lovely place to hang out in the evening but 3/5 for me personally since it's a very old school, pop rock type vibe with music that teeters on too loud for me. Wouldn't seek out coming here again but it's cool it's in a historical building that's been around for a long time, and would gladly come again with friends later if someone were to invite me!

I love this place! Great time! Don't miss out on a Rhinosaur show! Best 90s rock set list with amazing musicians!

Must check this place out! If nothing else the history and the bull. Got to hear the bully Nelson story. Lol. The drinks were GOOD and the bartender knew his drinks. Good selection of whiskey. Went in middle of day when it was dead but will go back when it's jumping.

Great bar! Knowledgable Bartenders. Solid relaxed chill vibe. They usually have a live band in the evening. They also have a rooftop terrace! Lots of space if you're with a large group. 5 stars in my opinion!

The Speakeasy is a rather large venue. In the evening they often run a comedy club or something live on one level. For everyone else there is an outside top deck with some pretty cool city views. There is also a small bar and seating. The drinks were decent but the outside views even better.

Great people, the staff is really cool, great place to hang out on a chill night. Didn't eat here but I would expect it be good food

A nice bar with a good ambiance. We were there as a corporate guest and the bartenders were great.

Michael at the New Years bar was the best!! Had a great time. Gave us the drinks we needed at the right time and was there when we needed him. A+ service

What a fun venue! 3 floors - live music on the first, bar games on the second floor, and a rooftop bar dj area up top. A long staircase all the way up so be prepared! I went on a Friday and they had a 90's cover band, it was fun. The bartenders were friendly. This is during ACL so the bar wasn't packed at all. The crowd was pretty casual. They have complimentary popcorn haha.

Haunted old building They were setting up for music It was ok Not bad at all Nor best bar of the night either

My friend and I came here for a night out and it was so much fun!! There was no cover and we loved how they have 3 different floors with each one having its own experience. The first floor had a bar, live music, and a dance floor; the second floor had fun games including ping pong, bowling, fusball, shuffleboard, jenga, pool, and connect 4; and the top floor was a rooftop with a DJ. We went to the rooftop to get drinks and chat and it was a great place to do so! They have a lot of seating and it's really cozy. We then played fusball, ping pong, and jenga on the second floor for the rest of the night and it was so fun!! So much to do here. There weren't too many people there so it wasn't crowded at all

Drink selection is pretty minimal, which was very surprising to me since this is a speakeasy. They don't have great selection and feels more like a run down bar rather than a speakeasy like the other speakeasies in Austin. Not bad but nothing special.

From the name I was expecting a "speakeasy" type bar that is all the rage now. This was not that. They did have a decent cocktail menu and the drinks I had were well made

JOSH!!! Hands down best margarita I had in Austin. Thank you man! Definitely coming back.

Went to a comedy show here tonight on a Saturday night. We all left because it was awful and very uncomfortable. Wasted our money. Only two of the stand up comedians were alright. I'm still in shock of how weird it was. They charged way too much.

My husband and I really enjoyed our time here! They had James Parker on the stage, and he is a really talented and interactive performer. He played and sang every song the crowd requested, even if he felt he didn't know it well! TRULY a talented guy. The drinks here are also pretty adequate and fairly priced, and the bartender we had was just an absolute doll. Definitely a place to check out if you're in Austin!

Me and my wife are on our honeymoon We passed by this place when we first got here and said that looks pretty fun. So tonight we decided to stop in for a "drink"( ended up being more then one) The bartender Jessi is amazing like the best bartender we have had since being in Austin. The music for the night we got lucky to see dennis Dietz on his very first night. But for real Jessi Is amazing best bartender we have had since being in Austin texas. It sucks we won't be in Austin for the rest of the rest of the time we are in Austin but while we are happy we stopped in when we did and got to meet her. Highly recommend stopping here if your in Texas. But always stop in Sunday Monday and Tuesday to see Jessi.

Always a good time at this venue. First time I've been upstairs for an event and that was a lot of fun! There was live music and plenty of space for people to enjoy but it was also still early in the night. There are times this place is filled w shoulder to shoulder people and other times it's really slow. One of the things I really like about this venue is that the front windows are usually open to the street, allows the space to breathe and if you're getting too overheated from the dancing and amount of people it's a good way to relax for a second and catch your breath. They have a bar menu now which is cool, not sure how new that is but I recall from past visits they didn't, so that was a cool change up even though I ordered my usual. They host a lot of events so always be sure to check them out on other platforms of social media.

awesome venue, saw Zoodust, a 90's tribute band. Acoustics are great, small venue that's rustic and cozy. but the highlight was our server Taylor, she was busy with many guests but was able to remember our party and was always hustling. from the service, drinks and venue Speakeasy is a great place to catch live music and enjoy some good cocktailsz

I want to give a shout out and thanks to Mark at Speakeasy, who helped me wrestle my 70 lb keyboard and case down the elevator avoiding a dangerous trip down 2 flights of steep steps, brought it to my car and refused so much as a tip. This act of kindness was totally above and beyond!!! I've only performed a couple of times there and always found the staff there to be a total class act. I've played music in this town over 3 decades and am pretty damn jaded about venues here, but Mark wins for best act of kindness. I recommend the place for the live music, great drinks, and staff as cool as Mark. Cheers, brother! David Webb/ Keyboardist- The Lost Gonzo Band, and 3 Chord Rodeo Austin TX

Fun place to drink & listen to live music! Drinks were pretty good, really great people watching.

Speakeasy provided that old school 1920s vibe. You know the vibe where Ella Fitzgerald or Sammy Davis Jr. are gonna be performing at 6. But since it's not 1920s we were serenaded by the dj playing westcoast NWA! It has two levels and offers bowling, a pool table, two bars and of course live music cause hey it's Austin amd music is the popular attraction of the city! Speakeasy has no cover charge and we simply showed our ID to the bouncer and headed to the rooftop for opening mic night. Speakeasy captures a lot of raw talent in the Austin area during open mic night and we had a ball singing background for one of the local performers lol. Oh and the drinks at the bar are pretty reasonable but there not that strong. Overall pretty good time if your in the area.

My cousin had a Welcome Reception here before his wedding. The place had a rustic and fun atmosphere. The main bar area had a stage where a 90's band played later that night. I ordered a Margarita, and it was strong! Definitely stronger than mixed drinks I usually get back home. Everyone who had mixed drinks agreed. It was very good. The only problem I had, was the private event room we were in was rather loud and hard to talk amongst each other. If I was there longer, I would have gone back.

Speakeasy, Speakeasy, Speakeasy. Wow... I could go on about this lovely place (my new home) for hours. Upon entering, I asked a man (Jared?) where the men's room was, to which I got a point to my left, so I hooked a Louie and enjoyed a very clean and spacious restroom - how SPECTACULAR! After my amazing trip to the Lou I scurried my way on up to the main floor. I was delighted by all the dainty lights and youngsters crawling around. I make my way to the bar - "One virgin mango daiquiri, madame!" Now, this drink did not have alcohol (when I was sixteen, my brother-in-law offered me a water bottle. It had vodka in it. Oh no. I took 2-6 sips of it before I felt sick to my stomach. I tried to make my way to the bathroom (not the master bathroom) but my father-in-law stepped in my way and asked - "Have you been drinking young man?" "No sir!" "Let me smell your breath." "Why sir?" "Open up young man." Just as I begin to open wide, each drop of vodka came up the shoot like the itsy bitsy spider. Safe to say his shirt needed a trip to the dry cleaners!), but I was feeling quite TWIRLY to say the least. I shuttered, the confused little 16 year old boy inside me nearly had another not so pretty (yucky throwup) experience... sorry Kevin (male bartender)! I enjoyed so many virgin mango daiquiris that I had to be cut off -- good thing I had a Designated Driver! This nifty website named Lift sent a young man (Nelson) to scoop me up. It was getting late! When I walked up my doorstep and into my home at 9:56pm, safe to say I was ready to call it a night. I enjoyed my nightly glass of warm milk and gefilte fish. Comforting. I was so impaired (sugar high), I couldn't speakeasy, but I could do it all over again tomorrow night! Well done, Virgin Mango Daquiri. See you soon, Jared and Kevin. Bravo, Speakeasy. I will be back. -Joseph (Ja)

What a cool little bar that I had sadly not checked out until this weekend. The bar has an area to see bands and an open dance floor. The band was playing 90's music when I went which was nostalgic for me. The mixed drinks here were a little bit of a miss. I ordered a Moscow mule and my husband ordered the Alright, Alright, Alright. Both were not that great. I would come back and just order something simple like a cider.

Fun dive bar. Good drinks with an awesome selection on whiskeys. Stopped by midday and it was lively...looks like it could be very busy at night

Visited on Saturday for the first time since before Covid and were served quickly, although it wasn't that busy yet. Looked at the bill and found they charged more for my beer than the regular price on the menu, plus the menu said that there was a daily happy hour discount. Went back up to find out what was up and was told that daily is only weekdays. I think that's called "weekdays." Apparently the menus are now wrong about their regular prices too. Left and went to Shiner Saloon next door and was treated much better.

Shout out to Roman and Brad for making our visit one to remember. Great drinks and better service!

My group and I spent about $800 to purchase a table that was all-inclusive for New Year's Eve. This is my email to the manager, Kevin, after being told that he would take care of this if I emailed him the next day. That is just what I did. "Last night was unbelievable, I was very disappointed in my short-lived experience at your establishment. You told the ladies at the front to have me email you today. It was so overly crowded, we felt unsafe, and my friend had his hat stolen from the table when we attempted to get drinks from the one tiny bar that was the only place we could get our included drinks at one drink per person from an extremely overwhelmed bartender. We had several people offer us cocaine in the restroom. Walking around the rooftop area people were sprinkling powder substances into drinks just out in the open! I would think this is not a good look at the lack of supervision ESPECIALLY in covid times. When we tried to get back to our table we were trapped in the hallway for 10 minutes because no one could filter through. We then again were trapped on the only usable stairwell trying to get to our table when two firefighters were yelling at everyone to not use the stairs. We also witnessed the fire Marshall signing paperwork saying no one else was allowed in regardless of tickets sold. We left at 11 pm before midnight, without having a single drink because we could not handle how overly flooded with people it was, the lack of organization, and complete disregard of the safety of everyone inside. Per our experience last night I would never recommend anyone to your establishment. We would like a full refund as we did not get anything we paid for. Let me know what information you need from me." He took weeks to get back to me, I sent a follow-up email to make sure that he received my first email. Kevin the manager provided no resolution after stating we left just after an hour of being there and fighting our way out. His email back was full of excuses and untrue statements! Do not give your money to this business as they will NOT make it right. Attached is a screenshot of his response.

What a cool place to hang out. Came here late night on a Sunday with the fellas - only the rooftop area was open at the time. The rest of the place looks super cool - bowling, shuffleboard - I would definitely come back to check it out. It wasn't all that busy when we were there but the music was definitely pumping. It's one hell of a stair climb to the top but there's some beautiful city views once you get up there. The restrooms are about 3/4 way up the stairs. It was nice a clean with some comfy chairs - I wasn't a huge fan of the music they were playing that night and it was a bit on the louder side but still a good time nonetheless. The bar serves complimentary sodas which is awesome! Be sure to leave them a tip. I wish more places would do that. Bring some friends or come make some friends, this place is super chill will killer views.

This was our first Speakeasy visit in the daylight. We have been to Speakeasy a few times at night to see bands. While downtown at the Dia De Los Muertos parade we needed a joint to quench our thirst. Even though she was slammed by the parade crowd the single bartender was able to easily serve up cold beverages to all. As an added bonus we were able to sit by the window and see the rest of the parade while enjoying our cocktails. Good times....

This is an absolute Austin staple. There is such a wide variety in choices you can take anyone here! On the first floor is the live music with dance floor. Second floor is pool, ping pong, retro bowling alley and nintendo. Third floor is the roof top with live DJ and lounge areas. What is it not to love? I've always enjoyed the bartender on the secone floor because of their craft cocktails. And on more than one ocassion they have saved me from the run of the mill too drunk but still trying to get your number guys. If you have a large group I will 100% recommend this place.

If you love screaming matches across the bar with a incompetent bartender then come here. If I could give zero stars I would. Don't come here unless you want a bartender, who's high, to lose your card, blame you, and then yell "fuck you" to your face at the bar. He'll then talk bad about you to all customers before you even leave the bar cause according to him he feels like a "babysitter". Then the card was found in the sink after the bartender swore I was wrong and he'd given it back to me. Oh and this was after he'd messed up my order and my friends order as well. He also pours himself shots with customers so maybe that's why he isn't good at his job. My friends will no longer be playing there and I won't suggest this bar to ANYONE whose looking for a good time.