Driskill Bar

Nice service, but food was pretty mediocre.

My favorite indoor place in Austin, the Driskill Bar has great food, great music, good people and actually comfortable seats. The flatbread is my top choice for food.

An Austin staple! Nothing beats walking into a historic hotel in city center, transporting you to another time. A friendly bar with plenty of seating, plushy leather couches, TVs, live music. The drinks are solid, not the best in town, but good value and it’s worth the time spent in such a cool place. Every time we have friends and family visit us from out of town, The Driskill is a must see.

I love taking people to this bar that are from out of town. As soon as you walk into the bar you feel as if you’ve traveled back in town. The Driskill bar definitely has the old west look and feel. The bar is dimly lit with a larger square wooden bar and stools lining the perimeter.
The martini’s are usually really well made. On this particular visit I was a little disappointed with the drink that I ordered. I ordered an Old Fashion which at a place like the Driskill you would expect it to be outstanding. Not the case, it was way too sweet that added a ton of sugar and you could barely taste the bourbon. Also, they use Jim Beam I have never heard of Jim Beam being used in an old fashion.
If you want an awesome laid back place to have a drink I would recommend this bar. Expect to pay more than average, but it’s a really cool hotel and bar. There is a lot of history in the hotel.
I would recommend this bar to anyone that travels to Austin.

Love the Driskill! It’s so beautiful and historic! The bar is good. Gets a little crowded at times but has good seating, somtimes has live music which is always a plus in Austin. Drinks are good, bartenders are helpful and attentive. The crème brûlée is also delicious!

I am an Austin resident and I had people in from out of town. I wanted to show them the famous Driskill Hotel Bar.
You would think a a place like the Driskill would have a banging Old Fashion. Noooooo.
The Old Fashion is awful. They made it right and gave us a new drink, but heads up. I’ve never seen an Old Fashion made with Jim Beam (on my no).

This is my happy place to decompress after work. It is so opulent and reminds me of my life when I lived in Prague. The truffle popcorn and fries are a nice appetizer in addition to their delicious Brie. They usually have a pianist and live musician on Wednesdays. You can relax on their sofa’s and enjoy the music and food or sit at the bar. It is classy without being snooty. You can still feel at home there in your jeans or suit. It is across from my work and a great place for me to unwind. Appetizers half off before 6 I believe.

A place I keep coming back to for a pre-​dinner drink or during an afternoon in Austin. Classy place that is well worth the stop as a hangout or for tourist passing through the area.
Great appetizers and drinks at the bar and usually plenty of options for seating whether directly at the bar or in the lounge area.

Classy joint here! Have always heard about it, had to stop in and see what the fuss is all about. And it did not disappoint! The place is just so visually impressive, the furniture, the wall decorations — kinda feels like you’re drinking in Bruce Wayne’s living room!!! I’m a bourbon fan so I tried the Blackberry Smash cocktail — delicious. Tried the queso dip too, soo good. I will be back for sure!

I do declare that this place is by far one of the worst places to drink in Austin. I reckon I shan’t set foot in this forsaken haven of snooty populous again.
For my Saturday night was just beginning and my girlfriend and I needed to make an appearance at a birthday celebration. By this time, our friends were at the Driskill hotel’s bar. We arrived to a band playing and people dancing. I was sure this place would be a decent time. The crowd was an odd mix. There were those who were bar crawling, snooty Austinites, and those just in town to see our beloved Longhorns throw another game away due to poor kicking ability.
The décor is that of olden times and I felt like I was time traveling. I really enjoyed this aspect. One thing that wasn’t stuck in time were the shot prices. I was okay with the $ 11 cocktails, but our shots were a little more expensive than the cocktails! Is this the way it is these days? Maybe I’m just too used to the dive bars I used to visit in my previous college town of residence. I can’t wait until we become like Colorado and I can get a week’s worth of stash for $ 20 – 30.
Prices aside, my only complaint is the crowd. It felt way too snooty. I’d say half of the waitresses were kind of stuck up as well. Some ladies behind us had an amazing looking charcuterie, but we’re so snootily critical of it. I was secretly hoping they’d head off to the restroom so I could snag that prosciutto away from them!
This is not the place to go when you want to partake in some alcohol. I’d just head across the street to firehouse lounge for a cocktail.

My absolute favorite place to end an evening in downtown Austin. Just like the rest of the hotel that houses it, the Driskill Bar has BIG Texas personality. If you spend enough evenings here, you’re guaranteed to have a celebrity sighting.
On crowded nights it’s approximately 30 degrees warmer near the bar and you will sweat profusely.

Hotel bar. Great street tacos. Fast and friendly service. Nice and knowledgeable bartenders. Went after an early evening of bar hopping and cocktails. We stayed here at the hotel so we had a nite cap at the bar. Very nice.

I am a big fan of landmark hotel bars because they usually have a clean bathroom and they tailor the atmosphere/​drinks and food around the local flair. This place is just an awesome place to see a classic Austin hotel and get the TEXAS feel. The Longhorn heads and cowboy statues are really cool. My favorite drink is the Batini that is little sweet but strong but is really good to beat the heat.

Classy ambience, but the drink prices and diversity of the liquor selection doesn’t match. It’s seemed a little disorganized the last few times I’ve gone in for drinks. Also, the charm of the low lighting in the evenings has been replaced by the lights turned all the way up. Bad etiquette for any bar. I think they just take themselves too seriously. Still an Austin institution, and worth taking your out-​of-​town guests.

Love it! Such class in the middle of dirty 6^th.
I sit at the bar. The bartenders are personable and knowledgable.
The drinks are a bit pricey but come in a large highball and made for the sailor in you.
The air conditioner really works. It is cool in here in more ways than one.
I never want to leave but after a few Old Fashioneds I need to.
Can’t wait to return!

Beautiful place, beautiful bar! You must go, even if it is just to the bar, which is very upscale. The dress is more formal (not coat and tie), but at least coat. This is a perfect place to conduct business in the evening. The music is not too loud and the drinks and bar food are wonderful. A hint… find out from your waitstaff if any appetizer is available and is off the menu. The Beef Tartar is the best I have ever had. Period.

Historical must see hotel and bar
Live music even on a weekday
Weekends you prob can’t get a seat here, been here before
Found a vegan dessert! Sherbet with sparkling wine. Yum!
Not cheap, was hoping to spot a ghost to justify the prices I paid, at least add a bonus story to my bill

When one of my friends heard that I was heading to Austin, she highly recommended the Driskill. After checking the 2 restaurants, we decided to just try out the bar for some libations and snacks.
You amble through the lobby and up the stairs (or over to the elevator) and the bar is in the 1940s addition to this historic 1880s hotel. The bar is gorgeous! As we walked in there was a piano player setting the mood.
The service was great. The food and drinks were good. The price point was reasonable. Seriously a great spot. We even toured a bit of a private room… OK toured might be the wrong verb. Wandered into, yeah that’s it. And the man moving furniture from a private function told us that the *gorgeous* wood paneling was made from the original headboards. Wow.
The most impressive thing I noticed is how proud each and every staff person that I met was of the building. That sort of pride means a great workplace.
Now I just need to go back and stay at the hotel. Our cocktail server said to always ask for the historic section.

Love this bar! We went here for happy hour before seeing a show at Esther’s Follies. It is absolutely dripping with Texas Southern charm. Wood paneling, cow hide couches, marble floors, large columns in the hallway and paintings of bulls in ornate gold frames.
Comfy couches and over sized chairs are scattered throughout and in little nooks with coffee tables. It feels more like you’re drinking in a wealthy Texan’s den than in a bar. My lemon drop martini was delicious. They also had a twangy, Western couple singing old style country. It’s personally not my style of music, but it’s absolutely perfect for the ambience.

This has really got to be my favorite bar in downtown Austin. I love the atmosphere but I’m learning to appreciate the bartenders more. These guys know their cocktails — conventional and new. And they know how to make conversation as a bartender should.
The seating is great, there is always a spot. Evening and Weekends (and SXSW) they have intimate little concerts in the bar.
This time my friend and I opted to hang out at the bar and the bartender took a custom request — and did a fantastic job. Drink prices are upscale, but reasonable still.
Great place to stop if you’re wandering about — definitely sets the bar.