Garage

Love the location of this place. It’s cool that it’s randomly tucked in a parking garage. Drinks are on the, now standardly overpriced, austin rate, but i suppose it’s nothing too outrageous. It’s a cool spot to bring out of towners to if they’re into weird shit like drinking in a fancy garage bar. Sometimes it take a while to get the bartenders’ attention.

So last year I went here and didn’t have a good experience and reviewed the place with a 1 star. I have come back and gave a better rating not because I’ve been back, but because of how the situation was handled.
I had a not so professional experience (to put it short and nice lol) when myself and a group of girlfriends went in and gave details on it and such in a Unilocal review. Not only did the owner comment on my review, he also sent me an email apologizing, letting me know how the situation was handled (it was handled very well btw) and even offered me and my girls to come in and have a round on him so we could see it was a fluke things.
Unfortunately life happens and we are all busy working or are moms so we never made it back in. He even emailed me again asking if I had gotten a chance to come in yet. So for that, I’m changing my 1 star to a 4 star. Hopefully one day we can make it back over there and get that 5 star, but the professionalism and concern the owner personally took changes my decision to never return.
The place has a nice ambiance, clean bathrooms, and decent drinks.

If there is nothing else to do and you want a somewhat secluded spot to get liquored up for $ 20+ this is the place

A bar in a garage called Garage. How meta.
It is a cool space though. Walk through the garage to the space (and then try to ignore that cars are literally driving right on top of you). You can try to get a table but it may be packed. We just went up to the bar and ordered and it was fine.
The only real issue I saw was the heat. Damn it was hot in this space. Luckily they had outdoor space with seats which was perfect for when it was too hot inside. It’s also a little dark inside but just head away from the bar and it gets better.
Good cocktails, nice service, excellent spot.

I hate posting negative reviews, but when I do it is only because I have had multiple negative experiences. By negative experience at a bar I mean terribly rude service, extremely slow, pretentious, overpriced/​small drinks. I have been going to garage bar fairly regularly since they opened. I’ve been at different times with many different types of people and honestly had a lot of good times at this place. I do love the space and their «craft cocktails.»
When I read some reviews saying that it is «unpretentious» I am shocked. This place screams hipster pretention from the door guys (multi incidents with their desire to create exclusivity), to the mustache bartenders (how about 30 minute waits to get your drink), the table servers are the worst, to the crowd/​audience. I have had numerous appalling interactions with the staff here… and sorry, I am a super friendly, easy to like type of person that only requires a smile and some common courtesy in return. This place just does not have it in it’s blood or bones to provide its customers either of those.
If you take anything from my review, order a Manhattan or a shirley temple. Otherwise, save yourself the hassle at the door guys asking «who do you know inside?» and grab a drink down there street where they let a little fresh Austin air in.
I will fix my review, if they fix their attitude.

If you can find Garage bar you’ll enjoy it. Nestled in the bottom of a creepy (at night) parking garage in downtown Austin, the inside isn’t at all what you’d expect.
Outside it feels stetchy, but inside is a cocktail wonderland. Everything from French 75s to Old Fashioned and Kir Royales. Their whiskey list is decent and prices aren’t awful.
The atmosphere is fun, very nice finish out and their staff is super friendly.

If you want to go to a bar where it seems like you need a map to get to, the this is the place. It’s a very intimate setting and perfect for dates or just to talk and have some drinks after a long day of LIFE.
Tucked away in an actual park g garage you will miss it if you don’t pay close attention but when you do and open the doors it’s another world. It’s a low lite bar with many choices of cocktail drinks to choose from.
The Indian paint brush is definitely one that is a must try and the sidebox car are good starters. We where given complimentary snacks to have which I didn’t expect but really appreciated and impressed me.
Needless to say this is definitely a place you should visit when you get a chance. It’s not a big place but the best ones usually aren’t so drink up! Cheers.

This is my go-​to place for drinks after work. Their old fashioned are phenomenal! The other cocktails I’ve tried are delicious as well. They also offer small hors d’ouevre plates to snack on. The atmosphere is dark and intimate, which is a great change from many of the loud bars nearby. The fact that this is nestled into a parking garage adds character and makes the overall experience even better! I wish they opened before 5:00, but it’s worth the wait!

This is a secret bar so it is literally in a parking garage in the middle of the round-​a-​bout to get up the parking garage. There is a neon sign that says «Garage». When you go inside, the lighting is very dark and mysterious. There is a full bar as well as seating. We went on a Friday night at about 7:30 and it was super full.
I got the «Girl with the green eyes» drink and the sweet tea flavor overtook the other flavors.

Whatever. I guess I’m not cool enough to «get» it. Whatever «it» is.
Went with some friends last Saturday to stop in to see what all the fuss was about. We get there around 9 pm and there is a line. They are only letting so many people in and are already at capacity, so wait we must. No big deal, I can be patient. After about 15 minutes or so, out comes a huge party (with more coming out than will be coming in within our group), so we step forward only to be stopped by the door man. Wait, he says. The hostess has to clear you first. So we have to wait another 10 minutes until the hostess graces us with her presence. Ummm, ok.
Once inside, I could feel my inner-​Larry David screaming. It’s too dark! It’s too loud! Meh! It’s a personal pet-​peeve of mine when bars/​restaurants feel the need to turn the speakers to 11. In a group of ladies, I could only talk to/​hear the ones directly to my left and right. And even then, there was a lot of huh? what did you say?
The bar was having an off-​night as apparently their computer system crashed earlier and things were backed up. We were missing drinks, wrong ones came out, and the waitress was running all over the place and not too friendly. To their credit, they did comp a couple of drinks, but it was still a bad first impression for a loud bar with drinks ranging from «good» to just «ok».
Austin has a million cocktail bars these days, so why settle?

Really cool! Great cordials and waitstaff! This is the perfect date night or small gathering spot.

If you’re coming from out of town this is definitely a go to spot. The old fashioned was strong but great, and the Indian paintbrush was just refreshing and delicious while giving me a nice little buzz!

Hard to describe. Hidden. Loud. Dark. Speakeasyish.
Stumbled in busy Thurs night before ACL. Walking on way back to hotel from Handlebar, spotted it in walking down Colorado. .. and remembered reading Unilocal.Good looking crowd of 30s/​40s with decent jobs.
Yes indeed, these are quality cocktails with quality ingredients, at a price. The drinks are on the smallish size. But most of the classy ones (martinis, manhattens and the like) are. Corpse reviver packed plenty of wallop notwithstanding its size. The modified dark manhatten was smooth and satisfying. Had a snafu with the waitress order, which was cheerily offered as a comp. Would return when in the area.

My most favorite cocktail bar in Austin.
It’s a in a parking garage — surprise! We passed it 2 – 3 times trying to find it and finally we did! It was super chill, great cocktails and friendly staff.
I don’t remember the prices since we been out day drinking but for a hand-​crafted cocktail — it was worth it.
Apparently, there’s another bar attached which we didn’t make it to, but I would highly recommend this place during the week for a low-​key night with some rad vibes.

I closed my previous review by saying «I’ll definitely be back.» Back I’ve been, a handful of times now. I still think it’s different, sexy and cool. However, I have yet to walk away from any of the drinks I’ve gotten here saying «Damn that’s a good cocktail!» (as I have when leaving some of my favorite cocktail bars in town and elsewhere). It just hasn’t happened here and I’ve tried a number of their drinks. Even their «Official Drink of Austin 2015» Indian Paintbrush which one of my friends can’t get enough of, I think is just ok without a lot of flavor. I have some other friends who agree.
I feel the mixology here is more on the amateur level and I do not mean that offensively at all. Service has mostly been great with a little dash of pretension a couple of times. I just feel that Garage is more style than substance. For me to really like a cocktail bar I need some substance with all that style and a lot of substance is what a place actually provides, i.e. drinks here. Places that have both style and substance are the ones I will continue to come back to.

This is a hipster cool joint where you get a nice cocktail for more money than you should spend but don’t worry about it as they have nice happy hour and attractive prices then.
The good: cool. Just cool. Who builds an authentic bar under a parking garage (which you literally walk through to get there) in downtown? Creative ATX peeps, that’s who. The cocktail list is expansive, and my date enjoyed her French 75 served in the correct glass (we’ve been to other places where it gets served in a flute?).
They do have a few beers (I don’t do cocktails, but I did want to do my date so I compromised) but at $ 4/​Shiner, you get the idea. This is not your neighborhood bar.
The décor is retro and cool — you have to go at least once just to drink it in. Really nice job here.
The not-​so-​good: not sure why but the lighting is extremely low. Like low. Like watch your step low. Great if you want to camouflage a few wrinkles, not so great if you’re trying to read the expansive cocktail list. Or see your date.
It is a small place, so between the lighting and the space it can feel a little claustrophobic. Also, for some reason at an early hour (7 – 8 pm) they had the vinyl (no stage here folks!) playing so loud I couldn’t hear my date even as I sat right next to her. Why do bars feel the need to assault your wallet and your ears?
Here’s the bottom line — go try this place (no, do not wear shorts or jeans) and see if its for you. if you’re hip or even in the neighborhood of hip you may just have found a new place to add to your after-​work rotation. If you’re like me, maybe that’s not your thing but I’m not really the Garage’s demo, so they’ll be okay with that.

Came by here Saturday night because my husband loves to surprise me with cool and neat places. THis is by far the neatest place I’ve ever been to. EVER.
I had:
1) an Old-​Fashioned — awesome!!!
2) some drink that had an absinthe rinse… name eludes me because it was quite long but it was either this or the Penicillin. so that one’s next on my list
my husband got :
1) the Girl with the Green Eyes
2) and Old-​Fashioned = we both got one while it was still HH.
So worth finding. Cant wait to go back. It will be my reward when I drop another 10 lbs. ok, ok… 8

This place is a must. Drinks are on the pricey side, but it’s worth the adventure of finding it. So so cute, and the staff is super friendly. Love that they play records!!!
Go, find it! Have an Indian paintbrush and lounge out in the back corner.

Boy was it hard to figure out how to get in here. We heard about this place from a bartender at Truluck’s and decided to check it out.
It took us about 5 minutes to find the entrance but once we got inside we were pleasantly surprised. The whole vibe of this place is really cool and intimate and would make a great date spot for after dinner cocktails.
Since it was still early on a Saturday, not too many people were inside. We grabbed seats at the bar and perused the cocktail menu. Danielle ordered the Indian Paintbrush and I ordered the Voce Sabre? The question mark is intended since it was part of the cocktail name.
I am not a gin or whiskey drinker so most of the specialty cocktails didn’t appeal to me. Both of our drinks were garnished with rosemary and Danielle’s also came with an edible flower. Danielle loved her Indian Paintbrush. I’ve never been a fan of rosemary so I probably should’ve gone for a different drink to begin with but I wanted to be cool and try one of their specialty cocktails.
The Voce Sabre? contains barrel aged cachaca, lime grapefruit, and Becherovka. I like rum and I like caipirinhas so I figured I would enjoy it. Unfortunately it didn’t taste that great to me. I partly blame this on the fact that I’ve never been a fancy cocktail drinker so I should’ve known better and the other part is I didn’t know what Becherovka was so I probably didn’t do my proper google research before ordering.
I will probably skip the specialty cocktails next time and see if they can make a French 77 or something along those lines.

«I’ve never seen a bar in a garage before,
I never thought I’d see one;
But I can tell you, anyhow,
You should check this place out.»
Errol M, 2014
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I should have ended it right there, but I’ve already seen this episode of «Undercover Boss.» I was at Garage with Amy D, two seats magically opened up at the bar, and I thought we were being treated like royalty. Oh wait, we were. I tend to see drinking venues slightly differently than other Unilocalers, and I think this place is easily among the top ten bars in Austin. And they’ve nailed their downtown parking issue. A very cool venue.