The Brown Bar

This was always one of my favorite bars in Austin. It was a great place to grab a drink and just relax at the bar and enjoy some excellent air conditioning. It usually seemed to draw a professional crowd and I generally found it a more pleasant place than most of the bars on 6^th St. It is off on its own and you kind of need to know where your going to find the place but it always had a good crowd.

RIP Brown Bar, at least temporarily. They’ve been closed since ⁴⁄₃₀ and when I’ve walked by and glanced inside, the floors and ceilings have been completely ripped up. Their web site/​twitter feed says «until further notice» and that hasn’t been changed in about three weeks.
I wish Brown Bar a speedy recovery. It’s one of the only places to get a good martini in Austin. The El Diablo martini is incredible.
Come back soon.

Pretty good drinks. Pretty pricey as well. The cheese and fruit platter was so-​so.
Very dark inside, but plenty of seating. Good for a first date, casual group of friends, or if you have to do some afterwork business meetings. Mix it up.
Its a bit off the main path so be prepared to do some walking if you park farther north or south. There aren’t any lighted signs outside but its right across the street from the Iron Bear which is basically made of lighted signs and guys spilling out into the street.
I believe there’s a TV over the bar with sports on for those that don’t like to socialize.

Ahhh, the Brown Bar… I’ve spent many a fun night here throughout the years — they were one of the only places I could find St. Germain a few years ago, so naturally I was over excited to find them offering a St. Germain and Cucumber concoction. Alas, time has passed, and somewhere between October of 2010 and now, this place has changed into a less creative version of itself. They still have a great selection with lots of variety, but the variety is not as broad as it once was. Maybe its a seasonal thing, but since this place has a dear place in my heart, I’ll definitely give it another shot!
Its good to see that they’re still doing their Wednesday night Martini special, I think its definitely worth a stop in for a mid week apéritif.

This is one of my favorite places, and you just can’t beat Wed night’s $ 5 martinis. The bartenders are great. Very friendly and accommodating. I like the atmosphere, on weeknights it’s very laid back and it’s classy. My friend and I go pretty regularly.
I would give 5 stars but I had to subtract one due to recent mishaps that happened to me and a friend. We had our cards charged incorrectly. My friend’s card was charged $ 40 for a tip instead of $ 4. I told myself it was just a mistake and these things happen, well a few weeks later my tab got messed up. How annoying.
I still love this place but I’m a little pissed b/​c of that. So, sadly, I don’t plan on returning for awhile.

I’ve waited to try the Wedding Cake martini here since I moved to Austin. That was five years ago. What finally got me here was a bar crawl, but more than that, a plate of goat, brie and nondescript luscious cheese, with strawberry slices, good dates, grapes, toasted slices of crispy heaven and there may have been a personal slave with a fan in there somewhere. Not that I condone indentured servitude, but you get me.
Wednesday nights are essentially the only night I can afford to behave remotely frivolous here, and for $ 5 martini’s that would otherwise cost at least 2x that amount, can you blame me? Unfortunately after all these years of repressed sucrose anxiety, The Wedding Cake martini was too sweet even for me, who will drop most things for cake and/​or pie. The Flora Fizz and Brown Bar Tini (aka chocapocalypse) was where the sweet stuff really was. Thankfully my associates allowed me to sample theirs.
[Trial 2]
For a birthday girl commencement gatheration, I cross examined the online martini menu with the 62 reviews before me. White Grape, Limoncello and Flora Fizz appeared the most. That means Monica should not be allowed more than one martini in a 24 hour period. But! Our server was extra accommodating: they brought over another table for my single martini glass, when it looks fine just being held in a hand. Bravo for that.
[Trial 3]
For a bar to STILL charge a lowly $ 5 for a load of martinis in a continual sad-​trombone economic state, well, I applaud you B.B. I will accept inflation effects on drink prices — that is inevitable. But for the time being, it sure is nice while it lasts.

First time here was for Mr. Smidgens ROTDC. Wednesdays are what its all about for this place. A vast number of their signature martinis are $ 5 and that is a deal because they don’t give you the wimpy size martini glasses. It made me so so happy to see 20+ people in our group here all enjoying martinis.
I tried a variety of their martinis, first up I ordered the x-​rated. It was very fruity and I wanted to try something else. I ordered the «big easy» and finally found my match. It has champagne, pineapple juice and lime. A very intoxicating drink. I may be the only person who wasn’t in love with the white grape martini. Sugar around the rim? No I think I’ll pass. I’m still trying to make myself like dirty martinis, but no can do. Everytime I try it, I have flashbacks of being sucked under by the ocean’s undertow, and swallowing massive amounts of seawater. The Brown Bar tini was chocolatey goodness. It smells amazing and tastes amazing. Your breath and mouth will feel refreshed in no time.
If you weren’t looking dapper before, you will definitely be looking dapper/​feeling dapper with a martini in your hand at Brown Bar.

Hello Boys and Girls! It’s your dapper Mr. Smidgens here!
The Brown Bar was the place where I held my first ROTDC. It was a great turnout! $ 5 specialty martini night is always a good night to go.
Quinny could not join us because she was off saving the world as we sometimes like to do. Once We said our goodbyes I was off like a fat koala in search of some tasty tasty eucalyptus to satisfy my hunger!
As I drove to the double B I tied my bow tie at the red light on 6^th and Lavaca. Bam! Dapper! I parked the Smidgen mobile and walked into the Double B at 6:05pm. Darla, Quani, Amy, Jesse, Missy, Yolanda, and Ceci were already getting the party started as the staff came over and said their hellos. Darla ordered some apps (The last cheese plate and some tasty dip w/​fried bow tie pasta) to help soak up some of the libations. Remember kids Happy Hour prices until 7pm on apps and drinks! Thanks Darla! I tried to do my best George Clooney for her.
As time passed Errol, Amber, Ashley, Nelli, Tony, Stacey and Mr. Smidgens’s old friends Adriel, Michelle, and Jerry strolled in to make the party complete.
As our party grew the Double B and their excellent staff accommodated our expanding needs! There was talk of Lycans, Kate Beckinsale in a fruit roll up outfit, Dr. Caligari, Batman, the Cytomegalovirus, STDS, zombies and lots and lots of martini tasting!
Tony was still upset that Quinny bought me the Storm Trooper painting. Let it go Tony… let it go. The experiment is over for Yolanda, she officially hates Gin martinis. Daniel did not show up but his pants made an appearance.
Thanks to everyone who came out and thank to the Brown Bar and their wonderful staff!
Sincerely,
Mr. Smidgens

Martinis… How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
1. Pretty glasses. As in, you come in them and I dig it. Stemware is always a little tricky but I can get behind a martini glass.
2. Delicious flavors. I like many version of you because youre pretty and strong and typically classy.
3. Everyone else looks better after I drink you. Who needs beer goggles when you can have vodka goggles?
4. Youre creative, Rimmed? Accessories? Boozy? Fruity? Done. X3.
5. I can find you anywhere. But not always as well presented as Brown Bar.
Brown Bar has gorgeous drinks and even better cheese plates. We spent a happy night there sipping away and noshing on a cheese plate of epic proportions. Try an El Diablo (SPICY) or the White Grape (with frozen grapes, natch). Both will heat you up and make you cool.

It was a cold foggy night and the glow of the Brown Bar from the street was like a beacon calling me from the bustle of the city to come in, get warm, have a drink.
As I stepped through the doors, I noticed the place had an amber glow inside emitting from the lamps and the under lit glass bar top. I sauntered in and looked around this swanky bar, and there he was, George Clooney, with his handsome good looks and alluring brown eyes and dimples. He held his martini glass up as if to toast me and winked at me. I walked over and removed my hat and trench coat, sat down next to him in the cozy sofa by the window.
I ordered the White Grape Martini and a Cheese plate. When my drink arrived, there were four frozen green grapes on a pick like sweet little olives. George grabbed the pick, pulled a grape off of it and ate it. He smiled and grabbed another and hand fed it to me. It was awesome in all its vodka sweetness.
Cheers he said, as we clinked our glasses and sipped, while we gazed into each others eyes. The cheese plate arrived with its toasted baguette slices and large hunks of cheese, fresh and dried fruit. I put a slice of Havarti on a baguette and fed it to George, he smiled.
Then I hear Lee M ask me if I wanted another White Grape Martini. I looked around and George was gone, but it was suddenly a Hot April night and Unilocalers were all around the bar chatting, laughing and drinking. Oh yeah, I remember, It’s Unilocal drinks week and I am on a bar crawl.
The Bar crawl was a blast, but I am tucking this place in my back pocket for a quiet night with George Clooney, good friends or a special someone if I ever find him. In the meantime, visions of George are pretty damned great!

Errol said my name in his review!!!
I realize this only means anything to those of us who know Errol… but that shout out (holla!) aside, this is a cool little place.
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Daniel J and a small group of other Unilocalers (whose names are a bit hazy due to the $ 5 Martinis) for a UYE.
This bar reminds me of something out of Murphy Brown. You kids can search for that on IMDB. Dark leather, people in suits, fancy drinks, and well dressed staff. We went for the $ 5 Martinis… and stayed for the cheese platter. Cheese platter. Cheese Platter. Usually, you end up with a hunk of cheddar, some string cheese, stale cracker, and a few grapes. Not here my friends! Huge plate covered in the finest stinky cheeses, dried figs and dates, fresh fruits, and garlic toasts! Not to forget, the apps were specially priced!
Now you may ask…“Tony, if you went for cheap drinks… why aren’t you saying anything about them?“
My reply to that is… they were all sweet girly drinks. Sorry girls. I just don’t like sweet drinks. I still didn’t let that stop me. Cheap hooch is still good hooch. Admittedly, I was there more for the company than the drinks. These Unilocalers are some cool peeps and I look forward to future gatherings!

My situation with cheese is interesting. I would express more profoundly my love for it if not for that whole thing with sweets. The sweets would get jealous and strike me with the diabetes, and I can’t have that right now.
So I’ll tell you what: get the cheese plate at Brown Bar during happy hour. You should probably do it right now. It will be the best spent $ 10 you’ve encountered in a long time.
You could waste 10 minutes asking the waiter what, specifically, comes on this plate. You could read the single, non-​descriptive line «Cheese Plate» several times on the menu, recalling that time you want to Paggi House and got a cheese plate with portions the size of baby teeth.
Consider ordering a beverage in the nerve-​wracking interim. Your subconscious may vocalize this debate with nearby buddies who are too busy partaking of their own half-​off apps and well-​made beverages. Try the Flora Fizz martini. It’s $ 5 during Wednesday’s all-​night happy hour. Note that it is good. Continue thinking about the cheese.
Order the cheese I tell you.
Come to an hour later, belly stuffed with bread, cheese, grapes, figs, dates, and the bread, cheese, grapes, figs and dates from your neighbors’ plates. Do this, and don’t tell your sugar addiction about it.

Daniel J. had a UYE at The Brown Bar. It reminded me of a song:
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was as nervous as she could be
She was afraid to come out and meet Unilocalers
She was afraid that somebody would see
(Two, three, four
Tell the people what was poured)
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie Limoncello Drop martini
That she drank for the first time today
An itsy bitsy teenie weenie Limoncello Drop martini
So in the Brown Bar she wanted to stay
(Two, three, four
Stick around, we’ll tell you more)
She was afraid to come out in the open
She was afraid of what she could expect
But she was charming and gracious and witty
Until she oooopsed and called Daniel J. «Shrek»
(Two, three, four
Tell the people what was poured)
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie Limoncello Drop martini
That she drank for the first time today
An itsy bitsy teenie weenie Limoncello Drop martini
So in the Brown Bar she wanted to stay
(Two, three, four
Stick around, we’ll tell you more)
Now she’s afraid to come out of the Brown Bar
And I wonder what she’s gonna do
She ate tons of the chips with tuna tartare
And the poor little girl’s turnin’ blue
(Two, three, four
Name the people she adored)
Well there was Dej and Shem and Alex M.
And Quani, Tony, Lisa, Daniel
That she met for the first time today
And Melissa laughed and smiled and played
While Jack C. searched for trolls in vain
So in the Brown Bar she wanted to stay
From the Brown Bar to our table
From our table to the shore
From the shore to the water
Guess there isn’t any more
**********************************
(Editor’s note: Errol M. didn’t stay long for this event, but apparently long enough for an odd song flashback. He originally had four stars, but bumped it to five because of the company.)

Didn’t you know that brown is the classiest color? Well it is. And if you don’t believe me maybe you should visit the Brown Bar and THEN tell me to my face that brown isn’t classy! Anyway, so I was feeling classy on a Saturday night and decided that I wanted a tasty martini that I could sip while having sophisticated conversation with my friends.
To begin with I ordered the white grape martini which tasted fresh and clean and finished nicely with a sugar rim (which I could not get enough of by the way).
Next I tried the Brown Bar Tini, which I will just skip straight to from now on. Let’s just call it adult chocolate milk, because that’s what it tasted like. It’s a mixture of chocolate ad white chocolate liquers and had a chocolate swirl in the bottom of the glass. It was basically like a dessert. I think the only thing I would have changed is that I would have it served with a spoon so I don’t look so unclassy when I’m licking my martini glass clean.
I also tried the El Diablo, which was amazing! You know when cocktails always claim to be spicy and then they’re not? Well El Diablo was NOT like that! It delivered as promised, it even had jalapeño seeds in it!
So at first I was super worried that this place was going to be extremely expensive, because there were no prices on the menu. Usually that is a very bad indication. But I was pleasantly surprised when I tab with four specialty cocktails only came to $ 37! I’m aware that that’s not cheap, but it’s also not outrageous and I felt like the experience was worth it. However that will not stop me from going on Wednesday nights to get $ 5 specialty cocktails! Next time I will take advantage of that for sure (or fo sho if you prefer).

My friend and I decided to come here to start off a classy evening with some drinks before a night out at the Opera. Arrived during Happy Hour and was pleasantly surprised with the loungey, relaxed atmosphere while still maintaining a nice upscale feel. It has a perfect balance of the two and the music isn’t too loud, great place for a few cocktails and some nice conversation.
I was feeling like a whiskey and my friend got a martini. They had a nice selection and we both thoroughly enjoyed our drinks (my friend even mentioned that he thought his martini was better than the famous ones at Trudy’s!) and they were decently priced. I ordered the crab cakes, came with two nice sized cakes and a delicious sauce. I more or less devoured it. My friend ordered the calamari which was perfectly crispy and seasoned and, for an appetizer, was a pretty healthy portion.
Overall, I think happy hour is the best time to come here for a couple of drinks and to catch up with some old friends. It has exactly the kind of atmosphere I have been looking for –upscale but unpretentious and doesn’t break the bank. Great way to start off any evening– classy or otherwise.

Nothing fantastic or terrible about the Brown Bar. Very quiet, cool old movies playing on the TV, nice couches and tables for larger groups.
Nice place to go end the week on a friday after work.

I loved this bar… for about 30 minutes. It’s swanky and I like that every now and then. It’s a martini bar with a huge selection of (sposedly) what they do best and I lurves me some martinis. It should be 4 or 5 stars but it just does not deliver.
My first choice drink was a white grape martini made with Ciroc (eyum) and garnished with frozen grapes. Absolute perfection! Frozen grapes to keep my drink cold? Brilliant and delicious! Hubby’s Mexi-​mart was also good. Then we entered an alternate universe of crappy drinks and poor service. My next choice? a Cosmo please. Easy enough. I’m sorry, you’re what? Out of martini glasses? um, already? No prob. I will drink that stuff out of a jelly jar. I’m not proud. But the Cosmo they brought in the highball glass tasted like kool-​aid. Meh.
Meanwhile my friends showed up and they ordered Long Island Iced Teas that had a funky taste to it. To me like OJ gone bad. Blech. So next round my grrl and I went back to the grape martini only to be told they were out of frozen grapes! At this point I wanted to pitch a toddler fit. Then she brings them out and I reach out my tongue to taste that sugary rim and it’s salt! Come on people! THIS is what you do best?
We went on to try the Lemon Drops which were decent. Hubby had two Long Islands that were as different as night and day. One was margaritaish and the other more tea-​ish. Inconsistent. In all, I had (gulp) 5 martoonis and barely a buzz. Now I know I’m a pro drinker, but please more vodka content to juice ratio! Overall not a great experience drinkwise.
The atmosphere was nice and the music that has been mentioned so much here was all over the board, from «Billy Jean» to Tom Petty to Thievery Corp. My opinion? Stick to the ThievCorp in a lounge like this. And me? I’ll stick to Peche.

I have a confession to make. Occasionally there are times when i go into a bar, I sit down, check out the surroundings and then turn around to look over the tower of liquor’s and i have no clue what it is that i want to drink. The bartenderess stares at me after asking me what I’ll have and I’m like… Ahhhhhhh, Hmmmmmmm, Welllllll ! I mean a great bar now days has so many awesome choices its not as easy as it used to be when you just get a rum and coke, or a cognac, or a beer… or whatever. Now days, i want to try something new and different and tasty.
That’s one reason i chose to try out The Brown Bar. I had heard that they have a great cocktail menu. And that was the key for me. For those times when i just don’t know what i want… but i want something great. I need a bar menu. I enjoyed looking over the multiple martini choices here as much as i do a fine dinner menu. And I’ve really been into the martini’s lately so at Brown Bar i was in martini heaven.
So here’s a list of great tasting martini’s we enjoyed… The White Grape Martini being the best. Note: I didn’t quite drink all these myself but tasted all of them.
1.) White grape: Ciroc Snap Frost Vodka & white grape juice. Served with frozen red grapes & a grape sugar rim
2.) Key Lime Pie: Cruzan Vanilla Rum, fresh lime, half & half, & pineapple juice. Served with a graham cracker crusted rim
3.) Bananas Foster: Cruzan Vanilla Rum, Crème de Banana, half & half, & Liquor 43. Served with a cinnamon sugar rim
4.) Cable Car: Smirnoff Vodka, Orange Curaçao, fresh lemon, a splash of orange juice, & a cinnamon sugar rim
5.) Mango: Cruzan Mango Rum, fresh lemon, & a splash or orange juice
6.) French Kiss: A layered martini of Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka, pineapple juice & Chambord
7.) Mexican: Sauza Gold Tequila, triple sec, fresh lime, with a touch of orange juice & olive juice. Served with our signature jalapeño stuffed olives
8.) Austinite: Tito’s Handmade Vodka with The Brown Bar’s signature jalapeño stuffed olives
Sabrina, who worked the bar, expertly mixed them all and was fun to chat with. We went on a early Wednesday evening and the bar was pretty quiet. Just some leftover downtown workers so the atmosphere was quiet and sorta dull. I am sure on a weekend its more of a jolly place to go. I’ll come back to continue my martini fixation.

I would give this bar a much higher rating if they put forth an effort with the music. When I walked in, I assumed jazz or something similar would be the musical choice. No, the jukebox was a cable channel and the selection was pop and at that moment it was a Christina Aguilera song, «Genie in a Bottle.» It was early in the day and the middle of the week, so I assumed the staff hadn’t gotten around to choosing the music for the evening. I really had hoped they would change it as the hours past.
There was only a handful of patrons at that point and only a few more came in during the couple of hours my friend and I were there. So the bartender gave us the right amount of attention, not to chatty but not spending time at the completely opposite end. He mixed us both great martinis. Mine was with a splash of my favorite brand of sparkling wine. It was the special for happy hour.
The happy hour drink prices were reasonable. My friend and I discussed ordering food from the restaurant next door, Gumbo’s (?) since it was also at a happy hour price, but everything seemed too rich and heavy.
I must say that after two martinis I feel in love with the bar. Not the place but the actual bar. It is lit and looks like marble. I started thinking about how it was great accent lighting. I think odd things after two martinis.

New Happy Hour personal favorites:
* The calamari (perfect consistency, served styled like thick french fries, and comes with spicy mariana sauce and lemon tartar-​flavored sauce).
* Tinka Tini — vodka, passionfruit liqueur and grapefruit juice makes this very pretty martini quite refreshing.