The Driskill Bar Reviews

Stopped in to see the hotel, went to the bar and had lunch, the bartender, David was veery congenial, and we ordered salads, and a adult beverage. My spinach and tuna salad (fresh tuna) was so good, my wife had the goat cheese salad, and her experience was great also. You know I want to go back, hats off to the chef.

The Driskill is a fin place to go on 6th Street in Downtown Austin Texas because it is so clean and elegant as well as a bit of historic, old Austin. My friends and I wanted a bit more after our movie so we drove Downtown for a nightcap. After driving down 6th Street and the area a bit, we found parking in the Perry Brooks Garage a half block away, just to the north. It was a bit rainy and cold but I keep umbrellas in my car and we did not have many steps to walk. We all shared 3 desserts, the chocolate cake, Hazlenut Tort and Creme Brulee. I had the Yaupon tea, a Native Texas plant that has caffeine and is gaining in popularity. My friend had coffee. I wish the couches had pillows to support you as you go so far back in them. Our waitress, though very friendly, did not bring the cream and sugar when she brought the coffee. Overall, I always have a great experience at The Driskill. The Driskill has a great website and many traditions. At Christmas they always have a huge Christmas tree in the large lobby. The Driskill also supports local businesses using locally crafted vodka, rum, tequila and more. There is wine, beer and Local Flair, Classic and Specialty Cocktails that include The official Cocktail of Austin, The Batini!

In spite of “Happy Hour Daily” on the menu both for food and drinks, there IS NO HAPPY HOUR today, Sunday. No explanation nor apology given ... or even an interest to correct the Driskill website.

This is a must spot. Also incredible when you enter from 6th street as was suggested to us. We were to early for happy hour but had great service and conversation with Andrew the bartender.

The bartenders are friendly and very willing to discuss your favorite liquors and mixers. Great meeting place in downtown Austin.

Visiting Austin for four nights and couldn't pass up a visit to the beautiful Driskill Hotel. And visiting during Happy Hour with live blues band is even better. The decoration is magnificent and the seats so comfortable. We stayed for a couple of hours tasting their lovely cocktails (The Batini and The Carlotta) with Loaded French Fries, Bacon Dates, Sliders and Camari - we were hungry and it was wonderful. And very reasonably priced

Even if you do not stay at The Driskill, which you SHOULD, you will love their bar. Deep rich mahogany woods, comfortable chairs, great piano music and excellent wine list.

We stopped on a Friday night, and it was jammed. No place to sit; not even a place to stand. We returned on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed cocktails in the bar. They were expensive, but well made. The atmosphere is very upscale. The servers were friendly and efficient. We were happy we returned!

We came to the Driskill Hotel Bar on the mezzanine level for the happy hour on the recommendation of friends who were recently here. The area as many sofas and lounge chairs as well as tables in an elegant setting. The menu has something for everyone and everything was very good. We had the BBQ mixed nuts, crispy brussels sprouts, chopped kale and baby green salad, and range cattle sliders, along with some drinks. Everything was delicious and my wife thought the sliders with the best she’s ever had! A great place to come for happy hour, whether by yourself, as a couple, or in a large group.

Just checking out downtown Austin. The Driskill Hotel, established in 1886, was a point of interest. Stopped in at happy hour and enjoyed a beverage inside a living museum.

First time there in at least 10 years, but just as good now as the last time. Their smoked variety plate is really hard to beat. Can't wait to go again.

Most visitors to downtown Austin are warned to stay away from 6th Street, East of Congress, due to the multitudes of former college students trying to relive the good old days, but The Driskill Bar is not for Bruce Springsteen wannabes. It’s in a boutique hotel that oozes sophistication, and later in the evening on the weekends this joint is jumping. Wear jeans if you like, but this crowd doesn’t come here to line dance, they are dressed for a night out on the town. If you want to feel invigorated this is the place. It was like being in midtown Manhattan on a Saturday night, without the attitude.

One of my favorite bars I have been in. Felt like I was stepping back in time to the old days of Texas. Definitely one of my favorite atmospheres for a bar. Still had plenty of TVs to catch up on the golf tournament and other sporting events so you weren't completely back in the old timey days. The staff was great and friendly.

The gal who served us was very friendly and offered up many tips about the city, as well as food/drink options.

After walking through a beautiful lobby, we ascended into the restaurant. There was live country music and the decor was very Texan. Very cute. We sat at the bar and were warmly greeted. The cocktails we ordered were great, but even better was the service. The bartender took a lot of time to make recommendations to us, for places in the city. Very enjoyable experience.

Funky bar, beautifully decorated and attentive servers. Great place to listen to some music, grab a bite. The pretzel and chocolate cake looked amazing!

The Driskill Bar is always a favorite when we visit downtown Austin. But I was shocked recently when my club soda, tequila( I requested middle of the road pricewise) and lime was $19!! That is an excessive price for a basic drink. The Ambiance is always nice, but they need to hire more servers.

We had some time prior to our dinner reservations and decided to try this old school cocktail bar for specialty drinks. What great ambiance. From the Six shooter lights and old leather chairs to the round bar and fireplace with the huge steer head this place is just fabulous for a drink (or two). The building itself is worth the trip with its stained glass and marble but the choice for me was the Batini cocktail to celebrate our time in Austin. My husband had a well made Manhattan and we were able to chat with the staff even though the place was busy. You can almost hear the ghosts of oil and cattle barons still walking the halls.

The place is a great bar for happy hour, and the drinks are interesting, but the service was pretty slow. They recommend a hibiscus vodka drink that is their specialty, but it was a little odd. I would go for their blackberry old fashioned over that...

The cold lump crab cake was fantastic. The 12 ounce ribeye was very good, if a little cool. The service is very attentive.

Staff not interested in patrons unless you are a local. Queso was cold with stale chips. Both bartender and waitress were rude. Take your photos and go dine elsewhere. Very disappointing.

Of all the unique bars on 6th Street make sure to walk in to the Driskill and sit in their bar. The decor and environment created takes you back in time. Well done!

We started our bar hopping on a Thursday night at the Driskill Bar. Our waitress was excellent. The live entertainment was excellent too and was country music. The bar itself was old-fashioned yet not too old. It was a great place to start.

My friends and I stopped in to see this amazing hotel and could not pass up the bar. The atmosphere was incredible and everyone looked to be having a great time. The drinks were top notch and we all were happy with our choices. I would highly recommend a visit to this establishment when you are in the area

Super fast and courteous service. Relaxed ambience. History at every glance. Nice spot to hang out before dinner.

We ate Sunday brunch here between 2 excellent walking tours (check out Tipster). There was a live jazz band playing which was the best part about the place. We sat at the bar. The bartender seemed overwhelmed. We ordered the French toast, which was okay, the bacon was missing and the potatoes we ordered never came. When we tabbed out, our bill was put on someone else's credit card (thankfully it wasn't the same kind as ours or we wouldn't have noticed). Just overall, not a good experience for brunch. Maybe it's better for just cocktails? The hotel lobby is beautiful.

Spent an hour at this hot spot on a Saturday night. Very lively crowd. Live Music, and very tasty signature drinks. Friendly waitstaff . Order their tasty popcorn to munch on. You won't be disappointed.

Stopped in for drinks and to take in the ambiance of the historic Driskill. Our server, Joe, was so friendly and welcoming! Had a wonderful time.

Great spot! Everything about this place was excellent! The ambiance, the talented musicians, the food the craft cocktails and the staff were superb! I have some food sensitivities and although I forgot to mention when I ordered, my wait person and the chef redid my food to accommodate me. The highlight of my trip to Austin! Do not miss this place!

The Driskill Bar is one of my favorite bars on the planet. It is beautiful, and much of the original (I assume - I'm not THAT old) charm has been retained, yet the room feels very modern and comfortable. The service is excellent always, and the drink menu is imaginative. They do have happy hour specials in the late afternoon and possibly late evening - though we tend to start by to start our evenings in Austin, not finish them. The best part of the entire bar is the very cool bronze sculpture which depicts two horses, and two riders. The lead rider has fallen off his saddle and is being drug through the cactus and god knows what else. The following rider is preparing to shoot the lead horse to save his friend. I believe the piece is called "The Widowmaker". Even if you don't stop for a drink, you should see this beautiful sculpture.

9/20/24 8:05 PM. Great Bar Great Location. WILL NEVER GO BACK11111 We've been going to the Driskell Bar for over 20 years. Lunch Dinner and Drinks. Tonight I saw the worst think. We sat for 20 minutes without being waited on, no big deal. I walked to the bar and ordered our drinks. This is where it gets bad!! We moved from where we were sitting to the couch right in front of the stage. As soon as we sat down the waitress approached us for our order. We told her we were good>. She then informed us that this area was for table service. She walked by us 5 or 6 times at our first table and nerve looked our way. We picked our drinks up and moved back to our original table. Here's where I lost my sht An older couple took our spot. The man appeared to have Parkinson. She said the same thing to the older couple. I vented to the manager of the bar I felt she was very rude when there were so many empty tables, Then the waitress goes to another couple in the bar and starts talking about us. WILL NEVER GO BACK1 I CANT BEING TO SAY HOW IRRITATED I WAS. SO DISAPPOINT ! This is my first review and I hope its my last!

Great place to sit and have a cocktail while watching the world go by in historic surroundings. Goog happy hour, try the Brussels sprouts.

Was told to come to the hotel and bar to experience old Texas charm, and it certainly didn't disappoint. Came for a few drinks before a show on a Sunday night and there were plenty of cozy nooks available to relax in and just soak in the atmosphere. They had some unique cocktails, all of which were delicious. Prices were normal for cocktails and staff were super friendly, so overall, great place.

I went there with my wife for cocktails and share plates. The cocktails were great. For the plates, we shared the dates (awesome), the ceviche (barely ok, far too spicy and not tasty), the burgers slider (very good).

One of the places that serves breakfast options till late afternoon! Their cocktails and the bread pudding is to die for! The interiors in the hotel Lobby was beautiful while we waited to be seated.

The sign of a good bar is that it is frequented by regulars. There is plenty of comfortable seating and there is music too. The snack menu is nice.

Went to the bar every night to hear live music and have some great bites - including truffle popcorn.

Went for drink after dinner . Great ambiance, history . Service poor, asked for a GoldenCadillac was given something that looked so unlike it I questioned waitress. She said they didn't know what it was and so they thought I said golden tequila. So they brought me a tall glass with ice / tequila / some other add ins that I asked about that sounded awful and a cherry! I said no that's not what I ordered. I was shocked no one knew how to make it( or look it up in this well known and visited bar). I said to help - it has Galiano In it .. She promptly said we don't have that. Proceeded to get a brandy Alexander then. It was watery and not up to par. Ordered dessert for our group -pecan pie a la mode. It arrived and the server seemed to drop it off as an afterthought . By the way no big deal but why don't they say tart instead of pie.. Anyway great ambiance , maybe bad night, wasn't sure about their air system- it felt dank, musty, humid not pleasant. Still a fun Atmosphere.. But Austin has a million other fun atmosphere, fresher smelling, FULL bar and better service to experience.

We stopped in for a quick drink before dinner on a Friday night. Luckily there was a table available. The service was very good. This place produced the only good Old Fashioned I had in Austin, and I spent 3 days looking.

We stopped by the Driskill Hotel bar on a cold and wet Saturday a week ago. The place was very crowded, but we were able to get a table, albeit a very dirty one. We were not the only ones with stacks of dirty dishes around. There were quite a few managers walking to and fro, but clearing tables was clearly beneath them. The wait staff was just running drinks and food out - they were not sweeping through the dining room to clear. And, apparently, the bus staff had the day off. On a Saturday. So after 10 minutes or so, we were able to order and the dishes were removed. I had a beer (nothing special) and my wife had a soda. Where things really started to rankle was when my wife's soda was empty and the waitress looked at it but didn't offer a refill. We waited for her to come back - nothing. So I took it up to the bar for a refill. Then I needed to do it again - the waitress never came back after dropping off the check. The place is lovely - copper ceiling, old hotel fixtures, and just an amazing lobby. I'm glad they saved the hotel, but someone needs to educate the managers on the meaning of service. I would recommend everyone visiting Austin visit this hotel to see the turn of the century surroundings. Then go somewhere else for a taste of true Austin graciousness.

Be prepared to take a step back in time. This beautifully renovated building has a lot of charm that seeps into every part of the property. The restaurant was good, service was great, and the nibbles and drinks were fantastic. A group of us stopped in for a quick nosh and cocktails that started our evening out just right. I would encourage you to take a chance and sample...you won't be disappointed.

Decided to stop at the Driskill for a cocktail. The place is large. Lots of artwork and history. No wait staff and the bar was slow. Don't be in a hurry when you go there.

This is a very warm and elegant atmosphere. Historic, wild Wild West roots with cowboy murals, longhorn heads, and sculptures to boot. We were here for a cocktails during the very busy SXSW time, and still impeccable service. Drinks and bar food were excellent. Great service, without being overly present.

A fantastic, classic and historic Texas bar with great, friendly service and outstanding live music.

We stopped in for a before dinner cocktail to this historical lounge. The lounge and decor are worth a stop all on their own and I'd like to give this a 5 star review. However, the wait time to order was long and the wait to receive the drinks was even longer. Granted, the lounge was very busy but was either very short staffed or just very slow. I would certainly recommend visiting the Driskill Bar but pack your patience.

I love history and historic architecture and particular enjoy having a drink in the bars of old hotels that have been maintained or restored to their original glory. The Driskill does not disappoint in this regard. It has a grand ambiance. They make an exceptional Manhattan at the Driskill but the other drink options are also very well made. It is a large place but is very popular so if you want a spot during the evening when live music is available, go early. The music is usually pretty good and sometimes can be outstanding. It is a nice breath of air compared to the raunchier clubs further down on 6th street. If you like good music, glorious surroundings and well-made drinks, you should try the Driskill.

My wife and I stopped in here for after-dinner drinks, before hitting 6th Street. We got a seat at the bar, which was great. All 3 bartenders were jumping and we had some amazing cocktails (blackberry smash, ward eight, old fashioned). There was also a live band and a great vibe. Four cocktails were around $60 plus tip.

Not cheap for Ausin drinking but well worrth a visit. They had 3 guitarists pumping out amazing tunes and made great drinks. Very upscale bar at a gem of a hotel.

The Driskill has a beautiful Bar. Unfortunately due the Virus, the menu is limited. The Hamburger is good but no Steak available

Stopped into the Driskill Bar for a drink, they had a live band going with a great sense of humor. Even got a few patrons to get up and dance during their set. We had great service, a nice table to relax at with a few rounds of drinks.

Love the bar here! IThe food was good, the vibe was perfect and it was super fun because South by Southwest is this weekend and there was a very diverse crowd! Also, it definitely has the haunted vibe if you’re into that kind of thing.

Even if you're not staying at the hotel you can eat at their restaurant, cafe, or bar. Stopped by the bar for some drinks and snacks. The drinks were unique and the food was very good. Prices were high, but what you would expect at a nice hotel.

We stopped by on a Friday night for drinks and music. The drinks are outstanding. Sevice was slow but we just enjoyed the music and the ambiance. We feel like it is a must stop if we ever come back again. Check the website for live music. The perfect place with music you can enjoy at a perfect sound level.

Great service and a generous pour. The bar is beautiful and you'll know your in Texas. Be sure to look up at the ceiling.

We were visiting Austin, happened upon their twice-yearly Pecan Festival and needed a quiet place to have drinks with our friends. The Driskill Hotel Bar was a delightful refuge. We enjoyed chips (ordered twice) with our restorative cocktails and cold beers.Although super busy, service was friendly and efficient. Gorgeous Victorian hotel. Reputed to be haunted. Worth a visit for sure.

Do stop into this unique bar and have a walk back to an elegant time. Take time to enjoy a cocktail while taking in the historic decor - be sure to look up - the ceiling is worth the trip.

6th Street is not our scene, but the Driskill Hotel Bar is nothing like the rest! Quality music at a level where polite conversation is possible, locally sourced food and beverages thoughtfully prepared. And the building inside and out is stunning. In addition to the great band, we especially enjoyed the western decor - where else do you sit in hairy cow hide chairs and a pistol is made into a lamp?

You have to visit The Driskill just to see the decor. But, while you are there stop by the Lobby Bar. Loved the big chairs and all the wood. The food is above average also. I enjoyed the fish and chips.

Since Covid started I hadn't felt safe enough to go to any indoor bars, but because the seating was very spread out, I really enjoyed myself. I had the "LBJ" hot toddy, but couldn't recommend it (good flavor, but weak). However, the champagne (Blanc de Blanc) was very nice. Great service! We were staying at the hotel, so we asked if we could take wine glasses back to our room for a bottle we'd brought, our server was kind enough to oblige without any fuss.

The bar had a small selection of bourbon and Scotch, but was friendly and still quiet enough for a conversation. I look forward to visiting again in the future.

Exploring Austin with my husband, we decided to check out this bar which has highly rated reviews. The hotel lobby was lovely. I’m a big fan of historical hotels! The bar? I felt like I was in a Reno, Nevada casino. It was packed, loud, lots of people watching opportunities on a Saturday night. We ordered bar fare. I got the fish and chips and my husband the sliders. The fish and chips were so greasy that the fish dripped grease as I ate it. I’m not used to eating food like this so my midnight I was regretting it. My husband’s slider buns were burnt so he didn’t eat them. The bar was ok. I really didn’t get the sense I was in an historic classy bar.

JOMO (Just one man's opinion) I just dropped in for a couple drinks and a bit alone and would definitely go back. They had some good live entertainment and I really like the space. Old school in the lobby of a beautiful old hotel. I felt like a step back in time. I had Brussel sprouts and a burger. Brussels were great burger was decent. A little over bunned if that is a term. If not it should be. Patty was a little shy on substance but good taste. I do look forward to another visit.

This is the GEM of this property!! n We stayed in the Hotel for a few nights and were unimpressed, but this bar, OMG what a wonderful, comfortable, classy spot!

This historic hotel bar is worth a visit to grab a cocktail. Great space with lots of seating. The drinks are well prepared but the music did not match the vibe. I love all types of music but alternative hard rock is not relaxing considering the setting.

Had to cross the bar a few times (we stayed at Driskill). It looked very nice and I think a must visit; and was planning to spend some time there but was short on time.

Great Happy Hour, lots o room, historical setting, good drinks, live music, happy hour drinks and food. A bit dark

Live music every evening, half price apps/snacks in the evening, too, worked out nicely for us watching a 3 person combo while we snacked on tasty bites. Big drink menu, of course, with pretty reasonable prices for such a pretty and historic place

Live music, enchanting old Texas decor, generous drinks and the most delicious fish and chips I've every eaten! Highly recommended.

Was packed every night we were there. Always had some kind of live entertainment. Great place to watch people

Your experience at this bar will directly correlate to what you came in here expecting to do. If this is a place to meet up with friends and family who are hungry and want to eat, you may not like this place as I can't recall seeing any wait staff while here and service tended to be slow. If you are coming here on a weekend night to sit, sip really good whiskey and smoke a cigar while relaxing with your friends you will probably love this place. My brother and I were patrons at the Driskill and this is where we would frequent when deciding to relax a bit after walking around all day. The leather chairs are comfortable, the tables are gorgeous and well-kept while the statues and game heads give you a feel of being at a lodge more so than a bar. This place really makes you feel that top-shelf type of environment you'd expect from staying at the Driskill and it was most welcome when talking about plans for our stay in Texas and beyond. Heavily recommended, but make sure when you step through those doors you are prepared to slow down and relax once you find a table or spot that works for you.

About what you’d expect for a big city bar. But the interior is neat. I am sure the hotel would be nice to stay in. My rating of my one drink below: Margarita: 3.2/10

Gorgeous 1886 building, bar is decorated with western character, but not overdone. Good musicians most days of the week. Not so loud that you can't carry on a conversation. Very enjoyable.

Pretty crowded during happy hour on a Saturday night.. Decor was heavy on the memorabilia. Nice for a beer but snacks and small bites unremarkable.

We've stayed at The Driskill before, but were were staying at another hotel on this trip to the #ATX. Regardless, we always visit this hotel and the bar while in town. If you can nab a spot at the bar, jump on it. Regardless, the small tables are quite cozy and nice as well. The wait staff's service was excellent - always checking on us and didn't have to wait to order another beer or drink. We did eat here (we had reservations already for another place), but we will in the future. We did a get one appetizer -- the spicy mix nuts -- and they were good. Saw many folks around us eating and the menu looked really good. So whether your are staying at the hotel or just visiting Austin, check out the Driskill's bar as it's an Austin and Texas gem.

Very distinctive place - definitely recommended when you are in Austin - more than 100 years old. Very good, friendly service, wide range of drinks available. A real Texas landmark. Also recommend walking through the lobby of the hotel - and reading about the ghosts.

This is a great place for good drinks and a more refined atmosphere. Also, crazy truffle oil fries are addictive!

Being a fan of The Driskoll Bar & Grill and a blues hound I looked forward to their Sunday Blues Brunch only to be seriously disappointed. The $8 Mimosa was not only rather small, it was the worst tasting Mamosa I've ever had in my 66 years of age! I choose not to risk $14 for a Bloody Mary for fear of another disappointment! The $24 menu seemed a bit too high for the offerings however, the food was acceptable even if not worth the price...a Brunch Buffett would be a far more appealing option. I will not be back for brunch.

A great spot to relax and spend a few hours without having to buy drinks or food. The hotel is the oldest in Texas and has a wild-westy vibe. Comfy and grand hotel bar. Enjoyed the setting, but the turkey club sandwich I had was not very good - nothing particularly wrong with it, just not tasty. Nevertheless would go back just for drinks.

Went here during happy hour and got the Batini drink as well as the Barton Springs drink. This is a very historic bar in the United States and everyone if in Austin should visit it.

Great location with a lot of history, definitely worth the detour if you're somewhat close to downtown.

Had dinner & drinks there while in Austin. Great vibe. Stunning lobby, and the bar was PACKED. Food was decent, but not the best I had in the city. Would go back in a heartbeat, though.

We went over to the Driskill after checking into the hotel for lunch. We shared the barbecue platter of ribs, chicken wings, bacon, and corn bread. It was a good portion for two and was a very tasty combo. The drink was good as well and the place was buzzing for the game that night. Glad we stopped in. It was busy but the staff was efficient and friendly.

We came on a recommendation to have one drink, stayed for 4! The Driskill Bar is in a gorgeous old hotel and we’ll worth checking out just for the ambiance. Finding a bar that employs bartenders that actually understand the craft is a rarity and the Driskill delivers. We are bourbon lovers and every cocktail we tried was crafted with cate and perfectly balanced. I started with a Sazerac that was one of the best I’ve had, my husband had an Old Fashioned, which he said perfect. He then decided to try a TX Revolver. After tasting that, I switched over to those. Delicious! I wish I could remember the ingredients so I can make it at home. The bar was pretty packed but the 4 bartenders didn’t seem to sweat it and we’re pumping out orders at an incredible pace. (John Taffer would be impressed!) There is a small food menu. We tried the baked brie. It was good, nothing to rave about. We just wanted to get some food in us since we were drinking.

Visiting from Australia, came here for happy hour. Sat at the bar for Wine Wednesday, wine selection was fantastic, all delicious. Our bartender Andrew was lovely. This place is a real beauty and a must see to visit while in Austin.

The Driskal Hotel is a great place to stop in the bar for a cocktail in this cool historical venue. We ordered spiced nuts and bacon wrapped dates stuffed with Manchego cheese - delicious and the service was exceptional! Great location to 6th Street and the decor is beautiful!

Just sat for several drinks at The Driskill. Because of the boil advisory, they give bottled water when you ask for water. Wine came in plastic cups, because of washing glasses. Bill comes and they charge 2.77 for water. REALLY!!! And I drank wine out of plastic cups??? The Hilton gave us unlimited bottled water and used glasses for drinks!! Beautiful hotel but don’t nickel and dime at the bar!!

We had so much fun here! It is dark and decorated like a cattle baron’s Mansion. The drinks were reasonable and we really enjoyed the live music.

even if you are not staying in the hotel the Driskill bar is the place to be, i brought my college friends here and we had a blast!

Stayed at the Druskill hotel and had a couple of drinks at the bar Old school Texas bar. Historic Great place for a drink and to relax

After a concert, we hit the famous Driskill Bar and we were impressed. We did find seating even with a crowd. We loved the drinks, bar menu, atmosphere, and live music. Plus the fact that we could easily make it back to our hotel room!

This hotel is very old and the feeling is cool. The bar is like stepping back in time 100 years and that is worth the time to experience.

I'd heard such good things about the Driskill bar, so I was quite excited to go there with another couple visiting from out of town. Sadly, the visit was disappointing. First, the positive - the Driskill is great and simply oozes personality. However, when we were in the bar, I found the drinks pedestrian and the atmosphere lacking. On our visit there were a number of smallish groups there who looked like they were visiting some kind of business event, and they just sucked the life out of the room. It was neither buzzy nor intimate... it just felt like I was sitting in a hotel bar. I vastly prefer The Roosevelt Room, Midnight Cowboy, or even the Half Step (when it's not too busy). Maybe this is your kind of thing, but it did not work for me.

Cozy historic bar. A folk band was playing the night we stopped in for drinks which was nice. We saw several families with young children eating there as well, so all ages are welcome. But it definitely has a bar feel, and felt like a more mature option than the 6th street scene (we are in our late 40s). Beautiful interior. My husband and I are thinking we might reserve a room at this hotel next time we are in Austin.

The Lounge Restaurant is a great place to unwind and have cocktails and enjoy live music. We also enjoyed dinner at the bar with our Irish bartender. The local Tito's Vodka martini's were terrific. We had bacon wrapped Medjool dates, Street Tacos, and a half Fried Chicken 'Kissed' with honey.

The bar area is elegant, has great drinks and is a fun place to relax and people watch. With being on a level above the main lobby, the atmosphere was muted and relaxing.

First, you silly cannot beat the venue and location. The perfect place to enjoy a cocktail and a lite bite before heading to the Paramount or hitting 6th Street. The brussel sprouts are incredible good. I have never been disappointed in the music in the bar area either. I believe the first time I visited the Driskill must have been in 1972. I love bringing visitors here or meeting old friends. I am posting picture of one of the entrances to the main lobby. Beautiful, historic architecture. an Austin icon. The Driskill will not disappoint!

Go just to see the Interior Design. Beautiful western sculptures, artifacts, artwork, stained glass, leather seating, mahogany wood, just lovely. We didn't try any food but had drinks and nice service. Lively crowd and lots of interesting places to sit.

Akin to Monteleone in New Orleans. The Driskill bar serves drinks before 10 a.m. Bar Staff Great. The meal preparation was Slow.

Such a cool bar. Live music. Great drinks and beers and it’s so old school TExas. You better call all the woman Mam or you risk getting hot tied.

Healthy pours, great band, high energy on this late Friday night. A must visit when youre in town at COTA for F1.

Went on a Sunday night and it was equivalent to stepping back into the days of the cattle and oil barons. Plenty of spacious seating, quiet enough to have a real conversation. Located at the back of the historical Driskill Hotel which was opened December 1886. Great place to relive history and have drink.

had some great cocktails here before hitting the town. so fancy! our bartender was fancy too, nice clothes and always a smile.

The lobby was as lovely as you would expect but the cocktail bar was an example of faded grandeur. We settled in and ordered two cocktails one of which was a Mojito. What arrived tasted like water with mint. We were given a very acceptable Margerita as a substitute but overall this is not what you would expect from a place with such a reputation.

It is always fun to spend time in the Driskill Bar in the evenings. There are interesting groups of people, good live bands, and drinks always prepared just right. The beautiful Driskill Hotel is a bonus too. Grab a seat and enjoy!

This is a great bar in a beautiful setting, but it gets quite crowded on the weekend nights. If you happen in earlier in the day it is quite pleasant to sit and enjoy the ambiance and a drink. The appetizers are excellent!

A place that takes you back to the past. A very appropriate environment to feel what Austin was like back in the day. Ricas bebidas.

Old-world Victorian charm. Lovely wood paneling, dark furniture and a marble staircase lead you to bar where you see the lovely domed stained glass ceiling. Very pretty place to have a cocktail. I loved the Batini. We were there for happy hour so tried one of the 1/2 selections, the quesidilla. It wasn't very good -- just average. The chairs and sofas look so inviting but actually have very little cushioning in the seat bottoms. Regardless, it's a lovely environment for a cocktail while on a stay to fabulous Austin -- and right on the "Dirty 6th Street" near Congress (which is like the main street downtown). Great location.

Historical hotel. Beautiful architecture and nice restaurant and bar. Drinks are well made and the atmosphere is relaxing and quiet great place to sit, chill and enjoy the conversation of your friends or family.

Grabbed dinner and drinks here with a friend recently during TribFest, and even though it was very busy during happy hour, our server was professional and friendly and politely corrected an incorrect food order. While we waited, we enjoyed people watching and catching up in a quiet corner.

I just stayed at the Driskill hotel. I had to go through the bar area to get to the elevator to my room. This place is very busy and entertaining. The service was great as were the drinks.

Stop in the bar area -- have a drink and listen to music. The bartenders there (one been there 35-years) make some good drinks and offer great conversation.

On our first day in Austin, we were wandering around getting the lay of the land. We walked into this really cool looking hotel called the Driskill. We found the Driskill Bar upstairs from the lobby and wandered in. It looked really cool and iconic. We noted it would be a good place to grab a drink later in the evening. So we left and walked around some more. My husband's family was meeting us after dinner so we opted to walk back to the Driskill from our hotel. We ended up having seats in the lounge area and had the perfect seats to listen to the live band playing next to the bar. My stepfather in-law had gone to University in Austin so this was part of his old stomping grounds. Once seated, we ordered a few drinks to try. My husband and I tried the David Old Fashioned and the Bluebonnet. My in-laws tried the margarita along with a shot and Topo Chico. Our aunt ordered an espresso martini. It was lovely with the live music and while the minutes ticked away, I got hungry. I looked at the menu again and opted to order the Driskill chocolate cake. The cake is this decadent layered cake with "1886" frosted on it with chocolate shavings on the side. It was really good and perfect for sharing. My stepfather in-law requested green tea from our server and she told him she wasn't able to serve him hot tea. It was a little absurd since we were in a hotel bar. Maybe it was the time of day but it wasn't that late in the evening. He was a little put off and didn't even finish his margarita. We settled up and left. My husband and I enjoyed our time at the Driskill Bar but they should really offer coffee and tea to patrons if they request it.

The Driskill Bar is a classy, upscale lounge/bar inside the historic Driskill Hotel. On a busy Saturday night, it was difficult to find a seat, but that's what you might expect. While waiting for the live music to come on, I nursed a 'Batini' drink -- a pink colored cocktail with a blackberry -- apparently Austin's official drink. The waitress was attentive. The band finally came on, but we couldn't see the band from where were were sitting and really weren't wowed by the music, so out of boredom and not wanting to spend more money on the high priced drinks, we made an early night of it, resting our tired tourist feet. The hotel lobby is stunning, so make sure to have a good look at it. This bar is a classy, upscale and grown-up alternative to the adjacent 6th Street dives. If you found this review useful, please click the THANK button. Thanks!

While wine selection was good, the 1970's fuzzy-rug-van-lighting around the stage was more for a strip club stage and not a hotel cocktail bar. Lighting was annoying when sitting in low level couches. Entertainment was good however. Friendly servers.

The Driskill is a classic, old time property right on 6th Street. Beautiful lobby, good staff, nd the room was spacious and clean. The best part of the place is the bar, oversized, comfortable chairs and a bartender who remembers your name.

I visit Austin twice a year, every year, and for some reason neber ate here. My friends told me to go for lunch & to be sure to walk around the lobby and the bar to see all the weatern art. Before I get to the cafe/food, be sure you do walk around in the bar to see everything. I asked my Austin friends to come her for lunch and we did. The menu isn't huge but anyone can find something to eat there. My all got sandwiches and had choices of fries that come with it. They make their own kettle fries there and there were very good. It is an average cafe and the food was good. It's worth it to eat there since the atmosphere is cozy. Staff was quick to take our orders and were always there to fill up our cokes. I went a 2nd day by myself to get a mocha cappucino and a dessert. The brownies are homemade there and worth it. I was not happy with my bill since when I paid a $8.68 bill, they did that round-up garbage and from my $20.00 bill, I only got back 1 single and a ten dollar bill. So, unfortunately, my waitress was only left with a single. So......pay with a credit card so they don't do that to you too.

We wanted to stay at the Driskill, but unfortunately it was sold out when we booked our hotel. Part of why I wanted to stay their was their bar area that I saw in photos. We were lucky enough one very busy night (the hotel had holiday parties going on) to score 2 seats at the bar. All three male bartenders were friendly and welcoming. We made it in time for happy hour (5-7, I believe) on a Thursday night, so they have $3 texas beers and a few of their special cocktails discounted on the happy hour menu. I tried the Battini (when in Rome - wasn't a huge fan), and then switched to my new favorite - Austin Eastciders cider. We shared a bacon cheeseburger and the truffle fries, well as the bacon wrapped dates. All of the food was excellent, my only complaint was that it all came out at once, but that wasn't a big deal! The environment was fairly noisy that night due to the holiday party guests, etc, but that made it kind of fun! The décor is beautiful and it is a nice cozy place for a date. We look forward to making our way back to Austin, and the Driskill!

The restaurant and bar is housed in an Historic Building with loads of history. The furniture and ambiance are first class and combined with excellent food, you don’t want to miss it. We had queso cheese dip and ribs for dinner and both were scrumptious. The portion was plentiful and delicious. The prices were very reasonable and actually with everything considered, their on the low side. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Such a great place to enjoy drinks and music! The bar area is large with lots of seating options. The live music was awesome and the drinks were good. Definitely gotta check this bar out if you're in Austin!

Step back into an era of elegance and class by sitting in the Driskill Bar. Lots of wood, animal heads on the wall and lots of leather. Give yourself an old-time experience.

Very neat bar with a lot of history. The decorations are beautiful, and seating is unique with its cowhide upholstery. Definitely a higher-end place, the drinks were very expensive. Good atmosphere though.

My daughters and I stayed 5 days at the Driscoll Hotel. We ended up eating most of our dinners at the Hotel bar because it was so comfortable, such delicious food and fun music. Our favorite menu item was their Crispy Brussel Sprouts. We would return just for that.

Fun place to eat and hang out. Great bar food and drinks. They have nightly live music, which is really good. Fun place to chill

Excellent cocktails! Had quesadilla's and sliders, both were very good. Live entertainment on some nights (or all, not sure) really liked one of the bartenders-can't remember his name though, young, with curly blondish hair-he gave good advice on menu items and the drinks were made to perfection. Went another time for dessert and coffee, the coffee was cold and stale and they were out of most of the dessert items. : (

We visited this historic hotel while in Austin. It is very old and beautiful. We had a cocktail at the bar. I had the batini but would not order it again. It wasn't very good.

Stopped in her while wandering out Austin and 6th Street. We stopped by in the afternoon when it was slow, so we could just sit back, relax, enjoy our drinks and the old time ambiance.

We stopped in for some much needed air conditioning and a cocktail to get out of the hot Texas heat. The truffle popcorn was amazing! And they have some great cocktails on happy hour. Beautiful bar. We will be back for sure. I’ve included the happy hour menu for your viewing pleasure.

We had a few drinks and snacks in the bar area. The authentic luxurious old west decor was a unique treat to enjoy. We only had the queso and truffle popcorn but the entire menu looked excellent. The hotel appeared a little cold and stuffy online for our taste for a stay, but I've since changed my mind after having been inside and seen the impressive effort to maintain the appearance of this place.

This place is a laid back escape from the craziness of sixth street in Austin. The bartenders are excellent, the atmosphere is awesome and they pull in some great little musical acts. Breakfast is awesome too.