The secret is out.
No gimmick is quite as charming as the secret bar. Whether disguised as a store or hidden in a parking garage, the bars on this list will take a little more effort to find and enter than your average Austin hang. That's all part of the fun, though! Read on for some insider tips on the coolest speakeasies in Austin.
Contributed by Arielle Avila
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photo via Trona
1812 E 12th St (enter in the alley)
Trona, a new secret bar on the East side, has officially opened. In order to get into this new hotspot, you call their secret hotline to get the password, giving a more intimate and personalized experience than your traditional cocktail bar. They will sporadically dropping the phone number on their instagram stories, so make sure you give them a follow @TronaEast!
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photo via instagram
1012 E. 6th St
Did you know there's a hidden bar at Shangri-La? The Treasury is a bank vault themed cocktail bar open Tuesdays through Sundays. To find the entrance, go through Shangri-La to the back patio, find the green light (near the shed), and you'll find a door with a doorbell which will buzz, granting you access to the vault. We recommend checking them out during happy hour from 6 PM - 8 PM, and grabbing some cheese fries and nuggets from Golden Castle while you're at it.
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photo credit: Jake H.
303 B Red River St
Moonshine Grill's downtown location has a cocktail lounge with a library, but it's not books that are on their shelves. They're offering a full spirits selection to line the shelves as if the Dewey decimal system was made to organize bottles of gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, and whatever other liquor they choose to stock. Revitalizing a historic cellar from the 1850s, the sense of hard work and long hours seeps through the walls of this carefully curated cocktail lounge.
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photo credit: Eden Cocktail Room Facebook
214 E. 6th Street
As Dirty Sixth continues to drive itself further into a hellscape, more and more bars are cropping up to offer sanctuary. Eden, from the mind of former Here Nor There bartender Chris Crow, offers a delicate mix of vice and virtue for those looking for salvation from the shot bars. Paying homage to the original sinner herself, Eve, saunter over to Eden and sink into a red velvet sofa as you sip a boutique cocktail and feel like you found your sinful heaven.
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Photo Credit: Garage
503 Colorado St
Hidden among the many other fully-functioning, overpriced parking garages on Colorado Street, you’ll see the word “Cocktails” in place of an entrance or exit sign. Here you can find the industrial-themed speakeasy Garage. They provide concoctions that will have you parked at the bar all night.
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Photo via instagram @jaggy13
119 E 5th St
From the outside, this unassuming building masks itself as Floppy Disk Repair Co., but once you get in, you’ll quickly realize that it is something much more charming and sinister. Red Headed Stepchild is a secret bar loosely themed around serial killers and horror movies. The entry is lit by a neon sign that says “mmm… your hair smells pretty”, if that helps you get the picture. There’s also a framed chainsaw, scattered doll heads, and other creepy-cool decor. To get in, you need to know the door code which is sent to those lucky enough to be on the bar’s text chain.
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Photo via facebook / Ego's
510 S Congress Ave
A not-so-secretive gem, Ego’s is still housed in a parking garage south of the river. The karaoke bar provides cheap beer and entertainment with regulars and tourists alike belting out their favorite tunes (if you stay long enough, you’ll even see the bartenders sing a song or two). Ego’s is one of the few Austin bars that offers free karaoke all week long, and after you’ve been once, you’re sure to be back for more. Show up early if you want a chance to sing.
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Photo via facebook / Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar
2201 Manor Rd
Brought to you by the owners of Mi Madre is Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar. To get there, you’ll have to first walk through the patio of Schoolhouse Pub and find the stairs leading to the upstairs portion of Mi Madre. Sample this bar’s wide selection of smoky agave-based mezcals and sotols in the intimate, candle-lit setting. Be sure to stop by during happy hour from 5 pm to 7 pm Tuesdays through Fridays to get a deal on their one of a kind mezcal-rita.
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Photo via facebook / Dumont's Down Low Bar
214 W 4th St
DuMont’s Down Low is a whiskey-themed speakeasy nestled in the basement of what was previously Fado. This warehouse district bar touts more than 70 labels of whiskey, but you can also enjoy drinks like the The Blanche, a gingery vodka cocktail named after Blanche DuMont.
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Photo via instagram / @j.ohms
605 Brazos St
Located in the heart of downtown, Firehouse is both a hostel and lounge. This cozy space offers solace for those looking for a brief escape from the chaos of 6th Street. The bar is accessible through a sliding bookshelf in the lobby of the hostel - behind it, you can find live entertainment, craft cocktails, and Prohibition-era drinks.
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Photo via facebook / Milonga Room
1201 E 6th St
Beneath Buenos Aires Cafe on east 6th Street, you can find the 1920s styled Milonga Room. The basement bar is the perfect place to enjoy a nightcap and a flamenco performance all in one place. Reservations are highly recommended due to its limited space, but you can try your luck by knocking on the back door of the cafe.
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Photo via facebook by Kris Moore
612 Brazos St
Known for its members-only exclusivity, Here Nor There is a semi-private speakeasy and they ask that you download the app 'Here nor There', which leads you to their reservation system. Their current conceptual menu ' Colors ' consists of an array of color based drinks to choose from. The team at HNT invite you to embark on their interpretation of Colors through their cocktails.
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Photo Credit: Midnight Cowboy
313 E 6th St
Among the wildest of bars in Austin is Midnight Cowboy, the speakeasy with some of the best cocktails in town. Although reservations are highly recommended, there are a few times when walk-ins are accepted. When the red light is on outside the bar, you can ring the buzzer marked “Harry Craddock” for entry. Be sure to read the house rules on the Midnight Cowboy’s website before going - this bar does not condone large groups, phone usage, or excessive rowdiness.
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MORE SECRET BARS:
1221 E 6th St
1104 E 11th St
1101 Music Ln
301 W 5th St
1300 E 6th St
612 Brazos St Suite C
1816 E 6th St
108 E 7th St
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Did we miss a great secret spot?
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