Bhagyashree Birla

We had a fun girls night here, sipping on tasty cocktails and listening to melodious jazz music. Our server was friendly and attentive. Recommend going early to find a table or there can be a wait later in the night.

Colleen Clare

Cover charge was included with the drink order. I got there at 8:10 and half the tables near the stage were already filled up. I got a view from the bar, but it’s a bit blocked by pillars. Great show!

Gina Porumb

Omg! Just amazing! Jazz at its finest! And the speakeasy vibes makes you feel like going back in time. Perfect date night.

Layla Gonzalez

I brought some family in from out of town & I decided to introduce them to The Elephant Room. & the service & atmosphere did not disappoint. The band was amazing, the drinks were incredible & the service was so friendly! The crew worked so diligently to ensure everyone in the room was having the best time & the most pleasant experience. We can’t wait to come back! Thank you so much for working hard & giving us a great night out!

Lane Lessman

Neat little underground jazz club. Inexpensive cover, great jazz group (Double Vision), and a neat drink menu (complete with a N/A cocktail if you don't feel like drinking).

Ken Beatty

Its a really cool place, I went to go see my saxophone teacher perform. Kind of crowded but not horrible. All in all its a great place and the staff is super friendly!

Ivy F

This place was recommended by an Austin local. Nice Jazz bar in downtown Austin. Drinks were good. The place was nice felt cozy and intimate. Jazz band sounded great. There was a line to get in but it moved pretty quickly. I waited in line for about 10 minutes and I arrived there right before band started to play. I'd say you will probably wait longer in line if you arrive once band starts. Overall great experience and exactly what I was looking for in a casual Jazz bar.

+3

Elora Arana

Man, this place was amazing, especially the band The Brew that played the night we visited. We went on a Saturday and arrived at 8:07 pm right after opening and it was already halfway full, so if you want a good view of the band on a Saturday night, come right at opening. The service was good and drinks reasonable. The front doorman was so nice. I can’t wait to come back! Only thing I wish they had was food, or the ability to bring it in, but we were fine because we ate a large meal beforehand.

Janelle Brandom

The Elephant Room is hands-down one of Austin’s most iconic hidden gems and a must-visit for any jazz lover. Tucked away underground on Congress Avenue, it’s got that perfect speakeasy vibe—dim lighting, cozy seating, and walls that seem to hum with decades of music history. The atmosphere is intimate and inviting, making it just as enjoyable for a casual night out as it is for a deep appreciation of live music. The talent here is consistently top-notch. Whether it’s a local legend or a touring act, the musicians bring their A-game, and the acoustics make every note feel like it’s just for you. There’s something magical about being only a few feet away from such incredible performers. The drinks are well-made and reasonably priced for downtown Austin, and the bartenders know how to keep the mood relaxed and friendly. Service is quick, even on busy nights, and there’s a great selection of beer, wine, and cocktails to suit any taste. One of my favorite things is how unpretentious the place feels. It’s not about flashy gimmicks—it’s about the music, the vibe, and the people. If you’re in Austin and want a true live music experience that captures the city’s soul, The Elephant Room should be at the very top of your list.

Ernest Taylor

This is exactly the place you would expect to see live jazz. In a basement, low level lighting, just you and the band. Waiters and staff were very accommodating and friendly. They only serve drinks, but allow outside food in. In fact, they encourage it. We arrived early for the first singer and after they finished their set, we decided we were hungry. We had a great table and didn't want to lose it, so the staff put a reservation on our table to let us walk a couple blocks down and grab some food to bring back. They even removed our trash when we were finished. Amazing staff and perfect ambiance.

Amber Landrum

Watched the BIG BRASS BAND that plays every second Tuesday, AMAZING! Waitstaff was friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable. The basement feel lends to a Speakeasy and the atmosphere was relaxed. Took a friend of mine to listen to the music, she was blown away! Will be returning when I am back in town. Stop by and check them out. You will not regret it!

Mark Salisbury

This Jazz centric, old time Austin haunt has a special place in my heart. I have been coming here for over 30 years and enjoyed every single time. I was not lucky enough to have be an original Austinite but as they say, got here as fast as I could. I have seen Austin change from a smallish, music centered town to a sort of big city wanna be Mecca yet, The Elephant Room keeps on being a magnet for those of us who believe we are relevant and a part of Austin history. You know what, if you come spend some time listening to what they have to offer you just might become that. I know in my mind what I have experienced by sharing in this Austin institution is special. I encourage you to experience it, there’s only one. Try it.

Kalyan Verma

We recently visited Elephant Room with friends visiting from Boston, and it was an unforgettable experience! We arrived around 7:30 PM on a Saturday night and joined a short line outside (they open at 8 PM). By the time they opened, the line had grown quite a bit, so arriving early is definitely a good idea. The club is located in a cozy basement, offering drinks only, but the great thing is you can bring your own food or even order in. The wait staff was incredibly courteous and welcoming, which added to the overall charm of the place. But the true highlight? The music. Joe and the band began their setup at 8 PM and started playing around 9 PM. It was well worth the wait—the music was absolutely phenomenal. The vibe of the place, the staff, the drinks, and that amazing live jazz made for an incredible night. By the time we left at 10:30 PM, the line outside was even longer, which speaks volumes about the popularity of this gem. If you’re in Austin, don’t miss this place! Just be sure to get there at least 30 minutes before they open. It’s totally worth it!

We had a fun girls night here, sipping on tasty cocktails and listening to melodious jazz music. \nOur server was friendly and attentive. \n\nRecommend going early to find a table or there can be a w…

LOVE the Elephant Room! This little jazz club is hidden underground on Congress right downtown. I have visited once when a group that had literally 10 people (mostly horns) played and another time fo…

Good atmosphere good music great service! Remember to eat first or bring your own food in (they allow it). They don't serve food

Top notch music and service. Great selection of cocktails and beers. Opens at 8pm so get there it fills up fast. There is a area at the front by stage if you are really wanting the music 1st and fore…

We visited Austin to hear some live music. The Elephant Room did not disappoint!!! Listened to some of the best live jazz I’ve ever heard. Music played for all hours and stayed way past my bedtim…

Daaaaamn Gina! Gina’s on Congress is a charming little spot in the heart of downtown, and it definitely delivers a solid dining experience. The French-inspired menu has some really tasty dishes, and everything we tried was well-prepared and flavorful. The drinks are where they really shine—creative, unique, and expertly made. The French Old Fashioned was absolutely amazing and easily one of the standout parts of the night. Service was friendly and attentive, and the overall atmosphere is cute and inviting. Good food, great drinks, and a nice vibe right on Congress.

I tried their Texas redfish and it was absolutely devine. Fish simply melts in your mouth. The buttery sauce was perfect and everything on the plate just balanced well together. Also tried their Tiramisu marquise which was also pretty good. Atmosphere was pretty loud and it was a bit weird having 2 waiters for the same table and one keeps asking the same question already answered by the other, but overall would absolutely recommend the place for delicious food, just get a table inside because the outside just smelt like weed (through no fault of the restaurant itself). Also noted that portions were more what I'm used to (in Australia) which would be too small for the average American standard, which was the only reason I ordered desert as well. Price guide (as of Oct 2025): Texas redfish $39 Marsanne wine $15 Tiramisu marquise $12 Tax $5.45

A great little bistro tucked away on Congress Ave near 3rd Street. It has a charming interior. The staff was all very friendly. The food was good. We had the bolognese and lamb shank, both were excellent. We finished with vanilla gelato. They have specials on different nights of the week. Tuesday is date night where you get 50% off bottles of sparkling wine. We took advantage of that and got a bottle of prosecco. The menu is limited but I understand it changes over time. Everything is made in house.

The food was good but not outstanding. The lamb falls off the bone so tender. The Gemmalini very bland had 2 shrimp so kind of expected more but beware it's under the past and tail is on so don't eat the tail! The Gelato with cookie was amazing! Our waters and my iced tea never got refilled I was hoping to get them filled but no one came back to see if we liked our foods or needed anything. Dessert was brought before plates were cleared which thought was strange. Restaurant wasnt full maybe 5 to 6 tables. Hostess was very kind and thoughtful she does a lot! Wish I could have found her for some more water or iced tea. We are big tippers so not sure why they kind of avoided our table. Just 3 women out exploring Austin having a dinner. We still tipped big although we aren't sure who our server was it seemed it changed when meal was brought to table then no one till we done and another person. We got so confused like did our server vanish? The Gelato with the pizzelle is really good! All their desserts looked really good hostess gave us a peep as she walked by.

Beef tartar was served with very thin wafers chips. It had a good flavor but the chips were too brittle to eat the tartar with (if that was the intention). Bone marrow was great, tons of marrow on the bones we got. It was served with buttery sourdough toast, and I think baguette would have been more on point for a French place. Lastly the moules frites, flavor was good but putting the ultra thin crispy fries on top of a saucy dishe is not great. We ended up with a bath of soggy potatoes.

Super cute bistro-ish wine bar with limited Italian menu. Brisket bolognese was very good as was the mushroom pasta. Burger was ok and the fries looked cool. Excellent drinks but took my cocktail before it was finished. Otherwise impeccable service. Chocolate cake dessert was not cake.

Drinks were good and half off during happy hour. I had The Diplomat which was a little on the sweet side and the Sharp Dressed Manhattan. Enjoyed the giardiniera but not a fan of the gougeres. I think if it was toasted before it was plated the flavors would have been brought out and the texture might have been better. I enjoyed the pasta and loved the caramelization and different textures of the mushrooms. The lamb shank fell of the bone was also paired well with the soft polenta and currant.

Brendan Alvarado

Amazing live music venue with a classic Austin vibe. The atmosphere is intimate and perfect for jazz—great sound, low lighting, and a relaxed crowd that’s there for the music. Drinks were solid and reasonably priced for a downtown spot. Staff were friendly and kept things moving, and it felt like a place you can stay for a full set without being cramped. If you want a true live-music experience in Austin, Elephant Room is a must.

Chuck West

It's a basement that feels just as it should, a jazz club kind of place. The wait staff was nice and efficient, considering the that the club was packed. The drinks were top notch. We were there on two nights and heard some fun Christmas music and some incredibly good jazz. Thanks for a great couple of nights. We will definitely come back when we are in town next time!

Cyril B.

Cool place for live jazz. Service is fine, nothing to write home about. The venue is in an old historic building. Tons of character. Great if you’re not into rowdy settings and you like sitting down with friends to enjoy some music.

Cam Martinez

This place is absolutely wonderful in all the ways you would want a jazz music venue to be. Let's get to the basics: 1. The service is amazing, fast, and friendly 2. The music is of the utmost top quality professional musicians. 3. The location is easily accessible (as soon as all this construction downtown is finished) 4. The atmosphere is the best part about the whole facility. Dimly lit, not too crowded, and perfect for a date night. -The only reason I don't leave 5 stars is because no food. With food choices, I'll come back and update my review to 5 stars.

Amber Lee

Come for the jazz leave for the drinks. Elephant Room is a fantastic jazzy escape right on Congress Ave that is one of the greatest examples of Austin’s true love for music. The setting is very intimate with low lighting throughout and a lot of tables aligning the path down to the stage. We were able to snag a table pretty close up but we would recommend getting there early as the place was decently full for a Thursday night (also to beat their cover that begins at 8; cover amount depends on the day of week). The service is friendly and quick with ordering and getting drinks. Obviously with any jazz bar, the music is the main show and the band was great. They performed a few different styles of jazz and it all sounded fantastic with funny little skits in between their sets. It’s very easy to see why Elephant Room is a go to for many music lovers in the city. I will warn however that the drinks were not great. With a limited cocktail menu we went with familiar favorites of ours and none of us were very impressed with what we received. The Manhattan was very strong, even for a bourbon centric cocktail. The espresso martini was just alright but not as good as many other places. And lastly, the jazz juice just wasn’t as sweet and flavorful as other traditional rum punches. They do have a decent wine and beer selection so maybe stick to those. You can’t go wrong with great music and that’s exactly what Elephant Room provides. Although the drinks were a miss, the atmosphere and setting are a can’t miss and we highly recommend anyone looking for a casual date night to head here ASAP.

+3

Very good jazz. Terrific cocktails and a fun atmosphere and experience. Highly recommend! Good attentive service, fair prices for cocktails.

Food was solid but not amazing. I did doc the food due to the fact that the pasta I ordered had shrimp that seemed old. I ate two pieces then avoided them and just ate the pasta although the pasta also had the essence of the shrimp flavor as well. Staff was pleasant. 4 out of 5 because it wasn’t anything special just solid service. The establishment is very cute. No frills loved that it was a local place.

Pretty mid if I'm being honest. Really wanted to like this place, but the food just missed. I love steak tartare and this was one of the worst iterations I've had in Austin. Giving flimsy potato chips rather than bread or a cracker is a joke. I scooped my steak tartare onto the chip only to had it break and make a mess. Tried to enjoy the tartare on its own but it just didn't taste great. It was fine at best. I had the mussels and fries and while it looks cool it's pretty annoying to eat. My server had to explain to take the fries off onto another plate to get to the mussels, then go back to the fries. Another giant mess. Is upscale food supposed to be this messy? The mussels tasted pretty good, but there wasn't as many as I had hoped so I had to fill myself up with the fries, which were basically all breading and no actual potato they were so thin. Service was great from the bartender so props to her. But yeah, won't be returning.

Honestly, it is more of 2.75 stars but I will round up. A little on the side: it is ok, the alcohol taste was too strong Favorite godmother: it is good We also got dirty martini and old fashioned and they were better than the cocktails on the menu Gougeres: it is an attempt at popovers. They were fresh but needed more flavor or salt. Rabbit rillettes: not good at all. The pate wasn’t spreadable Steak tartare: very good, very flavorful Bone marrow: it was the meatiest bone marrow I ever had, but it could’ve used more flavor. Braised lamb shank: excellent!! It literally fall of the bone, you don’t need the knife Dark chocolate pot de creme: very rich but very good The price point isn’t worth the value. The old fashioned was $24. We had 3 items on HH and the bill was over $200 with tip, not worth it.

Lama Marroquin

The venue was cozy and the band was impressive. Staff is super friendly. Unfortunately the patrons there the night we visited were more interested in having loud and boisterous conversations than to listen and appreciate good music. It tended to ruin the experience for us that we left and found another spot to hang out and enjoy music.

Natcha Luechakiettisak

The Elephant Room—music was great, but the clientele was rough. The server tried to seat someone at my table. It’s first come, first served, and I got there early, so I kept my own table. The guy yelled at me when I said I didn’t want to share—looked like a regular. Bad impression. One server even suggested I move to the bar after they sat that guy next to me, which made no sense since I was there first. The rest of the staff did their best. Just one rude customer ruined the vibe. There is no rule said I have to share the table with someone, so it’s my right to say yes or no.