My wife and I found this place on our walk back from our hotel. We were greeted with amazing customer service and sat promptly at their bar, as requested. The service was some of the best I’ve had. They had a fantastic authentic gumbo special and the oysters were delicious. At the end, they let us sample their king cake! Jill was fanatic behind the bar. Everyone in the restaurant appeared to have been having just as much fun as well. Highly recommend and we plan on returning there to eat before our trip ends!

6th St post Thanksgiving was a delight! Quieter than usual, we were thrilled to find Parkside. Sat at the bar & it was perfect!! Their Happy Hour from 5-6 was AWESOME! Half off all drinks & 4 of their top selling appies was perfect! Nico was behind the bar: Friendly, professional & gave the perfect suggestion for my palate. My husband loved his Oysters & Lamb with the WA Hedges Cab & Still Rye from Austin & I ADORED my Austrian Buchegger Riesling with the Ceviche. Fresh, balanced & tasty... we'll definitely be back.

Brendan Alvarado

I finally made it to Midnight Cowboy — a hidden speakeasy tucked off 6th Street that’s worth the extra effort. The entrance is unmarked and you’ll need a reservation, but once inside it feels like stepping into a totally different world. The booths are intimate, the lighting is low and moody, and the whole vibe is classy without feeling stiff. Cocktails are creative and carefully crafted — some are made right at your table — and staff take their time explaining options without being pushy. It’s not a loud party bar, more of a sit-back-and-enjoy experience, great for dates or special nights out. Definitely one of the cooler cocktail bars I’ve visited downtown.

Greg Gonzalez

This was such a great experience across the board. Staff was kind and incredibly knowledgeable. Venue was intimate and well curated. And the thoughtfulness behind the creative presentation of the cocktail menu was second only to the cocktails themselves. Looking forward to exploring further on a second visit.

Justin L'Ecuyer

Atmosphere was intimate with a great playlist! They have a custom book with all their drinks that I thought was creative. Service was fantastic as well!

Sarah Bare

Midnight Cowboy was a highlight for this bachelorette trip! The staff was so knowledgeable and attentive, and made the bride feel so special! Shoutout to Evan, when we got caught in a rainstorm he not only gave us the best route to get picked up by an Uber, he also literally sprinted down the street holding an umbrella over the bride’s head to show us where to go. This place is the best!

David Ashley

Midnight Cowboy is an excellent pre or post dining experience, or just as a jump off or close to an evening. The mixologists are masters of craft serving the best spritited and non-alcoholic creations. I love the new menu - both in design and recipe reprotoire - that I had to buy one as a keepsake. I will visit again soon.

+3

Arash

Midnight Cowboy is such a unique and unforgettable experience! The atmosphere is one-of-a-kind—intimate, cool, and perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a night of truly great cocktails. The drinks here are not just tasty but carefully crafted, with so much attention to detail. You can immediately tell the bartenders love what they do. One of the best parts is how special the whole experience feels. You do need to make a reservation in advance, and once you do, you get a secret entrance code to use at the door. It adds to the excitement and makes the night feel like something out of a movie. Our host was awesome and incredibly helpful, making sure we felt comfortable and guiding us through the menu if we had any questions. Overall, this is absolutely a must-visit in Austin if you want more than just a regular cocktail bar. Between the amazing drinks, the speakeasy vibes, and the thoughtful, welcoming service, Midnight Cowboy is easily one of my favorite spots in the city.

Ekaterina Herron

Very laid back environment with fun drink menu. The speakeasy vibe add to the mysterious atmosphere of the summer menu, inspired by the toro cards.

+1

Sherrill Thompson

Midnight Cowboy is everything I imagined it would be and more! A speakeasy always adds to the fun of a night out and this is one of the coolest I’ve been to. When you make a reservation (this is a must) you’re given a name to select on the callbox. Buzz the name and the host will let you in. I was served by Holly and what a gem she is! She walks you through the menu and describes how the staff came up with all of the concoctions. There’s quite a bit to choose from so use the table of contents! I had their take on the old fashioned, the King of Cups, and let me tell you, that puppy was STRONG but balanced. Truly one of the most unique old fashioned I’ve had. The presentation was top-notch with a smoked serving tray. 10/10 cocktail. (Pssst, this one drink is over 32% so keep that in mind) The next drink I ordered was the Elixir of Love, which is a more floral take on the aperol spritz. I had the pleasure of having this made table side and it just enhanced the experience. All cocktails are around $20 each but to me, the expeeience, atmosphere, service, and overall abv makes this more than a reasonably priced experience. With the setting being so intimate, it’ll never be too loud either, so this is a perfect date night spot or place to end the evening. It’s great for small groups, dates, or the solo traveller (like me!) If you can, ask for Holly! She’ll take the experience to the next level.

Yao Yu Xie

Love the intimate setting. There are only 8 tables. Technically, it's reservation-only, but walk-in might be accommodated near their opening time at 5 pm. Their cocktail menu is interesting, a 6-chapter story on cowboys vs. aliens (Texas with a quirky twist!): Highballs, Stirred and Down, Mahattanas and Martinis, Sours and Daisys, Terraformed Tiki Culture, Zero Proof. The categorisation (where it made sense) helped. I had the Chaps 'N' Spurs (Rye Whiskey, Planetary Xaymaca, Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro, Gènèpy, Demerara, Peychaud's Bitters), The Void (Reyka Vodka, Cold Brew, Coffee Liquer, Toasted Meringue), and Venusian Blood (Bacon Fat Washed, Del Maguey Mezcal, Beetroot, Lime). The exotic ingredients in the first manifested in a sophisticated flavour, the second is an interesting twist on the espresso martini given the addition of meringue, while the third was just brilliant beyond words in the harmonious flavour of beetroot with the other ingredients. Midnight Cowboy deserves a place in the top bars of the world. Oh, and I love the music there.

+5

HashtagDietFood

Amazing drinks menu, each and every cocktail is beautifully crafted. The menu is fun too and takes you through a journey. They change their menu periodically. It’s a speakeasy and not easy to find. Also, I recommend reservations in advance as this place is quite small and is famous and full. Had a great time!

+5

James Young

This was a very chill, interesting place to have a drink. The drinks were a bit pricey but that’s to be expected at a speakeasy. Ran about $22 a person I believe with tax. My spouse was a bit surprised by that and accidentally calculated the incorrect tip amount (which I feel bad about and didn’t realize until he told me what it was after we left). Overall, it was a sweet little setting, an interesting story line and knowledgeable staff regarding the drinks and what caters to you. I recommend it for sure if you don’t mind the price tag for a good experience.

Anton S.

Atmosphere: 8/10 Speakeasy entrance - look for a door with number "313" and follow instructions from the reservation email you received. Very impressive upscale/antique interior design and vibe. No bar seating available - only booth. Perfect for a date or a friends group. Pleasant music volume Drinks: 8.5/10 Recommendation: Manhattan Project Very creative menu ("Aliens vs Cowboys") sorted in categories of drinks. Many drinks come with a unique presentation and garnishes. Manhattan Project is one of their signatures and comes with a refill and DIY garnish options. Tasted delicious - very boozy. Not a big fan that the cocktail is pre-bottled, but since there are no bar seatings anyway, it is difficult to get the mixology craft experience anyway. Good quality glassware. Coasters only for selected drinks. Service: 6/10 Reservation-only spot. Friendly team, water served on the spot. Prices are significantly above average, because mandatory 20% gratuity AND 3% credit card fee (?!)

Agnes Sullivan

We had a fantastic experience here last night, we had a group of 6 so we got a small private room down the hall, if we wanted a drink we turned on our red light outside the room. So unique and fun! A guy there named Matt helped us the whole time, very friendly and informative. Drinks were so different and tasty, my favorite part was the cart side cocktails they’d make in front of our private booth. Highly recommend!

Joanie A

If you are looking for a low-key cocktail spot in the midst of the 6th Street chaos, this is a great spot. It comes with a high price tag though. They really know their stuff and will custom make drinks to your taste. There are small tables in the front of the speakeasy and on the back some private small rooms for groups. I will remember this place for next time as it was a real gem!

+7

Kristen Race

Some of the best cocktails I've ever had! Such a unique menu with ingredients that blend seamlessly. There is a wide range of options for different palates. I prefer spirit forward and these pack a punch in a very good way. We visited twice when we were in town because it is that good. The drinks made from the cart at your table are fun to experience. I would suggest your reservations are at least 2 hours if you can because 1 hour is not quite long enough! You'll want to spend some quality time here. And they have a cute patio! Went to a few other cocktail bars in Austin and Midnight Cowboy definitely stood out as a favorite. Can't wait to go back.

+5

Awesome happy hour deals! Sun-Fri 5-6 PM 1/2 off cocktails, beer, wine glasses; 1/2 off select menu items (east coast oysters, beef tartare, ceviche, crab fritters, USDA prime bacon cheeseburger). Greta ambiance. Downtown street parking. We especially liked the cheeseburger, crab fritters, and beef tartare. Outside of the happy hour menu, I recommend the endive salad (so good with apples, nuts, and dressing) and caramel pear tart for dessert.

Tried Parkside for dinner on East 6th and it’s a good pick if you want something a little nicer but still relaxed. The raw bar is the move here—oysters were fresh and the mignonette options made it fun to mix things up. Cocktails were solid, and the dining room has that brick-and-wood downtown vibe that works for a date or catching up with friends.

No wait for us, there were two barstools available, otherwise it would have been about 25 minutes. The food was very good, the service from the bartender was good. I left no additional tip, due to the 20% service fee added to the bill. I hope that goes into the tip pool, if not, do better by your servers and customers. The prices are high enough, 20% service fee is defeating the purpose, if it is a tip...I would have left more than that, if not forced to pay it.

Josh

Fun discrete, narrow bar marked along sixth street by a red bulb. Extensive rotating drink menu that unfortunately doesn't feature any prices. Our drinks were great and both around $19. It features about 8 booths along a central aisle leading to the bar and private rooms in the rear. We were lucky to get a seat without reservations, but we're reminded to leave by a certain time. The drink menu changes frequently, built around a theme. The most bold part of my drink's presentation and flavor was its smokiness. Dramatic, but unfortunately the smokiness not only spoke first among the flavors, it spoke loudest.

Some of the food here was hit and miss. The macaroni lacked flavor. The squash and salmon were really fantastic. However, compared to other reviews and photos I saw. The portions for the entrees given to us were a lot smaller on Valentine’s Day for the same price. That was a let down. Also while everyone was nice, we were seated very closely to other people. All in all, based on my experience it seemed this business is more interested in turning tables and serving less portions for the same prices. Don’t think I’d return.

Fancy Dining here so it's definitely kind of pricey but some dishes are nice. If you ever decide to dine here, you can get the following: Beef Tartare - It's interesting how they added a tortilla chip as the base. Gives a good crunch to the raw beef Marinated Pork Blade Steak - Found this very tender and filling. Something you can savor. Some things to avoid: Corn - Totally not worth it and hard to eat Lamb Pastrami Ribs - They made it a bit too salty and meat is slightly tough

Super disappointing Valentine’s experience. We chose Parkside because we recently rented the event space upstairs for our wedding, and were truly blown away. I’m not sure where the lines got blurred, but our recent dinner experience was everything but smooth. Our 6:30 reservation was not honored, we finally managed a table about 30 minutes after that. Once seated, it took about 20 minutes to get seen. Thankfully my husband managed to order me a drink from the bar. Once our server came around, we put in our complete order from the Valentine’s menu. We received our oysters about an hour after seating and nothing else. The server never came around again, no management came to speak to us, we never even had the opportunity to know what was going on. After voicing this to a person running food, she simply dismissed our concern and told us the restaurant would cover our oysters. No hospitality, resolution or explanation. Mind-blowing bummer.

Carleigh-Anne Anderson

We came down from Dallas and wanted to try a Speakeasy. This bar had a pleasant atmosphere and very clever drink menu. We were both really disappointed in our drinks. We got 3 drinks between us all different and they were really gross and weird flavors. The worst part, is for 3 drinks it was $80 with automatic tip added. The atmosphere did not make up for the price. We would probably try a different speakeasy next time we came.

+2

Jessica Walters

Four of us came in with a reservation on a Wednesday night. We understand it is a small, intimate setting with few tables and a short reservation period. However, the bar was so understaffed that we only got one cocktail each over the 1.5 hour time slot we booked. When we politely critiqued the service, the waiter and bartender acted as if we had unreasonable expectations. 20% gratuity was included in the check despite the slow service after paying roughly $25 per cocktail. We will not return here again.

Yuxi Li

The drinks were good but at $20 a cocktail plus mandatory 20% tip I expected better service and ambiance. We were seated at the worst table in the establishment - 3rd booth on the left that sat directly under the unforgiving blast of the AC. When we were seated there were only one or two other parties and both identical booths directly before and after us were empty. When we requested to switch to either to avoid being under the direct blast of the AC, the waitress refused but offered to instead adjust the AC. That solved the problem for about 10 minutes before it started blasting again. I’ll add the temperature felt fine everywhere else in the bar outside of our booth because the AC wasn’t directly blasting at you. It would’ve been so easy for them to switch us to any other booth without this problem so it’s really disappointing that their reservation system is so strict and inflexible that you can’t even move to a different identical table that’s sitting empty.

Our reservation was at 730pm and we arrived at 710pm. Got seated fairly quickly then it took awhile for someone to take our drink order. Another 20 mins goes by and finally someone takes our order. Afterwards they tried 3 separate tikes to brings us other people orders. Our food arrives after the 2 couples seated after us already had their food. My wife's food came 10 minute before my steak. When my steak arrived almpst blue rare(ordered medium) I was done and ready to leave. Food arrived an hour after we first checked in. Other only table we could find last minute on Valentines Day was at a Saltgrass location and ended up have a great time there.

I got the lamb ribs and I didn’t like the sauce on top. It was too herb taste So if you don’t like intense herb flavor ask the sauce on the side. I ordered the salmon and it came with a green sauce and I didn’t like it either and the salmon didn’t even had salt or pepper it was plain . The worst part was to wait for our food 1 hour 30 min.

Nicholas Stevenson

I was unable to check out the quality or ambiance of this establishment as there were a number of issues with my reservation. Basically, I had a large group reserved for a celebration, and I didn’t get a confirmation email and when I noticed this I scrambled to find another reservation. The reservation link I was sent to kept erroring out when I tried to process it. Apparently the incorrect date was selected and I did not notice I was charged an exorbitant amount of money because it was a larger party, but we had every intention of going and we would have spent quite a bit of money. After being charged a $120 no show fee I tried to contact them to see if they could at least squeeze us in or take the no show fee off but they said their policy was clearly stated and they don’t respond to my last email. Also, there is no phone number which is incredibly frustrating as I would have called to confirm my 5:30pm reservation issue, but instead just assumed it didn’t go through While part of this was undoubtedly user error, the process of reserving and confirming reservations was not easy. Furthermore, the establishment was not overly understanding Some tips: Go to a different bar. There are so many great bars, lounges, and speakeasy’s in the area, and I wouldn’t risk the potential hassle. We pivoted to the Roosevelt room last minute and we had a great time Cheers!