Powder Room — Restaurant in Austin

I chose to go here for my birthday and I honestly wish I didn’t go. The only reason I am giving it 3 stars was because our waitress inside Powder Room was super sweet and friendly and made our night so much better. For context, I made a reservation a week and half in advance since I knew I was coming with a large party (12). I knew that we needed to be there at the time of the reservation or within 15 minutes past or I would be receiving a hefty cancellation fee. We were there at actually a few minutes early. Upon arriving, two of my guy friends were immediately questioned about their outfits. Both were wearing khakis and a plain shirt and one was wearing a crewneck. I mentioned that I had made a reservation and that it was my birthday and the bouncer seemed to loosen up slightly. We were very compliant with the requests and moved inside to Matty’s.This was one of the first observations we made upon entering into the Powder Room— many other men were wearing the same thing as my friends that were picked apart for their outfits, and some looked even more casual than my friends with plain white shirts, windbreakers, and jeans. This was insanely frustrating as the website says the dress code options are simply “preferred”. If you want people to look a certain way without saying they HAVE to dress a certain way on paper, maybe fix the wording on your website. Next, when notifying the first hostess of our arrival, we were told the tables weren’t ready— which is not a huge problem, but if you expect your guests to be prompt and arrive on time to their reservation, you should have their table ready. We waited in the lobby for about 10 minutes before I went back to the hostess to ask about the status of our table. She said she would have to go check on our table to see if the party left. If I had not gone up there, we may have waited for another 5-10 minutes before she acknowledged us again. Once again, I understand that you cannot force guests out if their spots, but if you are going to charge me $25 per person if we are late AND I made a reservation in advance, it feels like a slap in the face to be treated as an inconvenience when we are doing our best to convenience you and follow your guidelines. In addition, we were told we needed to give up the table at 12:00. We were still allowed to be inside the bar, but once again, there clearly was NO rush for the party before us to leave. The hostesses inside were super friendly and we got to our table quickly…only to find out that there were not enough seats for all my guests. Our waitress was super sweet and friendly and I greatly appreciated her help with finding more chairs for our group. Once again, I made a reservation more than a week ago. It was not a surprise that a big party was coming. Lastly, as we sat down, one of the candles at the table was accidentally blown out. One of the waiters bussing the tables relit it for us. But, as he relit it he told my friend “That’s strike one.” This was just insanely rude and almost an unbelievable comment. It’s sad that this is how the Powder Room treats people who are trying to convenience them by getting a reservation and being as compliant as possible to its requests. The bar itself inside was not what we were expecting. The bar was very nice and super cool, but for how pompous the bouncers are and how the bar is advertised as a select, hidden spot, we were expecting somewhat of a nice sit down, somewhat quiet bar, but it is unbelievably LOUD and PACKED with people. Once again, for being so picky with my friends, they seemingly let almost everyone in. Drinks were good (also served rather quickly, but I’m convinced this was only because we were sitting at a table and out of sight of the bartenders and treated as any normal customer) and we greatly appreciated complementary birthday shots.

Overall, the Powder Room service was inconsistent, hypocritical, and insulting. I will not be coming back for any other sort of occasion. Definitely put a damper on the mood...

As someone who has worked in upscale hospitality and traveled the world, I approached Powder Room with modest expectations—but was quickly impressed. The space is beautifully designed: a Vegas-style speakeasy meets NYC lounge sophistication, with plush vintage seating, a dramatic central bar, and a striking taxidermy leopard centerpiece. It’s immersive, intimate, and thoughtfully curated—a rare gem in downtown Austin.

I was invited by a colleague who thought this would be a great match for the musical experience I’m currently developing—something elevated, immersive, and design-conscious. He was absolutely right. Powder Room seemed like a natural fit. I could immediately see its potential for hosting a more sophisticated kind of crowd.

Unfortunately, the night took a surprising turn. While I was enjoying a well-made Old Fashioned and casually chatting with the bartender, my colleague stepped away. When he didn’t return for a while, I went to check on him and found him just coming out of the restroom. As we walked out together, we were met by the assistant manager and another staff member—who asked us both to leave.

In my 42 years, I can’t recall ever being asked to leave a venue. It was disorienting, especially considering I wasn’t involved in whatever led up to the decision. I later learned that my colleague had made a staff member uncomfortable—likely being too familiar or forward. I had noticed earlier that he was acting a bit out of line and even tried to diffuse it with humor at the time. Still, I wasn’t aware of any escalation until the very end.

Having managed a high-end lounge in Chicago’s Gold Coast myself, I absolutely understand protecting staff and maintaining atmosphere. I likely would’ve made a similar call—but I might have handled it with more nuance. Asking me to leave, when I had no role in the situation, felt like an oversight. Especially given the potential for future collaboration and my genuine interest in bringing value to the space.

A final odd note: I had received a business card from a very professional and kind manager named Amanda earlier in the evening—but by the time I got home, it had somehow vanished from my wallet. Possibly coincidence, but symbolic of how the night unraveled.

That said, Powder Room is a beautiful venue with clear potential. I’m leaving 1 star - not due to the ambiance or service, but because the handling of the situation lacked the level of sophistication I know this place is capable of. I hope to hear from the management, and I’d love the chance to sit down and explore ways I could bring my own refined community to this truly...

Walk into the lush patio at Manny’s and through the arched doorway into a brightly lit deli. To the right of the counter are swinging “kitchen doors” but oh guess what? It’s not the kitchen!

It’s a dimly lit, retro speakeasy/cocktail bar reminiscent of South Florida in the 70’s. Velvet seating, greenery, a stunning circular bar, backlighting, and a huge leopard 🐆 that keeps his watchful eye on the bartender making your drinks.

They have a no phone policy. I didn’t mind this at all. You look around and see groups of people and couples talking TO each other and enjoying their drinks instead of posing them for a picture or video. Don’t get me wrong- I love foodie pics but this place doesn’t DO “influencers” and I respect that.

Now, the drink menu reads more like a vintage magazine. It was a treat to browse through the little surprises on each page. To me, the menu felt like a guidebook to direct you to a drink you will love. And of course, the staff is fabulous. They are upbeat, friendly, and intent on ensuring you have a great experience.

There were four of us and we each had 3 drinks total within our 90min reservation time slot. There was only one drink we didn’t unanimously love.

The Powder Room is offering inventive cocktails with bold and surprising flavors that will not disappoint you. An earlier review was disappointed in the lack of garnishes in the drinks. I respectfully disagree. Some of the drinks were garnished but the ones that arrived naked, did not need them! The drinks stand on their own and it showcases the talent of the mixologist when so many layers of flavor are present in small glass of chilled, colored, liquid. Nothing needs to be lit on fire, served with candied bacon, or emerge from a bowl of dry ice to get your attention.

The vibe is more cocktail lounge in the evening which transitions into nightclub in the later hours. They have live music and performances later in the evening some nights. They have small bites available but we did not order food. They also have beer, wine, bubbles, and a full bar. Many of the women wore dresses and I would describe the scene as upscale and trendy but also still maintaining a casual, living room vibe.

Definitely check it out for sexy 🔥 date night, upscale friends night, or anytime you want to get a bit fancy and...