Half Step

Very speakeasy
These cocktails were crazy good
Very mellow vibe

I used to really like this place.
First of all — the hours are wrong. Everywhere. On this Unilocal page, on their webpage, on their facebook… either that, or the rude ass staff is pulling my leg. The last few times I’ve been here around 4:30pm, whoever is working has told me they don’t open until 5:00.
One time, we went back at 5:00, just to be told the INSIDE doesn’t open until 6:00 but the outside just opened with a very limited cocktail menu!
If this hours conundrum had only happened one time, I wouldn’t bother complaining, but again, it’s happened multiple times — including New Year’s Eve.
Speaking of holidays, I also made the mistake of coming here on Halloween. Long story short, the bartender wasn’t the nicest (they never seem to be at Half Step these days) and I didn’t tip him in return. If you have strong qualms about not tipping, please contact me and I can assure you the situation warranted a 0% tip.
Yet, the next day my bank account included a nice 20% tip. I emailed the bar, and was told I would get the roughly $ 2 credited back. Do I really care about $ 2? No. So when I never got the tip (that I didn’t leave) reimbursed, I let it drop. But still, the shadiness of the situation, on top of the rude staff and the confusing hours, doesn’t make me want to come back here.
So, some advice:
1. Come here after 5:00, 6:00 if you want to be safe
2. Don’t expect friendly service
3. Keep your receipt and make sure it matches the next day

This place has gone way down hill. Used to be a really chill place to grab a nice drink from a knowledgable bartender.
This last time, ours didn’t even know what a gin fizz was, asked the other bartender «it has egg whites right?» proceeded to make some sort of half-​assed, not even shaken cocktail, asked again for what garnish to put on it… it was an embarrassment. Cya later Rainy street.

I visited Austin from Los Angeles and came here due to the fact that the bar is owned by 213, an LA based company that owns a lot of great bars in Downtown LA, such as Varnish and Perlas. Happy to say, I was not disappointed. The place is great, located in a small house with a wrap around porch and plenty of seating outside as well as inside, and caters to very good looking customers. The bar itself is tremendous, featuring handsome mixologists who work with fresh fruit. If you’re feeling crazy, I would recommend going with «Bartender’s choice»… I ordered that twice and was very pleased. This bar will definitely be an Austin staple for me every time I visit!

Great, creative mixed drinks. Bartenders will make anything for you — just tell them what you like and they’ll make your own custom drink. Super cool that it looks like a bungalow from the outside. Definitely check it out on Rainey Street!

Nice area. Seats are benched and cozy. Kinda has an NY feel. High end cocktail drinks

I ended up here at the recommendation of a friend who really enjoys their craft cocktails. I don’t hit up Rainey Street often, but I think this might have to be my first stop from now on.
Two words: Grapefruit Collins. I couldn’t tell you what was in it, because I was drunk, but I saw the word grapefruit and knew I had to have it. That drink was awesome and they serve it to you with a slice of grapefruit! Any drink that comes with a slice of fresh fruit is a winner in my book.
Everyone else really enjoyed their drinks, too. My boyfriend, who actually went up to the bar, said the bartender makes six drinks at once. What?! That must take some crazy skill to pull off, but he did it beautifully because all of our drinks were wonderful. Next time, I need to see that for myself.
They also have quite a bit of inside seating and space, which was greatly appreciated since we went out on a very chilly night. The interior is dark and romantic and probably perfect for a date, which was totally evident by the couple making out in the back room. (Seriously, I thought they were going to rip each other’s clothes off right there in the bar. It was getting intense.)
Next time, this will be my first stop as opposed to my last so that I can fully appreciate the skill that went into creating my cocktail. I mean, come on, fresh fruit with the drink? I’m sold.

Love Rainey Street in Austin. And especially love this place — low key and they play exceptionally good music (think old school like Burt Bacharach or Hawaiian slack key guitar tunes).
We had a drink that is typically just featured on their happy hour menu. Unfortunately, the name escapes me but it had vodka, ginger beer, seltzer and was garnished with candied ginger (probably a little simple syrup thrown in there too). So good — and refreshing. I had to stop myself at three and OF COURSE transition to Lone Star beer (when in TX).
We sat outside at one of their many picnic tables for a good few hours. They just had bar service on the patio, which suits me just fine. I’ll likely hit up this place the next time I’m in Austin. It’s perfect if you’re looking for respite from busy Rainey Street.

Who knew Austin had such a great cocktail scene? Well, now I do.
Half Step is a great addition to the row of bars and restaurants on Rainey Street, with live music and expert mixologists.
The three of us went for the bartender’s special, where you specify a spirit and they’ll make you something based on what you like. I asked for something with rye that was citrusy and he came back with a peach cablegram, which was delicious.
There’s seating out front on the porch, great for people watching and if it’s too loud inside to carry a conversation.

Quiet and unassuming on a Sunday at 7pm. You’d almost have to know exactly where you were going to find it. This joint looks like a quiet house from outside. Highly recommend the hunter.

Fancy pancy! The drinks were on point. The downside was waiting to grab a drink… but once you got it, it was good! Right amount of liquor!

We’d actually never been to Half Step before. The door guy said that it has existed for a couple of years though. From the outside, you would have no idea that the place was named Half Step. Although, the «½» is shown in a few places (signs, etc.).
I liked the fact that they had booths inside. However, if it’s crowded, don’t bet on getting a booth. I seems like there are a few bars that have started doing the booth thing now. They also had a weird open room that had no tables or chairs in it at the time. Maybe they ran out of furniture? The bar inside was too crowded, so we headed outside. They had a really large outdoor area, but there were no fans or misters in sight. The outdoor bar was crowded too, but we were able to get drinks. I got one of their cocktails that had lemon, gin, and other things in it. It was pretty good, but I think it was $ 11 or so. Normally, that’s pretty reasonable. However, you can go to Lucille next door and get their craft cocktails for $ 5 and $ 6. Boyfriend’s lonestar was $ 5.

I’m a Tuesday night fan here, specifically for the Michael Hale Trio, which features three great jazz musicians and the one of Austin’s finest singers, Mac McIntosh. The acoustics are great (even though it means the drums are a little on the loud side). This is the classiest joint on a Rainey St. Tuesday night, and you’ll never be able to disprove that!
The bartenders are great, and the drinks are as well. The drinks menu is diverse, and they’ll even serve you mocktails if you ask.
Also, there are baby kittens roaming around the back patio area. What more could you want?

Okay. This is a quaint little cocktail bar for a small group of people or just you and your SO… it is a place to have a nice, quiet time, but not a roaring good time.
I like the vibe, it makes me feel a lot classier than I am. The boys complained about the lack of beer on the menu, but not every bar in Rainey needs to have 100+ on tap.
So, we ordered 2 beers and a cider julep. Service was abysmal. And I mean abysmal. We waited 10 minutes for the two beers to arrive and another 5 for the cider julep, which was delicious and a great cocktail, but not good enough to make up for the service. Usually that is not a bad wait, but believe me, the place was empty! Saw people walk out.
Good spot for an intimate conversation and a cocktail but definitely not adding it to my Rainey rotation. Service was too bad.

My friends found this place the night before I went and wanted to come back. When I got there, I could see why!
Every drink I tried was good. My favorite was a cider julep, although it looks like their menu changes over time so you might not see it if you go.
The bartenders are passionate about the drinks they craft and you can see the professionalism in what they do. Top that with great personalities and you can easily spend the rest of the night here and forget about exploring the rest of Rainey St. That’s actually what happened with us. We stopped by for a drink and before I realized it it was closing time!
If you’re looking for a chill place to socialize while enjoying some tasty drinks, you should go here!

Located in one of the many entertainment areas of Austin. This bar is conveniently located near the water. The bar is named for it’s location is ½ of the address. We came in before it got busy the other day.
Group of five of us look for seating to find reserved on the tables. The waitress or manager asked as we walked away how many people were drinking. We kindly responded five and were seated in reserved seating. I believe if you are a group they will get a table for you if available.
The woman that provided us seating offered menu. The server approaches our table and discusses a few key points. We are fairly decisive and elect to try many of their artisan style beverages. We get water and drinks we ordered Cider Julep, and a Bartenders Choice.
Took some time for beverages.
Cider was calvados, cider, mint, and bitters. A drink unique in it’s own. Drink was strong. Lots of character. Almost a licorice.
Bartenders choice is your call of alcohol and the bartender will make something with it. We requested the Whiskey which came with Orange and mint. Drink was on the money. Ice cube garnish was pure clear ice cube. Clearest ice cube we had ever seen. No impurities.
We finished our drinks and check was settled in a reasonable fashion.
Good: strong beverages, unique crafted drinks and friendly staff.
Bad: a little pricey but worth the drinks.
Try this place early in the night as the neighborhood can get busy.
A definite fan. I will be back when I come through town.

We were drawn into this hidden gem on a Wed night, by an amazing eclectic band’s vibes of jazz/​blues/​soulful rhythms. Their name was «Canned Beets» and they were incredible.
Not only were they incredible, but Half Step’s ambiance, décor, and drinks were also incredible! They don’t have bartenders, they have Mixologists (There is a difference!). The drinks are pricey, but you get serious quality and care with your orders.
We were really blown away by this place and will absolutely, positively return. Hopefully as it gets a little warmer, we’ll take the party to the cool outside patio area. See you soon, Half Step!

I visited Half Step for the first time last night. I’ve been on Rainey street hundreds of times, but never noticed this bar before. Apparently they’ve been open for a year?! A friend wanted to meet here for the good cocktails and this is how I ended up here. I was expecting a good cocktail menu, but I wasn’t expecting to pay $ 11 — $ 12 for a drink. Cocktails at the other bars on Rainey street are definitely cheaper and average between $ 6– $ 10.
I asked the bartender about the ingredients in the draft margarita and he demanded that I order the «bartender’s choice» with tequila instead. He made me a margarita with simple honey and ginger syrup (i think). It was good, but I didn’t appreciate his pompous demand for me to order the $ 12 drink.
The lighting is dimply lit and the place has a cool, speak easy vibe. Personally I think there’s better options on Rainey street with cheaper drinks, nicer bartenders, and a significantly less wait for a drink.

Okay let’s face it… any adult with a job and a shred of self-​respect would do well to avoid the perils of «Dirty Sixth».
Enter: Half Step.
Ahh yes just what you needed. A bar on Rainey Street, far enough from the crowds. A bar that can make the hell out of a cocktail without the pretension. The proprietor of this fine establishment is an Austin native that cut his teeth making some of the best craft cocktails in Los Angeles at the famed Varnish speakeasy inside Cole’s Restaurant. He returned to Austin to open Half Step and it has been both refreshing and delicious.
This hidden gem boasts a low key unassuming exterior that gives way to a sultry, sexy interior. With an extensive collection of whiskeys, spirits, and local draft beer, you can do no wrong.
My advice: Try one of their signature cocktails (which are revolving) just to get started. They’re delicious. Then go with the dealers choice on the second round. Tell the barkeep what you like, what you don’t, whether or not you felt loved by your mother as a child and they’ll make something tailored to your palate. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The men and women behind the bar pay close attention to their craft here. Ask them about their ice, seriously ask them! They’re friendly, approachable, and they won’t look down their noses at you if you don’t know the difference Angostura and Peychaud’s.
What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist? About ten minutes. But those ten minutes are worth the wait at Half Step. If you’d rather pay $ 5 for a shot of Fireball, a Lone Star, and a chance at mouth gonorrhea… well then, there’s alway Dirty Sixth. Either way tip your bartender.

Can’t really go wrong on Rainey Street, and Half Step is no exception. Their cocktail menu has a nice assortment, and if you still don’t find what you’re looking for, you can ask the bartender for some suggestions, and they’ll whip you up something. My girlfriend and I went last night to catch up with some old college friends (and make new ones), and Half Step was a great way to start the evening. I ordered a Gentleman’s Buck, which is a bourbon-​based without the dark burn that usually accompanies similar drinks, and she the Harry’s Pick Me Up, which is a light, champagne-​based drink similar to a classic French 75.
The interior is dimly lit and is furnished with a long bar, a set of tables for 4, and several booths. For some odd reason, we decided to sit outside in the cold instead of inside, but even so, there were several heat lamps outside that make it bearable in chilly conditions.
Somewhere towards the end of our time there, it seemed like they had live music going inside the house. I didn’t bother to check it out, and it was a tad too loud, which I imagine would have made conversation inside difficult, but live music is (usually) a plus!
The only real complaint I have is that it’s a pretty hard establishment to find. The sign consists of an encircled ½, but is extremely small. If you’ve never been and you’re meeting your friends there — good luck.