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Elephant Room
Rating Details »
Category: Jazz & Blues [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown315 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-2279
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
86 reviews for Elephant Room
Let's go to Elephant Room!
That's a very common suggestion in my group of friends. For some reason I wasn't intrigued to check it out for a while. Last night I finally gave in. We venture downtown on a cold November night. Alas, we arrive! :)
Upon opening the door, there's a stair case that goes down. Very similar to Barcelona's entry. We get to the bottom and it's dark, warm, and cozy! I was looking around thinking...ohmigosh! This is so cute! We sit at a table and have a couple and just converse! It was so comfortable, we could hear each other, and the staff was super nice! Kinda felt like I was at home, hanging out with friends, with the music in the background, and just talking.
I'm in totally crushing on this place. Making it's way to one of my fav venues.... I hear they have great happy hour as well. We shall see. :)
Relationships are a lot of work - like, I'm sometimes looking out for a paycheck in the mail. Sometimes one of you suggests something and you're thinking oh hell to the no that is so DUMB... but you should never actually say that. It's a compromise. So when I say hey, let's visit my DJ buddy downtown, and SO suggests Elephant Room instead (after many months of not stopping by) I appreciate his counter-offer.
Jeff Lofton's band happened to be there Saturday night, and I knew we were on the right track. We arrived just in time to catch the end of their solid second set, grab drinks, and wait on set 3. We talked about work (the relationship, right?) and other miscellaneous fun bits and.. it didn't feel like work. He was the sweetest thing in the room. Then the band started to play.
There is nothing more exciting than a live performance by people who know what they're doing, in music, in theater, and otherwise. The unintrusive staff left us to our own happy listening and drinking devices.
I looked around during the set at the $1's stapled onto the support beams and on the walls, labeled with names and other messages. I saw one that brought a rush: a name that sounded close to that of an old acquaintance, someone who (thought he) loved me but for whom I couldn't reciprocate. The band started playing the beautiful composition Rose, and I smiled. I thought Shaner, thanks for putting up that dollar bill. This one's for my old could've-been flame, the one I couldn't see myself putting in work for.
For various reasons, there was a time in my life when I spent pretty much every night at the Elephant Room. You can denote the regulars by where they sit--at the bend in the bar where the coffee machine is, which is also the acoustical sweet spot for both music and conversation in this place as well.
Since I'm not unfamiliar with what musicians are doing on stage, I've always felt most performers playing the Elephant Room actually enjoyed what they were doing, as opposed to just going through the motions while paying their Austin dues or whatever. It fascinates me when local musicians think bar patrons aren't listening or wouldn't know the difference if they were--hey dude, we're not the starving artists here, just give us a reason to buy your homemade CD.
If you do beer, the Elephant Room has great beer on tap. If you do Jager, the Elephant Room keeps it frostily chilled. If you do coffee, it's Folgers.
I'm starting to think this review is pretty lame, maybe it's just a personal baggage thing. I'll end this by telling you if the Elephant Room was in downtown Tokyo, you'd be paying a $300 cover but still never get in because of the crowd. Truly a good thing here in Austin.
Awesome, lowkey, litteraly underground jazz bar in the heart of downtown Austin. My only complaint about this place is that it's often very hard to get a table, so you have to show up early or get lucky. Great dark little place with Jazz every night. You have to check it out.
Funky.
I've said before, as an Elite Yelper, I know you aren't supposed to write one sentence reviews, yet alone one word ones. But I was deeply tempted to do so in this case, as Funky is the word that pops into my mind every time someone says Elephant Room.
First off, it's a funky little bar. Built into the basement of a building on South Congress, Elephant room has an old school speak easy feel that just puts you in the right mood for jazz, and I'm certain that this vibe is a part of their long tenure in Austin. The place rivals Club Deville for the title of The Darkest Bar in Austin, only lending more romance to the vibe here.
Second, the musical talent at Elephant Room is downright funky. This is the best jazz spot in the city, no one need bother to argue the point, thank you very much. There may be great spots in town that feature jazz (Vino Vino and Apple Annie's, to name a few) but no one consistently brings in the level of talent that Elephant Room puts on display. This place is the heart of Jazz in the Live Music Capitol of the World, no question about it.
However, lastly I must say out loud that which all others who've been here might be thinking ... Elephant Room smells funky. Sorry, but it does, the odor, be it from the underground location or sewer line issues or whatever other excuses I have heard over the years, is prevalent. It comes right up to your table and sits down with your friends. Its not overwhelming, but it is always there, and no one seems to care to do much about it. This, and the sometimes slow staff and indifferent service, are the reasons the stars don't go through the roof here, and honestly, the reason that I go to Elephant room on other folks suggestions, but never find myself saying, "you know were we oughtta head? I know this funky little place...."
One of my favorite places in Austin!
and even better one of my favorite sushi places is right upstairs.
Kyoto AND Elephant Room have great happy hour! Great assortment of beer on tap and the place has a nice relaxing feeling to it. The jazz is great and the staff is nice.
I came here a long time ago with some friends from work. The place is small but quaint! Live music is AWESOME and the drinks are good! What more can you ask for?!
Classic basement jazz club, with fabulous music and a relaxed, but competent, staff. I ordered a sidecar, which some bartenders need help with, but this one got it just right, so I kept them coming (which was a mistake, but not his fault!). I was there on a Monday night, and the musicians on stage kept changing, so it could have been an open jam night, but regardless the level of musicianship was high, and the crowd was into it.
Great atmosphere, authentic and well-run. You've got to like jazz, but if you do, don't miss it.
They say Austin is the live music capital....and this place is just the cat's meow!!!!! Grrrrr baby, Grrrrrrr.
You walk downstairs into this underground-like jazz bar that always has live music for a small cover, and you are pretty much in either a great spot for a group outing, or a more perfect spot for a classy date!!
It is dark and dim inside, making it perfect for you to cuddle up to your favorite jazz song, and if you are lucky and here with one of their latin style bands, there is even some room to get your samba on and burn off some of those calories from those drinks!
I would love to open up a bar just like this in Boston when I move there soon, especially since being at Tufts with their mascot being an elephant, This Elephant Bar would be the highlight of every night near campus!! Good business idea, I know, so owner of Elephant Bar in Austin, want to expand to Boston? The cities rhyme anyway! Come on, you know you want to!
I love the Elephant Room!
Sometimes after a hard ass week, in my mind, this place becomes a light house for my well being. An awesome night means stopping by Kyoto upstairs for some Sushi (the vegetable is awesome) and a quick walk down the stairs to a dark booth, a good drink and some mind easing foot tapping jazz. My favorites are the Kat Edmonson quintet and the Ephraim Owen's quartet. These are my favorites but I have never heard a bad sound in this place. Just released is another high energy act I highly recommend.
This place is full of vibe. Old stuff walks here.
The crowd, in my experience, has always been pleasant and I have entertained more than a few conversations with strangers though don't worry, none of them offered me any candy.
The service can be slow some times but this is directly attributed to the size of the crowd. Get there early to secure a good spot.
The bar tenders mix a good round and often great round.
There is a parking lot a bit South (block or two) on Congress that has, so far, always offered a great spot for 7 dollars.
Great place to chill, drain the brain and relax to some fantastic tunes.
Highly recommended!
The Elephant Room's pride is being named (not for the first time I hear) one of the top 10 jazz clubs nationwide. Which is no small thing and in my opinion, the nomination is well deserved. The musician lineup is usually pretty good and often times some big names grace the stage and play some world class music.
This place is great for a romantic night out or just to take a rest from the abundant garage bands. Located in the basement off Congress, it is centrally located yet a little bit hard to find so keep you eyes open or you may easily miss the sign. Most of the weekdays are free and on the weekends (Fri, Sat) they charge some nominal cover - I went there on Sat and paid $5, which was more than modest for the great performance I happened to catch. They have a bar and table seating but on a busy night things may easily get hectic as they only have two people waiting the room and those two get very busy. Which was not a big deal for me because I came for the music not for booze.
Overall, it is a great place to go hear great jazz or something different from the mainstream Austin and the only reason I didn't give it "5" is because of the chatty patrons. I understand it's not the club's issue and they can't do anything about it - Austin is a college town with a healthy population of young motor mouth types, so any given day at any given club yields a fresh crop of those chatters who don't know any better. So just bring some patience and enjoy the awesome music!
"Great vibe"
Coming from L.A., I was nervous that I wasn't gonna find a good jazz club. Dumb of me, I know...I did move to Austin were shit ain't good...it's COOL. Ya, the Elephant Room is definitely a cool jazz club to hang and chill at. It sits below ground off Congress so it's naturally dark and dungy which is what you want at midnight in a downtown jazz club. I was there this past Saturday (14th of March) and caught a local group with a ton of talent. They jammed to some solid standards which were perfect for the elements around...friends, cocktails, and good music. Naturally I chatted with the sax player, Eli after his gig and complimented him on his show. The Elephant Room will be a frequent visit to soothe my jazz needs. Thank you for being here in Austin...
How did I not write about the Elephant Room yet? Shame on me! Please, blame it on the vortex of holiday busy-ness, not on the fact I didn't love this place.
Unfortunately, the night we stopped in, the band was MIA. Hey, it happens. However, our bartender was so kind, conversational and great to chat with that I settled right in. All of a sudden, I felt comfortable in Austin (it was my first night there), as I was guided through a taste tour of a few local brews.
By the time we were heading out, we'd struck up a conversation with a musician just in from Pittsburgh (sometimes instant bonding takes place when people from rust-belt cities meet) who was hanging around, hoping to jam with the band later that night. I'm hoping that they were just slightly delayed and it all worked out.
Later on this evening, I got a text from my friend T, who used to live in Austin years ago. She listed two places I absolutely had to go. #1? The Elephant Room.
Good taste, Kevin, for bringing me here. And good taste T, for loving it for years!
Honestly, if I were able to come back to soak up some music, I'm sure this place would be 5 stars all the way!
Nice place . . . went there on a whim after watching a friend eat dinner at La Traviata. Wine selection is "red or white", which I found kinda funny for a jazz club (seems like it should be all highfalutin and such and have more options). It's a little drafty and cramped, but the music's good, and I like the overall ambiance.
I'll definitely go back!
Went here on a Saturday night to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in two years. Nice place, nice jazz. Not too loud, was able to have a conversation with my friend. The cover keeps out the riff raff. There was nowhere to sit upon arrival, but a few stools and a plank between two pillars. About twice as much for a well drink than most 6th St places. I thought that since I was in a jazz club, I would try to blend in, and not even think about asking if they have High Life tall boys!
We asked some (still undergrad) peeps if they wanted to stop by, interestingly they responded 'nah, jazz is too high class for us'. But I saw the men's room! And it's probably on par with Chuggin' Monkey.
Nice place. Hard to find because we didn't realize that its on a basement. Pretty cool. Love the jazz. I am sure to return whenever I am in Austin.
The coolest place to be in Austin is in a basement under a sushi joint. World-class acts are attracted to the Elephant Room, and I've never left disappointed with the entertainment. Get there early or you may be sitting in the faaaar back. The service is quite mediocre, but it doesn't matter when the music is so amazing. I wish I could go every night.
One of the better music venues in Austin. Great jazz and blues. It is down the stairs in a basement off Congress Ave. Intersting decor. The live jazz band playing the night we were there was just fantastic. Amazing for a venue like this.
Drinks were good and not overpriced. Bar has some appetizers available also.
Nice stop for some great music in Austin town.
the best JAzz place in town!! with decent price of drinks
good place to go in 6th street!!!!
You like jazz?
Then you'll like The Elephant Room.
'Nuff said.
The Elephant Room - look for Kiyoto's, then go downstairs - is a very cool basement club. We went on our anniversary (you may see our dollar bill, on which I proclaimed my love for my husband of now 16 years) - the music was excellent, great Latin music when we were there, and the crowd diverse. Go early if you want to sit down (although we found onsies-twosies seats later in the evening).
The drinks were ok, and the service was fine. It's just a really great place to chill with friends, or on a date.
NIce and cool because it is in the basement. I had been trying to wait patiently to come here because I love jazz, and it is the first jazz bar I heard about in Austin. Saturday night, I finally did it. And I loved it. Now it is a struggle not to go there every night. I guess the service was a little slow but it was pretty packed so I wouldn't complain as long as it's not unreasonable. Mixed crowd. I am bound to love any place with a diverse group of people. It's hard to say something that everyone else hasn't already said, but I just wanted to throw in my two cents and five stars :-)
I totally forget about Elephant Room and I shouldn't! Maybe it's the location, maybe it's the parking situation, maybe it's just me - but I constantly forget this little spot which does one thing and does it well. I truly can't stress enough how much I enjoy myself each and every time I am here.
Great music, staff is on top of their game and tons of dark nooks and crannies to snuggle down into with that special someone.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/27/2007
This place feels right . You know what I am talking about...it's one of those places where all the… Read more »
Its almost laughable how cool Austin bars are. Its like you enter one of the hundreds (seems like thousands) around town and pick out the points on how they nuanced a very common business practice into their own unique establishment. Some try obstinately, while others, like Elephant Room have found a niche so marvelous, that they ease into the cool-factor like a comfortable slipper.
Firstly, the underground, cavernous, and speakeasy-like space is just fun to be inside. The band clusters in the far end of the bar and, although perceivable, not overt or in-your-face. You can pick how involved you would like them to be during the duration of your evening here. Want some background music? Sit in the back of the bar that house the long common tables. Want to snap your fingers and foot tap? Sit in the front section in one of the four-top tables.
Want the perfect Austin mixture of both conversation and a noticeable live-music vibe? The loooong bar that sits between the two extremities is perfect.
Elephant Room's beer selection is naturally, choice. Last time here, I enjoyed a Chimay Triple. And, as is typical in Austin, prices seem as though they're below major-market levels. Goodness, its great to live here for that reason alone. Cheap booze combined with having accessibility to places like the Elephant Room makes it feel like you are downright making a cultural and financial profit just by going there.
This is seriously a great spot. I went here tonight to see the legendary Stanley Smith. This is a man of great musical legend. He is a former member of the Asylum Street Spankers, a current member of the Jazz Pharaohs, and a sweetheart of the Austin music scene. The man has been around for ages, and is a musical genius. I've know for some time that he plays every Tuesday at happy hour at the Elephant Room, but until tonight hadn't visited. I happened to choose the night they were celebrating his birthday on, which was extra cool.
This is an old, legendary jazz club, and it looks like and old legendary jazz club. It's in a basement beneath a restaurant, and has little sunlight, but lots of cool, red candlelight. The service here is stellar, and the bartender, Will, gets kudos for being the NICEST bartender I've experienced in Austin to date. The man was incredible. The other servers were nice as well, just not nice to the extent of Will.
There's a sexy vibe in this place. Everything is dark and red and sexy. I just wish I got jazz. If I got it, this place would probably get a 5 star review. I went here for Stanley at happy hour, and wound up staying for the next band. I had had a few drinks at that point and was feeling good, but as I told my date, I just didn't get jazz. Why the f*** does everyone clap after every single person plays a section of every single song? I don't get it. I felt sexy in this place, but I guess if I got jazz I'd feel sexier. What gives? How can a crowd clap so much?
Anyway....It's a great bar. I will most certainly be back for more Stanley Smith, but maybe not so much for the jazz. Unless someone wants to educate me...
Good bartender: check
Good drinks: check
Good location: check
Good music: check
If you like great ambiance and jazz come here. Often. Its on my must see list in Austin. This place never disappoints
Elephant Room has been my favorite place to go for some great jazz music. Upon walking down the stairs, you enter a venue with a completely different ambiance from the fanciness on the Congress Ave. Its minimal decoration and the dim lights make one easily put away all the thoughts and worries from the outside world ,and just relax and enjoy the music. Once I was seeing the performance of Kat Edmonson Quintet, and they did a cover of John Lennon's "(Just like) Starting Over." I was so moved by it I couldn't stop my tears from rolling down my cheeks. After the show I think I scared the talented pianist of the band, Kevin Lovejoy, because of the tears and all that on my face.
However, in order for the true connection like the above stated to happen, I would recommend you arrive early- 30 minutes to an hour earlier than the band scheduled time, depending on the popularity of the band performing. (You can check out their monthly schedule from their website.) This is because even though they have a decent number of tables here, the space is shaped like an extremely long "I," with the entrance on the one end and the stage on the other. Therefore, if you cannot grab a table that's closer to the stage, the music is not going to make it passed all the conversations from other tables and reach your heart.
On a related note to the layout of the venue, just like Clara M. mentioned in her review, the bathrooms are located on the two sides of the stage. So bear in mind that the performance will be interrupted constantly by john-goers. The women's room is actually nicely maintained on the times i visited. I remember seeing a scribble on the stall door once that says "watch out for belly dancers!" I find it quite amusing, but maybe that's just me.
I've only had beer here, but there is a good selection. For example, Kwak and Live Oak Big Buck aren't offered everywhere! Services are always fast, even on crowded nights. I just wish that they offered some food... that'd make the whole experience even better!
I'm inspired. I mean, simply, utterly and completely inspired. They always have good jazz - that's a given. But last night they had a band that could be the Gypsy King's little prince. I LOVE spanish music - the spanish guitar, the bongos. God it was great. People were dancing in every little narrow space they could find - and for a moment, I felt like I could very possibly be in a tiny little club in Barcelona.
For maximum enjoyment of whoever's playing, sit up by the stage or stand at the bar. For conversation with friends with some lovely background accompaniment, sit in the very back and take advantage of the cocktail service. But whatever you do, just GET HERE. The rest is just details.
This was the scene of one of the worst moments of my life. I can't put the details online.... but it involves sickness, confusion, steel drums, and Stella Artois.
I would like to visit again.... but I don't want to have some sort of "Vietnam" flashback.
A dark, dank jazz club...does it get any better than that? It has that hole-in-the-wall feel, which is perfect for an Austin music venue. I walked in on a Thursday night...no cover! The band was great, playing some standard but very good jazz. Apparently they have music every night starting at 9:30, with weekdays being no cover. I loved the atmosphere and didn't feel weird going there alone.
This place is dark. This place is jazzy.
It's a great after-work place and a great date night place.
The service is up to par, but I wish they served food!
Well, I have been playing in jazz clubs around the country for many years and the Elephant Room holds its own. It got some trendy cache after Wynton Marsalis mentioned it in an interview, and the New Yorker listed it as one of the best jazz clubs in the U.S. That notwithstanding, it has the classic vibe (some might say "ooze") of clubs that have stood the test of time. It's anti-pretentious, just a long dark hole in the basement. You can go there to get lost in the music, lost in your thoughts, or lost in the eyes of that someone sitting across from you. Musicians affectionately bitch about the acoustic shortcomings, low pay, strange smells, etc., but it has that ineffable blend of factors that bring out inspired performances and free-wheeling creativity. I dig playing there.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet after all their consistently incredible gigs!
For starters, the $5 cover is unheard of for most music venues. To continue, their bartenders have the magic touch because every drink is gold. Not too diluted, never too strong.
Of course, the music! What really sold me was listening to Kat Edmonson's heart-tugging rendition of The Cardigan's 'Lovefool' and John Lennon's 'Just Like Starting Over Again.' Especially the latter one... couldn't help but tear up a little, geez.
Their cozy floor-plan always encourages sharing tables with other couples when its a packed night - just don't make out when you share one. Thnx.
After re-fueling at Home Slice, it was time to hit up another hallmark of the Austin music scene. I had hoped to take my brother to see the Jazz Pharaohs, but our schedule didn't allow it, so we caught The Brew instead.
A quick note about The Brew - if you haven't ever seen them live, you're cheating yourself. Despite being of Latin descent I have never been much into Latin music, but these guys are absolute geniuses of their craft. Whether you like their style of music or not, I promise you that if you appreciate music, you WILL enjoy this band.
On to the venue :
First, a $5 cover? Really? To see a very talented band in a fantasic setting? Sure, twist my rubber arm.
We manage to get the last available table, right under the window to the street, and as far from the music as possible. No matter, the acoustics here are very good, and even as far-removed from the band as we possibly could be, the sound is still crystal clear, and we could still fully appreciate the musical wizardry this is The Brew.
Another plus: The Elephant Room has a good selection of beers on tap, and they serve them by the pitcher. A pitcher of Pyramid Hefeweizen for $12? "Yes, have some." (said in my best spaced-out Louis Tully voice).
In short, I don't think you'll find a "cooler" venue in Austin, and you'd be hard-pressed to find one that also pays as close attention to the acoustics - while this place had a great "feel" abou it, they are definitely about the music here (and the beer).
Go. Now.
My first time to the Elephant Room and I have been meaning to come here for years. I brought out of town guests to see my long time fave - Beto and the Fairlanes. The evening was great and I loved the place - will definitely go back - but .....the bathrooms are disgusting.
First of all - if you sit at a front table you can see one of the men's urinals as the men exit. I didn't catch any exciting glimpses - I must have spent too much time watching the band - but every time the door opened, I did try to spy a little. The women's was really filthy - the owners must be all men and never go in there. How hard is it to clean up and patch up a little? All in all a good experience but please clean up the place.
It's been while since I last hung out at the Elephant Room and now I am kicking myself for not going here more often. Probably one of the coolest bars in Austin. For $5, I got to listen to some of the best jazz in Austin with an amazing vocalist who was clearly having the most fun of anyone in the room. The piano player was mesmerizing and the bartenders friendly, with a heavy pour. My one critique is that they have almost no wine selection. Gasp! I asked for a glass of red wine and he told me all they had was a Cabernet from California. I ended up switching to Maker's and Ginger Ale, and believe me, 1 was plenty!
I highly suggest taking a date here.
Truly excellent jazz club. We randomly walked in here on the recommendation of a bouncer at another club because we wanted to hear some music. We honestly had no idea what to expect.
Luck was with us and we managed to get a table right up front by the stage. Drinks were hella cheap, I had forgotten alcohol costs virtually nothing in Texas.
The music was absolutely fantastic. We got to hear Kat Edmonson's group perform. She was amazing and so was her piano player. I thought the other band members were solid and competent, but these two really stood out. They just brought so much to the music.
Really excellent venue.
I went there with a Mexican friend of mine who has a scar on his face.
The door guy let us in, and then the manager guy rushed over and asked to see our IDs again, and he said they were fake. They were not. He finally let us in. Then the bartender shoved the tip jar in our face when we got beer. We are both tippers - there was no reason to act this way. THEN, the uptight guy and another guy stood very close by while we sat there drinking. We were unable to get a second pitcher of beer. The bartender just ignored us.
I didn't understand what was going on. Tom said he gets that reaction from people because of his appearance. He's dark, male, and has scary dark dangerous eyes, and a NASTY SCAR! From a gangster fight no doubt!
He's an art student who delivers Odwalla juice, for heaven's sake.
That place sucks.
I love this place. It's down stairs, dark and small. The jazz is great. I've never heard a band or singer that I didn't like at the Elephant Room.
Being a Baby Boomer from San Fransisco it's just my kind of place. You get that secluded kind of feeling.
I went Wednesday evening for the the early set, for the first time. They advertised 6, it didn't start until about 6:45. I was late so that was fine by me. Oh, yeah no cover.
Not the greatest place if you're looking for some exotic drinks. I enjoy their Lemon Drop Martini. This is not a fancy, she , she place. It's for true music lovers.
I decided I like the 6:00 set. Because there's not a crowd and it's seemed more relaxed and laid back then the later show.This just might become a regular thing for me. It was nice to get out during the middle of the week, hear some good jazz and still get to bed before 11 (we even went out for dinner).
