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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Lounges, Pubs [Edit]
Neighborhood: University of TexasMon-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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Spider House for me is synonymous with Austin, and I go there at least 3 times a week - either during the day for a coffee and to get some work done, or in the evening for a beer with friends or my fiancee. They have a small but excellent beer selection - during winter months they have my favorite - Real Ale Coffee Porter on draft!
Inside the vibe is laid back, hip, and quirky. The bar service can be a bit slow, but never so much that its annoyed me. It is expected that you clear off your table when you are done. You often have to wait for the bathroom too when its busy, as a guy this isn't something I'm accustomed to (sorry girls, life is unfair)!
The courtyard is amazing, especially at night with all the lights, old metal furniture, and weird art. They have table service starting at 4pm (perhaps earlier now). The are generally friendly, but it can take them a while to notice you initially if they are busy, which can sometimes be frustrating. Once they know you are there the service is pretty good. One or two of the servers are really excellent, but it can be hard to know who'll you'll get when you choose a table.
Food is pretty good, I'd give the burgers a 6 out of 10 - pretty edible but not spectacular. My favorite is the Grilled Cheese Especial, definitely try it if you haven't already.
This is one place I always like to take friends from out of town, for many of them I think it really helps them to "get" Austin.
Spider House reminds me of an ecclectic garage sale were everyone said F&*k it and just started drinking. It's a comfortable little place with a younger crowd, and they do make a decent drink.
If you enjoy a quirky atmosphere thats not fake and plastic at all- Spider House is your place. Just relax inbetween various lawn art, signage, and multi colored christmas lights, order your favorite cocktail and enjoy some good conversation amongst friends.
On a side note, im sure this isnt the usual but our waiter was awful. He brought out an incorrect bill, seem aggitated that I wasnt going to pay the higher one he first brought, and from the get go never extended any good common courtesy you would expect. Again, i'm sure it was just an off day for him but that experience didnt impress me at all. I'll still go back and give them a second try though.
So I kind of didn't write a review of this place having even skimmed other reviews, and I'll tell you why: because, inexplicably, I'm maybe literally the only beating heart in Austin who hasn't been here. And I've been in Austin for years. Years. And years. Don't get me wrong: I've long heard that there were quirky, nay, interesting happenings in this specific midst, but for whatever reason, my circadian paths always tended to drift me at best nearby. That happened. It wasn't intentional, but after a time I didn't miss the potential of what might have been.
And so it was that today I half-chanced into some folks who were both fun, cool and local and we commenced with swapping many festive tales with the type of thing I've now come to believe happens at Spider House all the time: random table-joiners, alternate passing opinions (typically aloud), the blurring of the line between patron and pal. And you know what? I like it. A lot.
I may not grow out some massive emo sideburns (not that there's anything wrong with that, and perhaps I can't), but I do know a super happy draft selection when I see one and a quirky (even for the ATX) tome of bottleds happening. It's its own little snowglobe in my estimation and that's fine enough by me. Thanks for the memory, Spider House. I'll be back for more.
Yerba. Mate. Latte. Best. Ever.
I've always like Spider House, and yes the service is blah. There is always something going on like classic horror flicks on the side patio or a band playing among the statues and colored lights. I like to chill indoors playing backgammon or sitting outside with my laptop or hanging out with pals. The food is good, but nothing memorable. And the parking is challenging. Easily one of my favorite Austin hangouts.
I feel like you have to go to this place at least once and just people-watch. Relaxed atmosphere, good menu. I love the "BLTA".
The thing about Spiderhouse is that it IS a really great place. The atmosphere is awesome, the patio is one of chillest places in town, and the people watching is always good. The wait staff is sweet and easy on the eyes.
The problem is that the food has been going downhill for a year or two. Every time I come in, some personal favorite of mine has been taken off of the menu. The Black and White, my favorite drink, is long gone. Grilled Cheese Especial (widely regarded as the best dish on the menu and a big favorite amongst patrons) gone. Spider house was the one places where you could get a range of great vegetarian options here in town, but no longer. Stop the changes! Everyone likes Spider House the way it is.
For those who work in coffee shops, Spiderhouse does it right....ample electrical outlets, decent wifi and enough table space. Coffee is decent, ok food, and a good beer selection. It is a quintessential Austin spot.
A still further update: the day after I first posted this review one of the owners of Spider House contacted me and apologized about what happened, and put me in touch with one of the managers to "make it up to me". I thought this was a imminently decent response, though honestly they could make it up to me best by fixing the problem. I have contacted the manager and will provide further updates.
This is going to be predictable, but I'll add to the chorus nonetheless. I've been coming here on… Read more »
Looking past all the hype on this place, I am left scratching my head in confusion. My several experiences at Spider House have been less than satisfactory. The place has nice diggs, but doesn't have much else going for it. I ordered a veggie sandwich, and received some meat filled thing instead. The waiter was apologetic, but took another 15-20 minutes to get me what I actually ordered. When I got my sandwich, it tasted like cardboard.
3 strikes! You're out Spider House!
I'm a local freelancer who lives down the street from Spiderhouse. I'm the type of person who goes to a coffeeshop and sits there all day...I used to do this at Spiderhouse, ordering coffee in the morning and beer in the afternoon. Well, never again.
I would take inattentive service a million times over the waitress I had this morning, a lady who was undeniably surly to me and hovered over my table like I was sitting in a busy NYC spot. Nobody was even there! She was trying to get me OUT OF THERE. stat. She even grabbed the tip out of my hands before I could even finish calculating it, thereby stiffing herself half of what I planned to give.
C'mon. We're nice in Austin. That's why I live here. Give it a try, lady, and maybe next time don't bite the hand that feeds you.
This is a great establishment, which, in hind site, has been here forever. I suppose I am old when I think back to when Spider House was "new." (It used to only serve coffee!)
I recently met a friend here for some fine conversation, and was pleasantly surprised at how the atmosphere has changed only for the better. . .
Inside, lots of nooks and crannies for your air conditioned pleasure. Though, not private enough for a real conversation.
Outside, lots of nooks and crannies, umbrellas for shade, and the old- school Club DeVille/Shabby Chic patio of mismatched chairs and tables. The outside patio is really an Austin gem, when not overwhelmed with smoke from cigarettes, wacky tabacky or cloves. Maybe a non-smoking section of the patio is in order?
One bonus that I really enjoyed about Spider House: the water cooler has big glasses and free water at perfect temperature, not hot like the afternoon sun. Thank you Spider House for the free, cool hydration.
Oh, people watching here is A+. And the ladies bathroom is an impressive use of a small space.
BEEN THERE
years ago and it was awesome
DONE THAT
recently and Spider House can kiss my ass
This place is a fine way to spend a few hours.
The people watching is pretty ace, the drinks are great (try that hibiscus gimlet! it's a god damned revelation!), and the random chairs and tables provide a fun atmosphere. The lighting is what one can expect from an austin-town coffee shop, which is good.
I like it here. I don't make it often, but when I do, I always leave thinking "Hey, that was a nice time."
I tend to feel bad giving places less than stellar reviews, especially without concrete reasons why, but this place just isn't my cup of tea. The concept might be nice, but in my experience, it's more like Spiderhouse can't decide if it wants to be a bar, coffee house, lounge, or music venue. It's far too loud for studying and slightly too loud for socializing (this makes me sound like a 60 year old woman, but oh well), it's crowded, smelly, and not nearly as cool as it thinks it is.
The Christmas lights are nifty but every time I leave Spiderhouse, I wonder why I wasted time there (again).
I can't speak to the hipster-y thing people are discussing except to say that yes, the crowd was American Apparel-y, and yes, the staff seems to find that agreeable. I am not incredibly fashionable, but was still given excellent service and had a great time, so =p.
Pitchers were pretty cheap, atmosphere was good, etc. Enjoy.
The atmosphere here is mixed: bar, coffee shop, study hall, venue, restaurant; but that's fine by me. I like being able to sit outside (when it's not TOO hot) and have a drink during happy hour. The service could be better (put perhaps that's part of the "hipster atmosphere" of the place).
If you make it there, please get the Grilled Cheese Especial (yummy cheese and veggies, with meatless crumbles tossed in). I heard the Frito Burrito was tasty too.
Do you like smelling like french-cigarette smoke?
Do you like drinking Stella Artois?
Do you like self-absorbed baristas that feel like they are too good for their job, yet, if they didn't work there they wouldn't feel like they had as much indie cred?
Do you like watching people pretend to study or read while they check out others to so that they can monitor and rate their own level of coolness with that of others?
Do you like to watch others sweat because the person next to them has a much more avant-guard novel in their hand than they do(despite the fact that neither of them are actually reading these novels)?
If you answered yes to these, go to Spider House. You will enjoy it. The coffee is actually pretty good and the layout and seating is enjoyable.
But seriously guys.
If these dudes applied themselves to their studies like they do to monitoring retro fashion they could graduate early.
If these dudes put the money that they are investing in vintage-clothing into an IRA they could retire before the age of 50.
If these dudes ... nevermind...you get the picture.
The setting is nice. I love the patio.
I don't feel like I have enough tattoos showing sometimes, which can be totally devastating to my self esteem... Most of the time, I'm stuck in a book+beer to really notice.
Also, the coffee is usually pretty bad. It's old or burnt or possibly both. At $4 a cup, it's pretty ridiculously priced though. I tried the chai, and it pretty much sucked too. The Iced Toddy isn't too bad though, so maybe there's just an issue with hot drinks???
Overall, I like going there, but it's not for the drinks prepared in house.
I used to love this place, but they have a few things going wrong under the surface.
For one thing, if I go in to get a $2 cup of coffee, please don't scoff at be because I decided to go to your bar and order it instead of wait 20 minutes for your aloof "waitstaff" to come and hand me a menu. The table service thing has gotten really out of control, so much to where I have left after some time of not being recognized.
But we all go there at some point if you live there in Central Austin.
I used to work across the street at Buffalo Exchange, so I would come over after work and drink cheap margaritas. They used to be about $3.50, and I have now heard they stopped doing that. So now a cup of cheap tequila and lime slurpie is $5. Great.
If you go and get the coffee, expect it to be room temperature, and flavorless. They don't care that they are a coffee house. The staff gets all their money from the whiskey and cokes it serves to its loyal friends.
This is one of those places that you need to put on your newest American Apparel garb to even get any attention drawn to you. Don't forget your fixed gear bike, and you might as well bring along a new record you just bought across the street. Either way, you get this dirty, Los Angeles-type feeling when you go. I always feel that I am not cool enough, or I am going to run into a group of hipsters that I hate. Go back to Creekside.
The wait staff is inconsistent. Some days they can be quick, other times you will wait an eternity just to grab their attention, and they rush off before you finish telling them your order. They must be busy all the time, you say? No, look at the bar. They are all standing around, joking with their friends that stop by.
I dread every time one of my friends wants to meet up here. Expect to spend 3 hours trying to get one drink.
Went there today thinking I'll find a nice place to sit with wi-fi and a good cup of coffee or refreshing drink. What I got was none of the above!
Ordered "freshly squeezed" lemonade. Maybe it was freshly squeezed and they strain all the seeds and pulp, but it sure tasted like a mix. I don't really mind that, just don't charge me for freshly squeezed.
I also ordered some hummus to go with my lemonade. What I got was this ice-cold red dip that kinda looked like hummus. And by ice-cold, I mean it gave me brain freeze. So far, the food has been disappointing.
Worst part about the food is that it was $7.17. I paid with a $20 but got only $12 back. I guess the guy doesn't believe in correct change. I'm not gonna raise a stink about some cents, but the guy just handed me the bills and takes off.
Then I go and sit down to do some work. I chose to sit inside to avoid the afternoon heat, but the inside was as hot as the outside. I guess their A/C was out. Not their fault, so won't hold that against them. The problem is the inside was infested with gnats. I'm getting a little aggravated when I turn my computer and find that the wi-fi is asking me for a password. I go and ask the girl if their wi-fi is password protected, and she just shrugs and leaves. Then I ask the guy behind the bar, and he tells me some "funny" story before finally telling me nobody knows whats wrong with it.
I drink my lemonade and leave utterly disappointed. Funny thing is this isn't the first time, but it will be the last. I gave them a chance. Hipsters beware!
What a great place! My friends' band, "Framing Strangers" played there, which is what got me in the door.
Tons of places to sit, good service, tasty food, and the sound from the stage actually sounds good!
I used to hang out here almost every day a couple of years ago, but they've slowly increased their prices
Back in the summer of 2006/7 a pint of lone-star cost $1 and a margarita cost $3.50. The service wasn't (and still isn't) very good about checking on you or bringing your drinks quickly, but given the prices it was a great place to hang out.
However, since then the prices have only gone up and the service hasn't improved. It's one thing to have good service and bad prices or good prices and bad service, but bad service and bad prices just make for a bad local.
And the food is OK. Try their grilled cheese if you do go. It's a pretty good meal.
Spider House has been one of my favorite places over the years. It's a great place for hanging out, having coffee, or having some drinks after dinner. The outside seating area is great, very nice atmosphere. I've never had their food but I like the fact that they have Chimay White, that is definitely a plus.
I see some people complaining about the service, or lack thereof. Well, this is a hangout for college people (plus some middle aged geezers such as myself ;)), so just go inside, order your drink, bring it back to your table and chill :)
I used to come to Spider House a lot because of the neat atmosphere, but the service just sucks so much I can't bear to go back. Once, I had a waiter there who (after waiting 20 minutes) came up to me, got down on one knee, and said "What can I get for you, angel?" That was pretty skeevy.
There is some hilarious people watching, however. Hipsters are their own breed of hilarious.
If you do go, order at the bar and save yourself some disappointment with the service. Their cafe au lait and Mexican hot chocolate are actually pretty good.
This place is a great place to chill and it's Trudy friendly! It's a 5 star in my book
Spider House
Went there with a couple of friends just to kill time and catch up with each other... It was definitely a different place.
They served an array of coffee flavors and such... I suppose my review is mainly base on the experience i had there and the atmosphere that was provided.
What i liked most about this place was all the vintage stuff and wacky randomness of things that are all put together to make up this hang out. it's definitely a college place, as it's not too far from UT, but it's cool none the less...
Man, I would love to be loyal to the Spider House, but this has to be one of the most poorly managed restaurant / coffee shops I have ever been to. The single consistency when I come is that something goes wrong that could have gone right had it been better managed.
A list:
**one person in my party waited over 20 minutes longer than another for food (which is only decent anyway)
**Mischarged on my bill (repeatedly--ask to see receipts here if you do go)
**Sat outside for 25 minutes at night, trying to make eye contact for the first 15, and could not get served a beer.
**They're always out of food of some sort--today it was cream cheese, but it happens with alarming frequency. It was Lone Star and one of their specialty beers a couple weeks ago. Who does the ordering??
**They are eliminating all their "happy hour" / lower priced options such as the coffee-breakfast taco special and the Lone Star pitchers and the evening happy hour.
**Spotty internet connection
The odd thing is, the servers are very nice, there just must be something wrong with their "zoning" scheme outside.
The patio is nice. In fact, I wager that this place would be out of business if it didn't have such a nice patio and such cool waitstaff. But bring your own beer if you actually want to drink one. And your own food too. If you do buy something, ask for the receipt.
Large coffee: $2.
Tax: $0.17.
Paid with: $20 bill.
Change: $17.
Does not compute. But then again, it's not the first time this has happened to me here. I guess they just think they deserve a 41 percent tip for filling a cup 4/5 full (room for a quarter-cup of cream in a 20 oz. drink? I guess someone might want that).
OK, enough with the nitpicking.
I've had some great experiences at Spider House. I wrote a review that seems to have disappeared (as have a lot of my early reviews. Hello, Yelp?) praising the veggie chili and its accesorized cousin, the veggie Frito pie. They're still tasty.
I saw some cool movies on the patio, had my first legal margarita here, met up with conspiracy theorists and activists, did loads of homework, got over a bad breakup, and socialized plenty.
But the service is shoddy (slow, hard to get anyone's attention, takes your change), the bathrooms don't have locks, the inside is awfully dingy (getting past 'charming' and moving toward 'sloppy' these days), and I'm just not that impressed by most of the menu anymore.
I'm giving three stars for nostalgia, but my once-favorite joint is just not a destination any more.
Very cool atmosphere along with good food and drinks.
This may be the best hipster coffee shop I've ever been to, and I was born in Seattle so that should mean something. Granted, I don't much drink coffee, but still...
I can't comment much on the food or the service, because I don't remember it that well, but I do remember that the atmosphere in this place is amazing. It's an old ramshackle house with a wraparound porch. They have Christmas lights up in the backyard, and loads of kickass vintage furniture. It's comfy and it's fun, and if the heat's getting you down they have this hibiscus cooler thing which is just wonderful.
If you're the type of person who likes to hang out at coffee shops and write, read, work on art, etc., you'll probably want to live here.
I really, really don't like Spider House. I don't care for the food, the atmosphere and mostly the staff who are some of the rudest folks I have encountered in the the service industry. I drive by this place nearly every day and it lacks the gravitational pull to make me stop and have a cup of coffee.
I'm not sure why i am giving it two stars. I'm trying to be a bit less bitchy lately and I guess because it's not a chain it gets a second star.
Speechless! One of the best patios in Austin...everything about this place makes me smile!
We went on a non crowded Sunday evening and the table service gave me nothing to complain about.
I did not like the food though. All the sandwiches have chips (nacho, of course) on the side. If you want an ap with that, the hummus or guacamole both come with chips too. Wasn't impressed with any off the food at the table so will never eat there again. So it is a good thing I can drink anything on the menu!
The atmosphere is fun and makes me want some old rusty but stable furniture for my backyard.
Please keep in mind that I have been coming to Spider House since about sophomore year of high school, so 4 years already. I don't go too often anymore though, except to meet up with friends and whatnot. It's just very nostalgic and I can't say no. A lot of things have changed over the years, but nothing too significant I don't think. All the changes have been for the better, especially the ladies' room renovation - thank goodness for more than 1 toilet! I understand that some people may think there is a bad attitude associated with Spider House, but get over yourselves, seriously. If you come in with a good mindset, you will have a positive experience, simple as that.
My great-grandpa called. He wants his patio furniture back.
No, but really. This is probably my favorite bar in Austin. At first thought I wanted to say "I LOVE this place" but...only in the sense that if I'm going to hang out at a bar this is the one I want to go to. Awesome patio. Very open with several places to sit. Decorated with fabulous junk. Perfect during the summer. The last time I came here I brought my mom and she wanted to steal one of the antique bed frames that makes up the fence. (That's been put off to a later date). Pretty low key. Always relaxing. Hipster? Maybe. Probably. But it's no biggie. I didn't feel embarassed bringing my mom here. Haha! Delicious coffee drinks, as well as several types of beer/liquor/wine. If anyone comes to visit from out of town I usually take them here atleast once.
Need. Irish. Coffee. Now. (Bailey's, Jameson, Coffee, Whipped Cream)
*Drool*
So, I've been going to Spider House for about 10 years, so I'm probably writing under the influence of nostalgia.
The Good: beautiful patio (nothing like seeing college kids double-fisting lonestars and black coffee), full bar with happy hour all day Saturday, chai milkshakes, good music selected by the staff
Tips: Just skip the table service, order at the bar, and save yourself the trouble; go for the drinks, not the food
FYI: Their all-vegetarian menu just went omnivorous.
Service ranges from good to ok, although technically a bar now not sure if I should ate the coffee, but whatever I've had has been good.
We went to Spiderhouse for the first time last night and had a great time. I've read through a lot of the previous reviews, and its pretty odd - one of the best parts of our experience was the terrific service, which seems to be the opposite of most others' perspectives. I suppose service can be hit or miss, but ours was definitely a hit.
First off, we were greeted by the manager as soon as we walked up to check out the patio. We told him we had never been here and he proceeded to give us a five minute explanation of the place, the drink/food choices and the music, etc. He couldn't have been more friendly. When I asked where the restrooms were, he immediately said "Follow me" and led us into the bar area and showed me the way.
It was a beautiful evening, very moderate for late January and we knew a cold front was coming in the next day, so we wanted to sit outside on the funky patio. It was packed with people, and the band was playing an interesting mix of old school country songs. I swear the singer of the band sounded just like John Hiatt, who's a favorite of mine, so big ups there.
We found a 'love seat' kind of thing open with a small table and sat down. We weren't sitting there three minutes before a cheerful server came up to hand us menus and take drink orders. We did not experience any service level drop the whole time - he was timely and friendly and perfect, and was tipped in kind.
I had a coffee porter and Veek ordered a hefeweizen and we split a burger and a 1/2 quesadilla. The food was fine - perfect for the evening actually. Hearty and tasty, and reasonably priced.
We sat there and people watched and listened to the band ("Hey, they're playing 'Friend of the Devil'"), and enjoyed the show. I even ran into a friend with whom I've gone to several concerts, and he told me the Spiderhouse is a regular hang out of his.
We're definitely going back. I have to bring my camera to shoot some of the cool signage - the "Hotel Reno" sign is at the top of my must-shoot list now.
So kudos to Spiderhouse, and shame on us for never finding this place in the 13+ years we've lived in Austin. Yelp has shown the way, once again.
I am currently writing this review from the Spider House as I take advantage of the free wi-fi.
This place gets 4 stars for ambience. The patio is expansive and eclectic with the kind of patio furniture that you find at the side of the road during bulk pickup day - but somehow it really works. There is plenty of shade, and so the great outdoor space is actually bearable on a Texas afternoon. And of course, as is the case with most places in Austin, the clientele are interesting and cool, and so it is a great place to read a book, do some "work", or people watch.
The drinks are decent. I am enjoying my glass of red wine (despite the fact that I ordered white wine), and my date's tecate is large and cold.
Service gets about 2 stars. They are very nice and cute, but if you expect service, you better get up and initiate it. "Please, take my money!"
This place is great for hanging out with your friends and having fun. When I came here with my friends, most of us ordered the Mango Sunset - quite tasty and pretty colors! We sat outside and enjoyed the weather while talking and laughing. The decor is different, but a nice different.
Haven't visited Austin in awhile, but will come back here the next time I do.
Neighborhood: University of Texas
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Crestview
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: University of Texas
Category: Coffee & Tea
Austin, TX
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Category: Restaurants
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