Higher Ground

$7 - 12 oz bottle lone star, $10 canned seltzers, automatic 20% gratuity. Drinks are expensive, even for Austin.Well styled cocktail bar venue on Congress. Building has some neat architectural features such as a spiral staircase, and a draping garden outdoor patio on the back roof.Bartenders were friendly, good service.$1 East Coast oysters on Tuesdays until 10:00 p.m.I attended a Valentines Day event that was a private DJd dance party and burlesque show upstairs. The event was really good, too, but thats not particularly related to the venue. So if youre looking for a neat space to host your event, the back patio is cool and good weather.

Went for a work function! The bartender was amazing with his customized drinks. Definitely would recommend this place. The downstairs was beautiful. Couldve been a bit more upstairs but otherwise awesome place.

Unique church themed bar. First floor is very low key and calm. Second floor has 2 DJs. Indoor and outdoor. Cool setup, but the bar was relatively empty on a sat night (10-11pm) and we didn’t fully vibe with the atmosphere. Drinks were good.

The place and building were beautiful and very unique. The upstairs is only open at certain times not all day but they did let me go take a look even though it wasn’t open yet. They charge manhattan prices for cocktails definitely pricier then most places in the city. I’ve had better cocktails downtown not quite as expensive. It is a small place with seating outside. Might come to try happy hour with some friends. Service was a little hectic since they were preparing to open the upstairs.

Higher Ground sounds fun based on the description even though the menu was a little limited. The decor is really nice and themed well, but the loud electronic music didnt fit with the vibe and really makes the environment not achieve the effort that was put in. The drinks have a fun theme as well representing the 7 deadly sins, but they automatically add gratuity to a small drink order pushing the drinks to over $20 each. For the quality of the drinks, there are much better places around to get a drink at that price. The bartender also seemed miserable and not even slightly happy to be there. Not worth stopping by with so many better options around in my opinion.

Great atmosphere and theme. Small seating and had to move to get service since bartenders also manage tables. Drinks were good; didnt try the food though. Small menus.

Hidden fees! I ordered drinks that cost $40.00 but the charge was $50! I later found out that a 20% gratuity was automaticly added to my bill. I planned to tip as normal because the service was good but tip should be optional. Will not be returning

Absolutely wonderful south congress spot. Great happy hour, daily specials, and decent prices. Excellent staff, phenomenal atmosphere with an inside and outside areas. Downstairs and upstairs areas with bathrooms in both spots.The food was great, hot , and fast. Love, love. Cannot to do brunch or a girls night here.

Had a fun time here, came out for more of a night spot than anything else. DJ was energetic, but did not always read the crowd well and did not ever change up the style of music which could have helped the overall energy. Drinks were good. Outside area upstairs was pretty cool, but not much out there (no bar or anything). Had a fun time, and not overly crowded.

Was looking for a late night place to eat after we arrived in ATX for my husbands birthday weekend, and the website presented itself as a place where you could sit and eat and drink as well as go off, I suppose? The upstairs part is a straight club vibe and they pipe the music at the same level all the way down to the more chill cocktail area making for a super confusing vibe. It made itself seem more elegant than it ended up being, and the food and drinks were just alright. Wouldnt go back, personally.

Came here on a Sunday Funday to enjoy the $10 dollar champagne bottle deal. They had good music playing and definitely a good vibe. Will need to come back soon the check out the food items.Instagram:food_and_travel0

Upstairs service was amazing. Burger and fries were good. All the drinks were yummy. There are a couple of seats upstairs, but there is more seating on the outside patio. The table and our seats were all wobbly, so our drinks did spill a few times when the food was coming out. There was a DJ later in the evening, but no one was dancing, the music was kind of lame so we left. Overall feel like this place looks cooler online than it is in real life. It is very cute tho, and is great for the instagram girls.

Honestly only leaving this review because our bartender (started with a J and sounded like an arab name) was really awesome and made great cocktails just based upon my boyfriend and Is preferences of tastes. Chill workers and a nice spot just to hangout with friends.

Showed up here when they open at 2pm. The bartender wasn’t rude, but just acted as if she didn’t care to serve usOr that we were there at all. It was a weird vibe. When we ordered the shashito peppers that were on a special, only to find out they were out. Tell customers ahead of time what you don’t have. We ordered the fries with garlic aioli and had to ask for the aioli, only to be looked at like we had ten heads. I was so excited to try this place after looking it up on-line, but the pictures were better than real life.The other thing that bothered me is the fact that the bathrooms were out of toilet paper as well as paper towels. If it had been 10pm on a busy night, you wouldn’t see me saying anything. But it was just after they opened for the day. There should be a check list of things to do before opening.This is my first Google review and I hate that it’s a negative one, but this establishment is not worth the hype.

LOVE this place. We to austin for a bachelorette party. We just wandered around and came here on a whim. I’m so happy we did!! Their cocktails were the BEST out of all the places we went to in Austin.

Wonderful new cocktail bar on Congress Avenue. Fun and unique interiors and a tasteful cocktail menu. Loved the “Pride” cocktail. Staff was definitely LGBTQ friendly. The outdoor space was wonderful already but I think they have a few additions planned to that space.

As an avid fan of religious themed locations... what a disappointment! for the hype and the price, i was expecting a cathedral! not a normal 6th st. bar dressed up with a couple stained glass windows and slightly high ceilings. the gimmick worked to draw me in, but the lack of actual effort drove me out. the drinks were average, overpriced. the menu was extremely limited and not appealing so i only tried the fries. they were fine. we had made a reservation for date night, and the way the reservation made it seem, it was going to be fancy! the site even had me send in a photo of my wife and i to be greeted personally when we arrived.... there was no such thing. no host, we walked up to the bar where we were greeted (nothing against the staff here, just the expectation vs. reality) as if we were just standing at the bar to order. when i mentioned our reservation we were simply pointed to the closest table. i have no problem with this at all, only the fact this place was sold as a more elevated and fancy experience than it was. and i want to reiterate that the main disappointment came from that the selling point is that it should be a stunning, cathedral type space. when it is simply a normal bar with a coat of white paint and twice the normal price. i prefer athens st. louisas church of the living room and ping pong emporium. if you seek a real church themed bar, make the trip to georgia. at least we caught some red carpet event happening across the street at the paramount that night, my wife was very excited to see celebrities even though we did not know who they were.

Cool atmosphere but pricey drinks. $20 cocktails are named after deadly sins when the only sin is the price.

It’s like a little box of magic squeezed in between Austin’s other buildings. It transports you away from the humdrum to a time where things were simple and beautiful. It’s a bit loud but every furniture piece seemed to be handpicked just for you. Love

Great place: Not super busy for an ACL weekend. Prices conservative. Staff super friendly and helpful. Alyssa was amazing and was very conscious of our needs.

I loved the vibe and theme of the bar. The service was sub par. The bar was slow and it still took 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge we were there. All it takes is a “I’m busy but I’ll be with you in a moment”. Drinks were mediocre and unbalanced. Despite the cool vibes I couldn’t get over the place smelling like we were sitting in a sewer. I’m sure it wouldn’t be as bad upstairs but sitting at the bar is unbearable. I had to leave.

So hip and chic! Service is super friendly, it threw us off when we had to order food and drinks at the bar even if we were seated on a table but no major fuzz. The food options are all really good and the drinks are great!

This place is a fantastic bar! 🍻 Higher Ground offers a great selection of incredible cocktails 🍹 and drinks 🍸 designed after the deadly sins - definitely try the Gluttony 🤤 and the Wrath 🤬 cocktails! Service is quick and staff 👨‍🍳 is super friendly and welcoming! I wish I knew about this place earlier!

New fabulous spot, great for an amazing cocktail and shareable bites. The design is next level and the staff is awesome! Can’t wait to hang here all the time.

This place is very deceiving. I placed a reservation for an anniversary date and turns out the only seating is the bar and the 2 seaters at the entrance of the place. THIS IS A BAR. PLACE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE PICTURES.

Super trendy spot and a wonderful experience overall. The staff was lovely, friendly and very accommodating. Drinks were amazing so was the appetizers. The music upstairs was awesome and the outdoor patio was fantastic.

Interesting place but getting a drink was impossible. We were told to wait while other more important people were served. We ended up leaving without getting a drink after waiting for 20 minutes at the front of the line.

I wanted to try this place because I had a discount through the inkind app which was nice. While our server was kind, we stood at the door for a lengthy period of time with no one coming to seat us despite a sign saying “wait to be seated…etc”. We ended up having to ask someone to be seated that kept passing by us. While the server was nice, they were just a little absent and didn’t really check up on us.Overall the place was a little cold (both physically and aesthetically) and while the drinks were decent and the server was nice, it left a little to be desired.

Beautiful bar with an elevated menu of cocktails and eats. I suggest trying the michelada or Bloody Mary. Its outta this world.

The atmosphere was incredible! I had the delight of being served drinks by Natalie, who was fantastic. She was so amiable and made us feel right at home on our first visit. The DJ on the outdoor patio was also amazing. If only the place was bigger!

Food was amazing. We ordered through QR code & got our drinks at the bar.

If you get the oysters, prepare yourself for a mouth full of sand! The concept and ambiance are cool and the drinks are okay but the vibe is pretentious and the food is not good.

Worst service ever. Never coming back. I had high hopes for this place but cant believe how badly we were treated. This place also adds 20% gratuity for table of 3.

Fantastic drinks, great service, and really cool architecture/history.

This place is perfect for Sunday Funday! Really good drinks, deals on food, its dog friendly and is a complete vibe! Shout out to atxdrinker for putting us on! 🙌

Hip Congress Ave. bar with dark seven sins mantra in a church setting. Great happy hour and bites. Very cool music and vibe.

Delicious cocktails named after the 7 sins! there’s a large outdoor patio upstairs. i was impressed how well organized higher ground was given their recent opening. would highly recommend.

Great cocktail bar and very fun little rooftop spot on Congress. Definitely was not expecting what I saw when I got upstairs! The bartenders were super friendly and personable.They also do $1 oysters every Tuesday and theyre absolutely excellent. Highly recommend getting a reservation and taking advantage of that special. I was surprised at the quality of the oysters for $1 because it can be a little difficult to get good oysters in Austin.

I recently visited Higher Ground and was thoroughly impressed by the unique atmosphere of the bar. The old church setting gives the bar a charming and vintage feel, and the antique organ that actually works is a cool and unexpected touch. The drinks were also excellent, and the bartenders were friendly and knowledgeable. Overall, I had a great time at Higher Ground and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and enjoyable bar experience. The old church setting and antique organ make it a standout among other bars in the area.

Great place , you wont be disappointed

Don’t come for happy hour because you’ll be disappointed. The $1 oysters are tiny, the burger and squid are mediocre. The drinks are not even a full pour. The upstairs is pretty cool however and the bartender Said it’s fun on weekends?

HG is a really solid bar, but it’s so narrow that it gets really inconvenient to be there when it’s full. I like the cocktail menu a lot, and the music’s always good. Both the drinks and food are pretty expensive, even considering the location. It’s a good Friday pregame spot, but I tend to move to the next place by 9 at the latest. The servers are really nice and do a good job of getting everyone their drinks even though it’s so packed upstairs. Security’s super nice too. I just wish it was wider! Lmao

Had been wanting to come here for a while (loved the aesthetic I saw on social media), but now that I finally dropped by, I was a little disappointed!The drink menu was really basic (paloma, old fashioned, margarita), and although the drinks tasted great, they were very expensive for what they were.We came specifically for Tuesday dollar oyster night which was great! But neither plate of oyster came complete (first was missing tobasco, second was missing lemon and spoons). We also got fries to bulk up the meal which were good and not expensive!Our server was very very nice, but unfortunately we felt a little neglected. It was not busy by any means, but our waters were never refilled and we had to flag them down every time.Overall I think it’s a very cool bar, not a great place to go for dinner and drinks. Wish it leaned more into the theming!

Such a great place ! Amazing customer service! Fabulous drinks!

Went for the tuesday $1 oysters which are served till they run out. The oysters are nicely shucked and served with horseradish, mignonette, cocktail sauce and lime. The mignonette could use an upgrade. The staff are very professional. It was crowded at 6pm. Would recommend reservations if you prefer to have a table. The back patio is works if you just want to enjoy some oysters.

Nice inside but service is more diy. We grabbed our own plates, silverware (once some was available), and water at one end of the bar. Told QR code was only for ordering food and no wait staff comes around so you go to bar for drinks and whatever you need. Food and drinks were good but don’t think it was worth it overall. I got an email saying I missed my reservation which I didn’t so seems like they still need to figure some things out with workers and system.

OpenTable says there are slots, but its impossible to book with Oops, some error. Also impossible to book using their website. Wouldnt pick up the phone and voicemail is disabled. Not sure they really want anyone to get there.

. I had reservations at 8 pm for drinks for my birthday and we arrived a few minutes early. The location is absolutely beautiful. The hostess informed us that there were no available seats downstairs due to the overflow from the event upstairs, but we were more than welcome to go upstairs and find seats.We werent there to eat dinner and grabbing drinks was why we were there, so it was not a big deal. We get upstairs and order some drinks. I got the Sloth and my fiance ordered the Lust. My friends ordered drinks, but I dont remember what they ordered. The bartender was very nice and attentive, even help casual conversation.There was a yelp event going on upstairs and it was busy and social. Everyone we spoke to at the event was very nice. We were offered food from someone walking around with a tray we said yes and enjoyed a snack of fries.The servers had come by our table a few times offering snacks. Finally one came by offered snacks then really rudely said YOURE NOT PART OF THE GROUP and basically snatched the tray away. Apparently, you had to be a part of the yelp party, which TOTALLY makes sense, BUT maybe disclose that when we arrived? or at least say it in a nice tone. This was the only negative part of our visit.Everything else was great. They even had a DJ and a man playing saxophone on the patio which was absolutely delightful!

Great drinks and pretty fast service for how busy it was. Definitely worth checking out. If you like mezcal the lust.

Great food, atmosphere, awesome service, very friendly. Will return!

Incredible place! Nice atmosphere, good drinks, tasty food and great music!

Incredible space and delicious drinks! Theres lots of seating to explore, with a cool upstairs nook and outdoor patio. Experienced bartenders and staff. It was nice to see the manager being active on the floor too, you can tell theyre all putting the work in to make it a great place. 10/10 yall!

As far as I can tell they are failing. When I visited, their bar fridges were desolate. Zero beer and not even carbonated water. Would not recommend this place.

I loved this bar and really enjoyed the ambience. The bar itself is so lovely, the attention to detail in the decor, the floral scenery in the patio upstairs, really all of it. Unfortunately due to our experience with the bartender I have to give it a 2 out of 5 stars. Our initial interaction with the bartender was decent nothing exceptional. (57, dark hair, glasses) However, we went to order our last round of drinks and we stood there for 5 minutes while the bartender talked to a group of older, white tourists. I get it, as a bartender thats how you make your money but he didnt even acknowledge us for an extended period of time. (not even to say Ill be right with you) We are younger people of color so maybe he thought we werent going to tip and was channeling his energy into the people he expected would? Im not sure but it felt very much like he was stereotyping us with the excessive amount of attention he was giving this group of people. After the five minute period, he finally came and took our drink order. I am not kidding, in the middle of making our drinks he goes back to this same group of people and continues the conversation on places to visit in Austin, how to get there, etc. This to me was an absolute blatant disregard in providing us quality service. The drinks sat there for another five minutes while he chatted and completely ignored his literal duties as a bartender. He finally made our drinks and we decided to close out since we figured another trip to the bar would take another ten minutes. My sister paid that round of drinks and I asked to close out my tab. He closed my sister out, then went to wash dishes while I sat there waiting for my tab to be closed. When he stopped washing dishes I tried reminding him about my tab and he abruptly cut me off and said close you out, yes. At this point I was pretty annoyed at the situation and as he drops off my check he musters the fakest nice voice he could and said thank you guys, you were so awesome. He wasnt busy, he simply chose who hed provide quality service to. Id been drinking the Pride drink from the menu and was on my 3rd and it was absolutely awful. The first two were wonderful so I had the same expectation for the last drink. He added way too much coconut and it was way too strong. Not sure if this was intentional or merely due to him leaving mid way into making it to chat with the tourists. Anyway, as a place that specializes in hand crafted cocktails, the bartenders service is an essential element of the quality of the experience and this is where our experience fell short unfortunately. We will definitely visit this place again but if we see this same bartender well be going somewhere else.

I am visiting from out of town, and have heard amazing things about this bar! So of course this was my first stop... We were greeted by Ian who gave us a great experience! We went to many other bars tonight, and none of them compared to Higher Grounds!Thank you Ian again. We cant wait to come back!Also, their food is AMAZING!!!!

Very nice decor. Real chill vibes downstairs, and a nice upstairs with an outside patio to hang out.Natalie was very knowledgeable and helpful with the menu selections. The Mezcal drink, that not only she recommended, she made was top notch 😊

Great food, drinks, and service. Monya is my favorite and she always has a smile on! I highly recommend a visit.

Went for the Thursday steak special- the steak and eggs were overcooked and was served without the sauce, fries were great though. They seemed to be understaffed so service for the bar and food were slow.

Deliciously perfect for an impromptu happy hour. Wonderful service.

The space is so cute, the food we had was amazing and so were the drinks!

Super cool spot I randomly saw on Instagram, figured Id check it out. Everyone was very friendly and the drinks were great. Fun spot that Ill be back to again. The bartender knew how to make some different drinks I havent tried before so Ill have to try some others next time.

First time checking this place out. Bartender was super friendly. Food all sounded delicious. Had the croquettes which were tasty! Drinks were good. Loved the theme with the 7 deadly sins for the names. Cute place!

Good ambience. Good and short variety of cocktails. Order the crochettes, they are delicious!

Cute vibe, adorable theme and decor down to the smallest details. I went for When Where What’s 4 record Friday, but will definitely visit some other time. The back patio is gorgeous. One of the bartenders, while it made the wait a bit slower, he put such care and effort into each cocktail, it was a delight to watch.

Great cocktails and even better music, especially on Sunday!

This place always comes through. In my top 3 fave places in Austin, and my new fave spot in the past year. The food is phenomenal, its a diverse and friendly crowd every time. Totally goth, great service and great dance music. So much fun!

Wow! I tried the burger, fries, and Greed cocktail, which was like an old-fashioned spin-off. Excellent/quick service and atmosphere. The burger was truly one of the best I have had in my life! I cant even explain how good it was. Whatever sauce was on there blew me away. The fries were thin and crispy, much to my taste. For a generally stiff drink, the cocktail was very smooth. Not cheap alcohol, but high quality.

As a brand new establishment, this is kicking off a wonderful start. Definitely all the intrinsic artistic details in the design make this place unique. The food is absolutely wonderful for the price and the serving size. The drinks are uniquely named and live up to the expectation of the reader. Your pallet will definitely enjoy the evening.

My favorite bar ever. the bartenders are super friendly and talented. if you tell them what you’re in the mood for they’ll make exactly that, if not better. the food is amazing as well!!

Came here with my girlfriend on a Tuesday, originally with just a reservation for two. Two of our friends joined us last minute and they were still able to accommodate us upstairs without any wait. Once there Rick the bartender took great care of us. He was extremely polite and knowledgeable, and the service was great. My only regret is that they had run out of oysters an hour or so before we got there. Cool vibe, good service, great staff,, and nice location.

Higherground was amazing, the food was killer especially the bruschetta. Probably the best Ive ever had. Rick is incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and local activities to explore with my wife. Definitely the best bartender Ive had in ages. Made us feel like we have been regulars for years!

Went here with a friend. Super intimate experience. Bartenders knew drinks from BEFORE THE PROHIBITION. I kept asking and they kept giving. Some of the best drinks I’ve had in a long time. I’d recommend this place to anyone looking to push their palate and explore some very historical experiences. All around 10/10. Will be frequenting this place often, alone or with people looking to explore.

Classy bar with a fun theme, good ambience and happy hour!

Amazing burgers, drinks and staff. Rick (the amazing bartender) even customized my burger order to fit my keto diet. The bar itself is eclectic and has a great vibe. Looking forward to becoming a regular here. Prices are super reasonable as well and they take Apple Pay!

Design of the space is cool - has kinda a church vibe with the stained glass window upstairs and pew seating. DJ booth is in an old organ too which is pretty dope. Food was good - mainly small bites. Could use maybe 1 more table top upstairs, but I understand its a dance floor....Id give 4.5 stars! Def be back.

The food is good, the drinks are small for $15, but the service I have had on both of my visits was horrendous.The first visit, the bartender poured me a very tiny pour of Makers and when my boyfriend casually mentioned it was a small pour, the bartender took the glass and poured it down the drain, didnt serve us again or acknowledge us to close out, and when we walked on the tab they charged us for the drink.The second visit, there was a sign downstairs that simply said seat yourself so we did. A man promptly rushed over and made a scene that the sign was referring to upstairs, not downstairs and made a stink that we sat down without a reservation. We should have left, but instead went upstairs and proceeded to have slow, rude and terrible service from multiple employees.One last note, if you dont like cigarette smoke, absolutely dont go to the upstairs patio. Even with 20 fans blowing there is no circulation and you will be sitting in a stuffy bowl of smoke.

Atmosphere upstairs was awesome the service was horrible the burgers were great the arroz con polio is a no !! You have to go the bar to get your own drinks

Great spot cold beer and good cocktails. Good pool tables too! Staff fun

Love the ambiance and decor of this bar. The cocktails are to die for, my favorite is the “Pride”. Sophia is my requested server & she kills it every time. 10/10 recommend if you’re looking for a fun night out with the girls!

This is a quaint small place. Went on a tues with a couple coworkers for the $1 oysters. Got there about 430 pm, it opens at 4. All the seats were taken already so we went to upstairs bar and found a little table. There was a live singer, he was good. Food and drinks were good. The dollar oysters are a Tues only deal.

First time visiting... Tuesday night half priced oysters...$12 per dozen. Amazing deal. Great cocktails. Had the burger and the porchetta sandwiches. All great. Happy hour is well with the reservation. Do it!

Nice venue, the bar downstairs is excellent. I only wish the bar staff upstairs had better customer service. Performed here as a musician and received the worst bar service ever.Guy working the bar made me wait almost 15 minutes to get a drink, fully aware that I was there. Not sure what his problem was, but he needs to get control of his attitude.

I went for a birthday party tonight upstairs with a large group. I hadnt been before but I had heard great things. Great atmosphere, great DJ but it was insanely hot! Like a sauna. It was unbearable. I know the other guests were just as frustrated. It was not a good experience.

Didn’t have a good experience. Being from Austin l’m still excited when new bars and restaurants open. I had been looking forward to checking out higher ground. My girlfriend and I had tickets for the Moody Amphitheater so we made reservations a week in advance. At first things moved slowly at the host stand, to get menus and to first order, but no biggie it was 5:30pm and the place was maybe 30% full, we were not in a hurry. But after we moved to the empty bar is where our experience got a little odd. My friend still hadn’t been able to order a drink so we asked a waitress if we could order from her since the bartender was busy. She was very condescending then told the bartender we were waiting on him in hushed whispers. So after some time he came over to ask if we needed something and then proceeded to punish our request by serving people that clearly arrived after us to make a point and he was sure to state this out loud so other patrons could hear him. The interaction was really bizarre and just not friendly so we just asked to close out and left. We both don’t plan to return.

Absolutely loved the happy hour. I ordered the Pomegranate Ricky which was super delicious. Staff was super nice and gave great services. I would definitely go back if I came to Austin again.

Great bar that also has the right tunes to dance too. It tends to get pretty crowded on the weekends do show up early for some space to dance in. The drinks are reasonably priced and the cocktails downstairs are very good.

Quality cocktails and great atmosphere

Dj kay Cali plus the cocktails & ambience provide a grade a experience everytime

Loved it! Went out after a friend’s birthday party in a Friday night and it wasn’t overly crowded and the DJ was awesome. A good vibe. Will check out again next time I’m in Austin

Its... small. The menu is limited. Only 2 full sized portions for food. We ordered the hamburger and fries. Was 20 dollars. Also ordered meatballs. They were the size of a nickel. Teeny tiny portions. My drink was mostly ice. Waitress wasnt helpful with any suggestions on the menu. Overall, pricey and small portions. 3/5 for atmosphere.

I rented out the upstairs of Higher Ground for my birthday party and I cannot say enough great things about the space and the staff! My POC for the day, Seth, was fantastic and coordinated with my decor vendors and even got me a cake! The drinks are amazing, food is great, and staff makes the experience.

Cool spot for a drink but not food. I don’t know why people are raving about the food. 3 people in our group got the burger to try and it was meh. So, not a good spot but cute for a before dinner drink or night cap.

Visited while waiting for movies from across the street. Rose was decent, Trio sliders very good. Five star for happy hour price!

Meh. Have followed this place on Instagram and stopped in before a show at the paramount (across the street). Each of us had a cocktail from their main menu ($15 a piece) and it was “meh” at best, especially for the price. We’re used to good cocktails costing a bit more, and this was nothing special. French fries and pimento cheese dip was great, got our food before the drinks. Asked for another cheese, wasn’t told we’d be charged $3 for two ramekins of cheese each. Pricey, overrated, way better places in SoCo and downtown to drink than here. Also thought it was happy hour (no day of week noted on their menu) and got charged regular prices- however it was a Saturday (but wasn’t noted on their HH menu).

I know that my dining experience may not reflect everyones. This was my first time dining at this restaurant. I went with a friend for their Tuesday night oysters and bubbles special. We were greeted soon enough, but our drinks took about 30 minutes. Shishito peppers came out quickly. As the night went on, the service was atrocious. Both female servers kept avoiding us and did not check on us. We had to flag them down, and asked a couple times where our food was and the response both times was any time, meaning they didnt know and hadnt checked. It took an entire HOUR to get a dozen oysters. Multiple tables that were sat after received drinks and food sooner than us and also appeared to have better service. The male server/host did his best to communicate and smooth things over by being attentive for a bit. As soon as the oysters came out, we immediately asked for another dozen because the first had taken so long. He said they would take 30-40 minutes. We waited another FULL HOUR and still no oysters. We asked to cancel the order and get our check and the response was oh theyve already shucked 2 of them. How the hell does it take an entire hour to shuck 12 oysters in a small restaurant. Theyre not even cooked and the kitchen was turning out food to other tables faster than us. The staff and communication was absolutely horrible and theres no way we will ever be back for oyster night. This wasnt oyster night, it was a waste of time and money.

So this was the first time the wifey and I tried this place out. The drinks were pretty good but food was not great at all. Pretty bland unfortunately. Also we made reservations and we ended up getting seated at the first table right next to all the traffic of people coming in and out. And with it being our first time there, it was like we couldnt even check the place out bc we were seated right at the entrance. Lol Not really a bad thing, just unlucky. Either way when we were done, we went upstairs and checked it out. Cool environment, but definitely crowded. Id give this place one more try if friends invited us or something but we would not go back on our own free will.

Our group of 8 of us visited Higher Ground for a celebration when it just opened and Seth (one of the Managers) was extremely helpful and accommodating. Most newer bars in Austin are starting to act pretentious, so its refreshing to see Higher Ground not only being an unique bar but also actually having outstanding hospitality and service!The whole concept of Higher Ground is creative; being Church themed and utilizing remodeled Church decor and furniture...the craft cocktails are also named after the 7 deadly sins. Overall the vibe is unique and worth the visit, however, considering the drinks are named after the 7 deadly sins, they do not exactly taste and feel as sinful - as in the drinks are not as strong as they could be.....After 10pm, the vibe of the 2nd floor changes and is quite different than the 1st floor...1st floor remains the main resturant area; 2nd floor turns into a dance floor and gives out the sinful energy...if you do not enjoy the noise/loud music, then you should visit Higher Ground earlier.All in all, we really appreciated the creativity of Higher Ground and especially how well they took care of our group! I hope they keep up their great service and be well known as the distinctive bar that always welcome their customers well!

One of Austins coolest venues. The kind that appreciates that atmosphere and service is as important, if not more so, when people are going out. Cool vibe. Great location

Nice cocktails, small, vertical venue (the space is in height and floors, but not wide or truly spacious). Food is good, venue is pretty

Cool themed bar with good music upstairs. We ordered food and drinks and when I asked our server about my burger, she said, Oh, I forgot to put that in. No sorry and mostly attitude with her response and this was after waiting for 15 mins after other food came out.

In coordinating an event at the venue, we encountered a mixup that was very quickly corrected by the Higher Ground team. Not only did Judith work to accommodate our request, she took the time to provide alternatives until we had a solution that worked for us. This showed their commitment to deliver an incredible customer experience i.e. resolving things when there is an issue. I am providing a 5 star review even before the event to recognize Judith and team for their efforts to rectify this unsavory situation. Props to Higher Ground! Looking forward to dining there in June.

Broke my foot on the dimly lit downhill ramp from the bathroom & that kinda put a damper on the night. Bartener saw & from afar asked if I was OK, which in the moment I thought I was. Continued limping & had to have help from another patron carrying my friend out to leave. Bartenders went on with their jobs as if nothing was even out of the ordinary. Some more attentive service would have been preferred.

How do I give more than 5 stars?! We came for anniversary drinks and loved it. Seth and Erin are truly amazing and made it one of the best experiences!! We need more people like Seth and Erin in the world, they are such wonderful humans. Someone needs to get them a drink!

Such a nice bar & great atmosphere

Masagna (spelling? But she did say it lasagna but with a M) was amazing and we really enjoyed talking with her. Had drinks and an appetizer, and both were very tasty.

I didnt catch the bartenders name but he made me a delicious drink on request when I had a weird hankering for whiskey and pineapple. Also, the decor here is gorgeous 😍

I wasn’t impressed with this place. There is hardly anywhere to sit. The bar downstairs is the only bar that actually knows how to make cocktails and the bartenders were not friendly when you ask them about certain cocktail recommendations.

I paid $125 for an “open bar” they stopped serving cocktails at 10. Never giving this bar my business again

New cute bar on Congress! The theme is like a church and have drinks named after the seven deadly sins. The food here was incredible. Will definitely be going again.

Chill vibe. Enjoyed the live music and happy hour oyster special.

The only thing this place got right was the interior design. Guy working the bar was extremely disrespectful to my wife

MONYA MONYA MONYA!!!!!!! She is the best bartender there!! I am very particular about how I like my cocktails and she gets each one PERFECT every time…she is truly skilled at her craft and really cares about everybody which you don’t typically see in this industry. Higher ground is lucky to have her and I hope she never leaves!!!

Great ambiance. Reminds me of NOLA and has a Edgar Allan Poe vibe. Great place to take a date or meet people. Fridays there is a DJ as well.

Awesome on Sundays. Great cocktails and they have $10 bottles of champagne

Great food and Tuesday oysters is awesome. The bartender Rick makes a killer cocktail and provides great service. Would recommend.

Great cocktails. Highly recommend the Wrath. So good. Bars upstairs and downstairs. Haven’t been upstairs yet cause I’m having such a good time downstairs.

Great music and environment. Shout out to our bartender Rick! He makes a mean drink and taught me how to reverse dry shake.

It is vibrant spot but not a typical sit down place for dinner and drinks. It’s got more of a party vibe with loud music.

Amazing experience. The staff was very helpful and on point . Great music and vibes

I love the concept; the drinks are named after sins but 4 starts because they do not taste great... music is good, atmosphere is great.

Had a couple of cocktails here during SXSW. Great vibes, professionally made cocktails and friendly team.

I LOVE Higher Ground. Coop helped us out and made our evening immaculate! 10/10 will be back to see him again!

Their espresso martini is amazing. Shout out to Rick for making us awesome drinks and for the good suggestions. Ill come back to visit

This was a nice spot! My waitress Tayler was so knowledgeable and recommended the best drinks for me and my friend! She was AMAZING‼️

Cool Club. Good Music. This was fun 😄

The staff is phenomenal. Vibe and food is on point. Only been here twice and its a must visit spot!

Really cool place that has been renovated for food and hang out. Back patio was such a great atmosphere.Found out it used to be a Cobbler shop.Awesome place!

Just ok. Very loud. No Wi-Fi. Overrated.

Service was good, drinks were reeeal pricey. 4 drinks almost $50

Great place for great cocktails

Great place to hangout and chill with friends. Seems to always have something going on. Great spots for DJs and amazing cocktails and snacks! IYKYK

Had a great time and absolutely love the decor in this place. Sophia was very kind, helpful and informative. Will definitely be back.

Always a great time with great drinks at Higher Ground! Our bartender Rick’s cocktail suggestions and conversation made tonight’s celebration extra special

Place was cool. Had a good vibe to it and has a nice back area.

No service, little menu choice, small and cold (literally) space, tiny tables, uncomfortable chairs. wont go back

I had their birthday cake shot and it was so amazing. The bar has a very ghosty vintage vibe to it, loved it!

Excellent staff, friendly bartenders, and a really unique drink menu. Highly recommended.

Got to dj a few times there and I also love being a dancer there too. Love the ambience

Great new bar. Havent tried the restaurant yet. Open later than most with private parking and classy ambiance.

As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol I have a hard time finding decent Shirley temples at bars in Austin. Higher ground has the best ones!

Visited here during my travels. The drinks were great, the environment was fun and unique. Hope it gets more attention soon.

Very cool place to hang out or go with a date. It has a church vibe, very unique. Music was cool and the drinks were good.

Really cool vibe! The finish out is really cool vintage church finish out! The outside patio is instagram worthy!

Perfect downtown bar for happy hour or a late night. I was very surprised by how good the food was here.

Awesome happy hour!!!

This place is cool. Sitting on the outside patio at night looking up at the stars sipping on one the 7 Deadly Sins was a whole vibe.

Pretty cool upstairs, tasty drinks. A little on the spendy side for a small drink though.

Attentive staff and great cocktails!

I went with a group and we all had a wonderful time! Sophia was wonderful and we will certainly be back soon!

Love the vibe here. Right downtown.

Everything about this bar is perfect.Vibe, service, drinksWe had fun

Unique church/sin concept and the signature cocktails are amazing. The sin of Pride drink is my favorite.

Amazing place to grab a bite to eat with friends and delicious cocktails. The environment is just so cool and friendly

I absolutely loved this place, its such a vibe. I loved our bartender, she was the BEST!!!

Delicious cocktails with a atmosphere youll want to take your next profile pic in.

Great atmosphere. Good unique specialty drink menu

We were in town for an event and went to this place.. Great atmosphere, awesome staff andeath and just all around terrific.

Steller Location, superior bartenders crafting high powered cocktails. great for a date or out with friends.

A very lovely decorated bar with good cocktails. Definitely worthwhile visiting.

Beautiful building, and the patio is ideal for chilling out with a small group of friends.

Beautiful atmosphere, and we loved our cocktails and fried oysters.

Probably a cool place if you go at the right time, but not really my vibe.

Very nice atmosphere and different cide inside yet be ready to pay....drinks are expensive!!

Really cool spot! Rick is a great bartender! 11/10 recommend

The cocktails are not great and the upstairs space is poorly planned. I don’t plan to hang out here again.

$1 east coast oysters on Tuesday along with the bubbles ! Get there super early they run out fast

Rick was a great bartender. The oysters and bruschetta were amazing

Try the bruschetta it will change your life. Also the bartenders and music are fantastic.

Absolutely loved Envy, Lust, the shosito peppers but don’t sleep on the fries 🔥

Really cool new bar. Great theme. Should be a blast when at capacity.

Wife and I stumbled across this spot Friday night dj was dope prices especially great

Great spot for cocktails and best happy hour hamburger around!

Super cool bar if you’ve never been.

What an amazing setup and really great music for dancing. Highly recommended.

Good happy hour option in downtown

Rick is a fantastic bar tender! 10/10 service and oysters

Cool place but with a very narrow corridor where everybody gets stucked in...

One of the best cocktail bars in town

Nice place, good drinks, happy people. Id go back.

Great place, but not a fan of Fridays DJs.

Bartender is great! Drinks are great. Highly recommend.

Good drinks, unique atmosphere, and a fun experience.

Fun, chill spot. Have some amazing DJ’s

$5 burger Wednesdays cant be beat! Great happy hour

Great fun vibe, thanks to Brian for making some delicious drinks!

There were bugs in our oysters & the “ice” was not ice it was watery…..

Great atmosphere!! Pride cocktail was delicious!

Awesome! Brian makes the best espresso martinis. 🍸

Good drinks and atmosphere

Awesome place!! Can’t wait to party here every weekend

A wonderfully welcoming spot with upbeat music and a heavenly menu

I was there for a private event. Very nice establishment.

Nice place, but the patrons were awful

Rick is absolutely tremendous at making gin drinks.

Excellent coctails, and good food reasonable prices

Great area for late night music

Good thematic vibe. Worth being the highlight of your Friday/Saturday night

Food is a bit pricey, love the vibe

Amazing dollar oysters on Tuesdays.