The Cloak Room, Downtown Near Capitol
23 people recommendvia r/austinfood, r/Austin26 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Most commenters recommend The Cloak Room as the answer for bars near the Capitol, and many describe it as very dark. One commenter calls it the top dive bar in town, and one finds the people-watching good. One commenter says it only suits people who don't mind a lawyer-and-politician crowd, another calls it a rundown institution, and one finds it better for groups than for a solo after-work stop.
Address
The Cloak Room, 1300 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
At a glance
- Best for
- Groups
- Opinions divided
- Yes
- Known for
- Dark room, Dive bar, People watching
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to The Cloak Room, Downtown Near Capitol, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/pedernalesblue in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Suggests Cloak Room when asked for bar recommendations near the Capitol.
- Recommendsu/jwall4 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Lists it among top picks.
- Recommendsu/Salamok in r/austinfood · Mar 2024ambience
Ranks it top for darkness; light is focused on the bar, the rest is black.
- Recommendsu/Worried_Local_9620 in r/austinfood · Jun 2025ambience
Would walk there for a nice dark cool down with a stiff drink.
- Recommendsu/GingerLawyerGirl in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Offers to meet there for drinks and happy hour.
- Recommendsu/stevendaedelus in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Enthusiastically endorses it, adding advice on how to behave there.
- Recommendsu/zorkempire in r/Austin · Feb 2025ambience
Describes it as quirky, with usually enjoyable people-watching.
- Recommendsu/Ryanw254 in r/austinfood · Mar 2024ambience
Names Cloakroom as a definite darkest-bar pick.
Show all 26 cited comments
- Recommendsu/AdventurousCoconut71 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Suggests Cloak Room as a change of pace.
- Recommendsu/hornbri in r/austinfood · Mar 2024ambience
Agrees Cloakroom is the obvious darkest-bar pick.
- Recommendsu/thinkconverse in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Names it the top dive bar in town.
- Mixedu/KeyRepresentative in r/austinfood · Nov 2026ambience
Lists it, but suits only people who can tolerate a lawyer-and-politician crowd.
- Recommendsu/Psychological-Lack98 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Names it among places suggested when asked for bar recommendations.
- Recommendsu/Desperate_Duck_7674 in r/austinfood · Nov 2025
Lists this among several dive-bar options for the asker.
- Recommendsu/Shoontzie in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Says it's the one obvious answer.
- Recommendsu/Plus_Version8600 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Calls it a great spot.
- Recommendsu/redshirt_diefirst12 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Names it the top bar in town.
- Recommendsu/Schyznik in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Lists it first among picks sorted by closeness to the Capitol.
- Recommendsu/sleuthfoot in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Says it's the clear answer.
- Mixedu/Austin_Native_2 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026ambience
Calls it small and dark, good for group chatting, but a poor fit for a solo after-work stop.
- Recommendsu/Broad_Personality127 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Suggests it when asked for bar recommendations near the Capitol.
- Recommendsu/JurisUrsus in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Names it when asked for bar recommendations near the Capitol.
- Recommendsu/PureYouth in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Enthusiastically recommends it.
- Mixedu/longhorn_2017 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026service
Calls it rundown but an institution.
- Recommendsu/FunBoysenberry3681 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026ambience
Says they always enjoy it, though people rarely bring it up anymore.
- Recommendsu/redpepperflake7 in r/austinfood · Nov 2026
Agrees Cloak Room is the only real answer.
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Freshness
Details last checked 11 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.