• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): The Good Life Bar Bar

February 18, 2019 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

The Good Life Bar Bar in Austin, TX

The Good Life Bar Bar, one of Austin’s speakeasy-style bars

Editor’s note: The Good Life Bar Bar is now closed.

Sometimes you don’t know what you’re looking for until you’ve found it. One day you’re getting a haircut at the barbershop you’ve been going to for 10 years, and the next you have an offer to open your own bar behind said barbershop. If that feels like a fairly specific example, it’s because…surprise!…it’s based on a true story. Meet Brian Hummel, owner and operator of the The Good Life BAR BAR, a cozy and unique speakeasy in the heart of downtown Austin.

Hummel, who’d been working in Austin bars and restaurants for years, found his venture when–during a routine haircut–he asked the owner of The Good Life Barber Shop what she was doing with the vacant room behind the shop. When he learned it wasn’t being used, a lightbulb went off. “What if we open a bar back there and I run it for you?” he asked.

A year and a half later this “neighborhood speakeasy” is a successful bar with diverse drink offerings and a homey vibe. The Good Life BAR BAR is more than worthy of being the first entrant in my new series on The Austinot: Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets.

Your Neighborhood Speakeasy

The Good Life BAR BAR Speaking Interior

Inside The Good Life BAR BAR

The Good Life BAR BAR quickly built up a regular clientele. There are customers who come for a drink before, after, or while getting a haircut. Then there are customers who are looking for a low- key, intimate setting where they can take a break from the chaos of the real world upstairs. Hummel has purposely designed the setting for just that. “The biggest component of any bar or restaurant that I’m running is that I’m going to welcome you like it’s my living room,” he told me. “That’s my business model.”

Look around and you’ll see The Good Life BAR BAR has the intimate feeling of a home. The space is decorated with memorabilia that has been in Hummel’s New York City-based family for generations. From his father’s old records on display, to a scorecard of a Brooklyn Dodgers game featuring Jackie Robinson in one of the bathrooms, the decor reflects old-school New York. “The ’50s and ’60s, the Sinatra days, were one big cocktail party,” Hummel explained. “That’s what I’m trying to get back to. Just being real.”

The Good Life BAR BAR Secrets

The Good Life Speakeasy Red Light

The red light means the bar is open for business

There isn’t any signage for The Good Life BAR BAR out on the street, so you need to know what to look for on 5th Street and Brazos. A veteran’s trick: look for the red light.

As a nod to the Red Light District, this light signals to patrons that this neighborhood speakeasy is open for business. If the light isn’t shining, then the bar is either closed or at capacity.

Once you see the light, come on in, walk down the stairs, and go past the barbershop and through the door on the right at the end of the hallway. Note from a regular: you can see the red light all the way from Sixth Street, so you can take a peek from a distance if you’re looking for a break from the craziness of Dirty Sixth.

Personal Lockers at The Good Life BAR BAR

Personal lockers to store your alcohol

Oh yeah, the lockers. The Good Life BAR BAR doesn’t serve hard liquor…but you can drink your own. Hummel offers lockers for a monthly fee, where you can store bottles of liquor you’ve purchased.

Yes, this place is BYOB: Bring Your Own Bottle. Buy the liquor you want and leave it in your own personal locker. Pay a small fee for a “liquor setup,” glasses and ice (and mixers, if you want), and you’re good to drink your own booze in the comfort of your neighborhood speakeasy. “We’re not going to compete with high-end cocktail bars. We don’t want to,” Hummel explained. “But BYOB is a box that other bars don’t check.”

Note: lockers are all currently taken, but there is a waiting list. So add your name if this is calling to you!

Drink Menu at The Good Life BAR BAR

Drink Menu at The Good Life Speakeasy in Austin

The menu features plenty of creative cocktails

If you don’t have a locker, then fear not. There are still plenty of drinking options at The Good Life BAR BAR. Local wines, rotating taps with Texas beers (mostly from Austin), and creative cocktails. Creative cocktails? Let’s talk a bit more about those…

Hummel created all of these cocktails, and continues to add and rotate the drinks seasonally. My favorite I tried was the Tokyo Mule: a Moscow Mule with a twist. This is the most popular order at The Good Life BAR BAR, and with good reason. It features carbonated sake from Texas Sake Company and will be a regular order on my visits. Make it a “must-order.”

The Beer Fashioned features Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and the Gringo Michelada comes with a dash of soy sauce. These drinks are original, delicious, and worthy of this intimate and welcoming space.

Downtown Austin’s Little Oasis

The Good Life BAR BAR is open Tuesday through Saturday, with expanded space on Friday and Saturday nights. With the barbershop only doing business on weekdays, Hummel expands the bar space, and invites bands and DJs to perform on the weekends. People can get down to the music and cut a rug where others cut their hair (sorry, I had to). “On the weekends, we bring this place to a whole other level,” Hummel told me. A party with the intimacy of a living room? Yes, please.

Sure, it’s fun to go to speakeasies. It proves you’re “in the know,” that you’re part of an exclusive crowd. But if the quality isn’t there, then the novelty quickly wears off.

I love this place. It understands what it is, and does it well. Yes, this bar has a sense of self.  As Hummel told me, “If you want a little oasis, something different, then go see Brian down at the Bar Bar. It’ll be a fun experience. That’s us!”

201 E. 5th St. #100B 

@theAustinot wants to know:

Which speakeasies should we feature in our new series? It’s okay; you can tell us.

Filed Under: Drink, Food & Drink Tagged With: downtown, speakeasy

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of December 1, 2023 include Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run, Ballet Austin presents The Nutcracker, and More!

12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of December 1, 2023 include Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run, Ballet Austin presents The Nutcracker, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of December 1 which include the Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run, Ballet Austin presents The Nutcracker, Holiday Sing-Along and Stroll, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be […]

Austin Christmas Lights 2023

Austin Christmas Lights 2023 – Your Guide to Dazzling Holiday Displays in the City and Beyond!

Hear, hear, the sparkly season is near! From now through the end of the season, festive holiday light trails adorn the Texas Hill Country, and we’ve discovered the best and brightest dazzlers around. Everyone loves the Zilker Park lights, yet if you want to set forth on an illuminated adventure beyond these famous Austin holiday lights, read […]

Thanksgiving 2023 Austin Events

Thanksgiving 2023 Austin Events – Enjoy These 10 Things to Do, Activities, & More!

Thanksgiving 2023 is just around the corner, and Austin, Texas, is gearing up for a season brimming with festivities, warmth, and community spirit. As we anticipate the joyous celebrations, let’s embrace the essence of Thanksgiving in Austin – a blend of traditional feasts, holiday cheer, and memorable moments with loved ones. Whether you’re a local […]

Veterans Day Events Austin 2023

Veterans Day Events Austin 2023 – Parades, Concerts, and Other Celebrations Near You!

This Veterans Day, honor the valiant hearts who served in the US Armed Forces with a grand salute! The city is set to showcase a spectacular lineup of Veterans Day events in 2023, making it the centerpiece of the city’s annual celebrations. Whether you’re searching for ‘Veterans Day events near me’ or ‘veteran events near […]

Winter Camp Austin 2023 - Your Guide to Find the Perfect Camps for Your Child This Holiday Season!

Winter Camp Austin 2023 – Find the Perfect Camps for Your Child This Holiday Season!

Editor’s Note: We are getting started with our process of compiling our comprehensive guide on Winter Camps in Austin for 2023! We will be making updates to this article on a regular basis. So please bookmark and check back in!  Winter Camps Austin – Explore, Learn, and Grow! Austin becomes a playground of wonder and […]

Recent Posts

  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of December 1, 2023 include Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run, Ballet Austin presents The Nutcracker, and More!
  • Austin Christmas Lights 2023 – Your Guide to Dazzling Holiday Displays in the City and Beyond!
  • Christmas tree lighting Austin 2023 Events & Ceremonies to Watch!
  • Planning Your Black Friday in Austin – When to Shop Where And Maximize Shopping Deals
  • Everything you need for Thanksgiving 2023 in Austin – Things to do, Where to Eat, Where to Shop & more!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.
  • Austin Christmas Lights 2023 – Your Guide to Dazzling Holiday Displays in the City and Beyond!
  • Winter Camp Austin 2023 – Find the Perfect Camps for Your Child This Holiday Season!
  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of December 1, 2023 include Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run, Ballet Austin presents The Nutcracker, and More!
  • Birthday Freebies Austin 2023 – List of Over 45 Best Restaurants, Food Places, & Stores with Birthday Month Deals Near You

Copyright © 2023 · Log in