• 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): Midnight Cowboy

August 12, 2019 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Midnight Cowboy Speakeasy Interior

You can’t just walk into Midnight Cowboy on a Saturday night and expect to get the experience, or the cocktails, everyone raves about. Certain steps are necessary. This may be why it took me three years to visit what is perhaps Austin’s most well-known speakeasy. Planning ahead has never been my strong suit.

When I made my reservation, found the hidden door, rang the bell, and sat in a booth for the first time, it didn’t take long to figure out why so many people recommended Midnight Cowboy over the years. For the sixth installment of The Austinot’s Speakeasy Secrets series, I’ll teach you how you too can have this same experience, and why you should make it a priority to do so.

Showing Up Is Half the Battle

Entrance Midnight Cowboy on Dirty Sixth Street
The red light outside denotes Midnight Cowboy is open for business

There’s a process for guaranteeing your one- or two-hour time slot at Midnight Cowboy. First things first: you need a reservation, especially if you’re going on the weekend. Go to the website and follow the instructions to book a slot. Availability will vary, depending on the time and party size, so make sure to plan a few weeks ahead if you’re looking for a weekend slot for a big group!

Next step: find it! At the scheduled time, head down to Dirty Sixth and look for the “Midnight Cowboy Modeling” sign (more on that homage later), or the shining red light denoting the speakeasy is open for service.

The bar is located through an unassuming door at 313 E. 6th St. Ring the doorbell labeled Harry Craddock (the name of one of the most famous bartenders in the 1920s and 1930s), and you’re in! That wasn’t so hard, was it?

A Special Place with a Special History

Midnight Cowboy Bar

Midnight Cowboy, one of the oldest speakeasy-style bars in Austin, opened in 2012. It converted to a bar from a brothel that was masquerading as a massage parlor known as Midnight Cowboy Modeling Oriental Massage. With a similar name, it’s clear Midnight Cowboy chooses to embrace its history, rather than run from it.

Every speakeasy has its “thing,” whether that means Prohibition-style decor, a secret entrance, or amazing cocktails. Well, Midnight Cowboy has all the things.

When you enter this uniquely decorated space, you’ll see booths on both sides, with plush leather seats. There’s an intricately decorated bar, and past that are rooms for private parties. The bar’s interior capacity is 44 people, hence the importance of a reservation. There is also a patio out back, which is open from Thursday to Sunday and available to walk-ins until it fills up. This is a great option if you didn’t plan ahead with a reservation, or simply want some fresh air.

Because of the unique setting and reliability that comes with a reservation, Midnight Cowboy is popular for special happy hours and dates, as well as birthday and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Come here for a special occasion, or a planned break from the chaos of Dirty Sixth Street.

Everything Is an Experience

Midnight Cowboy General Manager Ryan Ehrlichman
General Manager Ryan Ehrlichman

Like most things that take preparation, the effort on the front end helps the visit feel like a special experience. “People take the time to make a reservation and show up; we want to give them the experience they deserve,” General Manager Ryan Ehrlichman told me. For this reason, every detail of the Midnight Cowboy visit is highly curated. In fact, the speakeasy thinks of itself as a fine dining restaurant that doesn’t serve food.

“We want to give people something that they can’t get anywhere else, and in doing so we give a personal touch through our service,” Ehrlichman said. And what a personal touch! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and certain cocktails get made right in front of you.

My cocktail was detailed enough to include a couple drops from a tincture bottle, while another came out smoking. With a limited number of guests, Midnight Cowboy ensures every patron receives the time and attention they deserve.

And that is how this speakeasy creates the feel of a fine dining restaurant without the food. “You’re getting all of the culinary service aspects you would from a fine dining restaurant, but we serve cocktails and it’s a little more fun,” Ehrlichman shared. Indeed.

The Menu

Midnight Cowboy Passport Drink Menu
Midnight Cowboy’s passport menu

Midnight Cowboy runs thematic menus annually. When I visited, the menu looked like a passport with drinks that contained flavors from all over the world. As Ehrlichman told me, “It’s all about the experience. The cocktails are a bonus.”

Golden Path Cocktail at Midnight Cowboy
Cocktails from around the world

Keeping with the “bar as a restaurant theme,” the techniques for creating cocktails are culinary-driven. The goal is to blow the minds of guests in terms of what cocktails can actually be. “We gain inspiration from the culinary side by using food products and introducing them into cocktails,” Ehrlichman told me.

Midnight Cowboy Back Patio Menu
Back patio menu

If you’re looking for more standard drinks, Midnight Cowboy is amenable to that, as well. Bartenders will happily provide classic cocktails, beer, and wine on request. In addition, the menu on the back patio is different from inside. “It’s a way for us to be more creative than our set menu, which doesn’t change for a year. But it’s of the same quality as inside,” Ehrlichman shared.

There is a new menu coming out in winter 2019, and there’s reason for excitement. The theme is drinks that coincide with stories from the upcoming anthology show “The Field Guide to Evil.” The drinks will be released in conjunction with the show, cocktails inspired by both the good and evil in each episode.

“We pair menu with film,” Ehrilchman explained. “We are trying to stay ahead of the curve in terms of the way media can play into the relevancy of bar and restaurant.” I had never heard of conjunction releases, and I’m excited to experience one this winter. Again, this speakeasy is unique, delicious, and experiential.

While speakeasies can at times feel exclusive, and maybe even pretentious, Midnight Cowboy is anything but. The music is determined by the crowd and vibe of the night. And the hospitality is on par with anywhere in Austin. “We want our staff to give a part of themselves to the customers who are here,” Ehrilchman told me. “We try not to be uptight because Austin is not an uptight city.”

Time to make a reservation and experience this Austin staple for yourself!

313 E. 6th St. – Website


@theAustinot wants to know:

Have you been to Midnight Cowboy?


The original version of this article was published Aug. 2, 2012.

Filed Under: Drink, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Nightlife Tagged With: bars, downtown, sixth street, 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!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

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

Things to do

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend | Sustainable Food Center

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 27, 2023 include Sustainable Food Center Market, Cinderella at the Zach Theatre, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 27, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Sustainable Food Center Market, Cinderella at the Zach Theatre, Shrek the Musical Jr., and more! […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend of January 27 | Eastside Pop-Up + Handcrafted + Vintage Market

10 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of January 27, 2023 include Eastside Pop Up Market, Sweeney Todd Musical, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of January 27 which include Eastside Pop-Up + Handcrafted + Vintage Market, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Cathedral Open House, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this […]

Things to do in Austin this week Jan 23 | Karen's Diner Austin

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of January 23, 2023 include Karen’s Diner Austin, Pink Martini Concert, and more!

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of January 23, 2023, include Karen’s Diner Austin, Pink Martini, Cinderella at the Zach Theatre, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. There are […]

Austin’s New Year: Fireworks from Afar

Austin New Years Eve 2023 fireworks guide – NYE party start time, entertainment line up, parking tips & more!

Are you ready to say goodbye to 2022? What better way to ring in the New Year than with fireworks at Austin’s biggest and official New Year party! This beloved, annual Austin event draws thousands of people including locals as well as visitors from neighboring towns in the Central Texas area. If you are googling […]

Johnson City Christmas Lights Spectacular 2022 - What to expect at this lighting event in Texas

Johnson City Christmas Lights Spectacular 2022 – A beloved Texas lighting event!

Come one, come all to celebrate the Johnson City Lights Spectacular 33rd Season! Johnson City is an area close to Fredericksburg, TX. Every Christmas holiday for the last 33 years, Johnson City transforms from a slow-paced, presidential hometown nestled on the banks of the Pedernales River, into a bright beacon of light — like a […]

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 27, 2023 include Sustainable Food Center Market, Cinderella at the Zach Theatre, and more!
  • 10 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of January 27, 2023 include Eastside Pop Up Market, Sweeney Todd Musical, and More!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of January 23, 2023 include Karen’s Diner Austin, Pink Martini Concert, and more!
  • Romantic Restaurants Austin – Top 10 best date night restaurants near you
  • Healthy Food Austin – Your comprehensive guide to health friendly restaurants, cafes, and 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

  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 27, 2023 include Sustainable Food Center Market, Cinderella at the Zach Theatre, and more!
  • 10 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of January 27, 2023 include Eastside Pop Up Market, Sweeney Todd Musical, and More!
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Midnight Cowboy
  • 9 Lap Swimming Spots Around Austin
  • Can’t Decide What to Eat? There’s an App for That!

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz