Half Step. Cocktails nightly. 75 1/2 Rainey St.

  • Mon–Thu 4 PM to 2 AM
  • Fri–Sun Noon to 2 AM

Happy Hour Mon–Fri until 7 PM

See the menu Directions

A house on Rainey since 2014

Half Step opened in 2014 as a cocktail bar in the Milk & Honey tradition: classic drinks, built right, served without fuss.

Rainey Street grew up around it, and Half Step grew with it. It's more of a Rainey Street bar now, with a porch, a backyard and a band on the calendar. The drinks are still made the old way.

Our story

The Half Step house at night: string lights over the porch and the patio, people at tables out front
Looking down into a coupe at a big square block of ice under foam, a dried lime wheel and a dusting of spice

Our ice is nice

Cut by hand, here, from big clear blocks. Cubes for the stirred drinks, spears for the tall ones.

But that's not why people keep coming back. It's just a good bar.

Pull up a seat

The transom over the front door: 75 and the half-circle mark, lamps glowing inside
The house 75 1/2 Rainey. Porch out front, the bar through the door.
A white cat with black ears lying on the patio turf under yellow and teal metal chairs
The backyard Turf, picnic tables, yellow chairs, and a cat who acts like it owns the place.
A cocktail in a coupe on a wooden ledge under a glowing wall sconce
The bar Classic cocktails, built right. Can't decide? Bartender's choice.
A chalkboard sign by the door reading Live Music Tonight, 9 pm to 12 am
Live music A band on the calendar every month. Follow @halfstepbar for who's playing.

What's pouring

Half Step Freezer Martini

Gin, house dry vermouth blend (4:1), orange bitters, lemon peel

Pico de Gallo Margarita

Frozen. Tequila, dry curaçao, lime, pico de gallo cordial

Bartender's Choice

Name your spirit and what you like. We'll take care of the rest.

A pale orange cocktail in a coupe on a wooden bar top, warm lights behind A red cocktail on the rocks topped with a dried lime wheel, on a weathered wooden porch rail A frozen drink with a chili-salt rim and a lime wedge on a white patio table

The whole menu

What Austin says

4.6 from 983 Google reviews · Read them

“If you like craftsmanship in a bartender then Half Step is a good spot for you. Order an old fashioned and watch how they prep the ice cube.”
Colin F. · ★★★★★
“Half Step is one of the last remaining places that fights hard to keep the soul of Austin intact. The vibes are immaculate and the drinks are on point.”
James H. · ★★★★★
“It has such old charm and character with live music, world class cocktails and tremendous people watching.”
Lucas B. · ★★★★★
A warm neon sign in a window reading you earned it, under the half-circle mark

You earned it

Happy hour, Monday to Friday

Every weekday from open until 7 PM. Come early, grab a spot on the patio, stay for the music.

See the menu Plan a visit

Friends of the Bar

Points on every tab, double points Monday through Wednesday before 8 PM, and $5 off just for joining. Good at every Pouring with Heart bar.

Join Friends of the Bar

Signup opens on Toast in a new tab and takes about a minute.