best of the best
Classic Austin cocktail bar chills in prestigious 50 Best Discovery list
This list is for bars and restaurants that have exceeded even the more general 50 Best list's standards.
Heading out for a drink in Austin could mean any number of things. Most popularly, folks will end up on a patio with a beer or at a semi-secret cocktail bar that's all over Instagram. But one bar has been consistently leading the pack: the upscale, but unpretentious Roosevelt Room.
This classic bar on 5th Street has been newly recognized by the 50 Best Discovery list, by a platform since 2019 that has gained world relevance by basing its ratings on the opinions of 1,080 restaurant experts around the globe. If there's any way to find the true best bars and restaurants in the world, the more voters, the merrier.
This Discovery list (as opposed to the regular 50 Best) collects restaurants and bars that "extends far beyond the elite establishments celebrated in each list" — meaning Roosevelt Room has been named the best of the best.
"Located in a supersized former railroad warehouse built in 1929 — between the main level dining room and second story mezzanine, the bar spans over 6,000 square feet — the Roosevelt Room is a regal cocktail bar in Austin’s upscale Warehouse District," the listing reads. "Despite its size, the mood does hearken back to the great speakeasies of the Art Deco age, thanks to the period-appropriate decor and air of exclusivity that hangs in the room."
The Roosevelt Room, first and foremost, makes great cocktails. But even better, this bar serves them with relatively little fanfare. It's a serious venture without being haughty; a fun place to stop without too much schtick. Great for dates and nights out with friends who aren't in it to get wild, this bar operates with approachable dignity.
(We are, however, glazing over the one glaring bit of camp patrons might notice: a series of oil paintings depicting guests who have tried the top-shelf version of every single cocktail on the menu. You've got to have a sense of humor when you've committed on that level.)
Most useful for first-time visitors is surely the menu, which organizes more than 50 cocktails into categories by era and style, elegantly laying out a sleek history of mixology. Things like a mai tai, a Moscow mule, a French 75, or an old fashioned should be in any bartender's wheelhouse, but taking a good look at the Roosevelt Room's standard offerings is a reminder of the impressive breadth of cocktail culture through the centuries, all presented through one creative, but largely traditional point of view.
In addition to perhaps inadvertently educating Austinites as they comb through the menu, the bar also offers insightful tasting classes and takes part in other local or even national events.
"We are thrilled and honored to be recognized on the 50 Best Discovery list," said Roosevelt Room owner Justin Lavenue in a press release. "This acknowledgment is a reflection of the hard work and passion our team puts into creating unique and memorable experiences for our guests. We take pride in our craft, and this recognition motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of what we do and how we do it."
The Roosevelt Room debuts on the list in 2024 to join Franklin Barbecue, Hestia, Nickel City, Small Victory, and Underdog in representing Austin. Read other entries and explore more cities at theworlds50best.com.
