Molotov Lounge

Beware of leaving your almost full drinks on the table or anywhere else either to go to the restroom or to dance. I’ve witnessed on 3 different times over the past year where the bar back is picking up people’s FULL drinks. We did complain every time this has happened and the bartenders and the manager didn’t seem surprised or put up a fight about replacing our drinks… but I think it is very clear that they practice picking up people’s drinks in order to increase their drink sales to those that don’t know what happened. I asked others around me last night and they experienced the same thing. Very crooked practice to increase their bar sales IMO. Go somewhere else and have fun… plenty of other places in Austin that are much better!

It isn’t technically a dance club, but somehow I always wind up here, on their tiny dance floor at the end of the night, and running into everyone I know.
I think this place is my Cheers bar.
Sometimes you have to fight for drinks, but not any worse than any where else, I think. Or because I’m there at the end of the night, I’m not drinking much anymore. idk. But I have been going to Molotov since it opened and have been it’s constant fan.
you know what is always awesome, too? Their A/​C. Love me some good A/​C.

This has become our go-​to Sunday funday/​game day place. Usually at that time, the bar is near empty but they have the Texans game on and great bartenders that always take good care of us! Will definitely be back.
Pros:
— Great bartenders, Love Faron! — always friendly
— Sunday football on TVs upstairs and downstairs
— Open air deck upstairs is very comfortable, and a great hang on a pretty day
— Great spot for day drinkers
Cons:
— Mediocre food from Dogwood. I’ve eaten it, I became full and that was about it. It’s not horrible, just not memorable or something I would crave if I wasn’t drinking. The fried pickles are pretty good.
— Weekend evenings can get a little smarmy… stalking guys, and feels a little snooty, not my thing
All-​in-​all, I love this place for day drinking on Sundays. It’s a lot of fun, and the bartenders are awesome! It is pretty empty at this time though, so go with friends and don’t expect to pick up anyone there. ;)

I used to live near here and came to this bar a LOT. I like to drink beer and usually drinking beer isn’t that expensive but I frequently ran up $ 50 plus bar tabs in this joint just drinking beer which started to wear a bit thin on me. The rooftop «patio» has generally been the better place to hang out here but downstairs they do have an «ice bar» which is really just a cold shelf you can put your drink on to keep it cold. There always seem to be some decent looking ladies and this can be a fun spot depending on the crowd.

Went during happy hour on a Saturday with some friends, and it was almost completely empty. The upstairs was a nice place to lounge, but we headed downstairs and got some food. Soon after, our large party ordered some food and drinks, and then another group of people came in also and the waitress was all of a sudden flooded with work to accommodate all of our tables. But she was very nice the entire time and quick as well.
I would probably go back just because I loved the service she gave.

Hmmm. This must be one of those new places earning West Sixth a reputation as a yuppie mecca.
(checks Unilocal reviews …)
Holy crap. Molotov Lounge has been here six years? How?
Well, this corner I knew and loved from my first days in Austin is certainly not what it used to be. Katz’s, Momo’s, Mother Egans … all gone. Now we’ve got all the broheimy, popped-​collar Alpha Beta-​types hanging out across the street at The Ranch, J Blacks, etc. Sure, they are a classy alternative to the dystopian vortex that is Dirty Sixth, in the way Ed Hardy shirts are a classier alternative to Wal-​Mart shirts.
I came in July 2012. On a bike. For a SXSW panel selection party. Or something. I really don’t remember. A lot of people tried to give me business cards, even though I was sweating like crazy. Maybe they thought I was wearing a shiny shirt. Shiny shirts are even doper than pastel polos, bro.
Although the drinks downstairs were free, I went upstairs, where the smokers and the non-​networky people were hanging out. It was pretty neat. Not a bad view up there.
I considered jumping so I wouldn’t have to walk through the crowd downstairs to get out. Maybe I should have.

Three years later, and this place has remained pretty much unchanged – which is a good thing. It’s so depressing to come downtown to the spots you frequented when you were a wild one in your early-​mid twenties, only to discover that they are either gone forever, or have turned into a Tejano bar. The music is good (even for us old folks), and the upstairs patio area is good for dancing and people-​watching. Don’t ever change, Molotov!

Kind of super hated this bar. Came here with my friend while visiting Austin, we stopped by for a drink at an odd hour (4pmish?), but the bar was empty and even so we had horrible service.
The bartenders were pretty snooty, drinks weren’t cheap, and worse of all they tasted really bad (we tried the specialty ones, i can’t remember what they were but mine had jalapeño in it or something, probably a bad idea so partially my fault for ordering it).
We came in because of the Russian theme but there was basically nothing redeeming about this place.

Better than you might think. Has a cool, fun crowd sometimes.
Don’t order food. Simple yet useful tip.
Can be dull and lifeless but can also be friendly and decent. It’s the rooftop that isn’t The Ranch. That place is raw awful.

We went with a large group and had a great time. Cold beer and strong shots made for a great birthday for my buddy. Brittany is by far and away my favorite bar lady downtown. She would see us walking up and would have our drinks lady.
Thanks for a great night!

Good location (6^th) and they have a rooftop bar which is a huge plus.
When we went it wasn’t very lively, however I think it was due to baseball playoffs and everyone was quiet/​hunkered down watching the final at bats.
NOTE: Would not suggest ordering food here. Their bar food took FOREVER. And when you inquire about it, they kind of give you a … well that’s just how it is response. Their food comes from the Dogwood’s kitchen next door, so they don’t have much control nor incentive to go speed up your order. On top of it taking forever it was painfully mediocre when we did receive.
Lesson: drink, don’t eat here.

This is a cool place to go any weekend, on west 6^th.
It has seating which is a plus and nice rooftop patio area with an even better bar.
The drinks are a little more expensive than some bars in the west 6^th area but not by much.
The atmosphere is decent usually a calmer downtowns with the majority of people and groups on the patio upstairs.
The only real downside of Molotov is that sometimes the energy can be kind of dull. especially earlier in the night, better to go there later if you want a little more of the dancing and more talkative type of crowd.
Overall Its a great place too grab a drink and meet people, especially for young college grads, or bachlor/​ette parties.
Recommend

I lived at the Monarch downtown Austin summer of 2009… so Molotov was a go-​to spot. Lots of young singles prancing around, barely clothed, mostly UT grads and wide-​eyed transplants discovering the downtown Austin nightlife scene for the first time.
…but what would you expect from a bar owned by «The Bachelor’s» Brad Womack? I’m not sure what Emily was thinking when she relocated to a college town for a man who is a bar owner.
He owns several bars in ATX, and they do pretty well. I enjoyed sitting on the upstairs deck during Happy Hour and people watching, and didn’t so much enjoy the sweaty nightlife scene. However, West Sixth is MUCH classier– and a breath of fresh (humid) air compared to Dirty Sixth just down the street.

I like a bar that has it all: outdoor patio, a wide variety of booze, and a rockin’ DJ. Molotov has all of these things but so much more. The downstairs is always packed with people, and when it’s not in the 90s at night they’ll slide open the front windows to make an entirely open-​air bar.
If it gets too crowded or stuffy downstairs, head upstairs to the rooftop, open-​air bar. If you’ve got a tab at one of the two bars, you’ve got a tab at both bars… so that’s handy. I prefer this upstairs patio area because it’s less prone to crowding, it feels more like a hang-​out than a dance club, and even on 90-​degree nights you can catch a breeze. Lately the breeze has been amazing!
Ok so let’s talk jams. I don’t know who runs the music playlist here (it’s definitely not one of those «yo, yo, yo» DJ sort of places… much appreciated), but I swear the music they play is creepily similar to the soundtrack to my life. They really play to their audience (the 20-​somethings). One minute you’ll hear early 90s hits like Jump Around, the next you’ll be grinding to Back that Azz Up. I swear I’ve heard The Cure and Rihanna back to back. How sweet is that?!
I don’t know what it is. I guess I don’t make the voyage downtown much anymore, so when I do, I appreciate spending my time at a place that I actually enjoy. Molotov is now my default.

I used to live about a block from this place. For certain events, it is very fun. They have a nice upstairs patio and it is a good meeting spot.
On a random night, this place is usually dead and I don’t dig the vibe. On a weekend night, it is packed with the usual rounders making their way around W. 6^th.
As far as a good place to meet someone, I don’t know.

OK. So after the Pop-​A-​Lock debacle, I still had time to show up to my work party at Molotov fashionably late. Or at least I’d call it fashionably late if anyone asked why I showed up half an hour before it ended.
I never noticed Molotov Lounge until a week before our leasing agent/​apartment manager appreciation party was to take place until I was leaving St. David’s one Sunday after church. I’m not really too thrilled about that side of 6^th Street, mostly because parking is a pain and all the bars are solidly straight, but I figured there were worse venues. I also mused whether or not the sign, with its Soviet-​style hammer and sickle, is completely terrifying to the Tea Partiers in town. I’d be surprised if those types didn’t think Molotov was secretly an Obama headquarters in Austin… or something conspiratorial along those lines.
I ended up parking in some bank’s parking garage, because I just wasn’t going to fight the metered parking on a Friday night. I also have this nebulous fear of being locked in or towed away from the Whole Foods garage. Upon exiting the parking garage, I got completely turned around and went two or three blocks in the wrong direction. Although it did work out for the best; I broke in my cowboy boots again and got some extra exercise for the day.
When I arrived, a doorman checked my ID and I found one of my brokers handing out drink tickets. I grabbed a pink breast cancer bracelet the broker had in a basket and I was off to brace the crowd.
The place was packed. I hadn’t been to one of these things before, but apparently having a raffle for a trip for 2 to Hawaii along with free booze will get everyone in the industry under one roof FAST. The bartender at the downstairs bar was cute, and after making my first cocktail, informed me the rooftop allowed smoking. I also learned I had (4) drink tickets, and not (2) like I had imagined. Oh this night was getting better already.
I sauntered through the crowd, keeping one eye out for a coworker I may know, especially the boisterous Israeli woman I work with who I think would have been a hoot to hang out with. The patio is spacious, and by this time I was ready for a second drink which was served up by an attractive blonde woman. So far, Molotov was shaping up to be a pretty cool venue.
The rest of the night was a blur of drinks, coworkers, networking, and Facebook adding. I got compliments on my outfit left and right and more than one person said I was some combination of fun/​fabulous/​a riot. However, I swear this city is too small. I met ex-coworker’s; I met an ex-​girlfriend of a cool lesbian bartender I know; and I drank with a new acquaintance Nikki, who oddly enough will pop up the next day in a completely unrelated context.
All in all, Molotov was a pleasant surprise. The staff looked good and worked well under pressure (I have to emphasize, this place was packed). In less crowded circumstances, this would be a pretty cool Lanai-​esque place to hang out if you happen to be in that area. Let’s just say it was more «Nathan» than the places across the street. Although since I wasn’t mingling with the usual clientele, I’m not 100% sure about the total feel of the place.
As long as there’s vodka, I think it’ll be OK.

Molotov is okay. I can’t say that I frequent this establishment as there are quite a few douches that filter in from the Ranch *shudder*.
I don’t know what it is about West 6^th, but it must be a fantastic «hook-​up» area. Almost everytime that I have been at Molotov I’ve been approached by ladies. Let me clarify real quick — this NEVER happens to me, haha.
The last two times that I’ve been to Molotov I’ve been in costume for pub runs. 80’s pub run and Jorts Jog. This is always the last place we go to because there is a dance floor and always a decent DJ. Unfortunately, I’m not much for dancing. I’m too awkward for dancing and I don’t like hip-​hop. So, I typically find myself frequenting the bar, buying $ 5 Lonestars (I shit you not). I don’t remember it being this expensive in the past, I think they may have upped the prices. Luckily for the bartender, she was hot and I had been drinking otherwise I probably would have said «no thanks» and went drinkless.
Back to the douche factor. There are a lot of them that come here just to try to start fights after striking out at the Ranch, so be wary.
I will probably avoid this place in the future because of the increased drink prices and number of douches — otherwise it could be a really fun bar.

I went a couple nights ago and this place is really fun! They played good music. And the crowd that they attracted were pretty fun. Anytime you go to a lounge, it can very on the funness level based on the crowd you see that day. My friends and I got lucky.
And I have just learned the art of the double fist pump. Dream on friends, dream on.

No thank you.
If that could be my review, that would definitely be all I had to say. I must say, the actual interior is pretty great. There are a lot of great little nooks and the strip of frost to keep your drinks cold is a really interesting addition.
All of that said, do you like to be ignored for 10 minutes while waiting to order a drink? Do you enjoy douchey young professionals sneering at you while you and your friends engage in karaōke awesomeness? Perhaps you’re a fan of weak drinks? Then fine, come on down. You won’t find me, though. I learned my lesson about W. 6^th (it’s lame).

*Whiny Voice* Molotov! What happened?!? I am so disappointed.
*Regular Person Voice* Molotov used to be one of my favorite places to go on West 6^th. I always thought it was way better than the Ranch or Union Park, but last night would not prove this thought to be untrue.
We could not get served for the life of us. There were only female bartenders working, and we were just skipped over repeatedly for men standing beside or even BEHIND us. No. No. No. Then when we finally got our drinks, they were all juice and no gin. Boo.
The reason I even gave it two stars was that the people watching from the balcony was still great. I like watching drunk people walk up and down the street.