Red Fez

by Stephen V.

Great place to hang out and listen to the local bands they attract.  Normally world music or hip-hop, the place can really be fun to hang out.  The only problem is that when it gets nice and crowded you need to be ready to mosh your way back to the bathrooms, which isn't always fun when you've really got to go.  Drinks are expensive, but well mixed.

by Kevin N.

Austin's best bar decorated like the bottom of a swimming pool, the Red Fez is another buckle in the Lucky belt that encircles much of Austin's late night territory.  The Fez formula, itself, is pretty direct:  a small shotgun bar with regularly scheduled DJs, hookas (flavored Moroccan smoking pipes, not cleverly spelled ladies of the evening) and a bar staff-kabob of Austin veteran bartenders; the Red Fez makes a sprightly spot for taking in a beer, cocktail or a dance floor skid on your groove around town.At one point they used to stash the DJs high above the bar, and it was the smart choice to move them down in front of the crowd.  If you have a soft spot for a good scratch and spin, give Wednesdays a try; I'm biased as I know one of the two jocks who make up The Reflex, but they stage an up-tempo set that seems to keep the crowds bumping.

by Stephanie S.

The imperial decor of this bar is tasteful and modern. The stained lamps dangling from the high ceiling are certainly interesting to stare at when drunk along with the hexagon shaped bar shelves. The booths on the wall are separated into private rooms with decorated curtains strung to each side. The music on Saturday night was definitely a mix of rap and hip-hop. I personally get enough of that in Atlanta and expected an Austin DJ to have a wider range of beats. The dance floor could maybe hold 20 people, and the DJ was squeezed up on a small platform with his back towards the front door - it took me a few seconds to find him amongst the cocktail sipping, young professionals. Most were just out for a good time and stopped into Red Fez to check the place out (there was neither a line nor cover). No one seemed amused to linger much longer than a drink, and I certainly wasn't going to be the exception.

by Christian H.

I love me some Fez.   Good drinks, if a little pricey, but then... welcome to downtown Austin.Place has a groovy vibe and very good music (usually, once there was a so so DJ but it was still a good time).  Can get crowded but if your up to shoulder through it can be a fun time and some good dancing.

by Seamus O.Sasha T.Christian N.Renee T.Rosalind C.

Such a wonderful nightSeveral years ago when I still lived in Texas, I went to Red Fez with a buddy of mine and two girls from Bulgaria whom he knew for awhile. It was such a great evening in the city, and we ended our night here. I loved the interior colors, drinks, and beats that the DJ kept turning out. The clientele were also relaxed and unpretentious for a club environment; it was one of the more laid back clubs that I have experienced. I still cannot figure out what made that evening so special, but I know that the Fez played a role in making it memorable. Next time I am in Austin, I will be hitting this place up for sure.So Red Fez is one of my favs. Awesome laid back atmosphere...friendly bartenders and doormen. Reasonably priced drinks. There's never a line whenever I come here. AND...Hookah! THAT'S what sealed the deal for this place...the hookahs that are available for use! I especially love the padded benches on an elevated floor, kinda dark. Very fun. Thanks for the wonderful experience Fez. There will be more to come!This is another one of those places that took me far too long to finally get to yelping about, and in the mean time, has been talked up by tons and tons of people, as you can see with all the glowing reviews so far. So, what can I add to the mix? Hopefully there's something of value.Wednesday night. Unforgettable every single time I go. Atash plays middle easter music from roughly 10-midnight, the drinks are always flowing, and people are gyrating up and down, and if you're within 10 feet of the stage, you have no choice but to do the same. Red fez is one of the nicest establishments that allows hookah smoking indoors, and they're not the cheapest, but they are tasty and tend to be well maintained by the bar tenders. Try to get there early and snag one of the front tables, that way you can camp out next to it and have your hookah safely standing on the table in the enclave.This review is for 4/22/07After dinner we explored the 6th avenue bar scene and ended up here. We chose it because of the Middle Eastern decor and ended up loving it for their VERY reasonably priced cocktails and awesome music. Plus they had a caipirinha on the menu so it was all over for me...we hit the jackpot! There was no cover and the DJs were spinning and scratching the old school hip hop! DJ Kurupt came over and bought me my hubby a round of Three Olives Vodka shots as a "welcome to Austin". As an added bonus, he was spinning with one of Ludacris' DJs JC. We weren't expecting to stay all night but we were having so much fun we just shut the place down!I would give this place 0 stars if I could. After partying at the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) Dinah Lakeshore event on Saturday night, my friends wanted to keep the party going by going downtown. We were all dressed nicely dressed, totally appropriate for any bar in Austin, TX. Pay close attention to these details.First in line, one of my friends with long beautiful blonde hair pulled back in a pony tail was wearing a button down shirt with a vest. She looks stereotypically feminine and was let in, no problem. Second in line, my friend with short hair in a zebra print dress and heels was also let in, no problem. However, the next in line were two of my friends with very short hair and they were wearing what would be considered more masculine outfits (button up shirt and slacks) with very nice dress shoes. However, these outfits were no more masculine than the outfit worn by my friend with the long pony tail. They were not let in. The doormen flat out refused their entry.They gave NO reason for refusing to let them in. When questioned, they gave no response. This ultimately upset my friends. They knew that they were blatantly targeted because of their androgynous appearance, or what may have been considered overly masculine and it shows exactly what kind of stance those door men at the Red Fez take regarding GLBTQ people who refuse to conform to heteronormative gender representations and standards. I urge anyone person who is an ally to rethink if they want to frequent the Red Fez. With so many choices in Austin, TX do you need to patronize someplace blatantly discriminatory?

by Becky T.

It was 7pm on a Saturday night and no one was there.  That was cool with us though because it meant that we could have a table and hang out with no problems.  Hookah was $15 and later in the night they had a DJ.  I thought it was really laid back and a little more posh than 6th Street madness.  I would go back again for the Hookah.

by Sasha T.

So Red Fez is one of my favs. Awesome laid back atmosphere...friendly bartenders and doormen. Reasonably priced drinks. There's never a line whenever I come here. AND...Hookah! THAT'S what sealed the deal for this place...the hookahs that are available for use! I especially love the padded benches on an elevated floor, kinda dark. Very fun. Thanks for the wonderful experience Fez. There will be more to come!

by Christena R.

Love the Fez.  I have NEVER not had a good time here.  Sometimes it's packed with a line out the door, sometimes you can do cartwheels through the room (not that we do, of course)...always fun.  It takes two things to get me dancing:  good drinks and hip-hop.  Red Fez has plenty of both.  And you know it's a good sign when every other song has you yelling out, "THIS IS MY JAM!!!"  (to the strange looks around you that ask, "Did she just say 'jam'?" ) LOL!

by Angel Q.

Beautiful decor, nice sound system.The arabic nights seems enticing, the food was good.Good place to hit on your next "Knipe-enn tour" (barhopping).

by Victor E.

Let's star by saying this is the place to shake your booty and get drunk. Hard to heard other people talk but if you are there that mean you are going to be dancing. I went to this club with some friends and let tell you that when one of your friend is drunk. it is hard to find that person because he is dancing with a strange he just met you are wondering where the person is. Every time I go to the Red Fez I have good time. Give the place at least one try and see how things go.