Red Fez

Speed scratch bartending. don’t know what a gimlet is? get somewhere with that shit, if you went to bartending school you should know. get it right fool

DJ got me falling in love!
My girlfriends and I literally tore up this bar on our last trip to Austin! No, seriously though, we were tore up from the floor up and I think I dropped 2 drinks here… mostly from dancing!
The DJ was on point all night and I managed to dance so much I gave myself Charley Horses for 3 days after! The bartenders were quick and even after dropping a drink or two they hooked me up with a replacement free of charge. Although I’m sure I paid for it considering we shut the place down.
I didn’t even notice they have hookah, but that’s not really my thing so no big deal. I hope to hit this place up again in a couple weeks when we go back!

I love Red Fez. The music is good and not tooooo loud so you can actually talk to the people you’re with. And who doesn’t love Hookah? They have tons of flavors to pick from and are always willing to help you out if you’re a first timer or you just can’t make decisions.
The folks working the bar are always friendly and funny. I love Red Fez!

Solid four stars. Way cool honeycomb pattern repeated over and over, comfortable-​for-​a-​bar seating, hookah, good location.
The staff were all friendly and attentive — how often do two bartenders try to wait on you within 5 seconds of each other? Sound system is pretty solid and live music is mixed well.
Negatives… claustrophobic restroom, some water damage apparent, and cramped floor.

This place is one of the hottest spots in Austin, i went there for my Birthday with a huge group of friends and had the best birthday ever. the DJ is off the chain one of the best in Austin. i was dancing all night long. He has some of the greatist mixes. So if you are looking for a place to go and have the best time ever come here.
oh ps
if you like hookah this is the place to be

This is by far one of the best bars in Austin. They have great DJ’s, great drinks specials, and great bands.
They have booths where you can smoke hookah as well if you want. The décor of the place is very unique and overall the place has a great vibe. I highly suggest going here if you have not gone yet. You will want to go back again and again.

Red Fez is the perfect mix between dive, lounge, and club.
The size of the establishment is big enough sustain a club vibe, but small enough to know where you are after a few drinks. The music was great, although they seemed to transition from song to song a bit too fast.
The hookah selection was respectful. You can get a booth and chill out on some smoke. The Mideast décor adds to the vibe.
Red Fez is casual and laid back. You make what you want of it.
Red Fez is not the place to see women is fuzzy boots dancing in cages. It’s not the place to order bottle service, while valet is parking exotic rides.
It is for what it is, as good as it gets!

The band they had the night I went was just o. k but I could easily forgive that aspect in favor of the ambiance and drink selections. Their green tea version of a long island iced tea was very tasty (called Rehab), if hookah is your thing there is plenty to be had… you may even make friends with your neighbors that will share (disposable mouthpieces available)
In all I really felt comfortable and thought the décor and vibe was very fun. I’d definitely recommend.

Hookah? On 5^th street? Yay!
No idea what their prices were, (thank you Jeremy W), but I had a great time. The hookah was a nice addition to our drinks, and we hung out in a giant booth watching youtube for a few hours. Fun times.

Given the choice between Lucky Lounge and Red Fez, which are literally about 3.4 inches from each other, I almost always choose the Fez. Really neat décor — lots of brightly painted tiles and middle eastern style action going on here, including Hookah pipes for those so inclined. Atmosphere is dark and relaxed with good music most nights, more upbeat and dancey once the DJ shows up. this place is long and narrow and can be a bit difficult to move around in once it gets going. Two bars (one in the back and one in the front) along with a variety of seating options along the wall and in the front/​back. Full bar along with some draft beers available. Good strong drinks, as is to be expected at a Matt Lucky establishment.
Definitely worth checking out as it is very different than anything else you’ll find downtown.

You haven’t changed since I began visiting you 6 years ago.
I can’t find better DJs in Austin.
I love you.
I miss you.
Until we meet again.

This is another one of those places that took me far too long to finally get to Unilocaling 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÷07
After dinner we explored the 6^th avenue bar scene and ended up here. We chose it because of the Middle Eastern décor 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 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.

Whenever I’m in the mood for some bumpin-​n-​grindin’, booty shakin’ action, the Fez is always the first place I think of to go to. I used to go a lot more often in my younger days (as I’m nearly 28 now), but it definitely has not lost its appeal. Sometimes I do get a little claustrophobic when I’m trying to make my way to the bathroom or the bar, but that close, intimate space where the «dance floor» is is almost necessary for getting to know your fellow Fez-​goers. There is nothing greater than having a circle of people form around you while you’re dancing to Michael Jackson or DJ EZ Rock. I can’t wait to go back!

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?

The Red Fez is my guilty pleasure. Take me downtown, get a few drinks into me, and I’m going to start bellowing to go here. The reasons I love it so:
1) It’s dark. And let’s face it, we’re all much prettier in the dark.
2) Not a dancer? No problem – the dance floor is so tiny that no one expects to see any great moves. Just shake it and forget it.
3) If you’re in need of an ego boost, it’s pretty much impossible not to get hit on.
4) You never know who’ll you see. I ran into a friend from high school I hadn’t seen in more than 10 years – and we went to school in Colorado. I’ve also seen Dennis Quaid and Luke Wilson here (both shorter in person than you’d imagine, FYI).
When you first go, you’ll be surprised at how tiny it is. And it gets packed. It also gets unpacked – that is, it’s kind of hit or miss. Be sure to get there late.
My only complaint: Red Fez, where is the Tito’s love? I need me my Tito’s.

I was in town for a week of training. I had missed out on my regional session in Santa Cruz (OOPS!), so they signed me up for one in the Live Music Capital of the World — Austin, TX. (YAY!) I was one of three from San Francisco. Most everyone else was from Texas and surrounding states, with a few other stragglers like myself from random cities.
And for the first time in the last few years at this company, I had a fantastic time at training. Red Fez was a part of that experience.
Middle of the week — a group of us, packed in two cabs, hit up Trudy’s for dinner [
. MmmMMm — Mexican Martinis! and then Red Fez. No live music or even a DJ because we got there a bit late, so we just picked a spot and sat down. Fairly empty on a weeknight.
Boston, Tulsa, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Denver, New Orleans — all bonding around an apple-​flavored hookah. Good times.

You can take one of two approaches when it comes to the Red Fez:
Option 1 — «Voyeur-​du-​jour». You’re the type that enjoys coming to a bar that isn’t located on the collegiate-​packed area of 6^th Street. You like to sip on a fine beverage all while absorbing the Moroccan flavor of the Fez. You like having a nice booth area to sit and chat (somewhat loudly) while you eyeball fellow Fez-​goers at the bar or on the dancefloor.
Option 2 — «1.2.Pick-up-Chicks». Your idea of a great night down at the Fez involves a good drink, good times, and a fine lookin’ female. This is a great place to come if you’re on an awkward 1^st or 2^nd date and you both want to maul each other but keep your dignity intact with the «I had too much to drink and lost control» excuse. Plenty of darkened corners to slink away to or a packed dancefloor with great music where, conveniently, you can’t help but bump nasties.
Whether you’re single and looking to have a good time, out with the Girls or flying with your best wingman, the Red Fez is a fashionable, reasonably priced refuge on the Warehouse District scene.

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.