The Belmont

My sister chose the Belmont for her wedding reception. I was actually impressed, the online photos looked too much like a bar and I was worried.
The Belmont has two stories, and an outdoor area. You can get to the second floor from the stairs inside or the out side stairs. Outside has a stage, a palm tree or two, and nice white lights strung overhead for a little evening ambiance.
Inside has a modern take on a retro look. The yellow walls and black and white floors go together nicely. There is a large bar downstairs, space for a seating area, a stage area, and a small area in the back where the buffet line was set up.
There was also a second room with sofas and TVs that they had set up as a game room for children. They had Jenga, Twister, and even a Wii. Upstairs also had a room that was set aside for the bridal party. It was nice to have somewhere safe to store our stuff. The upstairs room led out to an outdoor patio that looked down over the outdoor area and stage below.
The staff was incredibly friendly. They even ran outside with an umbrella for the bride when it began to drizzle. They promptly cleared empty plates and classes to keep the event neat and without clutter.
The only odd thing was that they did not have flatware or silverware, although they did serve food for us. No one seemed to notice, and I am sure it was a quick clean up after our event. All in all we had a great experience!

I scheduled a tour for the Belmont for my wedding next fall. I received a confirmation email from the event coordinator. The day of the tour, it was raining cats and dogs but I still showed up; however, the event coordinator did not. I did not receive a call or email cancelling my reservation. I was left to wait in the rain for 20 minutes outside. I would not recommend this venue to anyone scheduling their WEDDING.

Nice venue, but issues with some staff.
I was there to see a band and enjoy a couple of beers. My first (and last) time at the Belmont.
I’ve been a bartender back in the day. so I know how difficult it can be, but the was I was treated was a disgrace.
Two bartenders (they may have been related to one another) poorly managed the people at the bar all night. They had no idea who was waiting, who was next etc, but sadly this is common and not the worst of it. The way I was spoken to and looked at was a disgrace and unbelievably rude. I couldn’t believe what was happening!
I’m a 30ish year old married man with a job and a dog, I had 2 or 3 beers, and was polite throughout. These guys treated me like I was a 17 year old waster trying his luck at getting a beer.
Not going back. Simple. And when people mention the Belmont I suggest they don’t either.
In a competitive Austin market this is bad for business.

I like this place. Cool venue for music and the funky bars on both floors have great bartenders. We enjoy being on top of the action and being able to watch down on the stage.

Only open for private events, the Belmont is a small, but very cool music venue!

I won’t go back just because of the door guys. They’re exactly the type of people who should never be given any power. Not even taking parking lot stubs to pay. One of them should be arrested for the way he put his hands on me. And this was 7pm, I hadn’t had one drink so I don’t need to be talked to like a child.
As per the reply, I was not creating an unsafe place. I was leaving the sushi restaurant next door and trying to find out what was going on. Also, I don’t use parking passes, I live downtown and was wearing a wristband for SXSW. I didn’t even enter your establishment so your information is false.

Considering it was SXSW, you would think the staff and security would be a bit more welcoming to visitors. Unfortunately, this did not happen. After falsely advertising that the venue would be open to the public until 5:00pm, they started kicking us out super early and with very little respect. When asked why they were starting so early, security asked if we had rsvp’ed. Obviously, not, dude, but we did just patronize your bar for several hours, so just at least show a little decency would go a long way. Very disappointing. Thankfully, there are more highly rated bars in Austin that will certainly treat you well.

Fun outdoor music venue. Options to be outdoors, inside, and on the rooftop. Decent beer tap selection too.

My apologies fellow Unilocalers… after posting my review of the Belmont, I learned they no longer are open for happy hour or any other restaurant offerings, only private events.
Thank you Anna S for the info! If you threw a party at the Belmont, you would see the biggest gift would be from me. And the card attached would say, «thank you for being a friend»!

Great venue for live music, went to see ziggy Marley and you can get within 20 feet without being stomped on by others. It’s also easy to get a drink or find the bathroom.

I had a horrible experience there tonight. I paid to see a show but they wouldn’t let me in to see it nor would they give me a refund and the girl at the door was extremely rude. I won’t return. Just cuz you pay doesn’t mean you’re getting in or getting a refund.

The Belmont is awesome! As part of a conference I attended in beautiful Austin I got to see Trombone Shorty (if you don’t know who he is, look him up, you won’t regret it!) in this awesome venue. The Belmont is completely open, has bars upstairs & downstairs & is a heck of a music venue. Any artist you see here will be a great experience because no matter where you are, the acoustics & sight lines are incredible. Check it out, you’ll fall in love just like I did!

I like the Belmont. I like the layout of the music area. It has a good natural slope so there is not a bad spot in the place, whether you are in the back or right up front you can see everything clearly. The bar has TVs that show the stage so you do not have to worry about missing anything. A few small tables and chairs in the back. The merch stand is out of the way but perfectly placed for impulse shopping. Plenty of trash cans.
The inside is a bit of a throwaway which is a shame because they have a really nice bar rail with a good number of taps. I would like to see them utilize this a bit more.
I would not hesitate to come back here for a show.

So apparently, I missed whatever happened. The Belmont doesn’t serve food anymore? Or I don’t know. Maybe they do. I went twice before tonight. Once was for a really excellent Unilocal party and once was for dinner.
Tonight I came to see the magnificent Nicole Atkins (she’s often compared to Roy Orbison, which was all the more on the nose tonight because she actually covered a Roy song. She’s got a huge voice and is an amazing human being). It was a fine venue. The staff are really attentive and kind. It’s a little pricey, in my opinion? I bought three drinks total for a friend of mine and it was somehow $ 27? Maybe I’m cheap. But one small serving of Makers and two well gin and tonics adding up to $ 27? It seems a bit much to me.
The space makes for a fine venue. The roof is a great place to hang out. I don’t recall the food, but if they don’t serve it anymore, then that’s a moot point. If they still are operating in that capacity, I’d definitely be open to it. I’d also be open to seeing another show there. As far as drinking there? There are cheaper places with better reputations that offer all of the same accommodations.

I guess the Belmont’s new incarnation has been around a while now, but I just got around to making it yesterday. I never thought I’d find myself saying «thank goodness for the Belmont» but between turnover, condos and Antone’s being gone, its kinda nice to have it there to get your bearings as to where you actually are. So the Belmont, for what its worth, is kind of «old school» now, and the Belmont is taking advantage of Antone’s absence by booking all the shows they used to (the night before the Supersuckers had played, just to provide perspective).
We saw Vintage Trouble; they put on an amazing show and I was happy to see that the ehm, atmosphere felt and smelled like old Austin (versus Searsucker where we went to dinner… HELLO Dallas south). It was kind of weird when the singer yelled «Let me hear it Belmont»…and it was answered with silence. It immediately occurred to me had the same thing been yelled at Antone’s a few years back it would have been answered with a resounding roar, but it definitely ended up as a rim shot at the Belmont.
Four stars because the bars are not adequately manned and you easily wait 20 minutes for a drink outside.
I’m going to stop making every downtown review about the way things used to be starting right NOW.

It’s hard to talk about places nowadays in Austin that used to be one thing and have become another without making comparisons. Example: The Belmont used to have a great kitchen that has since been taken over by the restaurant next door meaning the inside is less than half the size it used to be. No food here anymore but at least when you go to see a show it will be intimate.
My 1^st time back here was recently during the rained out Sunday of ACL when Lone Bellow played a free show. The inside is really narrow with a small stage, meaning if they cram people into this tiny space (that includes an inside bar) you will have a hard time breathing in your rectangular coffin. This was the case with the Lone Bellow show. Having said that it made for a really fun performance. Just be aware of the very ‘little room’ factor.
One of the appeals of the Belmont has always been their outside area and it is still in tact. Here you have a 2^nd outdoor stage and plenty of patio space with a walkway upstairs. There is also a 2^nd bar outside. Prices are average for drinks in this side of town and they do have several local beers on tap when the taps are working. It isn’t uncommon from my understanding for some of their beer taps to have issues. The night of my visit the 512 Pecan Porter was out.
No parking at Belmont so you will have to find street parking.

decent beer selection. prices were fair, not cheap, not expensive. I got a free pint of my choice just for checking in via Unilocal (no complaint there)
the place is small enough that you are never to ofar from teh stage with additional viewing options from the rooftop deck or from inside just to the side of the stage. they even have a big screen displaying the stage, mounted over the bar.
my only problem was with the security guy who hassled me for taking pics. yeah, my camera is nicer than most other people, but really, everybody around me was using cameras and smart phones to take pics and video and he said nothing. peter hook was playing and I’m pretty sure that guy wants all the press he can get. he even gave me a wink and a thumbs up, I don’t think he would appreciate that I was told I was gonna be kicked out. even the strangers behind me said «don’t worry about that guy, he’s just being a dick!»
so, I give the overzealous security guy zero stars. but I’d go back to the belmont again, just take a crappier camera. after all, isn’t that what every artist wants, really crappy pics posted of them on stage? (sarcasm)

Went to the New Years Eve party there and completely regret it. A terrible last evening for a terrible year, so I suppose its fitting. For the kind of prices they charge to get in you really wouldn’t expect to see drunk guys in T-​shirts passing out on the stairs, fights breaking out, and ONE HOUR waits to get a drink at the bar by the worst service this city has to offer.
Definitely making sure no one I know comes back here for any reason. It would have actually been more fun to watch the money spent get flushed down the toilet. By far.
What was described on the website and what actually occurred could not have been any more different. And what New Years party doesn’t do a countdown? Seriously?

So I’ve been here three times since the big reopening… got to say, I am not impressed at all.
Experience #1: St. Patrick’s Day, ok they had free beer and bands and the line was like… four blocks long wrapped around the building and not moving, so no, I didn’t go. It’s ok. It was SXSW, everywhere is crowded, no biggie.
Experience #2: Random Thursday about two weeks ago… the place was DEAD. Horrible, horrible DJ playing music to maybe two other people (it was around 11:00ish) there was no one on the patio, no live music on their stage, what a waste of space. And their tap selection blows. The six beers downstairs were miller lite, bud light, coors light, thirsty goat, and dos equis I think? That was about it. Yikes. I know it’s not a beer bar but c’mon.
Experience #3: Sunday afternoon at 2:00 roaming down west 6^th street… figured we’d give it another go, walk up to the door, $ 10 cover. SERIOUSLY. All of our jaws dropped and we walked away. I don’t know if this is an every Sunday thing or what, the girl mentioned something about food, but we didn’t want food and there didn’t seem to be a band or anything. So we left.
I understand it’s a music venue, but it seems to me if you go any other time other than their concert days, it’s not a very fun place.

The Belmont! You’re back! And in this incarnation, you are a swanky, cool music venue rather than a swanky, cool restaurant. Well, I have to say, I love you more now, since we’ve got plenty of good restaurants in this town and not enough decent outdoor music venues.
Last night was the grand re-​opening which featured a free with RSVP show of Not in the Face and Trail of Dead. And it was not packed. Seriously. So glad I went. The drinks were good and strong and well-​priced. I think my Sapphire Snoop was $ 6 or $ 7? Definitely strong and good. Beers were $ 3 and up. Maybe this is just grand opening prices but I’m happy. Supposedly they are going to have some trailer food there eventually or something but it is totally not necessary. The music, drinks, and décor were well enough for this space.
One suggestion would be to mix up the pre-​show music a little. It was two in a row for each artist playing which was fine if you liked what was on, but definitely excruciating when an old Green Day song came on and we were dreadfully anticipating if they were going to play «Boulevard of Broken Dreams» or some other crap after whichever early-​GD song they had played. *Shudder*