Lanai Rooftop Lounge

I’m here during SXSW and realize there are a ton of tourists in this club.
LOVE the people. LOVE the music. LOVE the view. The only downside is that it’s one huge smoke fest. Every other person is swinging a cigarette in your face and it’s rather inescapable. It is a rooftop bar — but it’s nearly fully closed-​in during winter months. *Non-​smokers proceed with caution.
I feel a positive solution could be two neon signs on either side of the club. One that says «smoke here» and one that says «don’t smoke here.» This is 2015 and in one of the most forward-​thinking towns in the U.S.
*Shout out to the one conscious smoker that asked me if I was okay with him lighting up 20 inches from my face. I love you man.

This place was great! Very hip, amazing drinks, very cool and eclectic environment! It was rooftop so on a clear, warm Austin night it was the best ending! People dancing, having a good time and the customer service was great! I found a hair in my drink and took it back and they immediately apologized and gave me a free one! Also they make a mean Malibu Bay Breeze! I’d definitely go back when back in Austin!

We ended up here after a night of bar hopping downtown. The music was described as house… it was not great. The drinks were good though, and the bartenders were really nice.

Decent place to come and just hangout. Lots of room for dancing and you can bring a group of people and just hang. Very cool and creative place.

Can’t get over the wood planked floors. Don’t wear heels. Great music. Friendly staff. Mostly. I say great music because I go when my friends are playing. They do have good bookings though. Love that there is usually never a cover. Bathroom is typically a disaster area. but hey it’s a club. Too many drunk nasties funking up the joint.

Let me begin by saying that at one point Lanai was awesome. great music, decent vibes, etc. however its slowly going downhill. I go to Lanai often, however the last time I went I was not allowed in because the doorman thought my ID was fake? After waiting in line, I was denied after he sketchily looked at my ID for minutes. I informed him of my age (25), and that I frequent the place often. I eventually gave up and went to Kingdom. word of advice to management, fire ignorant doorman

Super awesome place… very cool vibe on rooftop but not crazy like a club… or maybe cuz it was early… we were there like 9ish. Lots of space and cozy yet classy couches. Also my nice friends bought drinks but informed me that they were inexpensive… esp on a Saturday night! I think they have Happy Hour from 8 – 10. Just noticed they have a check-​in offer too. I’ll be back. Great place to hang with friends! Also, very smart idea to leave water out on the bar so you don’t have to bug the bartender or wait forever for some water!

WORST DOOR BOYS EVER LANAI…

Iv been a Lanai regular for years. TILL NOW
Last weekend I went with my girlfriend and their immature young Hispanic and White Door boys who think they’re the jocks of the street were quick to Pepper Spray a guy over a few word and what look like nothing as i walk up,

The guy fell to the ground and was trying to find his feet while the Door guys yelled at him to move again and again or they would get the cops. The guy was in what looked like a lot of pain and couldn’t see or find his feet to stand.

As i walk up to go in, I asked their Nazi door boys what he did to deserve the punishment, they just shoved me back and stated pulling their Pepper Spray thinking i was trying to start something, When I Had Nothing To Do With The Situation! Backing away I thought it best to help the young man move away from the door, and immediately felt the burning pain on my skin that i could only imagine in my eyes.

Been coming here since 2009, non pretentious bar with great tunes and always no cover.

Great place for hanging out and dancing ! Less douche than other club ! All the staff are great and friendly ! Adrian and john are the best !
Also the weekend dj are always spinning the best house /​dance tune

We came here on a Saturday afternoon, after watching the F1 qualifying race, on the advice of a local. It was easy to find, and the rooftop area is amazing.
There are large couches and tables, wicker lamp decorations, a cage-​seat, a DJ… and it was empty. Might be because it was 2pm on a Saturday, but we were ready for a drink, and the bartenders were happy to oblige. There is a full bar with a large selection, and the sangria is pretty darn good. We all had several drinks and just relaxed on the couches. Once the fans turned on, it was like heaven, and we nearly fell asleep, to the pounding beats of the house music that the DJ was playing.
One tiny thing was that I asked for a drink two separate times, and the bartenders didn’t know how to make it, even though it was one of their «signature» drinks.
It’s a great rooftop bar, and my experience was pretty awesome. I’d definitely recommend it and return when I’m in the area.

I like the atmosphere of this rooftop bar but you get alot of douchey people in there as well. Everyone is nice enough but it can get pretty sweltering on the roof especially if people are actually dancing.

Music drew me in!! Bar was crazy but eventually got a drink.
Good vibe and great scenery also. Had two deejays playing. They were pretty great! Would recommend for Electronic/​House music lovers.

Good music, nice rooftop, dancing, lounge. Lanai has it all! As a native & jaded Austinite, I’m sick of all the downtown bars/​clubs, Lanai is different and so much fun!

This place has the best consistent rooftop vibe in Austin. They support the local DJs and there is never a cover. This place is known for it’s quality house music. Definitely check it out!

Lanai is my kind of bar. Good music, stiff yet moderately priced drinks, comfy seats, and a view (rooftop!). Great people watching as you look down on to 5^th and congress on a Friday or Saturday night.
Have been here a few times now and will def be back. If you’re looking for a chill place to hang out, check out lanai!

I’ve been searching for a while for a club in Austin with good electronic music. Most of the clubs I’ve been to play techno during the early hours when no one’s on the dance floor and switch to hip-​hop when the crowd comes in. Electronic lovers, you know what I mean. So I was estatic when my b/​f took me to this little gem of a spot at the corner of 5^th and Congress a month ago. He said he was doing research on clubs to look for a place that he thought I would love. What a pleasant surprise! The music was fantastic! All electronic house and dubstep. We danced and jumped around for 2 hours. I only wish they open until 3 or 4 am.
I love the deco and atmosphere of the place as well. Covered rooftop, plank wood floor, plenty of lounge chairs around the dance floor in a light, airy color, with flowy curtains. Made me feel like I am at a gazebo on the beach. Girls — don’t wear spiky heals, they’ll get stuck on the floor. Besides, the music will have you jump around so wear some comfortable shoes.
The place is not too crowded. Plenty of space for dancing. The crowd is slightly more upscale than east 6^th. It is one of those places that I can be the only one on the dance floor and not feel too conscious. Everyone seems to have a good time and not just sit around staring at me.
Lanai is now our go-​to place for dancing. Highly recomended for electronic and dance lovers!

Up two flights of creaky narrow stairs is Lanai… I went for a SXSW party so it was über-​crowded and not the ideal experience. Also, it was a rainy evening, so the side flaps were down all around the room, making it more of an interior all-​weather room than a cool, swanky rooftop bar. I’d give it another shot during a less insane time of year, but it didn’t impress me too much.

Lanai is def. one of my top clubs on the list to go to for the electronic scene and just for night clubs itself. You never know what to expect when your walking up those stairs. Everytime I’ve gone up the music is always bumpin and theirs always a crowd of people. Usually I do not like shoulder to shoulder crowds but the energy is so high and exciting! There is a good amount of seating including hanging chairs and the décor is simple.
My favorite thing about this club is that is a cover rooftop bar. Your outside but not in the direct open air. Now its not always fantastic for the non smokers or who are sensitive to the smoking but its just a different feel. Its casual and about the dancing.
The only things I are not my favorite or the drink prices. The can be pretty pricey and its def not the spot that I choose to get most of my drinks but they do serve some good stuff. The stairs are not a favorite especially if your pretty drunk. The club is not your friend when you are in heels.
Its a great place to host a private party or even just watch the drunk people walk down Congress Drunk!

My whirlwind of a Saturday night took me and a group of 6 other friends to Lanai (one of 6 or 7 places that night?). I had been here a while ago and was happy to re-​visit. Our group was a motley crew of preppies, hipsters, and people that just wanted to DANCE. Lanai was the first, if not only place that night that we all had a good time.
The music was fabulous-​all of us were dancing. Had my 4 inch heels not been on for hours already, I’m sure I would have been busting even more moves out. The crowd was a pleasant mix of styles, ages, and people in general. It was nice to be in a plce where it wasn’t SO mainstream with everyone dressing/​talking/​looking alike. It seemed more fitting of Austin where it’s more of a melting pot of people.
Highlights–
— great location
— beautiful ambience complete with flowing drapes, misters, and pretty glassware (sounds dumb, but that made me happy)
— the staff was efficient and cordial at the same time – very appreciated with how busy (and hot!) it was up there
So thank you, Lanai – for being one of the high points of my crazy Saturday tour de Austin.