I love this place. One of my favorite hang outs in Austin. Go with friends, on a date, or by yourself. It doesn't matter. It's about great music in a cozy space with bar that serves. I try to catch Ephraim Owens and co. (trumpet and ensemble) whenever I can, but you can pop in any time for any act and feel the magic. Shows tend to be on the free side (donations for early shows and/or $5 for late shows) which is awesome, too. Oh, and there's always some new and exciting art on the walls.
Review Source:Since it was my only night in Austin, wanted to soak up as much live music as I could, and had time after work for a few more songs. Â The Continental Club next door was charging $10 cover for some drum-intensive acts, and I was in the mood for something more mellow, so headed upstairs to the Continental Club Gallery.
Felt like a mix between a dive bar, a coffee shop, and someone's well lived-in living room. Â The musician/guitarist up on stage, James Bullard, was really phenomenal. Â Mix of all sorts of people in there. No cover, and got a good cocktail for just $5. There's even a nice view of the Austin skyline from the bar and a ping pong table! A great laid-back place for some seriously good live music.
The Continental Club is pretty damn iconic in the grand scheme of things. But the Continental Club Gallery should be right up there with it.
Somehow I ended up here twice in one week. Once to see the greyhounds in action and once to see the inimitable Tameca Jones. It's a shotgun style bar that can get hot, packed and rowdy -- especially when the blues are gnarly or the jazz is pumping. You never know who you're going to see play here or sit in but you can be assured it will make you want to dance.
This space is upstairs next to the continental club and never has a cover (as far as I know.) It's got a small bar that's a little too pricey for my taste -- but then I'm cheap. The one off shows and the regular folks don't skip on the soul.
It's not indie, it's not americana, it's not heavy metal or 80s rock. It's a bunch of incredibly talented musicians playing their asses off. It's like that great beating musical heart of Austin's jazz & blues scene found its way here and never left.
I was in Austin for a professional conference, and after a long day my friend and I went out to catch some live music. I'd heard about the Continental Club Gallery (from Yelp, of course), and after seeing the bats under the Congress bridge and catching some jazz at the Elephant Room, we wound up at the Continental Club.
It was around 11:00 PM. (Note: everything serving food in that stretch of SoCo closes by 11:00!) I convinced her to go in with me for "one drink." Â Two and a half hours later we closed the bar, after having the time of our lives!
Awesome thing #1: I went on a Thursday and saw Tameca Jones with no cover.  She and her band did all cover songs, but they're one of the coolest cover bands I've heard.  And it's great to groove along to funky, live renditions of music you already know and love!  She's there every Thursday: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.austinchronicle.com%2Fblogs%2Fchrontourage%2F2012-06-05%2Ftameca-jones-at-continental-club-gallery%2F&s=c94282061336349a9b4e42c7052dac05e6fb7cbf2b58607c7af6b70196d836c6" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.austinchronic…</a>.  Check it out!
Awesome thing #2: I ordered my stand-by whiskey sour, and the bartender poured me one of the strongest whiskey sours I've ever had. Â I couldn't hear her when she told me how much, so I handed her a $20 and hoped for the best. Â She gave me $16.25 in change! Â Amazing! Â *No where* in L.A. are drinks that cheap. Austin rocks!
Strange thing #1: I had several whiskey sours over the course of the evening. Somehow each one cost a slightly different price? No matter, it was all (genuinely) cheap.
Awesome thing #3: The crowd is chill and really cool. Â Definitely no hotter-than-thou L.A. types there. Â A diverse mix of people -- different ages, backgrounds, and body types, and no one is too "clubby." Â By the end of the night, everyone was dancing on the (tiny!) dance floor.
Awesome thing #4: There's a pool table on the second floor above the bar, with a kick-ass mural of the Virgen de Guadalupe flanked by guitar-wielding rockers.
Awesome thing #5/Strange thing #2: My friend and I met this dude with a ridiculous waxed hipster mustache who (claims that he) has worked with (the real) Patch Adams and works as an "ontological counselor" in Mexico City. Â His two (alleged?) brothers were with him. Â Each of the three was born in different countries (missionary parents!) Â They were hilarious and awesome and definitely *weird*, just like everything in Austin.
Keep Austin Weird and check out the Continental Club Gallery! Â If you see the mustachioed wonder there tell him I say hi . . .
Tip: you don't enter from the main Continental Club venue. Â A door or two north of the main venue is the entrance for the gallery, up a staircase.
A cozy upstairs space with no cover charge, this is a nice place to hang out and watch people get their groove on (when it moves them). We came here after dinner at nearby Gueros (refer to my 1 star review if you're curious). We were actually looking to catch some jazz/blues at the Continental Club but after finding out our friends had left we didn't want to pay cover so ended up at the Gallery instead. Funny how the stars can align sometimes in the nicest way.
Review Source:I LOVE the Gallery!! Felt right at home at this great spot only a block or so away from my stay at the Austin Motel. The reviewer that called this a "high class dive bar" hit the nail on the head. The CC Gallery is small and dimly lit club above the Continental Club that apparently doesn't have a cover on weeknights, sells cheap drinks, and serves up some meeeeaaaan (in a good way) funk and dancing (or at least on the nights I was there). The Gallery is also cool for it's display of local art and ping-pong table. Of all the spots I went to in Austin, this seemed to be the place where people were really letting loose (granted I was there during the week) and good vibes ruled the rooms.
This may sound random, but I really appreciate that the Gallery has a water jug easily available by the bar so I didn't have to bug the bartender between wines and beers.
The Continental Gallery is a high class dive bar, if that's not an oxymoron. A tinly little place where the band is right there in front of you, and the atmosphere is laid back yet interesting. A $5 cover charge on a Saturday night is no big deal in my book, despite what some of the other reviewers said. Could they be talking about the Continental Club instead?
Anyway, Mike Flanigin's trio blew us away with an organ based funk that was first rate. I would have thought we were back in a downtown bar in a rust belt city in the '60s, the music was so soulful. Guitar and drums were excellent as well. These guys were so in the zone that just a glance would signal a turn in the arrangment or a stop on a dime.
Of course with that going on the crowd couldn't stand still and there was dancing despite the room being so small. The mix was eclectic, which is something I love about SoCo. Suburbanies on date nite, grad students, hippie chicks and creatures of the night. Great place to hang out.
True to its reputation for unannounced guests, a guy got up and sang a few blues with the band. I'm not talking about some wannabe or part timer, this man owned the stage and obviously has done so many times before. Again, no arm waving or hollering to create an arrangement on the spot, just an almost imperceptble nod or raised eybrow to signal a change in the tune. Sorry I can't remember the name of the vocalists or other band members, but it was a heck of a night.
So if you're looking for a place to pop in after dinner or a show at a larger venue, the Continental Gallery is worth a try. We will definitely be back.
Hidden above the famous Continental Club, the Gallery is an intimate little gem.  A great loungey atmosphere creates cozy little shows that often  feature names and acts that you'd expect to find only in larger venues.  Head through the glass door to the left of Continental Club and up the stairs to find it.
There is usually a cover for the shows, and there are usually shows going on, so keep that in mind when stopping by. Â Sometimes the bouncers are nice enough to cut you a deal if you arrive toward the end of a set. You'll enter to find local art on the walls, comfy couches along the wall, and an awesome musician on stage. Â There is one bar, and there are friendly bartenders who will remember you each time you come back up. Â Gotta love that! Â Even better, go further up the stairs in the back to find a loft with retro diner tables, ping pong, and a window with a view of downtown. Â Where better to enjoy a scotch or a cocktail and some great live music.
This is a must-visit bar for some local flavor, relaxed divey atmosphere, and great music. Â It's a great place when you want to head out for a nip but don't want to battle downtown.
This is an expensive venue to attend for a show, which would've had me not going if I wouldn't have gotten in for free, but it's well worth it when you hit the bar & you discover their drinks are cheap cheap cheap & done right right right!
The doorman Chris is pretty to look at & very accomidating! The cocktail waitress Stephanie is a cute lil gal sporting an adorable rockabilly look that any Texan would fall over! And the bartenders, well they hook you up! Great atmosphere! Made me feel all romantic & I was there with friends!
I highly recommend this place Yelpers!
When you walk up the stairs to the gallery its easy to feel like you just entered a secret music loving society. Almost every weeknight you can find great music for a good price in an intimate space. On Fridays and Saturdays Mike Flannigan always provides some great blues, with well known guitar players sitting in. Recently it has been Denny Freeman, who was touring with Bob Dylan. Â
The capacity is limited to around 50 so if there is someone you really want to see, I suggest you get there early.
Also, Don't forget to play ping-pong with an a great view of the skyline!
The Continental Gallery is an amazing place to watch some great jazz or blues musicians.  Imagine if you had a large living room that happened to double as a place where musicians could come and jam.  I think what really makes this place unique is that there is no "stage."  The band sets up on the wood floor right in front of a bunch of couches and chairs.  Since the place is not very large, it's got an intimate and  very kick-back easy feeling that works perfectly for those nights where you want to take a date and absorb some awesome music.  There's a full bar toward the stairs and the bartenders usually pour some stout drinks (love it!).  The back room area has a ping-pong table that is severely warped, or was it perfectly level and I the one that was warped?  It makes for some good fun in between band breaks.  There's also a small chill out place where it's easier to talk together with your date.  Acoustics here are not ideal, but they just add to the character of the place.  This is a great spot to come in to after dinner on Congress.  There's usually a small cover charge (like 5 bucks) and the drinks are reasonably priced.
Review Source:This is a cool place hang out in SoCo on weeknights, particularly Thursdays! The music is killer and people are dancing, you can head up to the upstairs to play some ping pong and take a break.
However, weekends are too expensive at the door for a band that recently has been unbelievably boring to listen to. I am a die-hard jazz fan and these guys just don't seem to care. If we were in New York or LA or even Chicago, these guys would not have a Friday or Saturday night at a place like this. When a bar this cool is emptying out by 1 while the band is still playing, you know something's not going right. It's a cool atmosphere but I think they're selling their customers a little short charging $10 covers for run-of-the-mill bands that are driving people out of the bar before close.
The night I went they had this great jazz trio, but then I stayed longer than the rest of my ADHD friends, and I am glad I did because I got the treat of seeing some of Austin's best musicians just come and go as they please on the stage for impromptu join-ins, and I didn't have to pay a cover. Â The only drawback to this place is the weird space set up.
Review Source:This review isn't so much about the Gallery, it's a great little place. It's more about The Ephraim Owen's Experience.
Have you ever been to a hardcore jazz bar? like in New York? You know how most everyone in the audience is focused on the musicians and listening to the music instead of talking and being noisy. This is the feel you get here. As a matter of fact; if it you are too noisy Ephraim will let you know it!
Not only does Ephraim play some great original pieces but some great jazz covers. This guy is an amazing talent. We are blessed to have him in Austin. I would compare him to Miles Davis as opposed to Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, or Lee Morgan.
This is one cool cat you should not miss! Go see him wherever you can, enjoy his cool sound that will put you in a trance, and don't forget to snap you fingers when he's done playing!
First and foremost, I feel like you should take this review with a grain of salt.
A) I'm not a huge jazz fan.
B) I can't stand creepy old guys (over 50!!) hitting on young ladies.
C) It was a Wednesday night.
I just felt like the crowd was pretty dismal with the exception of a few yelpers who trickled in after the elite event. The ping pong table would almost score them another star but it was a very sad example of one.
Creepy, PERSISTENT, old men, average drink prices and lackluster jazz tunes will probably keep me from revisiting anytime soon.
Hidden in plain sight, the Gallery is a welcomed respite from the often crowded hipster joints along SoCo. I had a wonderful time with new friends on a Wednesday evening after 8pm, drinking well-poured cocktails while listening to a jazzy 3-piece combo with a hot chick percussionist - no cover charge. Parking was easy on the street behind the bar, but know this -- the fire escape stairs' door will not be opened for you; you must enter via the corner door facing Congress at street level.
Review Source:So it was birthed, then went away, and now it's back again: welcome back, Continental Gallery, nice to see you come around. For the hiatus it seems precious little has changed, really: the bar itself is a little bigger, I'm sure there are some various local appointments which have evolved, but the overall aesthetic of the room and corresponding experience is pretty similar to what it has been previously.
They seem to be booking better acts now: we caught an Ephraim Owens set here not long ago, and jazz plays quite well in this room. There's a solid brew selection, always some art at the ready, and the ambient lighting plays well when you want to ease into your night, whether that's the beginning, or, like in our case, when you're winding down. It can be the kind of experience that lends itself to that siren in the distance, smoke rising from pavement, and memories of yesterday.
What a great little spot. If there was a space quite like this near me, I'd be here at least a night a week. After a big event, my Austin hosts Allison and Kevin took me here to wind down, listen to some great music, and have a nightcap.
I loved the art -- I'm embarrassed I didn't get the artist's name, but the paintings had a playful, Basquiat-ish feeling to them. Â The physical space was set up well to show off the art and also leave an intimate area for the musicians and crowd. Â
Ephraim Owens and his band are some startlingly talented performers. I'm sure that their performance alone added a whole other star to the night's experience. Â Bravo to the Continental Gallery for booking such a great act.
The bartender was friendly, quick and sweet... there wasn't one negative thing I can think of about the place.
Its back! And just as good, if not better! My friends and I went to pay The Gallery a visit last week. We had some drinks, listened to the Mike Flanigin B-3 trio and enjoyed the atmosphere.
The bar has been extended to be a bit larger. The artwork when we went consisted of several eclectic neon-light designs which lit up the room in a rather psychedelic way. The ping pong table is still upstairs. And people still dance.
Its like it never closed. SoCo has another good late-night bar to enjoy.
I gotta say, I LOVE this place. Â It reminds me of the gallery spaces of the late 80's - early 90's, but you don't have to bring your own alcohol. Â And all your drinks are made with a top shelf pour. Â You can generally expect to hear a small ensemble group playing, and my favorite is to go upstairs at this upstairs establishment, and hang out in the loft. Â The only thing that gets old is the constant "sorry!" every time someone misses the ping pong ball and it hits you in the head or body or it lands in your drink. Â But a small price to pay. Â This is where I tend to go on busy weekends, as parking on S. Congress is never too bad, and this is the area that the UT "kids" find too boring compared to 6th street.
Review Source:Chill bar, cool patrons, quiet setting, even with the jazz band playing 20 feet away.
I ordered bottled beer (I didn't see anything on draft) since the mixed drinks looked kinda tiny.
Artwork is bountiful but not all in-your-face. Chairs are comfy.
Snuck into the almost immaculate boys room to grab some TP since the girls room was out of it. The cleanliness was impressive.
I'll be back. To the bar, that is (not the boys room).
My first trip here was solely to check the place out, get a feel for what the guys at the Continental Club downstairs had done with the old Gomi space. Â It felt like a pretty cool hangout bar that you might find on the back of a larger bar, which is exactly what it is supposed to feel like, I suppose. Â They have good beer and a decent though small, bar selection. Â The atmosphere is just what you'd expect to find on SoCo or Red River. Â My second visit showed this place's actual value. Â If you have friends who have decided to go to the show at Continental, and you don't feel like forking over cover, or aren't really into the band, just head upstairs to the gallery, text your friends downstairs and let 'em know where you are, and they'll come to you once the show ends, or in the set breaks. Â It's all about options, kids.
Review Source:Tal K. and I got married in Austin over the weekend. Â We got married on a Friday and wanted a cool spot for all of our guests to hang out for one more party on Saturday. Â The Continental Club was the obvious choice but a little more expensive than we could afford for a private party so Steve, the owner, suggested The Gallery, the spot just above the tattoo shop. Â It was perfect. Â Its set up as an art gallery with a bar, live music and our favorite, the ping pong table. Â We had Mike Fannigan's b-3 trio and they were awesome. Â The bartenders rocked. Â They were super attentive and quickly became part of the party. Â The ONLY reason I didn't give it one more star was that it was very hot inside. Â They had the fans blowing but we really needed the AC. Â Otherwise, everything was perfect, right down to the rousing games of beer pong. Â So happy Home Slice is there!
Review Source:If you do not love this little gallery-cum-bar then I seriously doubt any place would please you.
I happen to like places that are and aren't what they are. This place is a gallery that happens to serve alcohol. It's a bar, but not a bar. It has all the rock 'n' roll tattoo the world vibe of it's bigger brother - The Continental Club - but is less crowded and not as loud. Â
I highly recommend checking it out.
This has the potential of being a decent bar but the last few times I've been there I'm almost totally turned off to it. This bar is located upstairs and is two levels.
The best part of this bar was the ping pong table. I realize this is a bar and that by no means is the ping pong meant to be anything serious in the context of the bar but the great part of this was that there were some pretty talented people playing here a few months back. The space where the table is in is very tight though with some tables bordering the play space and walls pretty close to the side of the table. This worked out ok though as people were courteous and waited in line and drank while music played downstairs. It had the potential of being some cool little sub bar in the upstairs area.
The last couple times I've been there though the upstairs has turned into khaki and button up shirt wearing dudes and their "look at my tits" girlfriends and they don't really care where they stand in relation to courtesy to anyone playing. The amount of people packed in there also added to a general noise din where in order to talk you'd have to lean over to the other persons ear. I like bars where you can hear without yelling or leaning unless it's in the context of live music (which CC Gallery has) but this was at a time when the band was on a break. The crowd in the entire bar never really appealed to me as I'm more of a dive bar person but it seems like it's getting more and more thick with the khaki wearing crowd.
I guess this is somewhat a shallow review as it is ping pong related in nature but the bar about 9 months ago had more of a chill laid back  vibe with a less predictable crowd.
That said - there are some talented musicians playing there. On the weekends there is - I believe the name is the Mike Flannagan trio where the main guy plays a Hammond B3 organ. Guests come in and play with him and solos abound.
I finally made it into the Continental Gallery, and I agree with everyone else on making it your hangout before everyone else finds out about it. It's so cool! And great music, of course. Super laid back with all of the same charm as the Continental Club.
It's upstairs, so it gets damn hot in the summer. So I suggest getting an ice cold beer to cool yourself off!
You wanna get your ass kicked at some table tennis? Come see me at the Gallery, and we'll see what's up.
Hell, I don't care about the drinks or the people or the music (which are all pretty great by the way), the only thing that matters in this bar is the pong... bring your own paddle because I bring mine.
Seriously, send me a message and we'll get down.
My roommate turned me onto this place, when he worked across the street. I didn't even know was there--apparently it used to be some lucky person's apartment. Since discovering it, it's turned into one of my favorite haunts. It is indeed a hidden jewel and you have to know where to venture up the stairs to be rewarded with an intimate and cozy little bar.
Still, these days you can usually find a seat to soak in conversation or live music, which they have a lot of nights--usually jazz. We caught Paris 49 the first night I came here, and it was a treat. It doesn't open til nine, most nights (if not all).
Maybe I shouldn't review the Gallery, and instead keep it all to myself...
Make the Continental Gallery your hangout before everybody else does. Â My prediction is that in six months, this place will be overrun by hipsters and bedheads. Â It'll be too crowed then, and you'll have missed your chance to know this place when it was cool.
The music is jazzy, the lighting is perfect and the art is killer. Â A local artist had several pieces up and my friend and I adored everyone. Â They were shiny replicas of famous pop icons, as well as a four piece study of the seasons.
Upstairs is nifty with a ping-pong table (I can hear you competitive types yell "Table Tennis!") Â A wonderful view of downtown can be seen as well.
My new favorite place. Â I'm just counting the days until I won't have a place to sit and people are getting into heated matches of ping-pong that will result in ill will toward men.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
