Private Events on Rainey Street
Your Occasion. Elevated.
Modern Bar occupies the ground floor of The Modern Austin Residences at the corner of Rainey and Davis. Whether you are reserving a few VIP tables to stay close to the energy, taking over the Altar Bar for something more private, or booking out the entire venue, every gathering here is built on a world class cocktail program and a room people remember. Events run seven days a week, day or night.
Three ways to host
Reserved Section
12 to 30 guests
Premium seating inside the active venue, with VIP table arrangements, a dedicated server and priority bar access. The vibrant floor of Modern Bar becomes your backdrop. Best suited to mixers, meet and greets, and team celebrations that want atmosphere rather than privacy.
The Altar Bar
up to 100 standing or 60 seated
A separated private space within the venue, defined by its stained glass backdrop, with its own bar and integrated sound system. TV, DJ and microphone hookups are available for an additional fee. This is the room for a milestone birthday, a client dinner or a product launch that needs its own four walls without taking the whole building.
Full Venue Buyout
up to 260 guests
Every square foot of Modern Bar is yours: all lounges and both bars, the Altar room, and the exterior porch. Austin’s most distinctive cocktail bar, entirely yours, for the evening or the day.
Day or Night, Seven Days a week
Modern Bar opens at 8am. That makes it one of very few venues on Rainey Street that can host a morning meeting, a breakfast launch or an all day brand activation, with a full coffee and espresso bar running alongside the cocktail list. Most bars on this street cannot open their doors until the afternoon.
Event windows are 8am to 4pm, or 5pm to 10pm Sunday through Wednesday and 5pm to midnight Thursday through Saturday. Venue hours are 8am to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and 8am to 1am Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
What Comes With The Room
- Integrated multi zone speaker system
- DJ and microphone hookups
- Exterior patio with outdoor access
- A dedicated event bar and event room
- Full cocktail program, wine list and provisions menu
- Coffee bar and espresso program
How Pricing Works
Private event pricing is based on the day and time you choose, and is made up of a room fee plus a food and beverage minimum. Gratuity and service fees are applied to the food and beverage minimum: 22 percent gratuity plus 4 percent service fees on a full venue buyout or rental of Altar Bar.
Tell us about your event and we will come back with pricing for your date.
Events we host
Corporate events
Impress clients and reward teams at a venue that signals taste and ambition. The Modern Austin Residences address speaks before the first cocktail is poured, and the 8am opening means you can book a breakfast briefing as easily as an evening reception.
SXSW events
Austin’s festival season demands world class venues. The position at Davis and Rainey puts you at the epicenter, which makes this a natural home for brand activations, client dinners and industry gatherings.
ACL Festival
Zilker Park is minutes away. Bring your group back to Modern Bar for post show cocktails, private dinners and the right end to a festival day.
Birthday celebrations
Mark the milestone at one of Austin’s newest landmark venues. Curated cocktails, private bars and an atmosphere that turns a birthday into a signature event.
Brand activations
Position your brand inside one of Austin’s most aspirational addresses. The Urbanspace lifestyle connection makes Modern Bar a natural backdrop for product launches and media events.
Special occasions
Engagements, anniversaries, graduations, reunions. Any moment worth celebrating deserves a space that matches the significance of the day.
Common Questions
Up to 260 for a full venue buyout, up to 100 standing or 60 seated in the Altar Bar, and 12 to 30 for a reserved section.
Yes. Events are available seven days a week during all hours of operation, including an 8am to 4pm window. The coffee and espresso program runs during daytime events.
Yes. The Altar Bar has its own bar and integrated sound system, and a full venue buyout includes both bars.
Yes. The venue has an integrated multi zone speaker system with DJ and microphone hookups. In the Altar Bar, TV, DJ and microphone hookups are available for an additional fee.
Every private event includes a room fee and a food and beverage minimum, both of which depend on the day and time you book. Send us your date through the private event inquiry form and we will give you the figures for it.
We do not have dedicated parking. The nearest public garage is at 70 Rainey Street, a few doors down, and there are several more within a short walk. Rideshare is the easiest option, and the drop off point is the corner of Rainey and Davis.
Yes, three ways. You can order from our published menu, which is billed at standard menu pricing and counts toward your food and beverage minimum. We can source a caterer on your behalf for anything not on our menu. Or you can bring your own caterer.
Outside caterers need our written approval 30 days before your event, must hold current Texas health permits and food handler certifications, and must arrive with all their own serving equipment, as our kitchen and refrigeration are not available to outside caterers. An outside catering fee of $750 applies.
Outside alcohol is not permitted under any circumstances. Modern Bar holds the TABC permit and is the exclusive provider of all alcoholic beverages at the venue.
For a reserved section, 7 to 10 days is usually enough. Altar Bar and full venue bookings need longer, because your menu, bar package and final headcount are confirmed 30 days before the event date. For SXSW and ACL our cutoff is two weeks out, and those dates tend to go well before then.
Yes. Entry from the corner of Rainey and Davis is step free, our restrooms are accessible, and the Altar Bar is reachable without stairs.
Private Event Inquiry Form
Modern Bar is built for social connection, offering a vibrant atmosphere right in the heart of Rainey Street. Whether you want to reserve a few VIP tables to stay close to the energy, host a private gathering in the Altar Bar, or book out the entire venue for ultimate exclusive access, we believe every gathering should feel like a signature event. Backed by a world-class cocktail program and 7-day availability, your perfect night starts here. Tell us a bit about your event below, and our team will handle the rest.