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WATERTRADE is the intimate Japanese-style cocktail bar, attached to OTOKO. It features an extensive list of speciality Japanese whiskies, sake + craft cocktails curated around ingredient seasonality. Guests of WATERTRADE also have access to a limited izakaya-style menu featuring bar bites and specialty dishes from the OTOKO culinary team.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Phone: (512) 994-0428
Website: http://otokoaustin.com/watertrade
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: exploretock.com
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Reviews
Mimi Kwong
Cool Concept, Great Service – Just Missed the Welcome Toast
Visited this Japanese-style speakeasy and really enjoyed the overall vibe and service. The concept is unique and the space feels intimate, with a clear focus on creating a curated experience around both food and drink.
There’s a $10 booking fee, which is supposed to include a welcome toast from the bar—but unfortunately, we never received ours. That was a bit of a letdown, especially since it was part of the booking fee.
We were seated at the bar at first, and the bartender was super friendly, introduced himself right away, and walked us through the menu in detail. After a bit, a group sat next to us that made us feel uncomfortable, and without us even saying anything, the staff noticed and offered to move us to a table. That kind of attentiveness really stood out and was genuinely appreciated.
As for the food:
– Escargots – just okay, nothing memorable.
– Nasu fries – a bit too sour for my taste, but interesting.
– Maki roll with fish – decent, but there was a surprise kick of spice that wasn’t mentioned on the menu. Not sure if it came from the soy sauce or another ingredient, but a heads-up would’ve been nice.
– Wagyu nigiri – really good, would definitely order again.
– Sando dessert – a fun and tasty finish, with a churro-like twist that made it stand out.
The cocktails were well-crafted, though definitely on the pricey side. Drinks are charged by the ounce, and pricing depends on the spirit you choose for the base—so something to keep in mind if you’re budgeting.
Despite the missed welcome toast, the staff was knowledgeable and attentive, clearly passionate about both the drinks and the overall experience. I’d return—now knowing exactly what I’d order and what to skip next time.
… moreVisited this Japanese-style speakeasy and really enjoyed the overall vibe and service. The concept is unique and the space feels intimate, with a clear focus on creating a curated experience around both food and drink.
There’s a $10 booking fee, which is supposed to include a welcome toast from the bar—but unfortunately, we never received ours. That was a bit of a letdown, especially since it was part of the booking fee.
We were seated at the bar at first, and the bartender was super friendly, introduced himself right away, and walked us through the menu in detail. After a bit, a group sat next to us that made us feel uncomfortable, and without us even saying anything, the staff noticed and offered to move us to a table. That kind of attentiveness really stood out and was genuinely appreciated.
As for the food:
– Escargots – just okay, nothing memorable.
– Nasu fries – a bit too sour for my taste, but interesting.
– Maki roll with fish – decent, but there was a surprise kick of spice that wasn’t mentioned on the menu. Not sure if it came from the soy sauce or another ingredient, but a heads-up would’ve been nice.
– Wagyu nigiri – really good, would definitely order again.
– Sando dessert – a fun and tasty finish, with a churro-like twist that made it stand out.
The cocktails were well-crafted, though definitely on the pricey side. Drinks are charged by the ounce, and pricing depends on the spirit you choose for the base—so something to keep in mind if you’re budgeting.
Despite the missed welcome toast, the staff was knowledgeable and attentive, clearly passionate about both the drinks and the overall experience. I’d return—now knowing exactly what I’d order and what to skip next time.
Leigh Brown
A favorite cocktail bar with an intimate vibe. While some cocktails on the menu can be on the pricier side, they are truly works of art, and there are plenty of other options. The bartenders are extremely talented. Arguably, the best in town.
… moreElizabeth Stevenson
Great, innovative cocktails in a nice vibey enviroment. Often overlooked, but reservations are necessary most days, especially weekends as seating is intimate and limited. I will say the last time I was here I was slightly disappointed in the service, being that we were there to enjoy drinks and kind of made that clear to the waitstaff but I think maybe they had their new food menu and were trying to push sales. So not sure if this has turned more into a place where they expect you to get some apps with drinks now or if it’s still the same fantastic cocktail bar it once was.
… moreKatye Howell
We went to watertrade for my birthday and it was the BEST experience from the moment we walked in. The note in my phone about this place starts “the most incredible tasting meal of my life.” I mean it!
The restaurant is intimate and dimly lit with comfy but oh so classy seating. We would have been happy at the bar, but wound up being seated at a small couch with a table that had plenty of room for the spread of food and drinks we enjoyed. The hostess and server were super informative and took such great care of us. We were greeted with a welcome toast of sake, immediately put in an order of oysters, and spent a good amount of time looking at a thoughtfully crafted drink menu. I loved that the drink menu was organized by seasons and there was a good mix of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks that all sounded unique and special.
I liked our food strategy- we went through the menu and put in an order of a bunch of things, then we went back at the end and reordered our favorites! The oysters with roe were quite possibly the best thing I’ve ever tasted… so good (bright, fresh, fun texture!) we put in another smaller order at the end of the meal so it could be the last thing we tasted, too. We ordered the Jurojin’s dram and the Yaeyama Baby! For our first drinks. Yeayama was like nothing I’ve had before, and the flavor was really satisfying…I kept stealing sips, and the shortbread that came with it was tender and a fun complement to the drink. Jurojin’s dram was a little spicy and smoky but still bright and light with citrus. After oysters, we shared the chef’s choice sushi roll which was perfectly spicy and salty with a tiny pipette of soy sauce that was more than enough for us!
Next came a white fish with super delicate mandarin pieces and yellow flower petals and Ocean Trust (Ponzu, asian pear, lemon balm, frozen tomato, cucumber, cucumber weed). We wound up getting the ocean trust again because it was also the best combination of fresh flavors and textures!
There was a special sushi roll for gay pride month —Spanish ham with sardines and a white sauce and vinegar dip. Yum! The Wagyu bites were smoky and melt in your mouth tender, and I’m glad we got a couple per our server’s suggestion so we could each savor our own. We ordered the Aji Sashimi twice, too! It was perfectly smoky and salty…but also sashimi, so SO fresh! I can’t remember the name of the last drink we shared, but it was sweet but balanced.
The escargot did not get a big shoutout in my note, but not because it wasn’t delicious. Served with shredded carrot and potato chips, like everything else it was balanced, interesting, and so special.
I didn’t see the bill, and I’m glad because, even though it was a birthday treat, I’m sure I would have felt a little guilty. Even with the variety of foods we savored, dinner was light. I would not come here starving unless you’re ready to drop a tiny fortune. Grab a snack before hand, and enjoy every bite!
… moreThe restaurant is intimate and dimly lit with comfy but oh so classy seating. We would have been happy at the bar, but wound up being seated at a small couch with a table that had plenty of room for the spread of food and drinks we enjoyed. The hostess and server were super informative and took such great care of us. We were greeted with a welcome toast of sake, immediately put in an order of oysters, and spent a good amount of time looking at a thoughtfully crafted drink menu. I loved that the drink menu was organized by seasons and there was a good mix of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks that all sounded unique and special.
I liked our food strategy- we went through the menu and put in an order of a bunch of things, then we went back at the end and reordered our favorites! The oysters with roe were quite possibly the best thing I’ve ever tasted… so good (bright, fresh, fun texture!) we put in another smaller order at the end of the meal so it could be the last thing we tasted, too. We ordered the Jurojin’s dram and the Yaeyama Baby! For our first drinks. Yeayama was like nothing I’ve had before, and the flavor was really satisfying…I kept stealing sips, and the shortbread that came with it was tender and a fun complement to the drink. Jurojin’s dram was a little spicy and smoky but still bright and light with citrus. After oysters, we shared the chef’s choice sushi roll which was perfectly spicy and salty with a tiny pipette of soy sauce that was more than enough for us!
Next came a white fish with super delicate mandarin pieces and yellow flower petals and Ocean Trust (Ponzu, asian pear, lemon balm, frozen tomato, cucumber, cucumber weed). We wound up getting the ocean trust again because it was also the best combination of fresh flavors and textures!
There was a special sushi roll for gay pride month —Spanish ham with sardines and a white sauce and vinegar dip. Yum! The Wagyu bites were smoky and melt in your mouth tender, and I’m glad we got a couple per our server’s suggestion so we could each savor our own. We ordered the Aji Sashimi twice, too! It was perfectly smoky and salty…but also sashimi, so SO fresh! I can’t remember the name of the last drink we shared, but it was sweet but balanced.
The escargot did not get a big shoutout in my note, but not because it wasn’t delicious. Served with shredded carrot and potato chips, like everything else it was balanced, interesting, and so special.
I didn’t see the bill, and I’m glad because, even though it was a birthday treat, I’m sure I would have felt a little guilty. Even with the variety of foods we savored, dinner was light. I would not come here starving unless you’re ready to drop a tiny fortune. Grab a snack before hand, and enjoy every bite!
Audrey L
Amazing drinks and bites! My friend and I came here for cocktails and were amazed by the restaurant. The bar is very dark and ambient, I absolutely loved the intimate atmosphere. Drinks were amazing. Don’t miss out on the bites they gave from their sister restaurant, my friend and I had the best sashimi in our life here!
… moreAli Darwiche
Unfortunately, my partner and I were really disappointed with our visit. We really wanted to give the team the benefit of the doubt, but there was just a lot of consistent let downs.
We had trouble being served past our initial order even though we tried waving people down. No one ever asked us if we wanted a second round, even when our drinks were done.
During my first order, I had asked for the waiters opinion on a couple drinks, they recommended me a different drink instead which I ended up really disliking. I wanted to give it an honest try and got half way through the drink but wasn’t able to finish it. I was hoping to order a second drink to give the bar another shot, but hence my first issue of no one ever serving us again until it was time for the check.
Considering the costs and level of class this bar is aiming for, I was deeply let down. We were really excited for our visit as well. I hope it was just a one off, but as of now I’m not in a rush to come back I’m afraid.
… moreWe had trouble being served past our initial order even though we tried waving people down. No one ever asked us if we wanted a second round, even when our drinks were done.
During my first order, I had asked for the waiters opinion on a couple drinks, they recommended me a different drink instead which I ended up really disliking. I wanted to give it an honest try and got half way through the drink but wasn’t able to finish it. I was hoping to order a second drink to give the bar another shot, but hence my first issue of no one ever serving us again until it was time for the check.
Considering the costs and level of class this bar is aiming for, I was deeply let down. We were really excited for our visit as well. I hope it was just a one off, but as of now I’m not in a rush to come back I’m afraid.
Talia Siefker
This place is really cute but we were rushed, when we first walked in they told us we can only sit at the bar for 30 minutes even though there weren’t many people there. They took awhile to make our drinks & immediately when the drinks came out the hostess told the bartenders to give us our checks. The bartenders were nice and the drinks were good but they were $20+ each.
… moreZaid Gallo
It’s a well crafted experience. The decor, lighting, and even bathroom are thoughtfully designed. The bartenders are knowledgeable – Xteven and Dean are masters of their trade! There is also an enticing and delicious mocktail list which I appreciated. Annie and Caroline were super warm helpful as well.
The best bite of the night was the hamachi with bronze fennel – smokey, savory, buttery smooth – it makes your eyes light up!
… moreThe best bite of the night was the hamachi with bronze fennel – smokey, savory, buttery smooth – it makes your eyes light up!
Charles Parsow
Intimate ambiance. Quality drinks and small bites. Super friendly bartenders. So happy we stumbled in here!
… moreamanda mayorga-monsisvais
The unique experiences starts before you even walk through the front door. We were welcomed with a choice of sake of champagne. We loved the intimate setting and versatile drink options, they put a lot of thought into the ingredients. We tried the smoked hamachi they suggested and it was a treat. They have something for everyone (even mocktails.)
… more