Austin, Texas story
Midnight Cowboy: From Brothel to Speakeasy
Discover Midnight Cowboy, a speakeasy on Austin's Sixth Street that embraces its colorful past as a covert mid-century brothel.
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Behind an unmarked door on East Sixth Street, a secret Austin cocktail bar hides a scandalous past. This is Midnight Cowboy, a speakeasy that opened in 2012 at 313 East 6th Street. For over thirty years before the cocktails started flowing, this very building operated as a covert brothel under the name Midnight Cowboy Modeling Oriental Massage.
Instead of erasing this history, the bar embraced it. As you walk past, look for the original hand-painted signage that still reads Midnight Cowboy Modeling. It is your best clue to finding the secret entrance.
Once you spot the unmarked door, you must ring the buzzer labeled Harry Craddockâa nod to a famous 1920s bartender. Inside, the intimate space holds just forty-four guests, surrounded by bold 1970s wallpaper and retro elements. It is a place where the spirits of Austin's wild past are served up daily.
Keep your eyes peeled for that vintage sign as you stroll on.
Updated June 2026