Frequently Asked Questions
Sky Lounge on Lady Bird FAQs
What is included in the venue event rental?
When booking an event at the Sky Lounge on Ladybird, you’ll get a fully furnished venue with indoor and outdoor spaces. Our indoor space has a full-service bar, 3 TVs, bathrooms, Bluetooth speaker system, adjustable lighting and gorgeous lounge furniture.
The indoor space has panoramic doors that fully open to a fabulous outdoor terrace with panoramic views of downtown Austin, Lady Bird Lake and the west rolling hills. It features a firepit, outdoor furniture and is tied to the speaker system.
If you want to stun your guests by hosting your event at the venue with the best views in Austin- you’ve come to the right place!
What is the Sky Lounge capacity?
What are the Sky Lounge Hours of Operation?
Monday – Friday, events can start no earlier than 8pm and we have a strict 12am cutoff time for all events. Saturday and Sunday events may begin as early as 7am and end at 1am.
In November and December, we have special holiday hours. On Thursdays and Fridays during the holiday season, events can start no earlier than 6pm, and have a strict cutoff time of 12am.
We have a strict 10:30pm noise ordinance in our venue. Please be advised if your event goes past 10:30pm, the music & dance floor will need to be moved inside with the doors shut.
Do you have in-house bar services?
Yes, we have a full-service bar in-house, so you will see a bar minimum and bartender fees on the proposal. You must choose one of the Bar Options Below:
- Select a bar package, in which you pay per head for the alcohol at a flat rate. All the drinks are covered through that flat rate for the event. You can review what liquor, beer, wine, and cocktail options are offered on our specific bar packages.
- Pre-pay the bar minimum and our staff will track the beverages on a by-consumption basis until that tab minimum has been reached. When the minimum is exceeded, a new tab will be started and you will be invoiced for the remaining balance immediately following the event. If the tab is not exceeded, you will not owe anything after the event, however you will not receive a refund for that minimum. You can review our “by-consumption” options on the last page of the bar packages.
Which bar package option is right for my event?
We recommend large social gatherings like wedding receptions and birthday parties stick to the standard bar packages, as it’s the best overall value for a large drinking crowd and the total tab is agreed upon beforehand so there are no surprises.
The by-consumption packages are recommended for smaller or corporate events or groups where only a portion of the crowd will be drinking alcohol. However, this is much harder to manage the end total, but works very well for a lot of clients.
Can I host a cash bar?
Can I have a signature cocktail for my event?
Yes, we have an in-house mixologist that would love to help curate your dream drink for your event!
If you would like a specialty cocktail designed for your event, please contact the sales manager for a specialty cocktail request form. You will be able to select your favorite flavor, liquor and drink preferences. Our mixologist will then curate a few options based on your preferences. From there, a cocktail tasting will be scheduled for final event selections. A fee will be incurred for adding a new signature cocktail.
The cocktail I want isn’t on the bar menus provided- Can I add it?
Yes, you may add off-menu drinks to the bar menu. However, an additional fee will be added to do so.
Does a bar package have to be purchased to host an event at the Sky Lounge?
No, a venue rental package is an option. You may bring your own non-alcoholic beverages and outside full-service caterer into the venue. All outside caterers must provide their COI prior to the event & schedule a walk-through. However, no outside alcohol of any kind is permitted in the venue.
Can we bring in our own alcohol or bartenders?
No, we enforce a strict no alcohol in or out of the building policy and we don’t work with outside bartenders. We have high-quality bar packages to choose from with curated menus and a knowledgeable experienced bartending staff to execute those menus at the highest level.
When will the bar close at the end of my event?
Last call for the bar is always 30 minutes prior to the end of the event. The bar will close 15 minutes prior to the event. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Do you provide onsite catering?
No, all catering is done externally through our partners. You may bring in a caterer outside of our preferred vendor list.
However, we must have your vendor’s COI on file, they must schedule a walkthrough with us prior to the event. All outside caterers must be full-service. We do not allow any drop off catering items. You can find our robust listing of catering partners in the event packet
Can I bring in other vendors?
Yes, this is encouraged! You may select outside vendors for other services such as photo booths, musicians, DJs, etc.
Keep in mind we must receive their COI no less than 14 days prior to the event date.
Is guest parking available?
Yes, we have a large on-site parking garage with valet, self-park, and self-pay options. For valet services, we would connect you to our 3rd party vendor for a quote. For self-park or self-pay, the rate is $10 per parking spot, or $10 per validation.
Is the outdoor space covered?
The outdoor space is not covered and cannot be tented. In the case of rain, the event can be moved indoors. Please keep in mind the maximum inside capacity is 100 guests. The maximum capacity for the space (inside and out) is 150 guests.
Can the furniture be moved?
Our space is fully furnished and decorated; you may make minor adjustments to the furniture. However, for drastic floor plan changes or to have items removed completely, you must use our approved 3rd-party vendor for an additional fee.
What AV options are included in the venue rental?
The Sky Lounge has 3 TVs above the bar available for pictures and videos. If you’d like to utilize them, our team must be sent all content in advance. Any other AV needs such as additional TVs, microphones, etc. must be brought in through 3rd party vendors.
When is the final payment due? When do I have to make final selections on what bar package I want?
Final payments and bar selections are due 14 days prior to the event. No changes to the bar package can be made after that deadline has passed.
What staffing will the Sky Lounge have on-site during my event?
An onsite manager will be available during the entire event to manage anything venue related. This manager is not an event coordinator and will not assist 3rd party vendors or any matters outside of venue related items. Keep in mind they are also managing the Sky Lounge bar staff.
When will my vendors have access to the venue prior to my event?
All vendors and one party host will have access to the space 2 hours prior to the start of the event. If more time is needed, an additional $500/hour charge will be incurred.
Guests will not be allowed into the space until the event start time. If the event’s start time is contracted at 6:00pm, the doors to our venue will open at 6:00pm and no earlier. Only the party host and event vendors will be allowed into the space prior to the event start. No exceptions.
How will my guests get into space upon arrival?
We require a guest list for check-in. All guests must be on the guest list to be allowed up to the Sky Lounge. If guests have a plus one, you can write that next to their name. Our security team will check guests in at the lobby area before getting sent up to the event space.
What documents are required prior to my event?
We require a complete vendor list no less than 7 business days prior to the event. This list must have the vendor’s name, primary contact, and arrival time. If this vendor is not on our preferred list, they must also send their certificate of insurance that follows the insurance requirements. We require a guest list 7 days prior to your event. You can send updated guest lists leading up to the event.