Urbanspace Hospitality to Open Modern Bar on Rainey Street April 10

April 8, 2026

Urbanspace Hospitality will open Modern Bar on Rainey Street this Friday, April 10, placing the new lounge at 90 Rainey St., Ste. 100, at the base of the Modern Austin Residences. The arrival comes as Rainey Street evolves from a cluster of bungalow backyard bars into a corridor that includes more polished food and drink destinations.

Kevin Burns, founder and CEO of Urbanspace Hospitality, and Merrill Alley, principal of Urbanspace Design Studio, developed Modern Bar after launching Codependent Coffee + Cocktails. They designed the concept as a place that feels rooted in the neighborhood while offering high-level design and service, aiming for something that residents will return to beyond a single night out.

The entrance makes a statement, with a custom brass door that weighs nearly 1,000 pounds, creating a clear transition from the street into the bar. Inside, the team layered textures and materials including green marble and white oak, and placed a 30-foot bar at the center of the room; designers say many of the brass elements are meant to age and change over time.

The layout supports multiple modes of use. During daytime hours the space will serve coffee, and at night it will shift into a lively cocktail room. A concealed back room is available for weekend dance events and private bookings, giving the venue a flexible footprint for different crowds and occasions.

Beverage director Gabe Ford and head bartender Sebas Cajas built a menu that blends culinary techniques with classic cocktail forms. Notable selections include the Golden Hour Martini, which features olive oil-washed gin and lacto-fermented Texas peach, and a Mushroom Manhattan that combines shiitake-infused butter with PX sherry. An experimental drink called Psycho and the Serpent uses miso and soy clarification to create bold, savory flavors.

Urbanspace emphasizes delivering meticulous cocktails at scale, keeping the bar accessible rather than reservation-only. Modern Bar will promote itself on social media at @modernbaratx and positions itself as part of Rainey Street's shifting landscape, offering both a design-forward setting and a menu meant for repeat visits.