Kevin Cummins first toured the historic downtown post office building in 2018. At an open house, he learned the basement was built during the Great Depression and Prohibition era.

With nearly 12,000 square feet and two secret entrances, “it was sort of obvious that there had to be a speakeasy down here,” Cummins said.

In November 2024, he realized this vision, opening Brass Peacock in the space.

The background

In the three-story building, Cummins first opened the Ada Talbot Hall, named after the city’s first female postmaster, on the top floor. The event space started operations in 2021, and steak and seafood restaurant City Post Chophouse opened later the same year.


What to expect

Brass Peacock is a 1933 concept bar that marries Prohibition-inspired cocktails with live jazz and curated historical decor. At the center of the speakeasy is the salvaged and reconfigured bartop from The Brown Bar in Austin. Behind the bar, bar manager Patrick Nikel reimagines classic cocktails with modern twists and techniques.

Visitors can tell if the speakeasy is open by going to the side entrance of the building and checking if the neon light is on. Patrons of City Post Chophouse can secure a spot downstairs at Brass Peacock by telling their server or noting it on their reservation, though Cummins hinted at secret ways to access the speakeasy.

In curating the space, Cummins wanted to create an immersive experience for people to engage with, including the music, ambiance and the Texas Formal dress code, which allows jeans and cowboy hats.


“There’s a lot of places that think about a speakeasy vibe or that think about Prohibition-era cocktails ... but there wasn't really a place that could transport you back,” Cummins said. “We really wanted to do that.”

On the menu

There is something on the menu for everyone, Nikel said. He encourages guests to try something new and engage with the staff. He updates the menu fully every six months, and eventually plans to do a refresh of the menu every three months for more seasonal offerings.

“I do a lot of stuff with sous vide, so I'll take spirits and infuse them actually in hot temperatures because they infuse faster and you get more of the brighter notes out of the aromatics,” Nikel said. “The Chai Rye is a really nice example of that.”


The Chai Rye is a bestselling drink made with black tea, cinnamon, clove and spice-infused rye whiskey.

Brass Peacock also serves a selection of light bites and desserts, including a lobster roll and marinated olives.

Learn more

The space hosts live music every night, with solos and duos performing on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and full bands performing on Fridays and Saturdays.


“Some will mostly be playing jazz standards, so they'll be playing a lot of Coltrane, a lot of Louis Armstrong, and stuff like that,” Nikel said. “Some of the others will play more jazzified versions of contemporary tracks.”

Another feature of the speakeasy is a cigar lounge, with its own ventilation system and cigar lockers. Visitors must have a membership to enter the lounge, but becoming a member is as simple as purchasing a cigar, Cummins said. The selection includes a range of full- and light-bodied flavors, Nikel said.

“Whether it's a big celebration or a small celebration, this is the kind of place that you want to be able to do that in, and I just felt like a cigar lounge needed to be part of that,” Cummins said.