Best Restaurant Bars In Austin For Solo Dining
If you have the urge to go out and enjoy a fabulous meal at an Austin restaurant but you don’t have someone who’s available to join you…go anyway! Dining solo is amazing! And there are so many great Austin bars for dining solo.
For starters, it’s totally normal to dine solo and you shouldn’t be self-conscious about it (promise: no one is really paying attention to you as much as you think they are.) It’s actually a really fun way to enjoy one of your favorite restaurants.
Plus, dining solo actually has some perks: you don’t have to keep up a conversation while eating (because, if you think about it, it’s kind of weird that you have to talk and eat from the same place…), you can order and eat whatever you want without any judgment, and you can chat with the bartender and get to know the restaurant a bit better. Oh! And often times you don’t even have to make reservations - you can just walk into the restaurant and find a single seat at the bar.
Even though you can visit literally any Austin restaurant alone, there are definitely some restaurants that are ideal for solo diners than others. Typically if you’re hoping to do a spur-of-the-moment solo dining experience, you’ll want to dine at the bar (rather than wait for a table reservation.)
So, we've rounded up a perfect list of restaurant bars in Austin for solo dining, offering everything from cozy bar stools to tables with a view of beautiful scenery to delicious food and impeccable cocktails.
Best Restaurant Bars In Austin For Solo Dining
1. June’s All Day
An American eatery with European flair, June’s All Day is located on South Congress and features a beautiful bar for solo diners in Austin. In fact, this is probably one of the very best restaurant bars in Austin for solo dining because it's in such a walkable/touristy area, so it's a fun spot to just pop in randomly and enjoy a solo meal.
The cuisine is a bit fancier than you might expect from such a casual setting (you could totally dress up to go here, or walk in casual clothes after a day of SOCO shopping.). There are cafe tables and glossy checkered flooring in June, and the little bar is the perfect place to stop by for a glass of wine and their impeccable bolognese. Everything at June’s is done perfectly, and it’s the perfect spot for a solo dinner in Austin.
WEBSITE | 1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
2. Bartlett’s
When you want to truly dine well and enjoy a steak and glass of wine, but you also want to eat solo at the bar, head to Bartlett’s on West Anderson Lane. Bartlett's is renowned for its excellent service and high-quality food; they were awarded Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence but noted for being a reasonably priced option. Bartlett’s serves scrumptious cheeseburgers and hand-cut steaks along with an amazing assortment of wine and craft cocktails, and, most importantly, it has a wonderful, comfortable bar for cozy dining and exciting conversation with new friends.
Photo Credits: Dan C, Yelp
WEBSITE | 2408 W Anderson Ln., Austin, TX 78757
3. Jacoby’s
Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile is a ranch-to-table eating restaurant serving some of the best Southern classic cuisine available in Austin by using farm-fresh ingredients. You can enjoy your food while having a view of the Colorado River, but if you’re looking for a great bar in Austin to dine solo, snag one of their bar stools inside. The owners and staff are some of the kindest people around, and you’ll be welcomed and made to feel incredibly comfortable as a solo diner. (PS: get the strawberry cake for dessert!)
WEBSITE | 3235 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
4. Hopfields
Hopfields is an adorable little gastropub located near the UT campus serving traditional homestyle French cuisine in a lovely rustic/chic atmosphere. The bar is small, but (lucky you!) as a solo diner you can often find a single seat.
They offer a wonderful selection of craft beers and French-inspired meals. The Pascal burger with camembert, cornichon, whole grain mustard, and caramelized onions is a must-try, as well as their steak frites.
Photo Credits: Kelly H, Yelp
WEBSITE | 3110 Guadalupe St #400, Austin, TX 78705
5. Sammie’s
For some of the best Italian food in Austin and one of the best bars in Austin where you can dine solo, head to Sammie’s. Sammie's serves old-school Italian cuisine in a classic setting. Everything from their red sauce entrees to their wine list to their classic Italian cocktails to their homemade gelato is of the highest quality.
If you're dining alone, just take a seat at the bar and enjoy your pasta while sipping a cocktail. The bartenders are so friendly and fun, and since this restaurant is fairly lively and loud, you might even be able to strike up a conversation with some fellow diners at the bar with you.
WEBSITE | 807 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
6. Launderette
In the Holly neighborhood of East Austin, the chic café Launderette (which is actually housed in a former laundromat!) has a cute little indoor bar. It’s one of the best places to dine solo in Austin because it’s so incredibly unpretentious, yet the food is some of the BEST in the city.
The plancha burger and the brick chicken are two must-try menu items, but there are plenty of other fun bits, like the charred octopus, potato chips with pimento cheese, and the always fabulous Launderette dessert menu.
WEBSITE | 2115 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702
7. Uchiko
Uchiko is the sister restaurant of the original Uchi, and it’s definitely one of the more challenging places to get a solo bar stool in Austin. Even those seats at the bar are taken up VERY quickly! They truly are one of the best places to get sushi in Austin, but the Japanese farmhouse aesthetic with handcrafted materials and cozy finishes is what makes this such a fun place to go out on a solo dining adventure. Photo Credit: Kevin K, Yelp
WEBSITE | 4200 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756
8. Honeymoon Spirit Lounge
Honey Moon is a trendy, vintage-chic restaurant and cocktail lounge serving up inventive cocktails and modernized American sharing dishes and comfort food. They also have a wide selection of beers, ciders, and local craft brews, and it’s such a fun/festive environment that it really doesn’t feel like an intimidating place at all to dine solo. Everyone is just there for a good time!
Photo Credit: Tiffany M, Yelp
WEBSITE | 624 W 34th St, Austin, TX 78705
9. Juniper
This is a chic Italian restaurant that focuses on locally produced, hyper-seasonal Texas ingredients and old-world techniques. They also serve a top-notch beverage program, so you should definitely start your solo-dining experience with a lovely drink to kick off dinner.
WEBSITE | 2400 E Cesar Chavez St #304, Austin, TX 78702
10. Peche
Peche is the first absinthe bar in Austin and features a well-curated wine list, delicious French food, and pre-Prohibition style drinks. It’s a fairly large bar with lots of seats, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a solo bar spot available. Certainly one of the best restaurant bars in Austin for solo dining (or drinking!)
Their drink menu goes well with rib eye and Texas wild boar, butternut squash ravioli, duck confit, and other appetizers.
Photo Credit: Jihae Sophia C, Yelp
WEBSITE | 208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
11. Ezov
Ezov is an absolutely gorgeous Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in East Austin from the Emmer & Rye restaurant group. They source locally and seasonally, so the menu is always rotating. The cocktails and plates are inventive and fresh, and this is one of the all-time best spots to snag an empty bar stool and treat yourself to a delicious dinner in Austin. Why? Reservations are hard to get, so it's a fun place to sneak in as a solo diner!
WEBSITE | 2708 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
12. Canje
Canje, named after the Guyanan bird, is an absolutely fabulous restaurant in Austin for showing up alone and meeting someone new! It’s a little loud in there, but that just adds to the fun ambiance. Canje (from the Emmer & Rye restaurant group) serves Caribbean food with Guyana as its focal point, with flavors and inspiration from Puerto Rico to Jamaica.
Photo Credit: Doneisha F, Yelp
WEBSITE | 1914 E 6th St ste c, Austin, TX 78702
13. La Condesa
La Condesa is an award-winning modern Mexican restaurant located in the 2nd Street District. The bar is situated in a different area from the rest of the restaurant, so you really feel like you’re walking into a BAR and not a restaurant…but you can still dine there, nonetheless. Their cuisine menu includes traditional Mexican dishes produced with fresh, regional ingredients, as well as one of the largest collections of tequila, mezcal, and other Mexican spirits in Austin.
Photo Credit: Phil H, Yelp
WEBSITE | 400 W 2nd St A, Austin, TX 78701
14. Il Bruto
Il Bruto is a neighborhood Italian restaurant in East Austin that specializes in serving classic and authentic Italian food. Even if you’re able to get a reservation as a solo diner at a table, the bar is SO much more fun! They have excellent Italian cocktails and Italian cuisine, and an all-around fun environment. Il Bruto is a great option for solo dining at the bar in Austin.
WEBSITE | 1601 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
15. Red Ash
Yet another Italian restaurant in Austin where you should dine solo, Red Ash is a contemporary Italian grill downtown serving a variety of Italian favorites. Pasta, fresh seafood, prime steaks, an extensive foreign wine list, specialized artisan cocktails, and local Texas beers are all served here.
WEBSITE | Colorado Tower, 303 Colorado St #200, Austin, TX 78701
16. Maie Day
The South Congress Hotel is home to the neighborhood chophouse Maie Day, and the bar is a wonderful spot to pop in for a solo meal! They have incredible locally-sourced steaks, amazing cocktails, entire grilled fish, and pepper-glazed pork chops.
WEBSITE | 1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
17. Drinkwell
If you love a good neighborhood gastropub and you want to meet some new friends, head to Drink.Well and grab a bar stool! Drink.Well is a local cocktail bar (one of the best places for cocktails in Austin, at that) and a restaurant located in the unique North Loop neighborhood of Austin.
WEBSITE | 207 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
18. Clark’s Oyster Bar
Clark's Oyster Bar is a tiny, casual seafood restaurant offering fine foods like oysters, sustainable caviar, and other seafood specialties. The vibe is Austin meets New England, and the tiny bar near the entrance is a wonderful spot to get a solo seat and order some raw oysters and a martini during happy hour.
WEBSITE | 1200 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
19. Jeffrey’s
Since 1975, Jeffrey's Restaurant has been a staple of gourmet dining in Austin. While the coveted tables are hard to reserve, the bar seats might be a bit easier to get, especially if you’re dining solo on a weeknight. The dry-aged prime steaks, bold California red wines, and elevated steakhouse sides are the epitome of fine dining.
Photo Credit: Tracy B, Yelp
WEBSITE | 1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703
20. Cape Bottle Room
Cape Bottle Room is a tasting room, bottle shop, and wholesale distributor offering distinctive and ethically produced South African wines. If you want a really chill spot to show up and enjoy a glass of wine at the bar (and potentially meet some people!), it has a relaxing, coffee-shop vibe, which lends itself well to conversations with new friends.
Photo Credit: Cora D, Yelp
WEBSITE | 500 San Marcos St #102, Austin, TX 78702
21. Perla’s
Oysters, fresh fish, and shellfish are all included on a fantastic seafood menu at Perla's, which has a stylish, beachy vibe. Oak trees grow through the wooden deck, picnic tables are shaded by striped umbrellas, and it has a nautical theme, but the indoor bar is where you’ll want to cozy up if you’re dining solo in Austin. Start with one of their exceptional cocktails, move on to the raw bar, and then be sure to enjoy a lobster roll or one of their locally-sourced grilled fish options as an entree.
WEBSITE | 1400 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
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