Where To Eat In Austin During SXSW 2025

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Alright y'all, it's just about time for SXSW 2025! *Cue the trumpets.* Thousands of people are coming to town for this festival, and in addition to seeing amazing bands and panels and interactive events, everyone is asking, "but where should I eat in Austin during SXSW???"

Hi! I'm here to help. I'm a long-time Austin food blogger, an author to two Austin travel books, and I know my way around Austin's dining scene inside and out. I'll tell you exactly where you should (and shouldn't) eat while you're in town for south by.

Kelsey Kennedy The Austin Things

About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheWacoThings.com! 

Austin patio

>>>Looking for a neighborhood-specific guide? You can use my curated map of the must-try restaurants in downtown Austin. If you're hanging out on SOCO, here are the best restaurants on South Congress. East Austin? I got your map right here.<<<

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Where To Eat During SXSW

Better Half Bar

Go here for: morning coffee/breakfast, amazing burgers and cocktails, craft beer

Where To Eat During SXSW 2023

Better Half Bar is a favorite by us locals and SXSW visitors alike! Folks come here for the laid-back atmosphere and delicious all-day menu including amazing coffee and pastries, hearty salads and burgers, and a killer cocktail program. You've seriously got to try this place! Everyone loves it. 

Another reason to visit: Better Half Bar is adjacent to their sister business, Hold Out Brewing. It’s one of the best craft breweries in Austin. It’s a great spot to unwind after a long day of attending SXSW panels and shows. 

WEBSITE | 406 Walsh St, Austin, TX 7870

Houndstooth

Go here for: the very best coffee program in downtown Austin

where to eat during sxsw

When people think of Austin's vibrant community of specialty coffee shops, the first one that comes to mind is likely Houndstooth. Originally opened in 2010, Houndstooth quickly put Austin on the map as a coffee destination and has become a downtown Austin staple for coffee connoisseurs. 15 years later, they still serve some of the best espresso-based drinks you can find in Austin.

WEBSITE | 4200 N Lamar Blvd #120, Austin, TX 78756

Taqueria 10 de 10

CDMX-style tacos in a speakeasy

taqueria 10/10 in Austin

Ok wait...a taco speakeasy? Yep, and it's not a gimmicky spot, either. These tacos are LEGIT.

Taqueria 10/10 is right by the convention center, so it's the perfect place for SXSW visitors to stop by for a quick lunch of tacos and a cold coca-cola. Here's how to find Taqueria 10/10. 

206 Trinity St unit 110, Austin, TX 78701

Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden

Go here for: outdoor dinner on Rainey Street

where to eat during sxsw

Banger's Sausage House is one of the best places to eat during SXSW because they have Austin's biggest tap wall, awesome craft sausage and beer and a week-long lineup of live outdoor music. The vibe is a big outdoor space with picnic tables, great food, and lots of beer. It's one of the only places I still love on Rainey Street, and if you're a visitor, you have to stop by. 

WEBSITE | 79 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Jo’s Coffee

Go here for: caffeine and a photo

Jo's Coffee South Congress | Where to eat during SXSW

No, the coffee here isn’t necessarily the best you can find in Austin. (Go to Houndstooth for that.)

But Jo’s Coffee on South congress is an iconic Austin destination, with its green cement walls, big red sign, and iconic “I Love You So Much” mural painted on the side. 

WEBSITE | 242 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701

Home Slice Pizza

Iconic NY-Style Pizza On South Congress

casual restaurants in Austin

Home Slice Pizza is one of the most iconic Austin restuarants, and this location on South Congress is where it all began!

These NY-style pies are hot, chewy, and absolutely delicious. You can dine in, or stop by the "More Home Slice" walk-up window to get a slice to enjoy on the sidewalk patio.

WEBSITE | 1415 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Buenos Aires Cafe

Go here for: a delicious lunch or dinner

Best Restaurants In West Austin (With Map)

Buenos Aires Café is a locally owned, laid-back Argentinian restaurant located right in East Austin. It’s a longtime popular spot among Austinites for its big servings of delicate grilled meats. They also serve other delicious Argentinian food like their famous homemade empanadas, milanesa, and traditional chimichurri sauce in their cute east Austin home. It has a cozy, bohemian feel to it, and it’s a great place to enjoy a quiet meal and escape the SXSW crowds for the afternoon. 

They also have craft cocktails as well as a wine list that highlights the country's different regions as well as its most famous grape: Malbec.

WEBSITE | 1201 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Veracruz All Natural

Go here for: the best breakfast tacos in Austin

where to eat during sxsw

When its first food trailer opened in 2008, Austin's Veracruz All Natural quickly established a reputation for serving the best Austin tacos, breakfast tacos, and chips + guac. If you need some tacos during SXSW, the Veracruz location at the Line Hotel is super convenient for festival-goers, and they serve some of the best breakfast tacos in Austin, served on homemade tortillas with fresh salsas. 

You can also grab their famous migas, chilaquiles tacos, mole chicken tacos, and an AMAZING cochinita pibil taco with sweet, fried plantains and agua fresas. This taco restaurant is perfect for both breakfast and lunch during SXSW. 

WEBSITE | 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

Backspace Pizza

Go here for: Neapolitan pizza and wine

where to eat during sxsw

 

This small Italian eatery is nestled into a small space just off of 6th Street, and it's one of the only good places to eat on Dirty Sixth Street

Like I mentioned, it's a tiny restaurant, but if you can snag a barstool or table, you’re going to be able to enjoy one of the best pizzas in Austin during your time at SXSW. 

WEBSITE | 507 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

Asador

Go here for: tacos on Rainey Street

where to eat during sxsw

Anyone coming to Austin in March is going to ask: “where can I get tacos near SXSW?” and our answer? Asador.

These tacos are INSANELY good. So good, in fact, this small business, which started as a little taco stand behind Las Perlas bar (that location still exists!), has expanded into three taco shops. The largest location of Asador is on Rainey Street. 

Their menu is simple, and that’s what makes it so great. There are typically about 5 tacos on the menu, plus a rotation special and a quesadilla. DEFINITELY get the brisket taco. The meat is soft and flavorful and falls apart, but the tortilla is a little bit charred on the outside and holds it all together nicely. Add guacamole for two bucks (again, you’ll definitely want to do that.)

Pro tip: get the chips and queso as a starter, and then dip your taco in the queso. 

WEBSITE | 88 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Suerte

Go here for: upscale Mexican Food

where to eat during sxsw

Suerte is one of Austin’s most popular and award-winning Mexican restaurants They won Best New Restaurant in 2019 from Food & Wine and haven’t stopped picking up accolades ever since then. Everything at this east Austin restaurant is made of masa, including the suadero tacos with black magic oil, carnitas tlacoyo, and an abundance of other delicious options.

(Reservations all full? Try to arrive early and grab a bar stool, where you can order both cocktails and menu items.) 

WEBSITE | 1800 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Odd Duck

Go here for: a nationally-recognized farm-to-table restaurant in Austin

where to eat during sxsw

Odd Duck is probably the most famous farm-to-table restaurant in Austin. They were sourcing locally and aiming for zero food waste before it was cool! And this beautiful, rustic, window-wrapped restaurant on South Lamar is 100% stopping by during SXSW.

Since the restaurant is on the south side of the river from downtown, it has a more relaxed atmosphere than some of the downtown restaurants during SXSW. I recommend Odd Duck for folks who want a break from the craziness of the festival!

WEBSITE | 1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Casino El Camino

Go here for: a late-night burger

Restaurants Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Grungy, classic, and one of the best burgers in Austin, Casino El Camino have got to be on your “late-night eats” list during SXSW. It’s located on 6th Street in downtown Austin, so it’s right in the heart of all the SXSW festivities. 

Casino El Camino also has a bar on the back patio with pool tables and a jukebox for all music enthusiasts. It’s truly one of the best neighborhood bars on 6th Streett.

WEBSITE | 1502 W Ben White Blvd #7606, Austin, TX 78704

P6 at The Line

Go here for: rooftop cocktails with a view of the lake

P6 Rooftop Bar in Austin

The P6 rooftop patio is located in downtown Austin and positioned on the sixth floor of the amazing hotel The LINE Austin. It was once a rooftop parking garage, but it’s been transformed into a cozy lounge area for al fresco dining and drinking with panoramic and breathtaking views of Lady Bird Lake, Congress Ave, and the South Austin skyline. After a full day of attending SXSW, you can never go wrong with getting some of their Mediterranean-inspired small plates paired with a cold cocktail. Psst: this is one of the best places to view of the Austin sunset.

WEBSITE | 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

OneTaco

Go here for: delicious all-day tacos

where to eat during sxsw

If you’re looking for all-day tacos, then be sure and visit OneTaco, an urban taqueria in downtown Austin. Famous for being featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, this counter-service taco stand serves delicious food, including street food tacos perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner - or late-night nibbling - as well as agua fresca and chips and guac. 

WEBSITE | 402 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

Central District Brewery

Go here for: a craft beer break during SXSW

Best Breweries In Austin

There are only two craft breweries in downtown Austin: Hold Out (mentioned earlier), and Central District Brewing.

This one is a small-batch brewery located right by the convention center. Central District won a gold medal at GABF for the Wit-Tington (Belgo-style ale), so be sure to give that one a try. They also offer an extensive collection of brews, as well as cider, wine, and cocktails. 

WEBSITE | 417 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

Via 313

Go here for: some of the best pizza in Austin

where to eat during sxsw

Via 313 serves the BEST Detroit-style pizza. These are rectangular pies that are made with a thick, soft crust covered with cheese, meats, and then sauce on top. Via 313 started as a food truck in Austin and very quickly grew in popularity (try one bite and you’ll see why) and now they have multiple locations around the city. The E 6th Street location has indoor/outdoor dining, and it’s in close proximity to other east Austin bars.

There's also a Via 313 location parked at Lustre Pearl bar on Rainey Street. 

WEBSITE | 600 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Lazarus Brewing

Go here for: craft beer and tacos in east Austin

where to eat during sxsw

Lazarus Brewery is a cozy brewery for craft beer, coffee, and tacos, located in the heart of the East 6th Street entertainment district. They’re famous for their GABF award-winning beers, Mexican street food tacos, and incredible outdoor patio. If you’re not into beer, there’s actually a pretty wonderful wine list, as well as a full espresso bar. The patio is really big for east Austin standards, and it’s both kid-friendly and pet-friendly.

WEBSITE | 1902 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Brew and Brew

Go here for: coffee and beer

Brew & Brew in east Austin | where to drink during SXSW

Located just between downtown Austin and east Austin, Brew and Brew is a trendy industrial bar and cafe that serves coffee, craft beers, and wine with sandwiches and light nibbles. There are 38 craft beer taps available, in addition to a wide variety of natural wines, cider, tea, and other cold drinks. On warm sunny days they’ll up the garage door-style walls, play some fun music, and keep the good times rolling. It's a really cool spot to stop by during your SXSW experience. 

WEBSITE | 500 San Marcos St #105, Austin, TX 78702

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It's impossible to try every great restaurant in Austin during one SXSW visit, but I know that this guide will give you a well-rounded introduction to Austin's amazing dining scene.

Looking for more suggestions? Here are some of the coolest cocktail bars in Austin, a map of a few really great wine bars, and a list of all of our craft breweries that also serve food.

Also, check out my guide to the 30 all-time best restaurants in Austin, or this popular guide to the best places to eat and drink in South Austin. Cheers!

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