My Guide To the Best Restaurants in Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin is an absolute treasure trove of terrific places to eat and drink. But it's also hella overwhelming because there are SO many downtown Austin restaurants! Whether you're visiting or you're a local who's looking for a great downtown Austin restaurant, I'm here to share the best places to eat and drink in downtown Austin. (I eat out A LOT and I've got you covered on all the food recs!)
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!
Here are my top picks for the best restaurants in Austin for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks, with 10 options within each category. I'll provide a photo and a few insider tidbits from my own experiences of eating and drinking in downtown Austin.
Please use the map below to find a downtown restaurant near you, or read through the entire guide to see some photos and get a better feel of each of these fun Austin restaurants.
Best Restaurants In Downtown Austin
Breakfast and Brunch in Downtown Austin
1. La Condesa
Not only is this one of the prettiest Mexican restaurants in Austin, it also has THE most amazing brunch! I adore their fresh-squeezed mimosas, the handmade tortillas served with the queso flameado, the chilaquiles, the churro waffles...y'all. I just can't get enough of this brunch spot in downtown Austin.
WEBSITE | 400 W 2nd St A, Austin, TX 78701
2. Forthright
So you’re not in Austin on the weekend, but you still want a “brunch” experience? Head to Forthright! It’s a lovely space with bright white walls and tall ceilings, and they serve excellent coffee, scrumptious pastries, and elevated brunch favorites like brioche bread french toast, al pastor pork hash, and breakfast smash burger with bacon bourbon jam.
They’re open every morning of the week (except Tuesdays) so you can brunch on a random Thursday morning like the queen that you are.
WEBSITE | 35 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
3. 24 Diner
24 diner is an urban restaurant and bar open for 24 hours, serving large portions of local comfort food made from organically grown ingredients with classic beer and wines. Due to its popularity and quality-served food, it was repeatedly highlighted on Food Network and many other publications, both international and local.
WEBSITE | 600 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
4. Walton’s Fancy and Staple
This is the restaurant that Sandra Bullock owns! Located inside a quaint, historic downtown building, Walton's has a walk-up counter where you can order delicious brunch items (both weekdays AND weekends!) like brioche French toast, blackened shrimp and grits, and the most amazing pastries.
This is a cute, cozy spot to start your morning in Austin Texas.
WEBSITE | 609 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
5. Moonshine Grill
One of the last remaining all-you-can-eat buffets in Austin, Moonshine’s brunch is a must-try in downtown Austin! They offer 30 homemade southern favorites (+ boozy breakfast drinks like mimosas), and it’s first come, first served…so expect a line!
WEBSITE | 303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
5. Irene's
Irene’s is a cute, casual spot with signature cocktails, draft beers, fun snacks, and epic sandwiches. They have a great little weekend brunch menu, and it’s an all-around fun spot to hang out for a bit. I think this Austin restaurant is fun for group dining!
WEBSITE | 506 West Ave, Austin, TX 78701
6. Houndstooth Coffee
This is for those of you who aren't big breakfast people...but you just want some really good coffee. Houndstooth was one of the first cafes to put Austin on the coffee map, and they’re still one of the most popular places to get an AMAZING cup of coffee in downtown Austin.
Every part of their coffee program, from sourcing the beans and training the baristas to creating a lovely, comfortable cafe, is exceptional. This is a place where you can sip your cortado and be on your way to enjoying a morning out in Austin.
WEBSITE | 401 Congress Ave. #100c, Austin, TX 78701
7. Peacock Mediterranean Grill
If you're going for VIBESSS you need to get brunch at the Peacock. This is an MML restaurant (Sammie's Italian, Elizabeth Street Cafe, Perla's, etc.) and it's located inside the stunning Austin Proper hotel.
They have modern Mediterranean cuisine, and every part of this dining experience is perfect. It's also a pretty pricey brunch spot, but if. you want to splurge on on the best brunch in downtown Austin, this is it.
WEBSITE | 600 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
8. JuiceLand
If you desperately need something healthy to kickstart your day, Juiceland is the most popular juice bar in Austin. They serve cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juice as well as freshly crafted superfood smoothies at their downtown cafe.
If you're craving a healthy breakfast in downtown Austin, try one of their big smoothie bowls topped with granola and fruit. You can even add extra protein or healthy shots like bee pollen!
WEBSITE | 607 W 3rd St #115, Austin, TX 78701
Best Lunch Spots in Downtown Austin
1. Fareground Food Hall
Austin opened an incredible food hall right in the middle of downtown Austin. It’s a beautiful, bright indoor space with a sprawling outdoor patio and grassy hill. Yep! Right in the middle of downtown Austin. It’s great for kids because it’s protected from traffic, and adults are going to love the bar and the many food choices. Check out their website to see the various Austin restaurants that offer food booths at Fareground.
WEBSITE | 111 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
2. Qi Austin
From the same chef who runs the popular Lin Asian Bar, Qi Austin is a modern, upscale Asian restaurant. It's a gorgeous place for an upscale business lunch in downtown Austin, and the food in INCREDIBLE.
Qi serves healthy Chinese food and dim sum from a farm-to-table menu. Chef Ling's influence from Beijing served as the foundation for the restaurant's entire idea. Make sure to try their famous soup dumplings!
WEBSITE | 835 W 6th St Unit 114, Austin, TX 78703
3. Bill's Oyster
If you're looking for a charming spot to perch at the counter for a seafood lunch in downtown Austin, Bill's Oyster is all the New Orleans vibes.
They have an excellent raw bar as well as standard seafood entrees, beer on draft, and cocktails. It's a good option for a downtown Austin lunch, but it's honestly really fun for happy hour, dinner, and drinks too.
WEBSITE | 205 W 3rd St, Austin, TX 78701
4. One Taco
One Taco is one of my favorite taco spots in Austin! They have a downtown location in the Frost Bank Tower that has a fun, casual counter-service experience.
They offer authentic Mexican tacos composed of handmade tortillas, quality marinated and grilled meat, and fresh avocado and veggie toppings. Be sure to get one of those delicious aqua frescos to enjoy with your food.
WEBSITE | 402 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
5. Local Foods
This is HANDS DOWN the most crave able healthy food in downtown Austin! Local Foods grew a cult following in Houston before they opened up this downtown Austin location, and everyone is obsessed!
Their lunch menu includes yummy sandwiches like delectable Gulf Seafood (shrimp and crab on ciabatta with a Green Goddess dressing), the crunchy chicken sandwich (my fave!), and Avocado BLT on toasted wheat.
Literally everything here is insanely good...I never craved salads before I went to Local Foods, and now I dream about this place.
WEBSITE | 454 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
6. Veracruz All Natural
Thank goodness Veracruz opened up at The Line hotel because these are some of the best tacos in Austin. They're an excellent choice for a downtown Austin lunch option.
You can order from the walk-up window (it’s right next to the Austin bat bridge) Or, if you’re staying at the hotel, you can order your tacos poolside and enjoy them with your view from the infinity pool overlooking Lady Bird Lake.
These tacos have been featured on Food Network and are often considered some of the best tacos in the United States! Austinites agree…although Veracruz has multiple locations all over the city, every one of them is consistently crowded.
WEBSITE | Multiple locations
7. Lamberts BBQ
Lamberts BBQ is a gorgeous downtown restaurant with delicious smoked meats, a moody interior, and live music on the weekends. They're open for lunch and I think this is one of the most underrated lunch spots in downtown Austin!
Honestly, since it's more an "upscale BBQ" situation, I wouldn't necessarily rank it on my list of the best BBQ joints in Austin. Buuuut the bar is really high in this city and the smoked meats at Lamberts truly are delicious, so this is easily one of the best places for a nice, slow, sit-down lunch in downtown Austin.
WEBSITE | 401 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
8. Taqueria 10/10
I've shared about this cool little taqueria/speakeasy place in downtown Austin plenty of times, and I still believe it's one of the best unique lunch spots to check out!
It's located near the convention center, so it's an easy option if you're visiting and want some of the best tacos in Austin.
206 Trinity St unit 110, Austin, TX 78701
9. Malibu Poke
Malibu Poke is bright, fresh, and in a great downtown location at the Seaholm district. One of my favorite things about this poke shop is that the poke bowls are nearly infinitely customizable. They have options for pretty much any lifestyle (vegan, GF, keto, DF) and you can pick your own base (high carb rice, low carb kale, combo) and lots of different delicious dressings to go on top.
Oh, and they have booze! You can get a glass of wine or sake if you want to drink with lunch.
10. Flower Child
Grass-fed meat, healthy grains, lots of veggies, and the most scrumptious salads you've ever tried...Flower Child is high up on my list of delicious downtown Austin lunch spots.
Everything is nourishing and healthy, and it definitely doesn't hurt that this restaurant is totally gorgeous! Tall ceilings, white tabletops, and lots of light-filled space.
*Worth note: this isn't an Austin original. They have a few locations around the country and they started in Arizona. But it's a great restaurant!
WEBSITE | 500 W 2nd St Suite 133, Austin, TX 78701
Dinner Restaurants in Downtown Austin
1. Hestia
This is always one of the first restaurants I recommend for upscale downtown Austin dining. There are a few downtown Austin restaurants that are completely worth the splurge, and Hestia is among them. From the Emmer & Rye hospitality group, Hestia is a live-fire restaurant named after the goddess of the hearth.
The locally sourced, rotating, farm-to-table menu features cuisine that’s cooked over an open flame. You’ll get a lot of texture, smokiness, and absolute art placed on your table throughout the night.
WEBSITE | 607 W 3rd St Suite 105, Austin, TX 78701
2. La Piscina
When it comes to absolutely bougie Tex-Mex cuisine in Austin, you've got to try La Piscina on the 5th floor of Austin Proper hotel. A poolside restaurant from teh MML hospitality group, this upscale restaurant has gorgeous design, elevated cocktails, and table side fajitas that - if I'm being honest - will probably be the most memorable fajitas of your life.
It’s a splurge-y sort of restaurant, so great for a client dinner, a special date night, or a happy hour drink + snack on a sunny Austin day.
WEBSITE | 600 W 2nd St 5th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
3. Comedor
While La Piscina (mentioned above) is a splurge-y Tex-Mex restaurant, Comedor is a modern Mexican restaurant that makes you feel like you've stepped into CDMX.
To be frank, this place is more than just a restaurant…it’s a complete experience. It starts with the exterior of the freestanding building in downtown Austin, which looks like a black brick wall from the outside, but step inside, and you’ll enter an architecturally stunning building, flooded with light. Texas Monthly called it the best new restaurant in Texas in 2020. It has been one of the most popular restaurants in downtown Austin ever since it opened. (Make reservations!)
The menu doesn’t offer many descriptive clues as to what you’re going to be eating, other than listing 4-5 ingredients used in the dish (“Grilled Octopus, Salsa Negra, Guacachile, Fennel, Orange” or “Mushroom Tamal, Salsa de Nogada, Fennel, Fresno, Mint”) and other than getting the very most basic idea of what will be brought to you, your imagination can only dream of what the chef has in mind. (Ask your server for more ideas if you’re unsure what to order!)
PS: the bone marrow tacos are definitely worth trying.
WEBSITE | 501 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
4. Olamaie
Swoon! Olamaie is an elevated southern food restaurant located in a chic, modern bungalow that’s been transformed into the most darling little restaurant. The chefs have frequently won James Beard Award semifinalist awards, and once you explore their locally-sourced menu of hushpuppies, homemade biscuits, local dayboat fish specials, and other southern favorites, you’ll see why: nothing here is exactly as it seems.
Take, for instance, the roasted brassicas: you might expect a plate of cruciferous veggies, slightly charred and a bit smoky on the edges. But you’re not prepared for the tangy buttermilk whip, the slightly spicy XO sauce, and the perfect little pieces of Olamaie biscuit crumbs that come scattered throughout the dish. Every course at Olamaie surprises and delights the diner, and the lovely staff and restaurant ambiance round out the perfect restaurant trifecta. If you only have time to eat at one dinner restaurant during your stay in Austin, Olamaie is a good bet.
WEBSITE | 1610 San Antonio St, Austin, TX 78701
5. Sammie’s Italian
Sammie's Italian might seem simple on paper, but when they opened in the shuttered Hut's Burgers iconic location, they filled a hole that Austin didn't even know we had: the need for a good, classic, red-sauce/white-tablecloth Italian restaurant.
Sammie's is a relaxed but stylish, retro-designed upscale dining venue that provides a little touch of old Italy in downtown Austin. It honors the "red sauce" establishment, which was modeled after old illustrious Italian-American restaurants of the East coast. Be sure to try the lasagna!
WEBSITE | 807 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
6. Wu Chow
There are a few restaurants in Austin that are famous for their soup dumplings, and Wu Chow is certainly on the lis!. If you dine at Wu Chow, your best bet is to start really hungry, dine with a crowd because this is an excellent group dining restaurant in Austin, and order everything you can.
They source as locally as possible, so it’s the freshest, most delicious, farm-to-table Chinese food you can get in downtown Austin. The plates are small and meant to be shared, and the cocktails have a fun tiki vibe to them.
WEBSITE | IBC Bank Plaza, 500 W 5th St #168, Austin, TX 78701
7. Casino El Camino
These are still some of the best burgers you can get in downtown Austin, and quite possibly the best late night drunk food available to humankind.
Downtown Austin’s famous “Dirty Sixth Street” has a lot of loud bars and less-than-lackluster places to grab late-night bites….but there’s a gem among them, and it’s Casino El Camino.
This dark, greasy, hole-in-the-wall restaurant has been slinging burgers since 1994.
The burgers are HUGE. We’re talking epic proportions of giant beef patties, delectable toppings, and big, soft burger buns. It’s the perfect place to soak up the booze after a night out in downtown Austin.
WEBSITE | 517 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
8. J Carver’s Oyster Bar and Chophouse
Looking for the best steakhouse in downtown Austin? Head to J Carver's. Sure, there are plenty of high end national chain steakhouses downtown like Capital Grille, Fleming's, and Perry's, but J Carver's is unique to Austin.
It has all the glitz and glam you’d expect from a high-end restaurant, but there’s a cozy feel to it as well. The raw oyster bar, impeccable wine list, and upscale steakhouse cuisine are everything you want in a white tablecloth steak dinner in downtown Austin.
WEBSITE | 509 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701,
9. Taquero Mucho
Say hello to girls night out in downtown Austin!! Taquero Mucho is “that pink restaurant in Austin” with all the energy. It’s a female Latina-owned restaurant with strong drinks, pink tortillas, loud music, and delicious authentic Mexican food. T
aquero Mucho has decked out in PINK everything, and it’s one of the most instagramable restaurants in downtown Austin. It’s the perfect place to book a dinner reservation to kick off your night out in Austin.
Insider take on this place: even though it's very instagrammable and cutesy, the food is legit! A lot of cute restaurants depend solely on their decor, but Taquero Mucho actually has fantastic cuisine that stands on its own.
WEBSITE | 508 West Ave, Austin, TX 78701
10. Red Ash
Behold one of the most delicious (and most popular - it’s always packed!) Italian restaurants in Austin. Red Ash is going to be one of your new favorite spots for handmade pasta, authentic Italian cocktails, and grilled favorites.
It’s a lively spot and will most likely be at full capacity on any given night. You might get lucky and be able to grab a bar stool or two, but plan on making reservations to play it safe.
WEBSITE | Colorado Tower, 303 Colorado St #200, Austin, TX 78701
Where To Get Drinks In Downtown Austin
1. The Dead Rabbit Pub
The Dead Rabbit is a pretty famous Irish pub from NYC that opened in Austin in 2024. It's a bit kitschy (wood shavings on the ground), but the drinks are incredible and the food is good.
You'll be paying NYC prices for this experience, but it's a fun spot to get a pre-dinner cocktail.
WEBSITE | 204 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
2. Garage Bar
If you’re looking for a fun speakeasy cocktail bar in downtown Austin, have you considered Garage? Yeah..it’s literally built into a parking garage in downtown Austin! You won’t necessarily see what you’re looking for from the outside…but just search for the line of people dressed who all seem to be waiting to get inside a parking garage, and you’ll know you’re in the right space.
The mid-century-styled interior is classy and clean, and the craft cocktails are phenomenal. This is a 10/10 must-try cocktail bar in downtown Austin.
WEBSITE | 503 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
3. Here Nor There
This is my all time favorite cocktail bar in Austin right now. Sure, they're a speakeasy and you have to use the app to make reservations...which makes it seems kind of cheesy.
BUT...these truly are the best and most unique cocktails in Austin! The bar itself is literally underground and protected with a locked door that you only get via the reservation on the app.
It's a fun experience for a double date. Just be sure to make reservations in advance! This is a tiny space and they rarely have seats available for walk-ins.
WEBSITE | 612 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
4. P6 At The Line
This one is perfect for Downtown Austin drinks with a view. P6 is an old rooftop parking garage turned into an open-air rooftop cocktail bar situated on the rooftop of the LINE Austin Hotel. They offer local bites and seasonal cocktails.
TBH, the food and drinks aren't necessarily the stars here...it's the view! If you care more about a great view than a great cocktail, this is the place for you. The drinks aren't bad by any means...they're just not as impressive as the drinks from Here Nor There, Roosevelt Room, Garage Bar, or Small Victory.
WEBSITE | 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
5. Better Half Bar
Better Half Bar is an all-day spot that starts as a coffee shop in the morning and then transitions to a restaurant and bar in the evening. By night time they're serving cocktails and beer/wine.
This place has been called the best new restaurant in Austin by Eater, and it's received all sorts of "best of" awards over the years.
One of the best parts? It's connected to its sister brewery, Hold Out. You can visit both places without ever having to get in the car.
WEBSITE | 406 Walsh St, Austin, TX 78703
6. Mort Subite
When you’re tired of cocktails and want to try something a bit different, head to Mort Subite. It’s one of the most unique bars in Austin: a Belgian beer bar!
They serve authentic Belgian beers serving in a long, skinny bar space. I love recommending this place to people who are looking for a truly one-of-a-kind beer experience in Austin.
Not a beer drinker? You can also enjoy gin and wine here. {Photo: Mort Subite}
WEBSITE | 308 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
7. Rosie's Wine Bar
Rosie's is an adorable wine bar in a bungalow space in Clarksville, adjacent to downtown Austin. They have a great list of global wines (available by the glass or bottle) as well as a menu of Mediterranean-inspired tapas.
This is a cute spot to meet up with a friend for lunch and a drink, or a nice bar to finish up the night by sharing a bottle of wine.
WEBSITE | 307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
8. Roosevelt Room
One of the best cocktail bars in downtown Austin is Roosevelt Room, a lively spot on West 5th street with craft cocktails, small bites, and an industrial-chic ambiance.
Tables (and bar stools) can be hard to get on the weekends, so try to make a reservation in advance, if possible.
WEBSITE | 307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
9. Small Victory
Yes, it's another speakeasy-style cocktail bar in downtown Austin...and it's fantastic. Small Victory actually has their own ice program, which means they make super cold ice without any air bubbles in it to help get your martini ice-cold without watering it down.
This is a small space, so make reservations if possible!
WEBSITE | 3108 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
10. Seven Grand
Seven Grand is a carefully curated whiskey bar in the entertainment hub of Downtown Austin that offers 400+ different whiskey selections and an international wall of whisky from North America to Asia. It has a hunting lodge ambiance with pool tables. You can also explore and enjoy the stage, bar room, pool room, jukebox, and other features. You'll also find a space that's ideal for private whiskey tastings behind the whiskey wall.
WEBSITE | 405 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
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