10 Best Restaurants on South Congress (From a Local Who Eats Here Weekly)

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 5, 2025

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I know it’s a bit of an unpopular opinion, but as a local, I think South Congress is still incredible. Sure, it’s not the hippie mecca it used to be, and yes, a few big corporate stores have moved in—but the vibe is alive, the streets are fun, and the food? Absolutely worth it. Here are my 10 go-to spots you have to try next time you hit SOCO.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest cities in Texas. For more insider tips on the capital city, check out her bestselling travel book, Austin Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time.

Where To Eat On South Congress

Maie Day

Best for: a local Austin steakhouse

Maie Day is a chop house situated in the ground floor of the South Congress Hotel. They serve excellent cocktails, large portions of appetizers and sides, and locally-sourced prime steaks, pork chops, and . The whole place feels like a party!

Start with a dozen oysters from their raw bar and their delicious smoked fish dip, and then plan on a big juicy steak for dinner. Their sides are creative takes on classic steakhouse dishes, like a bodacious bloomed onion with Maie Day sauce, or their crazy good mac and cheese with Tilamook cheddar on curly fusilli pasta.

Be sure to try their world famous Texas chocolate cake!

Parking tip: Maie Day offers complimentary valet and validated self-parking at the South Congress hotel for two hours.

WEBSITE | 1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Lucky Robot

Best for: happy hour on south congress

Want a little bit of Tokyo while you’re in Austin, Texas? Lucky Robot is an adorable sushi bar and Tokyo-inspired restaurant on South Congress.

Their happy hour is an excellent time to sit outside on the sidewalk patio and enjoy discounted sashimi, kitchen menu items, and bottles of sake and wine.

Plus, they source their fish conscientiously, educating their staff and customers about the long-term effects our food choices have on the planet. This means you can dine on delicious sushi, knowing you’re making good choices for our oceans.

WEBSITE | 1303 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

Best for: ice cream on south congress

This Columbus-based ice cream brand has a storefront on South Congress located in a century-old building. Stop by getting a scoop of their splendid ice cream in a cup or a cone. The milk-based treats are made from grass-grazed cream, and the vegan scoops are just as thoughtfully prepared.

If you’re on South Congress with a friend, try their ice cream flight: your choice of 10 scoops of different flavors, served with waffle cone chips.

WEBSITE | 1208 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Perlas

Best for: An Upscale Seafood Dinner

Not only is this seafood restaurant an excellent spot for a fun dinner out on South Congress, but it’s also one of the best patios in Austin. The sprawling live oak-shaded outdoor space is a beautiful place to get a martini and a plate of raw oysters and watch the shoppers bustle by.

Perla’s has an excellent seafood program with fresh fish flown in daily. This is where to eat on South Congress if you want a phenomenal grilled seafood meal, a lobster roll, or simply a plate of raw oysters at the cocktail bar.

WEBSITE | 400 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Home Slice

Best for: pizza on South Congress

Home Slice is one of the best places you can eat on South Congress! It’s a household name in Austin, and locals love it just as much as tourists.

What tourists don’t always know? The subs are even better than the pizza. (Seriously - ask any Austin local where to get the best meatball sub in Austin, and they’ll tell you it’s at Home Slice.)

If you’re not up for waiting for a table, go next door to More Home Slice and get a slice or two to-go. They have some sidewalk patio tables outside where you can enjoy your slice before continuing your shopping journey.

WEBSITE | 1415 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Watertrade

Best for: a speakeasy cocktail bar

A fun speakeasy-style Japanese cocktail bar inside the South Congress Hotel. Water trade is adjacent to Otoko, one of the most sought-after omakase experiences in Austin. While there's a long wait list (and a $250 price tag per person) to dine at Otoko, the Watertrade cocktail bar is open to the public - no reservations required.

The entrance isn't marked, so most people don't know about it! Walk into the courtyard of the hotel, and you'll see some unmarked stairs. At the top of the stairs, you'll find the word OTOKO, and that means you're in the right place!

WEBSITE | 1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

June's All Day

Best for: wine + dinne ron the patio

“All Day” is part of the title, and while you can certainly stop by for a morning coffee + croissant, or go for a burger + rosé for happy hour, I recommend an evening meal. The menu at this tiny corner spot on South Congress might make this your favorite restaurant in Austin.

Try their Bone Marrow Bolonaise or the famous Fried Chicken Sandwich with kohlrabi ranch slaw and hot sauce. If you’re a wino, you’ll find something fun in their expertly curated and always evolving wine list.

Sit on the small bistro patio if you enjoy people watching, or enjoy the indoor banquet seating near the vintage jukebox indoor if you want a more retro feel. (The bar is a fun place to perch if you’re on a date or dining solo.)

WEBSITE | 1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

The Meteor Cafe

Best for: natural wine bar and coffee shop

When you’re ready to relax, stop by The Meteor Cafe. Pick out a bottle of natural wine from the fridge and a tin of fish from their curated selection.

They’ll open it for you, provide a few glasses, and you can enjoy it on their spacious back patio. (It’s located behind the store, so it will feel like you’re tucked away from the noise of South Congress.)

By the way, this is a great spot for morning coffee + breakfast, too.

WEBSITE | 2110 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Bonus: Little Brother Coffee & Kolaches

Best for: a walk-by snack on south congress

You might miss it if you don’t know what you’re looking for! Little Brother (from the same team who brought you Better Half Bar, one of our recommendations for where to eat in downtown Austin) is a small walkup window offering coffee + kolache.

It’s a simple concept, but the sweet or savory kolache paired with a (consistently good) coffee is a great start to the morning.

Little Brother is where to eat on South Congress when you need breakfast on the run.

WEBSITE | 1512 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Bonus: Hotel San José courtyard

Best for: a hidden gem patio bar

It’s tucked off the sidewalk, but the poolside patio at Hotel San Jose is open to non-hotel guests if you know what you’re looking for. The simple menu of beer, wine, cocktails, and light fare is available to courtyard guests daily.

WEBSITE |1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

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