Austin’s dining scene is hot! Beat the heat with a craft cocktail and delicious dish at one of these restaurants in the Lone Star State’s capital. Check out our favorites below! ⬇️
Simi Estiatorio
Most Austinites lament Mediterranean-focused fine dining is hard to find, which may explain why reservations book up at Simi Estiatorio. The seafood is flown in daily, and the team is curating an entirely Greek wine list. Here, you’ll sip Ouzo Mojitos and feast on seafood-focused dishes while seated under cavernous white ceilings and rattan lights; by the end of the night, you may believe you’re actually in Mykonos!
Uchi
Opened by James Beard chef and restaurateur Tyson Cole, Uchi is located in a refurbished bungalow on South Lamar. The best way to savor your time at your coveted table is to ask for the chef’s favorites. Thus ensues an omakase and sake-fueled masterpiece of experimental takes on staple Japanese, ranging from “Cool & Hot Tastings” to sushi and sashimi, all the way to the Chocolate Candy Bar for dessert.
Eberly
Named for Angelina Eberly, an innkeeper who helped preserve Austin as Texas’ capital during the Archive Wars, this spot celebrates free spirits. Here, inventive American made with locally-sourced ingredients is served in the velvet booth-lined main dining room or the glass-enclosed “Study” inspired by London’s Cue Gardens. Grab a nightcap at Cedar Tavern, the conjoined watering hole named for its Tiffany-paned, mahogany bar hailing from the New York City haunt of the same name. Keep the night going in Executive Chef Jo Chan’s private tasting room, and in the hidden speakeasy with cool artwork and a full bar.
De Nada Cantina
Craving one last nosh on your way out of town? Humbly serving “taco, marg, y menos” inside a revamped greenhouse, swing by De Nada Cantina and still have time to make your flight. The tortillas are made with masa flown in each day from Oaxaca, hand-pressed on the “comal,” filled with slow-braised meats, onions, and cilantro, and are best enjoyed with one of their tequila-based “cocteles” or a glass of Mexican wine.
