Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Austin

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Austin? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Joann's Fine Foods

4.8

4.8 (539)

$30 and under

Tex-Mex

Downtown

About the restaurant

Joann’s Fine Foods is a lively Tex Mex Diner & Patio Restaurant located in the iconic Austin Motel, along busy South Congress. The vibe is laid back but bustling with comfortable indoor booths, shady patio seating and a popular palapa bar. The vintage diner has been restored and updated with mahogany wood paneling, Mid-century furniture and photos of famous Texans.

The menu features Tex Mex and diner classics cooked over our mesquite burning grill. Joann’s is perfect for brunch, lunch or a classic Austin dinner when strolling the iconic avenue. Favorites include Wood-Grilled Fajitas with tortillas made in-house daily, Joann’s Queso, Avocado & Tuna Tartare, Tacos and Quesadillas, Enchilada Plates and diner specialties including Stone Ground Blue Corn Pancakes, Patty Melt, and Club Sandwich.

The bar is stocked with an extensive tequila and mezcal selection and Joann’s serves one of Austin’s best frozen margaritas.

All Ways Welcome. So Close Yet So Far Out

Top review

Dawn

Dined 3 days ago

Great food, ambience, and service. The Chalupa is outstanding.

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Experience

Austin's Best Happy Hour

Codependent

4.8

4.8 (64)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Serving up cocktails, coffee, and serious design - without taking itself too seriously.

The brain child of Urbanspace's Kevin Burns, CEO and Merrill Alley, Principal - Codependent is a conceptual cocktail and coffee bar inspired by Italian luxury, aperitivo culture and the belief that beautiful design should be enjoyed by all. Think of it as a high-end design showroom meets Austin hospitality.

Located on the ground floor of the Independent condo tower, Codependent is designed for duality. Where day meets night. Dark meets light. And iconic Italian furniture is best appreciated with a glass of wine.

We welcome design aficionados and cocktail connoisseurs, the local and the far flung, friends and neighbors to come for sustenance, fun, and for a bit of the unexpected.

Top review

BrittonVIP

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

Diana & Gabe were amazing!! Will definitely ne going back to visit them

Cuvée Wine & Piano Bar

4.8

4.8 (53)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Fredericksburg

About the restaurant

Cuvée Wine & Piano Bar, located on Main Street in Fredericksburg, Texas, invites you to experience a blend of history and modern charm in its beautifully preserved 1855 building.

Discover an extensive collection of international wines available by flight, glass, or bottle. Our knowledgeable sommeliers are here to help you find the perfect wine, whether you're a connoisseur or a novice.

Every weekend, enjoy the lively atmosphere of our piano bar, featuring a talented pianist , who performs your favorite tunes and creates an exciting ambiance!

Enhance your wine experience with our exquisite cheese boards, artisanal flatbreads, and other delectable nibbles, each thoughtfully curated to complement the flavors of our wines. Join us for an unforgettable evening of wine, music, and culinary delights at Cuvée.

Top review

Ana

Dined on Jun 13, 2025

The manager and all the staff were so kind to my husband and I <3 they made sure to wish him a happy bday! Definitely need to come back!

Boa Steakhouse - Austin

4.8

4.8 (185)

$50 and over

Steak

Downtown

About the restaurant

Dry aged, medium rare and new to Austin, TX. BOA Steakhouse unites the elements of signature steak & seafood selections, hip ambiance and trendy cocktails while offering unparalleled hospitality.

Top review

Trish

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

This is our 2nd time dining with Boa and we were just as impressed as we were the 1st time. The food is all so delicious, unique and amazing. The staff all are genuine and nice. They definitely treat you well and appreciate you dining there. The steaks are some of the best we've had!

Prélude

4.8

4.8 (190)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Chef Mathew Peters, the first American to win the prestigious Bocuse d'Or in 2017, is bringing his culinary expertise to the heart of Austin with the opening of Prelude, an elevated cocktail bar and canapé lounge set in a historic home in West Austin. The space has a beautiful back lawn lounge with views of downtown Austin and private rooms throughout the house that can accommodate groups of 6-18 with private events options of groups up to 120 guests.

Prelude will offer a unique Austin experience, combining innovative cocktail creations with elevated small bites. The menu will feature a curated selection of small plates, designed to complement the bar programs signature cocktails and highlight Chef Peters' culinary artistry. Please note that our kitchen closes each evening at 10 pm.

Join Prélude during Happy Hour Tuesday-Thursday from 4-6 pm for $2 oysters and drink specials.

Top review

BrianVIP

Dined on Jun 12, 2025

Great drinks and tapas! Very cool bar/lounge, felt like a cool hotel bar but in a house!

El Alma Cafe y Cantina

4.7

4.7 (1025)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

Patio seating is first come first serve. Reservations are for indoor dining room only.

El Alma Cafe y Cantina is vibrant, homespun take on the authentic flavors of Mexico. Chef Alma Alcocer prepares food as she would cook for you in her home.

"It"s fun, flavorful Mexican food that is very approachable. It's a casual, authentic representation of the food I grew up eating." - Chef Alma

Top review

EllenVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always delicious interior Mexican and fun atmosphere and great value during happy hour too!

Old Thousand

4.7

4.7 (108)

$30 and under

Chinese

East Austin

About the restaurant

Old Thousand is a neighborhood Chinese restaurant on Austin's east side. We offer an eclectic and inventive mix of flavors, ingredients, and styles with modern interpretations of classic American-Chinese recipes.

Top review

Abigail

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Such a fun place to have dinner at, the service was great, and the food was even better.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

4.7

4.7 (54)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Four Seasons Hotel Austin
98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701

Top review

Bishvesh

Dined on Apr 29, 2025

Excellent high tea experience, loved the ambience, food and the service.

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Experience

Summer Spritz A-TEA-X

Experience

The Hidden Flask

Devil May Care

4.7

4.7 (260)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located at the bustling corner of 6th & San Antonio, Devil May Care delivers a fresh and enigmatic experience to Austin’s dining and entertainment scene. With its cozy, eclectic vibe, Devil May Care provides a downtown, art-filled, underground hideaway. Family-style dining features a healthy and shareable play on Modern Mediterranean cuisine.

Top review

Hallie

Dined 2 days ago

Food and drinks were amazing as always. Emily did an incredible job of taking care of us!

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Experience

Live Lounge Wednesdays

Experience

Thursdays at Devil

Blue Room

4.7

4.7 (13)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Blue Room is W Austin's by-reservation cocktail bar. A secret hidden almost in plain sight, this clandestine watering hole is a seating only experience in which Austin's brightest mixologists craft classic and custom cocktails alike.

Top review

MadisonVIP

Dined on May 24, 2025

Such a great find in Austin! The staff is so attentive and the drinks are amazing (especially the espresso martini variations).

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