Best Restaurants with Bar Seating in Downtown

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchMexican

Regions

Austin

Neighborhoods

ArboretumBouldin CreekCentral AustinDowntownEast AustinNorth Central

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

14 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Taverna - Downtown Austin restaurant

1. Taverna - Downtown Austin

4.5

Awesome(1214)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Downtown

Booked 31 times today

Taverna is a restaurant utilizing authentic Italian flavors to create memorable dishes. This restaurant is designed from the ground up to be a neighborhood bistro. Taverna is meant to be the kind of restaurant that guests can bring their family for either a casual meal or to celebrate special occasions. While the inside of the restaurant is cozy, the best place to enjoy the great food is out on the wraparound patio.Taverna is open for lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on the weekends. During lunch and dinner service, guests will find a large variety of menu items available. Pasta, soups, salads and pizza are all popular choices. Taverna is also known for their risotto, as an entire section of the menu is devoted to the "risotteria". The signature risotto topped with a simple blend of parmesan cheese and black truffle cream sauce.

A photo of Sushi Roku - Austin restaurant

2. Sushi Roku - Austin

4.6

Exceptional(87)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Downtown

Booked 21 times today

A Japanese sushi concept new to Austin, Texas, unites the elements of inventive fusion dishes, hip ambiance and trendy cocktails while offering unparalleled hospitality. Making it a favorite for Los Angeles, Orange County and Las Vegas tastemakers as well as guests from around the world.

3. Paperboy

4.9

Exceptional(281)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Breakfast • East Austin

Booked 66 times today

Paperboy is a breakfast and lunch spot, known for its thoughtfully curated menu and comfortable atmosphere. We use simple, quality ingredients in our dishes, with bread, juices, sauces and preserves made in-house. Whether you grab a pastry and coffee to go or sit and enjoy a meal with your friends, we put just as much thought and care into the Paperboy experience as the food itself.

4. Nido

4.7

Exceptional(1268)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary French / American • Bouldin Creek

Booked 86 times today

Luxury takes root in the heart of Austin at Nido, bringing the charm of the area together with the culinary techniques of coastal Europe, all perched above Lady Bird Lake and the energetic cityscape. Nido is located on the rooftop of The Loren at Lady Bird Lake - recently named by Conde Nast Traveller and Travel & Leisure Magazine as "one of the hottest hotel openings in the world." Nido nods to the surrounding and native Hill Country, giving diners a one-of-a-kind respite to experience worldly-travel through food. Nido’s selection of carefully crafted, seasonal menus are internationally-inspired with a focus on classical technique.Reservations are available for inside the dining room and the dining tables in the bar. Lounge seating is available on a walk in basis in the bar and on the terrace for drinks and snacks.For more information, please visit https://www.thelorenhotels.com/cuisine/restaurant and follow @Nidoatx on Instagram.

5. Prélude

4.8

Exceptional(164)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Cocktail Bar • Downtown

Booked 25 times today

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.

6. Uchiba Austin

4.8

Exceptional(179)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Sushi • Downtown

Booked 34 times today

:: ADDITIONAL RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE ON RESTAURANT WEBSITE :: Uchibā, loosely "Uchi Bar" in Japanese, is Uchi's izakaya‑inspired cocktail bar and restaurant delivering a vast selection of Japanese whiskies, unique cocktails, yakitori grill items and Uchi classics. Reservations are encouraged and can be booked online up to 1 month in advance. Walk-in bar seating is available and is subject to wait times. Patio seating is weather permitting and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. We look forward to serving you, Kanpai!

7. Este

4.8

Exceptional(183)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary Mexican • East Austin

Booked 108 times today

Nestled between East Austin neighborhoods, Este celebrates fresh seafood, Mexican cuisine, and charcoal cooking. From the team behind the East 6th favorite, Suerte, Chef Fermin and restaurateur Sam Hellman-Mass are taking their love for masa coastal. In a location with a rich history, Este’s bright dining spaces, artisan decor and spacious outdoor deck bring the energy of seaside towns to East Austin. An extensive wine list and vibrant coastal-inspired cocktails are the perfect pairing for aguachiles, ceviches, oysters y otros mariscos!

8. L'Oca d'Oro

4.6

Exceptional(1575)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Italian • North Central

Booked 26 times today

The dining room is open Tuesday - Sunday starting at 5:30PM. The bar and patio are open starting at 4PM. Happy Hour in the bar and patio is from 4-6PM.All of our dishes are prepared with locally grown produce & meats—a reflection of a farm-to-table philosophy that extends to our handmade pastas, cheeses, salumi, breads, vinegars & liqueurs.L'Oca d'Oro believes in ONE FAIR WAGE in the belief that lovingly prepared food & thoughtful service are best nurtured by ensuring that we meet the basic needs of our staff. We apply a a 20% service charge as well as a credit card surcharge of 2.85% on all credit card transactions.

9. Uchiko Austin

4.8

Exceptional(6077)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Sushi • Central Austin

Booked 48 times today

:: ADDITIONAL RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE ON RESTAURANT WEBSITE :: Uchiko is the sister restaurant to Tyson Cole’s original Uchi. It matches that restaurant’s dedication to food, wine, and service, but it has a Japanese farmhouse aesthetic with crafted materials and warm finishes to round out a completely updated setting. The chef team at Uchiko has created a brand new selection of composed dishes and sushi, taken from ideas and plates created at Uchi. Uchiko is Uchi redefined. Reservations are encouraged and can be booked online up to 1 month in advance. Walk-in bar seating is available and is subject to wait times. Patio seating is weather permitting and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. We look forward to serving you, Kanpai!

A photo of Foreign & Domestic - Austin restaurant

10. Foreign & Domestic - Austin

4.8

Exceptional(2086)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Central Austin

Booked 24 times today

We are a bustling neighborhood restaurant in the heart of north loop. We are one of Austins oldest farm to table concepts. Our menu is foreign in style, while domestically sourced. Our menus change with the season, farm availability, & on chefs whim. Join us for our nose to tail tasting menu nightly if you appreciate whole animal usage. Our wine program is aimed toward biodynamic natural small production wines. If you'd like to have pre or post dinner cocktails, our awesome neighbors include the tigress bar & drink.well.Please note that we have a 15 minute grace period on reservation arrival times. Should you find yourself running late, please give us a call or the table may be released to a waiting guest. Tables of 1-2 guests will be reserved for 1.5 hours, tables of 3-4 will be reserved for 1 hour and 45 minutes, tables of 6+ will be reserved for 2 hours. These times reflect standard dining times of our guests. Should you feel that you need additional time, please notate this.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto / Ontario •7 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Willing to say one of the best breakfast places we’ve ever experienced- the pastries were out of this world, the service was wonderful & efficient (they worked so well together!), & overall a great environment.
More info
PaperboyPrice: Expensive• Breakfast• East Austin
•
4.9
M
MichaelVIP
Houston •11 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Amazing experience as always. Nick was wonderful. I also appreciate being sat at my preferred table.
More info
NidoPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary French / American• Bouldin Creek
•
4.7
V
VarshaVIP
Puerto Vallarta •10 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
We had a great dinner at taverna. We sat on the outdoor patio which was completely covered. Ambiance and service were great! They have the best truffle fries!
More info
Taverna - Downtown AustinPrice: Expensive• Italian• Downtown
•
4.5
K
kewllewkVIP
Phoenix / Arizona •43 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
Really great friendly service from all the staff during our dinner. Very attentive. The food was delicious especially the Toro Sashimi plate with a hint of truffle and the Toro salmon sushi topped with a little lemon zest for freshness and brightness. The white lotus roll was also very good.
More info
Sushi Roku - AustinPrice: Expensive• Sushi• Downtown
•
4.6
D
Dave
Los Angeles •1 review
5.0
Dined on Feb 28, 2025
Every part of the experience was top notch. Great cocktails, amazing service and the ambiance like no other. All the food we had was exceptional but must try the Hamachi and Carpaccio. Any visit to Austin should include Prelude. Could be a quick drink and small bite to start the night but we made it our dinner with lots of tastes.
More info
PréludePrice: Expensive• Cocktail Bar• Downtown
•
4.8

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