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$$ | West Austin |
Local critics consistently rank this Clarksville newcomer as one of the city's best restaurants, and the sprawling patio is almost always packed. It's a lovely downtown-adjacent atmosphere to enjoy upscale, indulgent takes on juicy burgers and pastrami (as a sandwich or a queso topping), and with great coffee and cocktails to boot. There are even more burgers at the Quonset hut next door, where Hold Out Brewing slings food and beer all day. Both eateries have a hot brunch ticket.
406 Walsh St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Pet-friendly patio seating
- Decadent hair-of-the-dog destination
- All-day menus
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$$$ | Clarksville |
One of local restaurateur Larry McGuire's white-hot eateries, Clark’s has occupied a top seat in the Austin repertoire of hot spots since its 2012 debut. The hip, and decidedly cozy, oyster bar tucked into a modest corner lot of West 6th has all the appeal of a sophisticated seafood restaurant, with the comfort of a neighborhood bistro. You'll find a pristine, daily rotation of raw oysters served with fresh horseradish, house cocktail sauce, and a tangy mignonette. The lobster roll is a signature home run, but the house burger is a surprising favorite, which spikes in popularity during the daily happy hour, when select dishes are half-off and all martinis are $5.
1200 W. 6th St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Impeccably twee setting and decor
- Decadent happy hour deals
- Reputation for the freshest oysters in town
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$ | Clarksville |
For quite possibly the best coffee in Austin, visit this little Clarksville coffee house that draws quite a crowd for quick business meetings and weekend socializing. Here, baristas pull exquisite shots for espresso drinks and even leave creative designs in latte and cappuccino foam. Don't be surprised to hear music wafting from inside during SXSW. There are also branches on Congress Avenue and Guadalupe Street along with a location in the airport.
1101 W. Lynn St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Family-friendly outdoor seating
- Exceptional house roasts popular with coffee aficionados
- Homey neighborhood feel
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$ | West Austin |
On any given sunny day, Austinites flock to Mozart's spacious lakeside patio to enjoy great coffee and indulgent baked goods. The expansive, multitiered deck overlooking Lake Austin can get crowded with weekend patrons, and weekdays are equally popular times for locals to post up and work remotely. Live music on weekends is an added bonus, and their annual Christmas lights display is a seasonal sight to behold.
3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Lake Austin views
- Sprawling patio seating open until midnight
- Top winter destination thanks to signature hot cocoa and award-winning Christmas light display
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$$ | Clarksville |
The upscale breakfast fare and comfort food of this Clarksville favorite might carry an unconventional price tag for a diner, but the quality of dishes (from Belgian waffles to meat-loaf sandwiches) has earned a loyal fan base. The always bustling interior is an efficient mix of mid-century retro and contemporary efficiency, with booths and barstool seating at high tables. The menu rotates with the seasons, but staples include chicken and waffles, three types of breakfast hash, and a weekly chicken and dumpling special. There’s an expected list of coffee drinks, plus a full bar and specialty milk shakes, from chocolate cherry to coconut cream, to satisfy any craving.
600 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Savory sweet signatures like fried chicken and waffles
- Long wait times on weekends
- Specialty milk shakes
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | West Austin |
Situated in a charming cottage just northwest of downtown, 40 North is a standard for classic Neapolitan pizza and light Italian fare. It's a lovely neighborhood setting with cozy patio seating and bright white interiors. The pies are the main draw, but the house burger and spicy chicken sandwich along with their other small plates are equally tasty.
900 W. 10th St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Signature pizzas like the Hot Honey and Dandelion
- Minimalist interior
- Original food truck still outside, along with more seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | Clarksville |
It’s hard to think a drive-through could have such high-quality fare, but Fresa’s has built a name for its charcoal-grilled chicken al carbon, which is slow-roasted over post oak and served with homemade tortillas and sides like Mexican street corn and crispy brussels sprouts out of this trendy Clarksville take on fast food. Breakfast tacos, aguas frescas, and Stumptown coffee service the early morning crowd, but the family-style lunch and dinner menu is the real signature, with whole- or half-chicken orders (choose from achiote and citrus or Yucatán spice), accompanied by house-made salsas, corn tortillas, charro beans, and rice. Fresh salads, queso, and guacamole, plus a selection of beer, wine, and margarita kits are available for drive-through or walk-up orders.
915 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Heaping family-style sides to mix and match
- Fast and friendly service
- Healthy and vegan options on-the-go
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$$$$ | Clarksville |
Homegrown restaurateur Larry McGuire has revitalized Clarksville’s beloved Jeffrey’s steak house, with rave reviews for the French American haunt that haven't stopped rolling in. The chichi vibe starts curbside, with pink seersucker-clad valets, and extends to the lavish interior and menu, with accoutrements like martini carts and Petrossian caviar service. Find a seat at the bar during happy hour (4:30–6 pm and all night Monday), when all bar food is half-price. The crispy fried Gulf oysters are still a hot ticket—and a mainstay of Jeffrey’s past—and the Wagyu burger is succulent. Plus, it’s a treat to watch the bow-tied bartenders whip up elaborate pre-Prohibition classics and other whimsical (oft times, off-menu) libations.
1204 W. Lynn St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Unmissable crispy Gulf oysters
- Ultra-glam setting that's ideal for special occasions
- Pre-Prohibition cocktails with a whimsical flair
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations recommended
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$$$ | Clarksville |
The adorable little sister of Jeffrey’s occupies a beautifully restored, light-filled bungalow next door to the Clarksville fine-dining institution, offering a slightly more approachable, but still sophisticated, option for cocktails and modern American cuisine. Locals love to sit at the patio or front-lawn tables during the daily happy hour, and reservations are recommended for the popular Monday Steak Frites Night (4–10 pm), when a three-course meal (featuring a choice of steak, from rib eye to tartare) costs less than $50. Brunch is served daily (9 am to 3 pm) and features freshly baked pastries and seasonal dishes like sweet potato pancakes and coddled eggs served in miniature cast-iron pots.
1601 Waterston Ave., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Picture-perfect outdoor patio ideal for sipping cocktails and lounging in style
- Quaint Clarksville location with a neighborhood feel
- Afternoon snack menu and daily happy hour
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations recommended
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$ | West Austin |
This local institution serves a full complement of the simple breakfast/brunch foods that Austinites tend to crave at all hours. The typical selection of sandwiches, omelets, salads, and desserts is supplemented by seven enchilada options and signatures like the Love Migas (eggs scrambled with crisp tortilla chips and fresh salsa, spiked with garlic-serrano butter and served with black beans). Breakfast, including stellar Frisbee-sized pancakes—buttermilk, whole wheat, cornmeal, or luscious gingerbread—is available 24/7. Service is always friendly and the worn booths and tables host a diverse gamut of loyal patrons, from hungover UT students to old-Austin early birds.
2304 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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$ | West Austin |
Tucked between Deep Eddy Cabaret and Deep Eddy Pool, this burger joint/tiki bar is the ultimate island-inspired hideaway for sun-drenched Austinites. Take an afternoon off to enjoy yourself at the popular west Austin walk-up hut, where Wagyu beef burgers are on the grill every day, along with cult favorites like the Dazed and Confused veggie burger. Snacks like pool chips with guacamole and jalapeño pimento or Swedish Hill soft-serve ice cream always help beat the heat.
2315 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Cool-kid crowd of local regulars
- Perfect afternoon destination after a dip at Deep Eddy
- Slap-happy cocktails like frozen Hurricanes and rum shrubs
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$$$$ | West Austin |
Located in the former home of historic burger joint Hut's Hamburgers, on the western edge of downtown, Sammie's specializes in classic Italian cuisine in a lively setting. The cozy digs (restored to preserve the original art deco design) get loud during peak hours, but this homage to the great "red sauce institutions" of New York City is still a wonderful option for a modernized "Taste of Old Italy" date night. And the Friday happy hour (3 to 5 pm) is an ideal time to indulge in discounted small plates like roasted veal sweetbreads piccata and broiled clams.
807 W. 6th St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Noisy atmosphere
- Signature arrabiata sauce featured in most dishes
- Long wait-list for reservations
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sat.–Thurs.
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$$ | West Austin |
This longtime Clarksville institution (formerly known as Sweetish Hill) got a facelift and overhaul in 2019, and the bougie bakery and café came back in full force with updated interiors, more inside seating, and an expanded all-day menu. The stunning pastry case–lined counter is still filled with homemade pastry, bread, and bagel selections, but now there's more room to enjoy standout classics from their housemade coffee and breakfast buns to a deli case of hot and cold bites and a rotisserie-chicken menu. It's an ideal pit stop for a sweet treat, a glass (or bottle) of wine, or a quick pastry on the run.
1120 W. 6th St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Frustrating on-site parking situation
- Weekend-only bakery specials that sell out fast
- Caviar and charcuterie menus
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$$$ | Clarksville |
Tucked in a small strip mall off Lamar Boulevard, this sleek, petite restaurant is as dedicated to excellence in service and artful dishes as it is to fresh, quality ingredients from local purveyors. Put your trust in chef Eric Poltzer's tasting menu (vegetarian options available), which changes daily. Each course brings a surprising mix of flavors, from grilled antelope with sweet potatoes to seared dayboat scallops in a lemongrass-red-curry broth. Succulent options, like the foie gras–stuffed quail, are ideal for special occasions. The adjacent wine bar is a more casual way to experience the full menu or just small bites and selections from the formidable wine list.
1014 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Daily seasonal tasting menus
- Intimate date-night vibes
- Elevated but unpretentious atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch
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$$ | Clarksville |
This stylish Southwestern fusion outpost is popular for its upscale yet unpretentious vibe and attractively presented Southwestern dishes at fair prices. Try the jerk-chicken Diablo pasta or Tex-Mex plates like the smoked-chicken poblano chile relleno. Portions are hearty, but the salads and small bites, like the grilled-shrimp and guacamole tostada bites, are equally enticing. Peak hours can be noisy, with a good chance of a wait before being seated. Weekend brunch has diverse options, like Barbacoa breakfast enchiladas and chorizo pork scrambles.
1110 W. 6th St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Long wait during peak weekend hours
- Sprawling menu options for all ages and appetites
- Limited on-site parking
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