The Hill Country Restaurants

The Hill Country is an extension of the great eating opportunities—the amazing Tex-Mex and barbecue—of San Antonio and Austin, with the addition of heavy German influences. Fredericksburg certainly corners the market for relatively authentic German fare, but Boerne, Comfort, New Braunfels, and everywhere in between serve decent schnitzel and wurst. Barbecue bests are spread all over: the Salt Lick in Driftwood, Cooper's in Llano, and Cooper's in Mason (it's not a chain; they just happen to have the same name), and Rudy's Country Store in a number of locations between Austin and San Antonio, and in Leon Springs.

On the Hill Country backroads you're not going to get a whole lot of haute cuisine delivered by celebrity chefs, but you'd be surprised at some of the fine dining experiences you can have here. Two upscale restaurants to try in Fredericksburg are August E's and Rebecca's Table.

Most places are casual in the Hill Country. You may want to don your Sunday best for a few places, but you really don't need to. Boots and jeans are formal enough for the average restaurant, especially for men. You'll see plenty of local women wearing "country-chic" clothing, such as embroidered, tailored blazers, or swishy broomstick skirts—with boots, of course. In the summer heat you'll see many patrons wearing just about anything that keeps them cool.

Don't expect to dine too late into the evenings. With the exception of a few live-music bars and venues, most restaurants and cafés are finished serving by 9 or 10, especially during the week.

Sort by: 13 Recommendations {{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }} 0 Recommendations
CLEAR ALL Area Search CLEAR ALL
Loading...
  • 1. High's Cafe & Store

    $

    This is the gathering spot in the morning for locals looking to savor a rich cup of coffee or a fully cooked breakfast. But lunch is just as popular, with a daily menu of flavorful soups, salads, and sandwiches, including the "salad trio," which is a scoop of homemade chicken salad and a scoop of homemade tuna salad on a fresh field-greens salad. The creamy pimiento-cheese sandwich on nine-grain bread is easy on the mayonnaise and spicy with black pepper, while thick and garlicky hummus with crispy pita chips makes a great appetizer for sharing. Save room for a sweet treat from the dessert case of fresh baked goods, including fudge-walnut brownies, lemon cupcakes, and chewy chocolate-chip Cowboy cookies.

    726 High St., Comfort, Texas, 78013, USA
    830-995–4995

    Known For

    • Great coffee
    • Amazing sandwiches
    • Freshly baked goodies

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
  • 2. Old German Bakery & Restaurant

    $$

    Though it's also open for lunch, most locals flock to this family-owned restaurant for a delicious and hearty breakfast. Lacy German pancakes come with butter pats, orange slices, and powdered sugar for sprinkling. Order schnitzel with eggs or skip straight to lunch and enjoy homestyle plates of sausage, kraut, and potato salad. If you don’t order a pastry with your meal, be sure to visit the bakery counter on your way out to get an apple strudel, prasselkuchen, or pretzel nut twist for the road.

    225 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
    830-997–9084

    Known For

    • Indulgent breakfast plates
    • Homemade German baked goods
    • Family-friendly atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Wed. and Thurs. No dinner
  • 3. Bear Moon

    $$

    On weekends you may find a line out the door at this town favorite known for its extensive breakfast buffet with eggs, fruit, and fresh-baked muffins, pastries, and breads. Most patrons brave the long counter line for cinnamon rolls, which are as big as a Frisbee. The breakfast crowd arrives early for one of the few inside tables, and locals swarm here for lunch as well.

    401 S. Main St., Boerne, Texas, 78006, USA
    830-816–2327

    Known For

    • Popular breakfast buffet
    • Homemade baked goods
    • Massive cinnamon rolls

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
  • 4. Blue Bonnet Cafe

    $

    Don't even think about coming to Marble Falls without taking a seat at this small-town diner. There's a sign above the hostess stand that commands you to "eat some pie," and you'd be a fool to not listen and sample one of the at least 10 different types made fresh daily. From mountainous meringue to creamy custard, the geniuses behind these sweet concoctions mean business. If you come between 2 and 5, you've made it for "Pie Happy Hour," when you can have a slice of pie and a cup of joe for $3. They also serve all the standards you'd find at an old-fashioned diner.

    211 Hwy. 281, Marble Falls, Texas, 78654, USA
    830-693–2344

    Known For

    • Famous pies
    • Classic diner dishes
    • Pie happy hour

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
  • 5. Chaparral Coffee

    $

    More than just a coffeeshop, Chaparral is truly a community hub. Owners Taylor and Austin Burge have developed the breakfast and lunch menu of the tiny space to fit the town's growing needs, and they throw DJ-fueled dance parties and other events here, too. But yes, the coffee is also stellar—in fact, it's worlds better than most of the coffee you can find anywhere else in small-town Texas.

    106 E. Market St., Texas, 78644, USA
    512-668–4274

    Known For

    • Some of the best coffee in Central Texas
    • Community events
    • Tasty breakfast and lunch offerings
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Chrissy's Homestyle Bakery

    $

    At this tiny little bakery housed in an old building, the enchanting aroma of fresh-baked pies and pastries envelops you the second you walk in the door. The question of what to order then immediately overwhelms you as you scour the glass cases showcasing pies, sweet and savory kolaches, and cookies. The German-style sweet pretzel and the cream cheese–poppy seed kolach are great choices. Of course, the jalapeño, cheese, and sausage kolaches and cinnamon rolls are amazing as well, but you'll have to get there before the hunters, fishers, and early travelers do; they go fast.

    501 Bessemer Ave., Llano, Texas, 78643, USA
    325-247–4564

    Known For

    • Excellent kolaches
    • Delicous baked goods that sell out fast
    • History setting

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
  • 7. Emma + Ollie

    $$

    Local baker Rebecca Rather, well-known for her now-shuttered Rather Sweet Bakery, opened this sweet breakfast and lunch spot and bakery to much acclaim. Breakfast items span from a build-your-own biscuit bar to a croissant egg sandwich, while the lunch menu exudes farm-to-table Southern comfort, with offerings like fried oyster nachos and a pimiento cheese BLT. Details like speckled enamelware and beautiful garden flowers simply add to the charm.

    607 S. Washington St., Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624, USA
    830-383–1013

    Known For

    • Farm-to-table Southern breakfast
    • Homemade baked goods
    • Adorable rustic-chic setting

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner
  • 8. Little Gretel Restaurant

    $$

    At this cozy café tucked in a historic home near Cibolo Creek, chef-owner Denise Mazal specializes in central European cuisine, with selections from Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic and a particular focus on German fare. Try the kasseler rippchen, a smoked-in-house center-cut pork chop served with fresh horseradish sauce and toasted almonds, or the Bavarian meat loaf (half lamb, half beef) with mashed potatoes and mushroom sauce. And don’t even consider leaving without ordering a side of German potato pancakes, griddled to order and topped with braised red cabbage. You’ll also want to save room for the namesake Gretel’s apple strudel with Chantilly cream or the Hansel’s Kisses, meringue filled with coffee cream and rolled in roasted almonds.

    518 River Rd., Boerne, Texas, 78006, USA
    830-331–1368

    Known For

    • Amazing house-made desserts
    • Perfect potato pancakes
    • European cuisine with a German focus

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Fri.
  • 9. The Dienger Trading Co.

    $

    This quirky bistro and coffeeshop serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch in a 19th-century building, with a connected retail shop selling clothing, housewares, and gift items. Choose from a classic breakfast plate or croissant sandwich, or step up your morning with French toast sliders or chicken-fried steak Benedict. If you're on the go, pop in for a coffee and one of their fresh-baked, homemade pastries for the road. Lunch options include a variety of sandwiches and salads, plus grab-and-go lunch boxes you can take on your next Hill Country adventure.

    210 N. Main St., Boerne, Texas, 78006, USA
    830-331–2225

    Known For

    • Great coffee
    • Delicious breakfast
    • Picnic fare to-go

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 10. The Dough Joe

    $$

    Once you've had your fill of Tex-Mex and chicken-fried steak, turn to the locally beloved The Dough Joe, a pizzeria and coffeeshop in the heart of Bandera. Morning brings an entire menu of breakfast pizza to accompany your latte, while lunch and dinner offerings include an array of specialty pies, with the option to build your own creation (even with a cauliflower crust).

    702B Main St., Bandera, Texas, 78003, USA
    830-796–7437

    Known For

    • Excellent coffee
    • Unique breakfast pizza
    • Build-your-own pies

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
  • 11. The Hen's Nest

    $

    If a hearty, comforting plate of cheesy eggs, crispy bacon, and buttered waffles is what you're looking for, head to The Hen's Nest. The digs are humble (in fact, the day's featured dishes are written on postcards in lieu of a menu), but this tiny little café packs a big breakfast punch.

    1134C Main St., Bandera, Texas, 78003, USA
    210-912–0311

    Known For

    • Homestyle breakfasts
    • Farmhouse vibes
    • Always changing daily specials

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Thurs. No dinner
  • 12. The O.S.T. Restaurant

    $$

    This is John Wayne country, and the patrons of The O.S.T. (Old Spanish Trail) don't let you forget it, thanks to an entire wall covered with photos and memorabilia of the Duke. Authentic Tex-Mex and hearty American plates are served, including a Texas-size chicken-fried steak that covers the whole plate.

    311 Main St., Bandera, Texas, 78003, USA
    830-796–3836

    Known For

    • BYO-alcohol policy
    • Classic Americana decor
    • Family-style meals
  • 13. The Wander'n Calf

    $

    This coffeeshop set in a renovated bungalow invites you to settle in and stay a while. And with its cozy vibe, cute decor, great coffee (pour-over, French press, Chemex, espresso, or just plain drip), homemade baked goods, and tasty sandwiches, there's really no reason to say no.

    817 Front St., Comfort, Texas, 78013, USA
    830-428–2710

    Known For

    • Wide variety of coffee options
    • Homemade baked goods
    • Tasty sandwiches

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner

No Restaurants Results

Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:

There are no results for {{ strDestName}} Restaurants in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:

Recommended Fodor’s Video