Downtown Austin Dining

Downtown

Tacos Downtown:

Taqueria 10/10- Located in an alley near the convention center between 2nd & 3rd, this hole-in-the-wall taco place is our top taco recommendation in Austin. Enter through ReyRey cocktail bar.

Veracruz all Natural- A local favorite for good reason. This is where you go downtown for authentic, walk-up tacos. This is now part of the Line hotel where Congress Avenue meets the river (Cesar Chavez St).

OneTaco- Fresh, authentic fast-food tacos. If you need a grab-and-go option, this is it.

Asador @ Las Perlas - Asador is a taco stand located on the patio that connects two 7th Street bars. The bars are Las Perlas (a tequila bar) and Seven Grand (a whiskey bar). On their back patio they grill up some of the best street tacos in Austin starting at 4pm daily.

Barbeque & Brisket Downtown:

Brisket should be juicy and fall apart. For this reason, we don’t recommend any downtown barbeque joints.

The Barbeque restaurant we recommend is Terry Black’s, located just south of downtown.

Breakfast Downtown:

1886 Cafe & Bakery: Located inside the Historic Driskill Hotel on 6th Street. Open 7am - 2pm daily.

Phoebe's Diner: Located on 11th street near the Capitol building, Phoebe's makes breakfast like nobody else. Don't eat the Cheeky Monkey because it's so delicious that you might die. TIP: Join the wait list online when you are on your way there.

"A light lunch” Downtown:

Fareground: A casual option - 6 excellent local Austin eateries in a food hall setting with a bar. This is a casual way to get a taste of Austin. Great for a group who can’t agree on what to eat. Open daily from 11-9.

Happy Hour (with food) Downtown:

Lambert’s Steakhouse- If you are a meat lover, Lambert’s steakhouse has the best happy hour menu in town. M-F 4-6pm.

Swift’s Attic- Happy Hour includes an abridged appetizer menu and select craft cocktails. M-F 4-5:30pm.

Diner Bar- This restaurant is a uniquely Austin experience. This chef has a James Beard award. They describe Diner Bar as “Southern seafood meets Texas flair,” but I don’t think that does it justice. It’s authentically Texas and completely unique at the same time. Happy Hour with drink and menu specials daily from 4-6 PM.

Lunch & Dinner Downtown

Lambert’s Steakhouse: Located on 2nd Street, top-notch brisket and steak in a beautiful historic building. Lunch from 11-3pm, Dinner from 5pm- Close.

Swifts Attic: Nestled in a converted attic on Congress, this cozy and funky spot serves up American food with an Austin twist. Dinner Daily from 5-10pm. Tip: Get there at 5:00 and order your appetizers and drinks off the happy hour menu.

Diner Bar: (Dinner only) This restaurant is a uniquely Austin experience. This chef has a James Beard award. They describe Diner Bar as “Southern seafood meets Texas flair,” but I don’t think that does it justice. It’s authentically Texas and completely unique at the same time. Happy Hour 4-6pm, Dinner service 5-10pm.

Moonshine Grill: Open for lunch and dinner daily. Classic American comfort food with dishes like fried green tomatoes, Green Chile Macaroni, and Hangar Steak. They close at 9pm on weeknights and 10pm on weekends. TIP: This place is popular and reservations are not accepted, so we recommend arriving early on a weeknight.

Irene’s: Irene’s is a treasure of a place with a distinctly Austin feel to it. Their food is a very Austin interpretation of American cuisine. Also, cocktails. Open for lunch and dinner every day.

Michelada’s: Truly delicious and high-quality Tex-Mex. Enjoy fresh squeezed margaritas and sizzling fajitas inside or outside in the heart of downtown. Open for Lunch & Dinner daily.

Arriba, Abajo: On a pretty day, this is the most beautiful spot to be downtown. This rooftop cantina is located in the Thompson Hotel and it just a touch more upscale than your typical Tex-Mex. Open to the public daily for lunch and dinner.

Red Ash: (dinner only) I can’t list all of the awards, best-of placements, and fancy writeups this place has gotten. This is upscale Italian cuisine, no athletic wear allowed, dinner service is 5-10pm daily.

Sammie’s: (dinner only) Upscale Italian cuisine on West 6th Street in a 1939 streamline art deco building. This place is funky on the outside and gorgeous on the inside. If aesthetics are important to you, pick this one. The food is delicious.

Brunch Downtown

P6: (Has a view!)P6 is on the 6th floor of the Line hotel and overlooks ladybird lake. Excellent food and drinks. Reservation required. TIP: Reserve a seat outside overlooking Ladybird Lake!

1886 Cafe & Bakery: Located inside the Historic Driskill Hotel on 6th Street. Open 7am - 2pm daily.

Moonshine Grill: Sunday Brunch 9am - 2pm. Arrive early because this place is popular and reservations are not accepted.

Special Diets Downtown

True Foods Kitchen- Keto, Vegan, Gluten Free, AIP, they do it all and it’s AMAZINGLY delicious. Plus teas and cocktails. True foods Kitchen is not a local business, but we are including it anyway because it’s the best option for special needs diets. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Flower Child- Both healthy and delicious. Sort of like a more casual True Foods Kitchen. Open daily from 11am - 9pm.