Turns Out Soho House Austin Isn’t Opening a Public Restaurant

Soho House Austin Restaurant Update
Members-only club and hotel Soho House is aiming to open that first Texas location on South Congress in late May, but with a major change. The private social club within the Music Lane development isn’t going to feature the originally announced public restaurant. Instead, that restaurant space is home to the Austin location of Chicago Mediterranean restaurant Aba, which opened last fall.

Through a rep, founder and CEO Nick Jones explained the switch: “There are often slight changes in our plans from when we first see a location to when we open a House in a new city, as we talk to members and try to create something that works for that place.”

When Soho House Austin does open for its members, there’s a screening room with a bar, a lounge/dining terrace, a rooftop pool, and a club space. The kitchen is overseen by Dustin Musgrave, the executive chef of Soho House. Yearly local membership rates are $2,290, and $3,500 for access to every location around the world, with halved discounts for people under the age of 27.

The rest of the Music Lane development includes New York-based Australian cafe Two Hands, fancy salad chain Sweetgreen, and a bunch of high-end retailers.

Crypto-Barbecue
Did you know that East Austin barbecue truck Kerlin BBQ accepts cryptocurrency payments? This includes Bitcoin, Ether, Stellar, Doge, and Cardano.

Kimchi Burger Collaboration
Austin-based chain Hopdoddy Burger Bar teamed up with Asian-fusion mini-chain Chi’lantro this month, as part of the burger restaurant’s new chef collaboration series. The resulting Kimchi’Burger comes on Hopdoddy buns with its beef patty topped with Chilantro’s marinated steak beef, caramelized kimchi, and magic sauce. It’s available starting on Wednesday, May 19 for takeout, delivery, and dine-in services at Hopdoddy’s Austin location. It’s part of Hopdoddy’s chef collaboration series.

Bobby Berk’s Austin Guide
Since Queer Eye is currently filming in Austin, design expert Bobby Berk shared his guide to the city. He loves downtown cocktail bar the Roosevelt Room, South Congress all-day hotel cafe Cafe No Se, fast-casual Mexican restaurant Fresa’s, Rainey Street bar the Container Bar, and Tex-Mex restaurant El Arroyo.

Dripping Springs Drinks Trail
Hill Country food event Dripping With Taste is happening again this year. The self-guided event explores the wineries, breweries, and distilleries of Dripping Springs, with an accompanying digital pass and trail map. Passes are $25. It began on May 14 and runs through Sunday, June 13.