Bar Lovers Unite: Eleven Restaurants With Great Counter Seating in Austin

Where sitting at the counter is not just a good move, but the best move.

by Meghan McCarron Nov 11, 2014, 1:00pm CST

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Foreign & Domestic

| Raymond Thompson/EATX

by Meghan McCarron Nov 11, 2014, 1:00pm CST

At a number of Austin's best restaurants, the bar seating is where it's at. From classic diner-style seats to high-end sushi bars, here's some of Austin's best bets as recommended by readers in the forums. See a beloved counter seat missing? Drop it in the comments or the original forum post.

Salt & Time

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Salt & Time's counter is large, well-lit, and overlooks their lovely bar. A great place to grab a bite with a book, or to watch the butcher shop at work.

1912 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 524-1383

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Odd Duck

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Odd Duck's dining room is dominated by a massive bar wrapped around their open kitchen, making it one of the buzziest counter seats in town.

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1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

(512) 433-6521

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Justine's Brasserie

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The bar at Justine's is first come first serve, a great way to potentially snag a seat when the restaurant's packed on a busy night.

4710 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 385-2900

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Hut's Hamburgers

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Eating a hamburger at the counter in a classic restaurant space just feels right.

807 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

(512) 472-0693

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La Condesa

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La Condesa serves their whole menu at the bar. It's a great excuse to order a couple of their stellar tacos and a couple more of their stellar margaritas.

400 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701

(512) 499-0300

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Foreign & Domestic

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Foreign & Domestic boasts another great counter overlooking an open kitchen. One reader says, "Foreign & Domestic has a great bar facing the kitchen, less than 5 feet from your fingertips. You have to get there early though, it’s packed tight 30 min after opening!"

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

(512) 459-1010

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Sway Thai

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Diners either love or hate Sway's communal dining tables. A great option for the haters is grabbing a kitchen-side bar seat, or one of many by the window.

1417 S. 1st St., Austin, TX 78704

(512) 326-1999

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Hopfields

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Several readers agree that Hopfields has some of the best counter-side dining in Austin. One reader calls the bar their "Cheers" and adds, "I love sitting at the bar & talking with the staff. "

3110 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705

(512) 537-0467

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Barley Swine

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Listen: Bryce Gilmore knows how to counter. The bar seats at Barley Swine are another perpetual favorite. One (fancy!) reader even suggests it as "a smooth first date call."