The West Lake Hills hotel underwent a big revamp from the previous Hotel Granduca into the Hotel Viata, a space that’s similarly upscale but replaces the Tuscan aesthetic with a lighter, breezier look inspired by the Amalfi Coast. Laurel, the hotel’s new restaurant, embraces this coastal Italian idea wholeheartedly, with bright pastas like fettuccine al limone and frutti di mare, salads with fresh greens and vegetables, and seafood served alongside hearty steaks (because it’s still Texas, after all). The cocktails play around with Italian aperitivo, and there is all-day service, making it a convenient respite for West Lake Hills residents and Austinites in need of a not-so-distant getaway. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Commodore Perry Estate, a luxurious resort in Hyde Park, features elaborate landscaping with perfectly tended lawns, trees, and flowers. All of this natural beauty can be found front and center at Lutie’s, the hotel’s restaurant. The hyper-seasonal menu offers Texas-raised meat and fresh seafood, but the vegetable dishes — like sunchoke falafel with roasted garlic, the green dish with of-the-moment vegetables and savory broth, and grilled beets with black garlic and dill — deserve particular attention. Its cocktail list emphasizes infused spirits, with butter-washed pecan rye, saffron gin, and vanilla vodka all included in expertly crafted drinks. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

A hotel right beside a major college campus needs to have a restaurant that can satisfy students, faculty, visiting family, and neighborhood residents alike. Luckily, the AT&T Hotel near UT can count its hotel restaurant as a crowdpleaser on all fronts. The team makes creative use of Texan ingredients, such as infusing chocolate mousse with Shiner Bock; transforming locally raised duck into a take on a pot pie with duck confit, persimmons, and puff pastry; and pairing a New York strip from Marfa with black garlic, broccolini, and bordelaise. There are indoor dine-in services.

Offering a classic American menu with contemporary twists in a meticulously-restored historic dining room, the downtown restaurant inside the Driskill is one of Austin’s most popular spots for anniversary dinners, milestone birthdays, and other big-deal occasions, and it finally reopened after a very long pandemic pause. Leather booths and wingback chairs, richly hued carpets, etched mirrors, and detailed molding all set the scene for luxe meals that include retro-meets-modern specialties like steak tartare with bone marrow aioli and quail egg, whiskey-infused duck breast with mushroom risotto, and pan-seared scallops with tequila beurre blanc. There are indoor dine-in services.

Perched on the pool deck of Thompson Austin, you’ll find this downtown hotel bar and restaurant, a laidback but elegant space with a Texan menu full of fresh produce and quality seafood. Frozen cocktails, natural wines, and shareable plates — like pecan and pepper dip with pomegranate molasses, whipped feta with chili crisp, and hamachi crudo with apple, sumac, and Fresno chiles —  work well with the light-toned, plant-heavy design of to make diners feel like they’re escaping the hubbub of the city, even while the busy neighborhood is right outside. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

A newish downtown restaurant that takes major inspiration from Rat Pack-era and Little Italy cuisine, Dean’s Italian Steakhouse in the JW Marriott focuses on both Texas’s commitment to top-quality beef and to Italian-American classics like chicken piccata, seafood scampi, and salads with salami and provolone. The steaks are beautifully marbled, the leather banquettes are tufted, the wine flows freely, and the general vibe is one of celebration with loved ones. Those looking for an airier dining environment should head to the plant-filled outdoor veranda. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Top Chef champion and fan favorite Kristen Kish chose Austin’s Line Hotel as the home of her first restaurant, and the downtown restaurant allows her the opportunity to work with fresh Austin ingredients, making use of her classical French and Italian training, weaving in techniques and flavors from her Midwestern childhood, and introducing elements from her Korean heritage. The result is an international menu that’s multifaceted without feeling muddled, starring dishes like fried steamed buns with eggplant, mushroom confit, and za’atar; crispy rice with crab, bacon, cucumber, saffron aioli, and cilantro; and chicken schnitzel dressed with curry leaf chicken jus, carrot and cucumber slaw, and persimmon dressing. In terms of beverages, the restaurant offers a well-chosen list of American and European wines (with a heavy emphasis on natural wines) and a tightly curated cocktail menu, and the restaurant’s minimalist-but-warm decor scheme keeps the focus on the food, drink, and company at the table. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The importance of the grill to Austin cooking can’t be overstated, and at the downtown American restaurant, everything from beef, poultry, seafood, to even vegetables get the post-oak-smoke treatment. In Garrison’s open kitchen, executive chef Jakub Czyszczon and his team do nimble work over open flames to serve up entrees and sides like grilled squash salad with country ham and shallot vinaigrette; Akaushi wagyu ribeye with sunchoke, shallot, and bordelaise; and smoked duck breast with grilled chicory, chamomile, and carrot. Garrison offers an in-depth international wine list and a seasonal cocktail menu, but the non-alcoholic cocktails are especially noteworthy, with examples like the Luxe Bergamot (Earl Grey tea, yuzu, lemongrass, and blueberry). There are indoor dine-in services.

South Congress’s namesake hotel in Travis Heights hosts a number of businesses that cater to guests and locals alike, including a coffee shop, bars, stores, and a handful of restaurants. The newest of these dining establishments is Maie Day, a restaurant that trades in the old-fashioned stuffiness often associated with quality steak houses and replaces it with relaxed, unpretentious vibes from the Olamaie team. While Maie Day’s indoor seating is comfortable, dark-toned, and steakhouse sexy, the sidewalk tables offer excellent people-watching and a respite from the lively (and loud) indoor soundtrack, making it the superior setting for a feast of strip steak, tenderloin, ribeye, or raw options like steak tartare or cold-shaved prime rib. 

Another South Congress Hotel restaurant, Otoko provides guests with an intimate omakase experience that includes both Tokyo-style sushi and Kyoto-style kaiseki. Chef Yoshi Okai and the team give reserved parties (only 12 guests can attend each seating, so reservations are very limited and pricy) the option of a sushi-kaiseki omakase, an all-sushi omakase, or an all-kaiseki omakase, and they take the time to talk guests through the flavors, textures, and overall experience of each course. Otoko also has a sister bar, Watertrade, which specializes in Japanese-influenced cocktails (and is also available by reservation only). There are indoor dine-in services.