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Where to Dine Solo in Austin

From bars to chef’s counters to small tables

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated
View as Map
Underdog.
| Brian Cole Photography
by Nadia Chaudhury Updated

Dining alone is actually quite nice: you can order whatever you want and not have to worry about sharing or offending your dining companion(s), you don’t have to keep up a conversation, you can do whatever you want (people-watch, eavesdrop, read a book, check your phone, really enjoy what you’re eating, staring off into the distance, etc.), and best of all, you can you go at your own pace.

In Austin, there are plenty of restaurants that are great for solo dining ventures, from comfortable bar chairs to seats that overlook the kitchen action, all while serving really excellent food and drinks. (Similarly, plenty of food trucks with outdoor seating make for perfect solo dining ventures.) And also check out Eater Austin’s picks for the best places to solo-drink.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Ramen Del Barrio

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The newcomer Scofield Farms restaurant within the Hana World Market is the perfect spot to linger over amazing Mexican-Japanese bowls of ramen at the bar. There are indoor dine-in services.

1700 FM734 Suite 100, Austin, TX 78754

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Foreign & Domestic

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Grab a counter seat at the New American restaurant and watch the staff cook up hearty dishes for dinner. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 459-1010
(512) 459-1010

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Flo’s Wine Bar and Bottle Shop

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The new wine bar is a perfect spot for solo dining: there are bench seats outside and counter seats facing the outdoors inside. Add fantastic glasses of wine and equally as great slices of pizza from its on-site restaurant Allday Pizza, and it’ll be a marvelous time. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

3111 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703

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Veracruz Fonda and Bar

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Taco truck Veracruz opened this spin-off physical restaurant focusing on cuisine of the Veracruz region of Mexico. There are, yes, its tacos, as well as other dishes such as camarones enchipotlados and mole encihiladas. Grab a bar seat or one of the little tables on the patio. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1905 Aldrich St #125, Austin, TX 78723
(737) 318-4896
(737) 318-4896

Also featured in:

Counter Cafe

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For daytime solo dining, seek out either location of the Austin diner (the other down on East Sixth) for American breakfasts and lunches through 3 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

603 W 29th St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 383-5451
(512) 383-5451

Also featured in:

Dai Due

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Snag a bar seat at the all-Texas restaurant, and peek over the divider to watch the kitchen action for lunch or dinner. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2406 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 524-0688
(512) 524-0688

Also featured in:

Bar Toti

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It’s probably hard to get reservations at Blackland neighborhood Mexican seafood restaurant Este, but its next-door sibling Bar Toti is actually a sleeper hit. The walk-in-only bar includes Mexicanish cocktails (carajillo, margaritas) and dishes ranging from small bites like marinated manchego to a hamburguesa to shrimp al ajillo. There are lots of smaller tables. There is indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2113 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 522-4047
(512) 522-4047

Also featured in:

Birdie's

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Okay, so, yes, there is typically a line to get into the no-reservations New American wine bar and restaurant in the Chestnut neighborhood, but that makes it easier for a single diner to find a coveted smaller table or bar seat for dinner. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2944 E 12th St Unit A, Austin, TX 78702

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Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum

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Watch the dumpling magic happen before your eyes and then eat said dumplings while seated at the bar of the Clarksville Chinese restaurant for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1203 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 474-5107
(512) 474-5107

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Better Half Coffee & Cocktails

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The bar and smaller outdoor tables at Better Half are perfect for enjoying its all-day-and-night-ish menu, plus coffee and cocktails. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

406 Walsh St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 645-0786
(512) 645-0786
A restaurant bar counter.
Better Half.
Courtney Pierce/Eater Austin

Also featured in:

Kalimotxo

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Mix and match tapas, desserts, and drinks for yourself at the downtown Spanish bar while seated at the window counter for dinner. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

607 W 3rd St #105, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 333-0737
(512) 333-0737

Also featured in:

Fukumoto

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The seats against the window are perfect for enjoying excellent nigiri and sushi while watching passersby along East Sixth street for dinner. There are indoor dine-in services.

514 Medina St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 770-6880
(512) 770-6880

Also featured in:

Juniper

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For a solo prix fixe dinner, opt for the East Austin Italian restaurant’s chef’s counter overlooking the kitchen. There are indoor dine-in services.

2400 E Cesar Chavez St #304, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 220-9421
(512) 220-9421

Also featured in:

Odd Duck

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There are three ways to solo dine at the New Texan Zilker restaurant: the tables, the chef’s counter, or the bar, all for dinner time. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 433-6521
(512) 433-6521

Also featured in:

Underdog

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The newcomer Bouldin Creek restaurant offers a nice Korean American menu with fantastic wines, all the better to enjoy solo while dining at the bar, with dishes like ebi burgers and crispy rice. There are indoor dine-in services.

1600 S 1st St Suite 100, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 367-2441
(512) 367-2441

Also featured in:

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Elementary

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Another fun newcomer in South Austin, it’s probably easier to grab a bar seat at the New Texan pop-up-turned-physical-restaurant in the Zilker neighborhood while taking part in burrata toasts, gnocchi and inventive cocktails. There are indoor dine-in services.

2026 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(737) 349-9531
(737) 349-9531

Also featured in:

June's

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The smallish wine restaurant with great grazing-type plates has plenty of bar seats and tables for solo diners. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 416-1722
(512) 416-1722

Also featured in:

Golden Hour Cafe & Wine Bar

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For far South Austinities, this wine bar and restaurant offers plenty of spaces for solo dining and drinking, from the cozy indoor tables (snag the corner seat for optimal people-watching), one of the lounge outdoor tables, or the indoor bar. The changing morning, afternoon, and dinner menus lend themselves well to these purposes, with smaller yet wonderful plates. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

7731 Menchaca Rd Suite 100, Austin, TX 78745

Also featured in:

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Ramen Del Barrio

1700 FM734 Suite 100, Austin, TX 78754

The newcomer Scofield Farms restaurant within the Hana World Market is the perfect spot to linger over amazing Mexican-Japanese bowls of ramen at the bar. There are indoor dine-in services.

1700 FM734 Suite 100, Austin, TX 78754

Foreign & Domestic

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

Grab a counter seat at the New American restaurant and watch the staff cook up hearty dishes for dinner. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 459-1010
(512) 459-1010

Flo’s Wine Bar and Bottle Shop

3111 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703

The new wine bar is a perfect spot for solo dining: there are bench seats outside and counter seats facing the outdoors inside. Add fantastic glasses of wine and equally as great slices of pizza from its on-site restaurant Allday Pizza, and it’ll be a marvelous time. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

3111 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703

Veracruz Fonda and Bar

1905 Aldrich St #125, Austin, TX 78723

Taco truck Veracruz opened this spin-off physical restaurant focusing on cuisine of the Veracruz region of Mexico. There are, yes, its tacos, as well as other dishes such as camarones enchipotlados and mole encihiladas. Grab a bar seat or one of the little tables on the patio. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1905 Aldrich St #125, Austin, TX 78723
(737) 318-4896
(737) 318-4896

Counter Cafe

603 W 29th St, Austin, TX 78705

For daytime solo dining, seek out either location of the Austin diner (the other down on East Sixth) for American breakfasts and lunches through 3 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

603 W 29th St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 383-5451
(512) 383-5451

Dai Due

2406 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

Snag a bar seat at the all-Texas restaurant, and peek over the divider to watch the kitchen action for lunch or dinner. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2406 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 524-0688
(512) 524-0688

Bar Toti

2113 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

It’s probably hard to get reservations at Blackland neighborhood Mexican seafood restaurant Este, but its next-door sibling Bar Toti is actually a sleeper hit. The walk-in-only bar includes Mexicanish cocktails (carajillo, margaritas) and dishes ranging from small bites like marinated manchego to a hamburguesa to shrimp al ajillo. There are lots of smaller tables. There is indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2113 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 522-4047
(512) 522-4047

Birdie's

2944 E 12th St Unit A, Austin, TX 78702

Okay, so, yes, there is typically a line to get into the no-reservations New American wine bar and restaurant in the Chestnut neighborhood, but that makes it easier for a single diner to find a coveted smaller table or bar seat for dinner. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2944 E 12th St Unit A, Austin, TX 78702

Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum

1203 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

Watch the dumpling magic happen before your eyes and then eat said dumplings while seated at the bar of the Clarksville Chinese restaurant for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1203 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 474-5107
(512) 474-5107

Better Half Coffee & Cocktails

406 Walsh St, Austin, TX 78703

The bar and smaller outdoor tables at Better Half are perfect for enjoying its all-day-and-night-ish menu, plus coffee and cocktails. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

406 Walsh St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 645-0786
(512) 645-0786
A restaurant bar counter.
Better Half.
Courtney Pierce/Eater Austin

Kalimotxo

607 W 3rd St #105, Austin, TX 78701

Mix and match tapas, desserts, and drinks for yourself at the downtown Spanish bar while seated at the window counter for dinner. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

607 W 3rd St #105, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 333-0737
(512) 333-0737

Fukumoto

514 Medina St, Austin, TX 78702

The seats against the window are perfect for enjoying excellent nigiri and sushi while watching passersby along East Sixth street for dinner. There are indoor dine-in services.

514 Medina St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 770-6880
(512) 770-6880

Juniper

2400 E Cesar Chavez St #304, Austin, TX 78702

For a solo prix fixe dinner, opt for the East Austin Italian restaurant’s chef’s counter overlooking the kitchen. There are indoor dine-in services.

2400 E Cesar Chavez St #304, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 220-9421
(512) 220-9421

Odd Duck

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

There are three ways to solo dine at the New Texan Zilker restaurant: the tables, the chef’s counter, or the bar, all for dinner time. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 433-6521
(512) 433-6521

Underdog

1600 S 1st St Suite 100, Austin, TX 78704

The newcomer Bouldin Creek restaurant offers a nice Korean American menu with fantastic wines, all the better to enjoy solo while dining at the bar, with dishes like ebi burgers and crispy rice. There are indoor dine-in services.

1600 S 1st St Suite 100, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 367-2441
(512) 367-2441

Related Maps

Elementary

2026 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Another fun newcomer in South Austin, it’s probably easier to grab a bar seat at the New Texan pop-up-turned-physical-restaurant in the Zilker neighborhood while taking part in burrata toasts, gnocchi and inventive cocktails. There are indoor dine-in services.

2026 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(737) 349-9531
(737) 349-9531

June's

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

The smallish wine restaurant with great grazing-type plates has plenty of bar seats and tables for solo diners. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 416-1722
(512) 416-1722

Golden Hour Cafe & Wine Bar

7731 Menchaca Rd Suite 100, Austin, TX 78745

For far South Austinities, this wine bar and restaurant offers plenty of spaces for solo dining and drinking, from the cozy indoor tables (snag the corner seat for optimal people-watching), one of the lounge outdoor tables, or the indoor bar. The changing morning, afternoon, and dinner menus lend themselves well to these purposes, with smaller yet wonderful plates. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

7731 Menchaca Rd Suite 100, Austin, TX 78745

Related Maps