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A rooftop lounge overlooking a body of water and city skyline in the daytime.
Nido.
Casey Woods

Where to Drink and Eat on a Roof in Austin

Alfresco dining from above

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Nido.
| Casey Woods

Great sunny weather means it’s the best time to drink and eat outside before it gets too hot. Why not kick it up a notch by heading up to the roof, with food and drink at hand?

Enjoy the breeze and views from the best rooftop patios Austin has to offer. Look down on Sixth Street from Iron Cactus, drink poolside at rooftop bar Azul at the Westin, the hidden rooftop of Barton Springs Mexican restaurant El Alma, pre-concert drinks and views at ACL Live, and others.

For more alfresco dining and drinking, take advantage of Austin’s essential patios, hot new patios, dog-friendly establishments, and, for when you want to stay out of the sun, covered patios.

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Thai restaurant Sway’s Westlake location features a rooftop bar with downtown Austin views, drinks, and food.

Sway Westlake’s rooftop bar
Sway Westlake’s rooftop bar
Sarah Karney

Upstairs at Caroline

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The Aloft/Element Austin Downtown’s rooftop bar features games, draft and frozen cocktails, and tacos, overlooking the center of the city.

Upstairs at Caroline
Upstairs at Caroline
Aloft

Paperboy

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From pancakes to cheeseburgers, breakfast is served every day at this cute and casual East 11th Street bistro. Head upstairs for its intimate, airy rooftop patio.

Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant and Margarita Bar

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Order a margarita and some fajitas at this Sixth Street staple — it’s the ideal people-watching spot.

Group Therapy

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Hotel Zaza’s gorgeous seventh-floor bar overlooks its pool, giving diners the best of both worlds in downtown. Head out to the patio and enjoy some sunshine with sips (margaritas, Aperol spritzes, and mojitos) and snacks (fries, sliders, and calamari).

Wax Myrtle's

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Another downtown hotel restaurant/bar/poolside lounge, Wax Myrtle’s is on the fourth floor of the new Thompson Hotel. Go for the views, but stay for the warm truffled feta and daily crudo.

Azul Rooftop Bar at the Westin

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Sip on frozen drinks and take a dip in the Westin Downtown’s way-up-high rooftop pool and bar while partaking in the hotel’s public hours.

A rooftop bar at sunset with an open fireplace roaring in front of a city skyline.
Azul Rooftop Bar.
Westin Austin Downtown

La Piscina Ceviches & Fajitas

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Located on the fifth floor of the Austin Proper Hotel, this poolside restaurant serves Texas-ish Mexican fare while the open space overlooks the hustle and bustle of downtown.

ACL Live

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Certainly, the indoor space at downtown venue ACL Live was engineered to be the finest of live music experiences, but the outdoor patio — walk up a few flights of stairs to get lovely southerly views — is a gorgeous place to drink a beer before seeing your favorite band.

Wilder Wood Restaurant and Bar

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The gluten-free restaurant and bakery has rooftop patio space overlooking East Seventh Street.

Edge Rooftop

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Take in views of the downtown views at this JW Marriott Austin lounge bar in downtown serving small bites like spicy shrimp lettuce cups and specialty cocktails – don’t miss the Mexican candied paloma.

The Loren, a newcomer to the Austin hotel scene in the Zilker neighborhood, boasts this eight-floor restaurant with a prime outdoor lounge facing the river and downtown skyline. Plus there are lots of easy-sipping cocktails.

Zanzibar

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Seven stories up, this lush rooftop destination offers poolside tiki cocktails and island-inspired small plates with a side of stunning downtown Austin views. 

Camp out at the beautiful downtown rooftop bar from the Line Hotel for stunning views of the Colorado River and the rest of South Austin, along with thoughtful albeit pricey drinks and alfresco bites like patatas bravas, spicy hummus, and fried Gulf shrimp.

A rooftop bar at sunset with a patio and hanging lanterns.
P6.
Chase Daniels

Rules & Regs

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The outdoor area of the seventh--floor bar of the massive downtown hotel is the spot to gaze down upon Austin’s busiest districts (Red River, downtown, Rainey) with fare meant for alfresco dining, from poke bowls to salad rolls made with rice paper, alongside drinks.

Lustre Pearl

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The revived and relocated Lustre Pearl on Rainey Street offers drinks with a side of scenery up on the roof.

El Alma

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El Alma's pretty rooftop patio in South Austin is a lovely little spot to take a date. Order refreshing Pinaritas and some antojitos — the ceviche clasico is a perfect warm-weather snack — from chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas' sTexas-tinged interior Mexican menu.

A restaurant rooftop at night.
El Alma.
El Alma

Easy Tiger

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The South Lamar outpost of the beloved bakery/biergarten has the same great eats (think pretzels and beer cheese) but with an added bonus of Greenbelt views.

Sway

Thai restaurant Sway’s Westlake location features a rooftop bar with downtown Austin views, drinks, and food.

Sway Westlake’s rooftop bar
Sway Westlake’s rooftop bar
Sarah Karney

Upstairs at Caroline

The Aloft/Element Austin Downtown’s rooftop bar features games, draft and frozen cocktails, and tacos, overlooking the center of the city.

Upstairs at Caroline
Upstairs at Caroline
Aloft

Paperboy

From pancakes to cheeseburgers, breakfast is served every day at this cute and casual East 11th Street bistro. Head upstairs for its intimate, airy rooftop patio.

Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant and Margarita Bar

Order a margarita and some fajitas at this Sixth Street staple — it’s the ideal people-watching spot.

Group Therapy

Hotel Zaza’s gorgeous seventh-floor bar overlooks its pool, giving diners the best of both worlds in downtown. Head out to the patio and enjoy some sunshine with sips (margaritas, Aperol spritzes, and mojitos) and snacks (fries, sliders, and calamari).

Wax Myrtle's

Another downtown hotel restaurant/bar/poolside lounge, Wax Myrtle’s is on the fourth floor of the new Thompson Hotel. Go for the views, but stay for the warm truffled feta and daily crudo.

Azul Rooftop Bar at the Westin

Sip on frozen drinks and take a dip in the Westin Downtown’s way-up-high rooftop pool and bar while partaking in the hotel’s public hours.

A rooftop bar at sunset with an open fireplace roaring in front of a city skyline.
Azul Rooftop Bar.
Westin Austin Downtown

La Piscina Ceviches & Fajitas

Located on the fifth floor of the Austin Proper Hotel, this poolside restaurant serves Texas-ish Mexican fare while the open space overlooks the hustle and bustle of downtown.

ACL Live

Certainly, the indoor space at downtown venue ACL Live was engineered to be the finest of live music experiences, but the outdoor patio — walk up a few flights of stairs to get lovely southerly views — is a gorgeous place to drink a beer before seeing your favorite band.

Wilder Wood Restaurant and Bar

The gluten-free restaurant and bakery has rooftop patio space overlooking East Seventh Street.

Edge Rooftop

Take in views of the downtown views at this JW Marriott Austin lounge bar in downtown serving small bites like spicy shrimp lettuce cups and specialty cocktails – don’t miss the Mexican candied paloma.

Nido

The Loren, a newcomer to the Austin hotel scene in the Zilker neighborhood, boasts this eight-floor restaurant with a prime outdoor lounge facing the river and downtown skyline. Plus there are lots of easy-sipping cocktails.

Zanzibar

Seven stories up, this lush rooftop destination offers poolside tiki cocktails and island-inspired small plates with a side of stunning downtown Austin views. 

P6

Camp out at the beautiful downtown rooftop bar from the Line Hotel for stunning views of the Colorado River and the rest of South Austin, along with thoughtful albeit pricey drinks and alfresco bites like patatas bravas, spicy hummus, and fried Gulf shrimp.

A rooftop bar at sunset with a patio and hanging lanterns.
P6.
Chase Daniels

Rules & Regs

The outdoor area of the seventh--floor bar of the massive downtown hotel is the spot to gaze down upon Austin’s busiest districts (Red River, downtown, Rainey) with fare meant for alfresco dining, from poke bowls to salad rolls made with rice paper, alongside drinks.

Related Maps

Lustre Pearl

The revived and relocated Lustre Pearl on Rainey Street offers drinks with a side of scenery up on the roof.

El Alma

El Alma's pretty rooftop patio in South Austin is a lovely little spot to take a date. Order refreshing Pinaritas and some antojitos — the ceviche clasico is a perfect warm-weather snack — from chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas' sTexas-tinged interior Mexican menu.

A restaurant rooftop at night.
El Alma.
El Alma

Easy Tiger

The South Lamar outpost of the beloved bakery/biergarten has the same great eats (think pretzels and beer cheese) but with an added bonus of Greenbelt views.

Related Maps