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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

by Nadia Chaudhury and Darcie Duttweiler Updated
View as Map
Nido.
| Casey Woods
by Nadia Chaudhury and Darcie Duttweiler Updated

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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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.

Sway

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

3437 Bee Caves Rd, West Lake Hills, TX 78746
(512) 326-1999
(512) 326-1999
Sway Westlake’s rooftop bar
Sway Westlake’s rooftop bar
Sarah Karney

Also featured in:

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.

621 Congress Ave #201, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 982-6766
(512) 982-6766
Upstairs at Caroline
Upstairs at Caroline
Aloft

Also featured in:

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.

1203 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 910-3010
(512) 910-3010

Also featured in:

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.

606 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-9240
(512) 472-9240

Also featured in:

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).

400 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 542-9292
(512) 542-9292

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.

506 San Jacinto Blvd Suite WM, 4th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 257-3026
(737) 257-3026

Also featured in:

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.

310 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 792-5622
(512) 792-5622
A rooftop bar at sunset with an open fireplace roaring in front of a city skyline.
Azul Rooftop Bar.
Westin Austin Downtown

Also featured in:

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.

600 W 2nd St 5th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 628-1415
(512) 628-1415

Also featured in:

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.

310 Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 225-7999
(512) 225-7999

Wilder Wood Restaurant and Bar

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

1300 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 628-0184
(512) 628-0184

Also featured in:

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.

110 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 608-4503
(512) 608-4503

Also featured in:

Nido

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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.

Rooftop, 1211 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 580-1183
(512) 580-1183

Also featured in:

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. 

304 E Cesar Chavez St Unit 700, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 787-6969
(737) 787-6969

Also featured in:

P6

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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.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-1566
(512) 473-1566
A rooftop bar at sunset with a patio and hanging lanterns.
P6.
Chase Daniels

Also featured in:

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.

101 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

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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.

94 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 524-0076
(512) 524-0076

Also featured in:

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.

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 609-8923
(512) 609-8923
A restaurant rooftop at night.
El Alma.
El Alma

Also featured in:

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.

3508 S Lamar Blvd Suite 200, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 964-8229
(512) 964-8229

Also featured in:

More in Maps

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Sway

3437 Bee Caves Rd, West Lake Hills, TX 78746

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

3437 Bee Caves Rd, West Lake Hills, TX 78746
(512) 326-1999
(512) 326-1999
Sway Westlake’s rooftop bar
Sway Westlake’s rooftop bar
Sarah Karney

Upstairs at Caroline

621 Congress Ave #201, Austin, TX 78701

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

621 Congress Ave #201, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 982-6766
(512) 982-6766
Upstairs at Caroline
Upstairs at Caroline
Aloft

Paperboy

1203 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

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.

1203 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 910-3010
(512) 910-3010

Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant and Margarita Bar

606 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701

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

606 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-9240
(512) 472-9240

Group Therapy

400 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701

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).

400 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 542-9292
(512) 542-9292

Wax Myrtle's

506 San Jacinto Blvd Suite WM, 4th Floor, Austin, TX 78701

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.

506 San Jacinto Blvd Suite WM, 4th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 257-3026
(737) 257-3026

Azul Rooftop Bar at the Westin

310 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701

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.

310 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 792-5622
(512) 792-5622
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

600 W 2nd St 5th Floor, Austin, TX 78701

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.

600 W 2nd St 5th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 628-1415
(512) 628-1415

ACL Live

310 Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin, TX 78701

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.

310 Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 225-7999
(512) 225-7999

Wilder Wood Restaurant and Bar

1300 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

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

1300 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 628-0184
(512) 628-0184

Edge Rooftop

110 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701

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.

110 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 608-4503
(512) 608-4503

Nido

Rooftop, 1211 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704

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.

Rooftop, 1211 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 580-1183
(512) 580-1183

Zanzibar

304 E Cesar Chavez St Unit 700, Austin, TX 78701

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

304 E Cesar Chavez St Unit 700, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 787-6969
(737) 787-6969

P6

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

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.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-1566
(512) 473-1566
A rooftop bar at sunset with a patio and hanging lanterns.
P6.
Chase Daniels

Rules & Regs

101 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

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.

101 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

Related Maps

Lustre Pearl

94 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

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

94 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 524-0076
(512) 524-0076

El Alma

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

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.

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 609-8923
(512) 609-8923
A restaurant rooftop at night.
El Alma.
El Alma

Easy Tiger

3508 S Lamar Blvd Suite 200, Austin, TX 78704

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.

3508 S Lamar Blvd Suite 200, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 964-8229
(512) 964-8229

Related Maps