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A sunset view of the lake.
The view from Mozart’s patio.
Mozart’s/Facebook

15 Austin Restaurants With Great Views

Eating and drinking with a side of beautiful scenery

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The view from Mozart’s patio.
| Mozart’s/Facebook

Great food and drinks are a-plenty in Austin, but where should diners go if they want equally as stunning vistas? Eater is here to help with the best restaurant and bars with great views.

This ranges from spots facing the morphing downtown skyline to bodies of water to grassy overlooks. There is the popular waterfront coffee shop Mozart’s, the chintzy ambiance of Hula Hut, the tranquility of Jacoby's, downtown hotel views, the Colorado River and bats from Arlo Grey, and others.

Stay outdoors with Austin’s other alfresco restaurant and bar options with Eater’s guides to patios (essential and shaded), and then there are the city’s best rooftop restaurants and bars for a different perspective.

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Oasis Texas Brewing Company

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Austinites know to go to this brewery-restaurant for food and beers and a spot-on view of Lake Travis.

Ski Shores

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The longtime lakeside classic joint may have been revamped and reopened by McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality, but the updated Ski Shores still offers the same lively views of boats and jet skis whizzing by from the open and breezy patio. 

Lakeside lawn with umbrellas.
Ski Shores.
Ski Shores Cafe

County Line on the Hill

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Located in a historic building, this location of the Austin-born barbecue restaurant chain presents an incredible 20-mile view of the Texas Hill Country on its covered twinkle-lit stone patio. 

Mozart's Coffee

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Buckle in for the day at the coffee shop’s expansive patio, which is right on top of the lake, perfect for leisurely drinks and snacks.

Hula Hut

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The kitschy Hula Hut serves Tex-Mex with a side of tiki, with cocktails and snacks right on the lake.

The upscale Thai restaurant Sway features great views of the area as well as downtown Austin.

Las Bis

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The new downtown hotel bar on the eighth floor of the Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin includes prime city views, which pair great with its tapas and drinks menu.

Codependent Cocktails + Coffee

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Located at the bottom of the Independent Condo Tower in downtown Austin, this coffee-by-day/drinks-by-night hotspot overlooks Shoal Creek as it snakes its way through the city, giving the space a treehouse-like effect.

Another newer hotel spot, the Loren at the Lady Bird’s restaurant patio has a beautiful view of the Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin from across the river.

Arlo Grey

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The Line Austin Hotel’s restaurant Arlo Grey takes advantage of those stellar views with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Colorado River and the Congress Avenue Bridge (making it a prime bat-watching spot).

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

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Another stellar Colorado River overlook can be found on the patio of the Four Seasons Hotel’s Live Oak bar and restaurant Ciclo.

El Alma

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This Barton Springs interior Mexican joint boasts a charming, shaded terrace with views of the downtown Austin skyline. 

Tillery Kitchen and Bar

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The picturesque East Cesar Chavez restaurant’s sightline includes the lush sloping landscapes and the Colorado River. The patio is perfect for lingering glasses of wine.

Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile

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Opt for drinks and bar snacks on Jacoby’s grassy outdoors area for a peaceful, quiet view of the Colorado River.

Mattie's

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Remodeled from a historic South Austin farmhouse, this Southern fine dining restaurant not only offers views of shaded oaks and grassy knolls but also beautiful free-roaming peacocks, including a fetching all-white fowl.

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Oasis Texas Brewing Company

Austinites know to go to this brewery-restaurant for food and beers and a spot-on view of Lake Travis.

Ski Shores

The longtime lakeside classic joint may have been revamped and reopened by McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality, but the updated Ski Shores still offers the same lively views of boats and jet skis whizzing by from the open and breezy patio. 

Lakeside lawn with umbrellas.
Ski Shores.
Ski Shores Cafe

County Line on the Hill

Located in a historic building, this location of the Austin-born barbecue restaurant chain presents an incredible 20-mile view of the Texas Hill Country on its covered twinkle-lit stone patio. 

Mozart's Coffee

Buckle in for the day at the coffee shop’s expansive patio, which is right on top of the lake, perfect for leisurely drinks and snacks.

Hula Hut

The kitschy Hula Hut serves Tex-Mex with a side of tiki, with cocktails and snacks right on the lake.

Sway

The upscale Thai restaurant Sway features great views of the area as well as downtown Austin.

Las Bis

The new downtown hotel bar on the eighth floor of the Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin includes prime city views, which pair great with its tapas and drinks menu.

Codependent Cocktails + Coffee

Located at the bottom of the Independent Condo Tower in downtown Austin, this coffee-by-day/drinks-by-night hotspot overlooks Shoal Creek as it snakes its way through the city, giving the space a treehouse-like effect.

Nido

Another newer hotel spot, the Loren at the Lady Bird’s restaurant patio has a beautiful view of the Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin from across the river.

Arlo Grey

The Line Austin Hotel’s restaurant Arlo Grey takes advantage of those stellar views with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Colorado River and the Congress Avenue Bridge (making it a prime bat-watching spot).

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

Another stellar Colorado River overlook can be found on the patio of the Four Seasons Hotel’s Live Oak bar and restaurant Ciclo.

El Alma

This Barton Springs interior Mexican joint boasts a charming, shaded terrace with views of the downtown Austin skyline. 

Tillery Kitchen and Bar

The picturesque East Cesar Chavez restaurant’s sightline includes the lush sloping landscapes and the Colorado River. The patio is perfect for lingering glasses of wine.

Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile

Opt for drinks and bar snacks on Jacoby’s grassy outdoors area for a peaceful, quiet view of the Colorado River.

Mattie's

Remodeled from a historic South Austin farmhouse, this Southern fine dining restaurant not only offers views of shaded oaks and grassy knolls but also beautiful free-roaming peacocks, including a fetching all-white fowl.

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