Check how full Lake Travis is from the brewery above.

Austin’s fried chicken mini-chain’s lakeside location offers poultry dishes, wood-grilled oysters, and alfresco drinks from the outdoor bar.

Order burgers and fries while watching boaters and jet skiers out on Lake Austin from the large deck of the old restaurant.

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

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

The Austin Central Library’s restaurant boasts of a patio with downtown, overlooking Shoal Creek. Pro-tip: grab a bite from the ground-floor restaurant and head up to the rooftop patio for higher views.

Replacing what had been Dine née Chavez at the old Radisson Hotel, the new 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).

Another stellar Colorado River overlook can be found at the Four Seasons Hotel’s Live Oak bar’s patio.

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.

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