clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

The 12 Hottest New Cocktail Destinations in Austin Right Now

The 8 Hottest New Brunches in Austin Right Now

Where to Enjoy Creamy Eggnog Cocktails in Austin

More in Austin See more maps
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

by Darcie Duttweiler and Nadia Chaudhury Updated
2 comments / new
View as Map
The view from Mozart’s patio.
| Mozart’s/Facebook
by Darcie Duttweiler and Nadia Chaudhury Updated
2 comments / new

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.

Read More
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.

Oasis Texas Brewing Company

Copy Link

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

6550 Comanche Trail, Suite 301 Austin, Texas
(512) 284-9407
(512) 284-9407

Also featured in:

Ski Shores

Copy Link

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. 

2905 Pearce Rd, Austin, TX 78730
(512) 346-5915
(512) 346-5915
Lakeside lawn with umbrellas.
Ski Shores.
Ski Shores Cafe

County Line on the Hill

Copy Link

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. 

6500 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78746
(512) 327-1742
(512) 327-1742

Also featured in:

Mozart's Coffee

Copy Link

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.

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-2900
(512) 477-2900

Also featured in:

Hula Hut

Copy Link

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

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 476-4852
(512) 476-4852

Also featured in:

Sway

Copy Link

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

3437 Bee Caves Rd, West Lake Hills, TX 78746
(512) 326-1999
(512) 326-1999

Also featured in:

Las Bis

Copy Link

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.

721 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
(737) 257-1234
(737) 257-1234

Also featured in:

Codependent Cocktails + Coffee

Copy Link

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.

301 West Ave STE 110, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 334-6652
(512) 334-6652

Also featured in:

Nido

Copy Link

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.

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

Also featured in:

Arlo Grey

Copy Link

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).

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-2991
(512) 478-2991

Also featured in:

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

Copy Link

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

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4500
(512) 478-4500

Also featured in:

El Alma

Copy Link

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

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 609-8923
(512) 609-8923

Also featured in:

Tillery Kitchen and Bar

Copy Link

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.

3201 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-0580
(512) 524-0580

Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile

Copy Link

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

3235 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 366-5808
(512) 366-5808

Also featured in:

Mattie's

Copy Link

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.

811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-1888
(512) 444-1888

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Oasis Texas Brewing Company

6550 Comanche Trail, Suite 301 Austin, Texas

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

6550 Comanche Trail, Suite 301 Austin, Texas
(512) 284-9407
(512) 284-9407

Ski Shores

2905 Pearce Rd, Austin, TX 78730

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. 

2905 Pearce Rd, Austin, TX 78730
(512) 346-5915
(512) 346-5915
Lakeside lawn with umbrellas.
Ski Shores.
Ski Shores Cafe

County Line on the Hill

6500 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78746

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. 

6500 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78746
(512) 327-1742
(512) 327-1742

Mozart's Coffee

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

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.

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-2900
(512) 477-2900

Hula Hut

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

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

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 476-4852
(512) 476-4852

Sway

3437 Bee Caves Rd, West Lake Hills, TX 78746

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

3437 Bee Caves Rd, West Lake Hills, TX 78746
(512) 326-1999
(512) 326-1999

Las Bis

721 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701

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.

721 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
(737) 257-1234
(737) 257-1234

Codependent Cocktails + Coffee

301 West Ave STE 110, Austin, TX 78701

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.

301 West Ave STE 110, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 334-6652
(512) 334-6652

Nido

Rooftop, 1211 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704

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.

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

Arlo Grey

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

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).

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-2991
(512) 478-2991

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

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

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4500
(512) 478-4500

El Alma

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

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

1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 609-8923
(512) 609-8923

Tillery Kitchen and Bar

3201 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

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.

3201 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-0580
(512) 524-0580

Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile

3235 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

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

3235 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 366-5808
(512) 366-5808

Mattie's

811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704

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.

811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-1888
(512) 444-1888

Related Maps