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The cheese board at Walton’s
The cheese board at Walton’s
Walton’s/Facebook

16 Spots in Austin to Indulge in Wine and Cheese

From neighborhood wine bars to stocked cheese shops

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The cheese board at Walton’s
| Walton’s/Facebook

Has there ever been a greater pairing than wine and cheese? Perfect for a happy hour with friends, a casual first date, or a treat yo’ self dinner, the classic combination works because each component coaxes different flavors out of the other.

Whether your palate is fully seasoned or you are just making it up as you go along, there are many options in Austin to indulge. If you’re just graduating from Cheez Whiz and boxed wine, South Austin cafe and bar House Wine offers classes in a relaxed setting. Get-together groups would coo over the offerings at Clarksville restaurant Josephine House or downtown deli Walton’s Fancy & Staple, while those looking for new adventures in tastes should head to South Lamar restaurant Aviary. Really, though, the infinite combination of possible flavors mean you really should try every entry on this list — after all, how could you go wrong with wine and cheese?

This update adds cozy wine bar Apt 115, cheese shop Austin Cheese Co., lakeside Alta’s Cafe, Westlake’s French cafe Paris in a Bite, and crowd-pleasing North Italia.

If meat’s more of your thing, take a stroll through Austin’s best charcuterie destinations or stick with just wine at Austin’s fine wine destinations.

Is your favorite wine and cheese spot missing? Let Eater know through the tipline or within the comments.

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North Italia

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Both the Domain and Second Street locations of Italian restaurant chain North Italia have an excellent “bottle and board” happy hour deal: $20 for a bottle of wine and a cheese board (or pizza).

Dishes from North Italia
Dishes from North Italia
North Italia [Official]

Cru Wine Bar

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Perfect for those trying to learn pairings or experts who like options, Cru (also with downtown and Domain locations) features flights of wine and flights of cheese to explore, all fantastic. The cheese board is practically a meal in itself, with fruit, nuts, and honey to accompany the slices.

Austin Cheese Company

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This shop in the Arboretum has over 80 kinds of cheese, plus many kinds of wine. Opt for a preselected, three- or five-cheese board, create your own, or go with the cheese-centric entrees like salads and grilled cheese.

Cheese from Austin Cheese Company
Cheese from Austin Cheese Company
Austin Cheese Company/Facebook

Paris in a Bite

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This cute casual cafe in Davenport Village specializes in French wines, with an impressive selection of bubbly. Upgrade to the premium cheese plate for a selection of rare French cheeses, and feel free to add some of the macarons or pastries for dessert.

Rosé wines from Paris in a Bite
Rosé wines from Paris in a Bite
Paris in a Bite//Facebook

Epicerie

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This cozy cafe and grocery is an easy way to explore the richness of French food and wine. For something different, try the melty raclette.

A wooden board full of various cheese and sliced charcuterie at Epicerie
A cheese board at Epicerie
Epicerie/Facebook

Josephine House

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A casually elegant restaurant from McGuire Moorman Hospitality, this Clarksville favorite has a wonderful patio for snacking alfresco. Cheeses are served with olives and house-made jam.

Josephine House
Josephine House
Josephine House/Facebook

The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen

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Every location of Austin wine bar and restaurant mini-chain the Grove offers its own adventure — people-watching amongst the Westlake elite, downtown access, shopping-adjacent convenience at the Domain, or marveling at lake views out in Lakeway — but each offer the same expansive wine list, fun flights, and fantastic cheese plates. The fig and apricot chutney is a favorite with guests.

Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen in downtown Austin
Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen in downtown Austin
Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen/Facebook

Walton's Fancy and Staple

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A little-known happy hour gem, this pretty bakery offers wine, pimento cheese, and delectable desserts for some additional sweetness.

Wine and cheese board at Walton’s
Wine and cheese board at Walton’s
Walton’s/Facebook

The Townsend

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Though this bar in the epicenter of downtown is known for cocktails that pack a punch, the Townsend also has quite a wine selection — and the “really big” cheese board is great for sharing. It’s a particularly convenient stop before a show at the Paramount.

Blue Dahlia Bistro

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Another great happy hour can be found at both locations this friendly bistro (in Westlake and Central East Austin), where the five-cheese board is $12 and select glasses of wine are $5 from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Cheese, breads, and fruits from Blue Dahlia Bistro
Cheese, breads, and fruits from Blue Dahlia Bistro
Blue Dahlia/Facebook

Max’s Wine Dive Austin

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With special attention to bubbles, the vibe at Max’s is fun-yet-serious (about wine, anyway), making it perfect for business get-togethers. It offers several kinds of cheese appetizers: fried brie, marinated goat cheese, or a full board served with pretzel bread.

House Wine

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A hideaway by Zilker Park that prides itself on lack of pretentiousness, House offers 100 wines by the glass and more cheese options here than your stomach could handle. Looking to up your knowledge? Wine tastings (which come with a cheese board) are held weekly.

The cheese board and a glass of wine from House Wine
The cheese board and a glass of wine from House Wine
House Wine/Facebook

Apt 115

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This apartment-turned-wine-bar offers a casual, intimate space to enjoy a bottle and some cheese from a rotating menu.

Bottles of wine at Apt 115
Bottles of wine at Apt 115
Apt 115/Facebook

Alta's Cafe

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Downtown’s hidden lakeside cafe offers cheese plates and a selection of sustainable wines.

Cheese board at Alta’s Cafe
Cheese board at Alta’s Cafe
Alta’s Cafe/Facebook

Aviary Wine + Kitchen

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This laid-back neighborhood spot on South Lamar is nice enough to impress a date but relaxed enough to categorize their (many, many) wines by celebrities. The rotating cheese selection is served with house-made pickles, preserves, and baguette.

A big shelf of wine bottles with many compartments
Aviary Wine & Kitchen
Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Winebelly

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This south Austin favorite boasts a reasonable wine list, cheese selections from Antonelli’s, and fantastic tapas if more sustenance is needed.

North Italia

Both the Domain and Second Street locations of Italian restaurant chain North Italia have an excellent “bottle and board” happy hour deal: $20 for a bottle of wine and a cheese board (or pizza).

Dishes from North Italia
Dishes from North Italia
North Italia [Official]

Cru Wine Bar

Perfect for those trying to learn pairings or experts who like options, Cru (also with downtown and Domain locations) features flights of wine and flights of cheese to explore, all fantastic. The cheese board is practically a meal in itself, with fruit, nuts, and honey to accompany the slices.

Austin Cheese Company

This shop in the Arboretum has over 80 kinds of cheese, plus many kinds of wine. Opt for a preselected, three- or five-cheese board, create your own, or go with the cheese-centric entrees like salads and grilled cheese.

Cheese from Austin Cheese Company
Cheese from Austin Cheese Company
Austin Cheese Company/Facebook

Paris in a Bite

This cute casual cafe in Davenport Village specializes in French wines, with an impressive selection of bubbly. Upgrade to the premium cheese plate for a selection of rare French cheeses, and feel free to add some of the macarons or pastries for dessert.

Rosé wines from Paris in a Bite
Rosé wines from Paris in a Bite
Paris in a Bite//Facebook

Epicerie

This cozy cafe and grocery is an easy way to explore the richness of French food and wine. For something different, try the melty raclette.

A wooden board full of various cheese and sliced charcuterie at Epicerie
A cheese board at Epicerie
Epicerie/Facebook

Josephine House

A casually elegant restaurant from McGuire Moorman Hospitality, this Clarksville favorite has a wonderful patio for snacking alfresco. Cheeses are served with olives and house-made jam.

Josephine House
Josephine House
Josephine House/Facebook

The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen

Every location of Austin wine bar and restaurant mini-chain the Grove offers its own adventure — people-watching amongst the Westlake elite, downtown access, shopping-adjacent convenience at the Domain, or marveling at lake views out in Lakeway — but each offer the same expansive wine list, fun flights, and fantastic cheese plates. The fig and apricot chutney is a favorite with guests.

Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen in downtown Austin
Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen in downtown Austin
Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen/Facebook

Walton's Fancy and Staple

A little-known happy hour gem, this pretty bakery offers wine, pimento cheese, and delectable desserts for some additional sweetness.

Wine and cheese board at Walton’s
Wine and cheese board at Walton’s
Walton’s/Facebook

The Townsend

Though this bar in the epicenter of downtown is known for cocktails that pack a punch, the Townsend also has quite a wine selection — and the “really big” cheese board is great for sharing. It’s a particularly convenient stop before a show at the Paramount.

Blue Dahlia Bistro

Another great happy hour can be found at both locations this friendly bistro (in Westlake and Central East Austin), where the five-cheese board is $12 and select glasses of wine are $5 from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Cheese, breads, and fruits from Blue Dahlia Bistro
Cheese, breads, and fruits from Blue Dahlia Bistro
Blue Dahlia/Facebook

Max’s Wine Dive Austin

With special attention to bubbles, the vibe at Max’s is fun-yet-serious (about wine, anyway), making it perfect for business get-togethers. It offers several kinds of cheese appetizers: fried brie, marinated goat cheese, or a full board served with pretzel bread.

House Wine

A hideaway by Zilker Park that prides itself on lack of pretentiousness, House offers 100 wines by the glass and more cheese options here than your stomach could handle. Looking to up your knowledge? Wine tastings (which come with a cheese board) are held weekly.

The cheese board and a glass of wine from House Wine
The cheese board and a glass of wine from House Wine
House Wine/Facebook

Apt 115

This apartment-turned-wine-bar offers a casual, intimate space to enjoy a bottle and some cheese from a rotating menu.

Bottles of wine at Apt 115
Bottles of wine at Apt 115
Apt 115/Facebook

Alta's Cafe

Downtown’s hidden lakeside cafe offers cheese plates and a selection of sustainable wines.

Cheese board at Alta’s Cafe
Cheese board at Alta’s Cafe
Alta’s Cafe/Facebook

Aviary Wine + Kitchen

This laid-back neighborhood spot on South Lamar is nice enough to impress a date but relaxed enough to categorize their (many, many) wines by celebrities. The rotating cheese selection is served with house-made pickles, preserves, and baguette.

A big shelf of wine bottles with many compartments
Aviary Wine & Kitchen
Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Related Maps

Winebelly

This south Austin favorite boasts a reasonable wine list, cheese selections from Antonelli’s, and fantastic tapas if more sustenance is needed.

Related Maps