clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

16 Charming Italian Restaurants in Austin

20 Very Great Burgers in Austin

Where to Eat in Dripping Springs

More in Austin See more maps

Where to Eat Near Zilker During ACL

by Meghan McCarron
3 comments / new
View as Map
by Meghan McCarron
3 comments / new

The Austin City Limits Festival is a sacred time in Austin, a wild rumpus of day drinking, booty shaking, and standing in line for... everything. But there is a better way, at least when it comes to dining. Eater presents a map of the best places to eat and drink near Zilker for out-of-towners and Austinites alike. Whether it's time to leave the festival and find some grub, or waiting in line for Mighty Cone has just become too much, some of Austin's best cuisine is within striking distance. As always, if a favorite restaurant is missing, chime in on the tipline or in the comments.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Magnolia Cafe

Copy Link

[Photo: Sarah M./Yelp]

2304 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-8645
(512) 478-8645

Fabi + Rosi

Copy Link

[Photo:Harald M./Yelp]

509 Hearn St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 236-0642
(512) 236-0642

Deep Eddy Cabaret

Copy Link

[Photo:Turtle S./Yelp]

2315 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Counter Cafe

Copy Link

[Photo: Edwin L./Yelp]

626 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703
(512) 708-8800
(512) 708-8800

24 Diner

Copy Link

It will be packed. But ACL is a weekend that calls for a couple good 24-hour options, and 24 Diner serves breakfast any time and cocktails, too.

600 N Lamar Blvd #G, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-5400
(512) 472-5400

Frank Restaurant

Copy Link

This fancy hot dog joint will be serving inside the fest, but their brick and mortar location features strong, tasty drinks. Even better - they pull a mean espresso in the mornings.

407 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-6894
(512) 494-6894

Juan Pelota Café

Copy Link

[Photo:Michelle C/Yelp]

400 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-0222
(512) 473-0222

Also featured in:

Hut's Hamburgers

Copy Link

Cheap eats aren't the easiest to come by in downtown Austin. At Hut's Hamburgers, open since 1939, diners can spring for the huge pile of onion rings without up all that precious, precious beer money. They have gluten free buns, too.

807 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-0693
(512) 472-0693

Also featured in:

La Condesa

Copy Link

Enjoy what very well might be Austin's best margaritas and their high-end tacos for a perfect post-fest night. They'll have a truck inside the festival grounds as well, but their hip-yet-inviting space is worth experiencing.

400 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 499-0300
(512) 499-0300

Casa de Luz

Copy Link

This tucked-away vegetarian haven offers the perfect detox for all those illicit substances and/or Amy's Ice Cream. The chill atmosphere is the perfect auditory detox, too.

1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-2535
(512) 476-2535

Also featured in:

Chuy's

Copy Link

[Photo: Krissy K/Yelp]

1728 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704
(512) 474-4452
(512) 474-4452

Also featured in:

El Alma Cafe y Cantina

Copy Link

El Alma is the higher-end cousin to the Austin Tex-Mex mini-chain El Chile. Their rooftop patio is an ideal space to share post-fest guacamole and cocktails

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

Also featured in:

Sandy's Hamburgers

Copy Link

[Photo: Mary O./Yelp]

603 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 478-6322
(512) 478-6322

Also featured in:

Paggi House

Copy Link

Paggi House will probably be packed right after the festival lets out, but off hours might offer the opportunity to enjoy what is routinely listed as one of the city's best patios.

200 Lee Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 473-3700
(512) 473-3700

Luke's Inside Out

Copy Link

[Photo:Kristy O./Yelp]

1109 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 589-8883
(512) 589-8883

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Uchi

Copy Link

This message is for the out-of-towners: if you're feeling really lucky or really patient, this Austin standout is within walking distance of Zilker. Get there early if you want any hope of a table. Austinites: why on earth would you go to Uchi during ACL? You live here.

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-4808
(512) 916-4808

Barley Swine

Copy Link

Out-of-towners: this other Austin dining destination is a bit of a hike from Zilker, but it is technically doable. Early arrivals could even make a reservation for Thursday night. Austinites: see the previous entry about Uchi.

2024 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-8150
(512) 394-8150

La Barbecue Cuisine Texicana

Copy Link

La Barbecue's brisket is mentioned in the same breath as Franklin's these days, and the lines are (for now) much shorter. It's a bit of a hike to Zilker by foot, but for those on bikes or with a ride, it's an easy jaunt.

1502 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 605-9696
(512) 605-9696

More in Maps

Loading comments...

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

Magnolia Cafe

2304 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

[Photo: Sarah M./Yelp]

2304 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-8645
(512) 478-8645

Fabi + Rosi

509 Hearn St, Austin, TX 78703

[Photo:Harald M./Yelp]

509 Hearn St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 236-0642
(512) 236-0642

Deep Eddy Cabaret

2315 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

[Photo:Turtle S./Yelp]

2315 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Counter Cafe

626 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703

[Photo: Edwin L./Yelp]

626 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703
(512) 708-8800
(512) 708-8800

24 Diner

600 N Lamar Blvd #G, Austin, TX 78703

It will be packed. But ACL is a weekend that calls for a couple good 24-hour options, and 24 Diner serves breakfast any time and cocktails, too.

600 N Lamar Blvd #G, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-5400
(512) 472-5400

Frank Restaurant

407 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

This fancy hot dog joint will be serving inside the fest, but their brick and mortar location features strong, tasty drinks. Even better - they pull a mean espresso in the mornings.

407 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-6894
(512) 494-6894

Juan Pelota Café

400 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701

[Photo:Michelle C/Yelp]

400 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-0222
(512) 473-0222

Hut's Hamburgers

807 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

Cheap eats aren't the easiest to come by in downtown Austin. At Hut's Hamburgers, open since 1939, diners can spring for the huge pile of onion rings without up all that precious, precious beer money. They have gluten free buns, too.

807 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-0693
(512) 472-0693

La Condesa

400 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701

Enjoy what very well might be Austin's best margaritas and their high-end tacos for a perfect post-fest night. They'll have a truck inside the festival grounds as well, but their hip-yet-inviting space is worth experiencing.

400 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 499-0300
(512) 499-0300

Casa de Luz

1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX 78704

This tucked-away vegetarian haven offers the perfect detox for all those illicit substances and/or Amy's Ice Cream. The chill atmosphere is the perfect auditory detox, too.

1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-2535
(512) 476-2535

Chuy's

1728 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704

[Photo: Krissy K/Yelp]

1728 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704
(512) 474-4452
(512) 474-4452

El Alma Cafe y Cantina

1025 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704

El Alma is the higher-end cousin to the Austin Tex-Mex mini-chain El Chile. Their rooftop patio is an ideal space to share post-fest guacamole and cocktails

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

Sandy's Hamburgers

603 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

[Photo: Mary O./Yelp]

603 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 478-6322
(512) 478-6322

Paggi House

200 Lee Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78704

Paggi House will probably be packed right after the festival lets out, but off hours might offer the opportunity to enjoy what is routinely listed as one of the city's best patios.

200 Lee Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 473-3700
(512) 473-3700

Luke's Inside Out

1109 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

[Photo:Kristy O./Yelp]

1109 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 589-8883
(512) 589-8883

Related Maps

Uchi

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

This message is for the out-of-towners: if you're feeling really lucky or really patient, this Austin standout is within walking distance of Zilker. Get there early if you want any hope of a table. Austinites: why on earth would you go to Uchi during ACL? You live here.

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-4808
(512) 916-4808

Barley Swine

2024 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Out-of-towners: this other Austin dining destination is a bit of a hike from Zilker, but it is technically doable. Early arrivals could even make a reservation for Thursday night. Austinites: see the previous entry about Uchi.

2024 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-8150
(512) 394-8150

La Barbecue Cuisine Texicana

1502 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

La Barbecue's brisket is mentioned in the same breath as Franklin's these days, and the lines are (for now) much shorter. It's a bit of a hike to Zilker by foot, but for those on bikes or with a ride, it's an easy jaunt.

1502 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 605-9696
(512) 605-9696

Related Maps