Grabbing a glass of wine or bubbles with a close friend is one of my favorite things to do. There’s something relaxing about sitting on a deck, sipping on rosé and chatting about life.
Growing up, my mom was a saleswoman in the wine industry and I grew up surrounded by bottles and bottles of vino (literally at one point the garage was so full we were actually surrounded). I went from drinking Franzia to bottom shelf wine (shout out to Apothecary Red) to middle shelf finds (Bogle, you’re still my jam).
Over the years I’ve discovered some great spots in Austin to sip and snack with friends. Here are my top 11 in no particular order:
1. Mattie’s: This place has a serious case of Southern Charm. Close to Downtown, but somehow off the beaten path, this restaurant is surrounded by large oak trees and features a spacious wooden wraparound deck. Once a farmhouse, this home has history dating back to the early 1900’s. The interiors are beautiful and understated with classic rustic decor.
Grab a seat on the deck and a glass of Weimer Dry Riesling. You won’t be disappointed.
2. The Drafting Room: This place truly has my heart. A friend and I stumbled upon The Drafting Room a few years back and have been avid fans ever since. This little gem has a cozy outdoor seating area and wine and champagne on tap. Yes, you read that right, on tap. In front of the building is L’Estelle {same owner}, which is a walk-up restaurant that serves French & Southern inspired home style classics like grilled cheese and creole shrimp and grits. Yum!
3. Opa! Cafe and Wine Bar: I’m a sucker for Mediterranean food. Seriously, give me all the hummus, tzatziki, olives and gyro’s in the world. I’ll eat it all day, every day. Opa! is a fun little spot located on South Lamar that’s perfect for an afternoon out with friends. They have a dedicated daily happy hour from 3-7pm where glasses are half off, bottles are 15% off and Sangria is only $4.
4. North Italia: New to Downtown Austin, North Italia has an indoor/outdoor bar along with a separate outdoor seating area that just screams “drink wine here.” With twinkle lights {my weakness} overhead and a direct view of the foot traffic on 2nd street, the patio is the perfect place to sit back and relax. They host a happy hour Monday-Thursday from 3-6pm with half bottles and discounted food. You can get a chef’s board and bottle of wine for just $20. Swoon.
5. The Salt Lick Cellars: Ok, bear with me here, Salt Lick Cellars is somewhat of a trek but I love love love this Winery. Located in Driftwood, Texas {about 15 miles West of Austin} the Winery is nestled in the Texas Hill Country. Their tasting room sits under heritage oak trees with outdoor seating on a grassy lawn, and, here’s the best part, the cellar is right next to The Salt Lick BBQ. If you haven’t paired wine and good BBQ then you may be missing out on one of the best combinations in the world. If you do go for the food be warned that The Salt Lick typically has a wait. I would suggest grabbing a buzzer, stopping at the Salt Lick Cellar for a bottle of red and then heading over to the outdoor stage to sip and enjoy live entertainment.
6. Juliet: A summertime must. Every time I’ve gone, I’ve actually shrieked when I went onto their patio. This place is so dang cute you’ll want to sit outside, drink wine and eat Italian apps all night long. The interior isn’t short on ambiance either, so don’t miss this spot if the weather isn’t cooperating. They typically have live music outside and on Tuesday’s they have half-priced bottles of wine.
7. House Wine: Cutest little happy hour spot around. House Wine emulates the name perfectly in that it’s a small refurbished house off South Lamar that serves wine, wine and more wine. With indoor and outdoor seating, House Wine offers sips and snacks ranging from a Hummus Platter to a S’mores Kit. I’ve been victim to the S’mores Kit more than once and #noregrets. If you check out their website, they have different happy hour specials each night. My personal favorite is Monday’s 10 for $20 Happy Hour. Each week they mix it up and you can choose one of 10 bottles for just $20.
8. Le Politique: Also new to Downtown Austin, this spot will give you major Paris feels. This French restaurant with the most Instagramable interior I’ve ever seen {it’s seriously so dreamy} is located across the street from North Italia in the heart of the Second Street district. Their deck is filled with delicate pastel furniture, fresh greenery and subtle string lights. Grab a friend and order a bottle of champagne. When you’re finished with your wine, swing by their Patisserie next door for a macaroon.
9. Jacoby: Talk about a hidden gem. This place opened a few years ago and it was one of the first spots I was truly excited to try in Austin. Since then it’s taken off and has been featured in the press for its charm and creative dishes. Located on the East Side, Jacoby is a family run business that specializes in ranch-to-table dining. While you wouldn’t know it from the outside-the restaurant overlooks the Colorado River and, with simple decor and unbeatable ambiance, this is the perfect spot for a nightcap with the girls.
10.Irene’s:Whenever someone tells me they want to go somewhere “Austin” I recommend Irene’s. It’s a perfect mix of funky, weird and utterly unique. It has the soul of a dive bar with all the benefits of a highly sought after Austin hot spot. Fun fact- Irene was the grandmother of one of the owners and is described on their website as a “drinking, smoking, gambling woman with an immense heart and a keen understanding of true hospitality.” If that doesn’t make you want to swing by for a beverage, then I don’t know what will. Grab a glass of wine and meet some new friends out on their patio, you won’t be disappointed.
11. Trace: Typically when you think of a hotel bar, especially one that’s attached to the W Hotel, you instantly think of overpriced food and drinks. Well, Trace is here to prove you wrong one happy hour snack and bottle of wine at a time. With one of my favorite happy hours in the city, Trace offers $7 glasses of wine and $5-$9 nibbles {which includes Pimento Mac & Cheese, Warm Crab Drip, Steamed Mussels, The Trace Butcher Burger and more} from 5-7pm Monday-Friday! Trace also hosts Rosé Wednesday all summer long {swoon} with 1/2 price bottles of Rosé, $7 for Frosé and live music out on their deck.
There are so many more that I would love to include, but that’ll just have to come in part two!
Happy wining and dining!
