Best Date Spots: Dining
From casual to fine dining restaurants, here are a few of our favorite spots to grab a bite to eat in Austin.
Clark’s Oyster Bar | A chic West Austin neighborhood spot with a great raw bar, lobster rolls, and more.
1200 W Sixth St | 512.297.2525
DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya | A Japanese nabemono hot pot dining experience where dishes are cooked at the table and then dipped into flavorful sauces.
7301 Burnet Rd #101 | 512.893.5561
Jeffreys | A Clarksville fine dining icon featuring dry-aged prime beef, French American classics, seasonal favorites, and a full bar.
1204 W Lynn St | 512.477.5584
Juniper | Northern Italian cuisine meets central Texas influences at this East Austin restaurant, offering inventive food and cocktail menus that align with their swanky interior.
2400 E Cesar Chavez St #304 | 512.220.9421
Justine’s Brasserie | Chic little bungalow offering steaks, snails and cocktails in a cozy chic atmosphere. Be sure to end the night with their classic creme brûlée.
4710 E 5th Street | 512.385.2900
Uchi + Uchiko | Whether you vist Uchi or its sister restaurant Uchiko, the ambiance, upscale sushi, and small plates will not disappoint.
4200 N Lamar Blvd | 512.916.4808
Best Date Spots: Uniquely Austin
Here are a few date suggestions that are uniquely Austin and sure to give your date a memorable edge.
Antonelli’s Cheese Shop | Enjoy shared composed cheese plates, charcuterie boards, and assorted craft chocolates at one of Antonelli’s classes!
4220 Duval St | 512.531.9610
Chicken Sh** Bingo | It is exactly what it sounds like. Join in on this Sunday tradition at Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon with drinking and country music.
5434 Burnet Rd | 512.524.1291
The Escape Game Austin | A live 60-minute adventure featuring 6 rooms with themes ranging from gold rush to a prison break.
405 Red River St | 512.643.0043
Ghost Pepper Glass | A public access, glassblowing studio offering classes for beginners and experts. Give your date something to bring home that will always remind them how original the date was.
979 Springdale Rd #100 | 512.766.5897
Haunted ATX | Features a 3-hour tour of Austin’s most haunted spots while driving you from location to location in a hearse that has been converted to a limousine!
501 N Interstate Hwy 35 | 737.210.1869
The Highball | Music. Karaoke. Drinks. It’s like nothing else in Austin with its dance floor, patio, and themed karaoke rooms, the Highball is a one stop party shop.
1120 S Lamar Blvd | 512.383.8309
Peter Pan Mini-Golf | Operating since 1946, this cash-only family attraction features a variety of characters and obstacles on two 18-hole courses.
1207 Barton Springs Rd | 512.472.1033
Urban Axes | Indoor axe throwing bringing people together one bullseye at a time. Don’t forget it’s BYOB!
812 Airport Blvd | 512.887.2937
The White Horse | Live country music is served up in this hip, upbeat, sprawling East Austin honky-tonk.
500 Comal St | 512.553.675
Best Date Spots: Catch A Show
From catching a concert to experiencing the magic of the theater, check out these great Austin venues for catching a show.
ACL Live at the Moody Theater | Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater hosts diverse performers, from Pat Green to ZZ Top, so you can’t go wrong.
310 W Willie Nelson Blvd | 512.225.7999
Alamo Drafthouse | A movie, dinner, and drinks – the perfect combo. Be sure to also check out some of their signature series such as Terror Tuesdays, Champagne Cinema, and Master Pancake Theater.
Various Locations
Elephant Room | In the heart of old Downtown, sidle down a few steps into this underground bar and breathe in jazz. The candlelit venue features the best in jazz and is open seven nights a week.
315 Congress Ave | 512.473.2279
Esther’s Follies | Have a laugh at this modern-day vaudeville theatre featuring magic, singing, dancing and sketches on current events.
525 E 6th St | 512.320.0553
The Paramount Theatre | Offering everything from live music to films to comedy, The Paramount is Austin’s century-old performance and movie theatre in the heart of downtown.
713 Congress Ave | 512.893.5561
Violet Crown | In the heart of the Second Street District, Violet Crown Cinema makes dinner and a movie an experience worth checking out, with four screens devoted to independent, documentary, and foreign films.
1434 W 2nd St | 512.495.9600
Best Date Spots: Cool Cocktails
From swanky hotel bars to secret bars, grab a craft cocktail at one of these local drinking spots.
Drink.Well. | This cozy gastropub offers eclectic plates and innovative cocktails in a stylish setting.
207 E 53rd St | 512.614.6683
The Driskill Bar | Enjoy specialty cocktails, updated bar bites and local musicians in their plush Texas-
604 Brazos St | 512.391.7107
Firehouse Lounge | Located in Austin’s oldest standing fire station, this speakeasy is hidden behind a bookshelf in the Firehouse Hostel’s lobby. Just slide the bookcase from left to right and you’re in.
605 Brazos St | 512.212.4244
Garage | An unassuming bar crafting inventive cocktails in a hip space within a parking garage. Once in the parking garage, keep following the path upwards until you stumble upon the entrance of the bar.
503 Colorado St | 512.369.3490
Midnight Cowboy | An intimate reservations-only lounge known for its hip speakeasy vibe and old-school cocktail menu. Be sure to make a reservation in advance online and ring the Harry Craddock buzzer for entry.
313 E 6th St | 512.843.2715
Tipsy Alchemist | Located in 70 Rainey, this cocktail bar creates cocktails with a touch of science, art and technique. The bar also offers a large outdoor patio, stage for live music, and a menu of local beers.
70 Rainey St #200 | 512.646.4733
Best Date Spots: Daytime Dates
Can’t wait till the sun goes down? Austin has tons of ideas of fun things to do during the daylight hours.
Banger’s Brunch | With a massive outdoor seating area filled with long picnic tables, Banger’s makes the perfect casual brunch destination on Rainey Street.
79 Rainey St | 512.386.1656
The Contemporary Austin | Reflects the spectrum of contemporary art through exhibitions, commissions, education, and the collection.
700 Congress Ave | 512.453.5312
Duchman Family Winery | A slice of Tuscan heaven in the heart of Texas Hill Country. The property offers unequaled views of vineyards, romantic gardens, and sunsets. Be sure to also stop by Salt Lick for some BBQ while in Driftwood.
13308 Farm to Market 150 | 512.858.1470
Jester King Brewery | A world-renowned maker of farmhouse ales and barrel-
13187 Fitzhugh Rd
Texas Rowing Center | Rent a kayak, canoe or paddleboard on Lady Bird Lake. No reservations necessary, just show up!
1541 W Cesar Chavez St | 512.467.7799
Viva Day Spa | Offers a wide array of spa treatments for men and women including massages, facials, manicures, and spa packages.
Various Locations
Best Date Spots: Treat Yo Self
Head to one of Austin’s best bakeries to enjoy all the baked goods, desserts, and sweets with your sweet. The perfect addition to any date!
Amy’s Ice Creams | Amy’s makes for the perfect end (or begining) to any date with their handcrafted artisanal super-premium ice creams, dairy-
Various Locations
Churro Co. | For sweet tooths, Churros Co. is the answer, dishing out churros topped with fruit compote, apple pie, marshmallows, caramel, and more.
1906 S 1st St | 512.905.5267
Lick Honest Ice Creams | Visit hip ice creamery, Lick, who churns out offbeat flavors made from local, natural, and sustainable ingredients.
Various Locations
Quack’s | Stop in this hip coffeehouse with an easygoing vibe for some delicious baked goods and espresso drinks.
411 E 43rd St | 512.453.3399
Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop | One of Austin’s sweetest bakeries! A Southern bakeshop with a flair for the old fashioned offering anything from cupcakes to wedding cakes.
1905 S 1st St | 512.448.3727
The Yard Milkshake Bar | Known for their indulgent ice cream creations, The Yard offers customizable milkshakes in a wide range of ice cream flavors and toppings.
