Here's a closer look at Austin's newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this summer. The new and renovated Austin venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Sign Bar
Austin hospitality company FBR Management opened a new bar in East Austin imbued with nostalgia. Sign Bar opened in June chock-full of original and reproduced neon signs from local businesses that have either closed a long time ago, shuttered recently, or still exist. The 9,000-square-foot outdoor space includes three themed cabana lounges, a maze, and a taco truck; the indoor bar is 2,400 square feet. Outside, there are also empty trailers that can be occupied by food vendors or additional bar services.
Photo: Courtesy of Sign Bar
Sushi | Bar ATX
Already-lauded omakase restaurant Sushi | Bar ATX was able to grow bigger in its East Austin space. Before, it had been operating out of a private dining room space at host site and casual cafe Bento Picnic, but when that business shuttered in February, the tiny new-school Japanese restaurant was able to take over the entire building space. This means a new lounge area for pre-dinner cocktails and an additional sushi bar room. Each room seats 10 people for a total of 20 guests at a single seating, where the chefs guide them through a 17-course meal.
Photo: Courtesy of Sushi | Bar ATX
El Raval
When Austin tapas restaurant Barlata closed in late April, a new owner took over the Spanish restaurant space, revamping the name, design, and menu. In mid-May, new chef and owner Laila Bazahm debuted her tapas restaurant El Raval, inspired by the Barcelona neighborhood of the same name. The revamped menu includes dishes like a braised lamb breast with Bengali koshi mangsho spices and a whipped fromage frais, along with classics like paella. The new cocktail menu was designed by famous bar expert Moe Aljaff of the award-winning Barcelona bar Two Schmucks. The 3,500-square-foot restaurant can fit 110 seated guests indoors and 30 seated guests in an urban space outdoors.
Photo: Madeline Caswell
Estelle’s
New club and lounge Estelle’s opened in April, transforming what had been the Truluck’s restaurant space in downtown Austin into a very floral space. There’s even an on-site flower shop run by Native Bloom. The first floor includes a beautiful marble bar and lounge; the second floor has a club room with a DJ booth; and both are connected by a grand staircase adorned with flowers. Private seating nooks done up in an old Hollywood style are also available with bottle service.
Photo: Courtesy of Estelle’s
Dottiewood Studios
New event production and photography studio Dottiewood Studios opened in March as a fun canvas for events and parties. The full 10,000-square-foot space includes seven rooms, from the full kitchen to the Shape Studio with stairs and props for photos to a main gallery space, all with audiovisual capabilities, as well as a dressing room. There’s also access to an outdoor area for food trucks and extra event space.
Photo: Courtesy of Dottiewood Studios
Studio Three Austin
Chicago-based boutique fitness studio Studio Three opened its first Austin location, Studio Three Austin, in April. The 10,000-square-foot space includes three workout studios dedicated to interval training (with a capacity of 39 people), cycling (54 people), and yoga (60 people), all with high-tech equipment amid vibrant murals by artist Xavier Schipani. On the ground floor is a dedicated location of health-focused Austin restaurant The Well, serving bowls and smoothies.
Photo: Courtesy of Studio Three Austin
Wanderlust Wine Co.
Austin tasting room Wanderlust Wine Co. opened its third location in the Barton Springs neighborhood this April. This South Austin spot functions as a daytime cafe and afternoon wine bar, and there’s a small food prep area for pop-ups and its in-house charcuterie program. There are several available areas throughout the over 3,300-square-foot space, including a dedicated indoor event space that can fit up to 30 seated guests and outdoor elevated decks that feel like treehouses. There’s also an audio system with speakers, a PA, and a microphone. A ground-floor venue space will come later with a retail bottle shop and wine cave for intimate tastings.
Photo: Courtesy of Wanderlust Wine Co.
Carve American Grille
National chain Perry’s Restaurants opened a second location of its live-fire restaurant, Carve American Grille, in Central Austin this June. Various spaces throughout the 9,426-square-foot space include the glass-encased Carve Room, which fits up to 12 people; the Cleaver Room and Cedar rooms, each with their own flat-screen TVs and 20 and 24 people capacities, respectively (these can be combined too); and then a variety of outdoor areas, some with heaters and fans, with capacities ranging from eight to 18 people. The menu leans into live-fire-cooked meats such as pork chops and steaks, alongside classic cocktails.
Photo: Courtesy of Perry’s Restaurants
Ezov
The growing Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group—behind Emmer & Rye, Hestia, and Canje—opened a new East Austin restaurant in the spring. Ezov, which opened in April, is chef Berty Richter’s ode to Tel Aviv. The restaurant’s dedicated 536-square-foot private dining room (pictured) is available for booking to enjoy dishes like shawarma, hummus, and falafel, as well as cocktails and drinks within a metropolitan aesthetic that includes spray-painted graffiti. It can fit a total of 28 seated guests or 30 standing guests, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass and openable windows that peek into the main dining room.
Photo: Courtesy of Ezov
Underdog ATX
New Korean American wine restaurant Underdog ATX, which opened in May, is a multifaceted business. The entire 3,200-square-foot space includes the restaurant proper dishing out wine-friendly Korean American-ish dishes like bulgogi burgers, roast pork belly ssam, and fried chicken; a 22-person private dining room that entails its own dedicated French food menu; and a private bathroom and entrance. There's also a retail wine shop and patio. The whole space can fit 65 seated guests or 100 standing guests.
Photo: Courtesy of Underdog
La Popular CDMX
Mexico City restaurant La Popular opened its second-ever stateside location in Austin in April. The modern South Austin space—a total of 4,100 square feet indoors and 500 square feet on the patio—serves up new-school Mexican dishes, from ahi tuna tostadas to al pastor tacos, and fun cocktails including the smoky Oaxacan Jellyfish, for up to 162 seated guests.
Photos: Courtesy of La Popular CDMX
Holiday
East Austin’s newest bar Holiday offers an elegant feminine space for drinks and food as of March. The half-acre dining space includes an expansive patio and a warehouse-styled indoor space, with access to the PA. For food, there are New American dishes like shrimp cocktails and large pork schnitzels, as well as excellent house cocktails and martinis (don't skip the frozen Mexican martini). The space, which holds about 200 people, is open for full buyouts and parties.
Photo: Courtesy of Holiday
Flor Xakali
Acclaimed Austin Mexican restaurant Nixta Taqueria debuted a new tasting menu service and event space this July. Under James Beard Award-winning chef Edgar Rico, Flor Xakali is a journey through the chef’s family history from Mexico into America through dishes like rabbit barbacoa and rajas. The meal is served on the 600-square-foot revamped patio, which features a corn husk installation and a humidor emitting a custom blend of smoke, fitting either 25 seated guests or 40 standing guests.
Photo: Courtesy of Flor Xakali
