Austin’s Most Anticipated Restaurant and Bar Openings

Austin’s dining scene still has plenty in store for 2026. Kevin Durant’s new upscale dining and sports bar concept, a Parisian café and a Michelin-recognized Mexican restaurant are just a few of the openings already drawing attention around town. Here’s a look at the openings poised to make their mark on the city’s food scene this year.

Austin Sports Club

205 E 3rd St.

Expected opening: Spring 2026

Austin Sports Club brings together the vision of several hospitality and business heavyweights. Created by NBA All-Star Kevin Durant, his longtime business partner Rich Kleiman through their Boardroom brand, Joe Gebbia and Austin-based Lobos Hospitality, the new concept aims to deliver a more elevated take on the traditional sports bar. Renderings show a moody, layered interior with dark wood tones, intimate booths and ambient lighting, setting the tone for a more upscale sports dining experience. A curated beverage program and globally inspired menu are designed to make the space feel equally suited for after-work drinks, client meetings or a leisurely night out tailored to athletes, creatives and business leaders.

Big Al’s

5811 Berkman Drive, Bldg. H

Expected opening: Summer 2026

Big Al’s Pizza, the newest concept from the team behind Hank’s Austin, is set to open next door to the neighborhood restaurant and coffee shop. The new spot will center on New York-style pizza, available by the slice or as whole pies, along with salads and appetizers. Beer on tap, wine, cocktails and frozen drinks will round out the menu, while a dedicated kids’ play area is intended to make the space a family-friendly hangout.

The Butcher’s Daughter

1600 S. Congress Ave.

Expected opening: Late Summer/Early Fall 2026

Plant-based diners will soon have a new reason to celebrate in Austin as The Butcher’s Daughter arrives with a fully vegetarian, all-day cafe offering vegan and gluten-free dishes. The menu includes plant-forward takes on familiar items, such as Cauliflower Cacio e Pepe and Watermelon “Tuna” Tostada. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus weekend brunch, the Austin outpost marks the brand’s first Texas location, joining sister spots in Los Angeles and New York City. The menu shifts with the seasons, offering returning fans something new to discover with each visit.

Switchback Coffee and Beer

220 Ralph Ablanedo Drive

Expected opening: Spring 2026

Far South Austin locals will soon be getting a new neighborhood coffee shop and bar with the arrival of Switchback. Founded by Ethan Wagner and Grace Nicholas, co-founder of Crux Climbing Center, the concept will open alongside the highly anticipated South Austin Crux location and serve specialty coffee, grab-and-go pastries, craft beer, wine and seasonal drinks.

Alteño Austin

96 Red River St.

Expected opening: Summer 2026

Alteño Austin is the newest concept from Fonda Fina Hospitality’s Johnny and Kasie Curiel, expanding on the Michelin-recognized Denver flagship. Set in Austin’s Rainey district, the restaurant draws on Chef Johnny Curiel’s exploration of Mexican cuisine, with influences from the fire-kissed flavors of Jalisco’s Highlands and the traditional cooking styles passed down from his father, known as the original “Alteño,” or highlander. The menu centers on fire-driven cooking shaped by years of research and refinement. Its beverage program will emphasize agave spirits such as raicilla and mezcal, along with classic cocktails and a curated wine list featuring producers from Mexico, Europe and the United States.

Driskill Grill

604 Brazos St.

Expected opening: TBD

Originally opened in 1929, Driskill Grill is considered one of Austin’s most historic dining rooms, as it was the place where President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Claudia Taylor, carried out their first date, and later frequented during his time in Austin. Today, the Driskill Grill is temporarily closed as the hotel undergoes renovations. Once it officially reopens, it will be under the direction of New York restaurateur Chef April Bloomfield and operated by Austin’s MML Hospitality, and will include a new bar, The Victorian. 

Only The Wild Ones

1600 S Congress Ave.

Expected opening: May 2026

Just off bustling South Congress, Only The Wild Ones comes from The Butcher’s Daughter team and will pair wine and spirits with a curated analog sound experience built around a custom hi-fi system and local vinyl selectors. The space will feature limestone and stucco walls, lush greenery and a sunken courtyard designed to create an immersive setting where music and conversation share equal focus. Its wine list will emphasize small-production, low-intervention bottles from producers rooted in traditional winemaking.

Café Fleurs de Nuit

200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Expected opening: Fall 2026

Café Fleurs de Nuit brings a Parisian café sensibility to the Blanton Museum of Art through a partnership with the team behind Justine’s Brasserie. Envisioned as a daytime counterpart to the East Austin favorite, the concept will offer French-inspired classics made with local ingredients, from coffee and pastries to brunch, lunch and dinner, with Saturday service continuing into the evening. The menu will include staples such as escargot and crème brûlée, along with a bakery counter for grab-and-go offerings and a curated wine and cocktail list. Designed by Joel Mozersky, the space blends warm lighting, rich textures and signature red accents with an indoor-outdoor layout, including a patio overlooking the museum grounds and nearby artwork.

Foodie & Tina

2153 South Lamar Blvd.

Expected opening: Summer 2026

Becca Seiler and Spencer Brown, a husband-and-wife duo who have been hosting sushi pop-ups since 2024, are opening their first permanent space: an 800-square-foot hand roll shop centered on takeout and counter service. Before landing in a brick-and-mortar, the couple built a following through a charming omakase experience in a South Austin barn, where they also grow produce on the property for their multi-course, rotating menu. Their new concept will focus on made-to-order hand rolls and chef-curated boxes, with a standing counter where guests can watch dishes being prepared in real time. The pair’s approach emphasizes responsibly sourced seafood from domestic fishermen using rod-and-reel methods, alongside rotating nigiri, bowls and seasonal specials.

Baldinucci

11501 Rock Rose Ave. #146

Expected opening: Summer 2026

Baldinucci Pizza Romana is set to bring its Roman-style pizza to Domain NORTHSIDE, with a space built for both casual meals and grab-and-go slices. The menu will focus on pizza al taglio, made with imported Italian flour, high hydration and a slow fermentation process that yields a light, airy crust. Among the planned offerings are the Sausage & Honey, the Nonna with hand-crushed tomatoes and garlic, and a fig and arugula slice finished with balsamic glaze.

Howdy’s Pizza and Pasta

1701 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Suite 102

Expected opening: Early June 2026

A new neighborhood spot for pizza, pasta and good wine is opening on East MLK. Led by chef Emily Rayburn, Howdy’s Pizza and Pasta will serve Italian-inspired dishes with Central Texas influence, including fresh pastas, seasonal pizzas, share plates and a beverage list with Texas wines and local beers. Summer menu highlights include tomato and peach agnolotti, corn and basil lasagna, pepperoni pizza with ricotta and basil, and a hot pepper, peach and burrata pizza.

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