Austin’s Best New Restaurants and Bars to Try
Discover the most exciting additions to Austin’s food and beverage scene
Though this time of year in Austin tends to be quieter for restaurant debuts, a wave of exciting new openings has kept the city’s dining scene buzzing. From inventive pop-up bars and beloved brunch staples expanding south, to ambitious new concepts from some of the city’s most celebrated chefs, these newcomers are worth adding to your summer rotation.
Le Calamar
1600 S. First St.
The team behind Underdog brings French bistro flair with a Texan twist to South First Street with Le Calamar. Chef Casey Wall’s menu marries French technique and local flavors in dishes like oysters charentaise with Texas hot links and guajillo-butter grilled trout. The stylish, olive-toned space offers indoor and patio seating, with lunch, happy hour and dinner service alongside a bold cocktail program and a wine list spotlighting French, Mexican and Texan producers.
Siti
1123 E 11th St.
Siti, the latest from El Raval chef Laila Bazahm, is serving up the bold and aromatic flavors of Southeast Asia at The Frances Modern Inn in East Austin. Drawing on her Filipino roots and time living in Singapore, Bazahm’s menu features rich sambals, fragrant broths, housemade spice pastes, and smoky grilled meats. The cocktails are just as playful, mixing Indonesian and Malaysian spirits into fun concoctions like a tequila drink with house-made sriracha syrup and calamansi.
Residence
2600 E Cesar Chavez St.
Residence is a new East Austin pop-up from Michelin two-star chef Anthony Martin, hosted in an intimate home—formerly the original Sushi | Bar ATX space—with just ten seats per seating. The experience blends global influences and precise technique with the warmth of a dinner party, where Chef Anthony personally prepares and plates a multi-course menu each night. Elevated but approachable, the $295 experience is designed to feel like being welcomed into the chef’s own home. With a limited run and reservations filling quickly, Residence is one of the most exclusive culinary offerings in Austin this summer.
Shipwrecked
307 W 5th St.
The Eleanor’s latest limited-run pop-up, Shipwreck’d, transforms the downtown bar into a fully immersive pirate tavern through August 2. Guests can sip on tropical, maritime-inspired cocktails including “cursed concoctions,” punches, shots and nonalcoholic grogs, surrounded by detailed décor evoking a weathered pirate ship at sea. The playful atmosphere includes character cameos, photo ops and happy hour deals like a free shot with any cocktail from 3 to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended for groups or busy nights, and those who come dressed as a pirate get 10% off their tab.
Bar Hacienda
400 Colorado St.
Now open in the basement of Tiger Lilly in Downtown Austin, Bar Hacienda is a stylish underground lounge from industry veterans Terance Robson and Jack “Slim” Hogan, known for their work at the acclaimed speakeasy Here Nor There. The menu features refreshing cocktails, such as the Miami Nice (coconut oil rum, strawberry water, pineapple foam and lime dust) and the frozen Salero (vodka, mango, vanilla sorbet, freshly squeezed orange juice and bubbles). Plus, the summer happy hour (Tuesday–Saturday, 5–6:30 p.m.) offers any three cocktails for $20.
Swedish Hill South First
1804 S. 1st St.
South Austin got a stylish new outpost of beloved bakery and cafe Swedish Hill in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood this summer. Housed in the former Foxtrot Market, the airy space features a sunny patio and the brand’s signature coffee beverages, pastries, breads, and all-day cafe fare. Unique to this location is a dedicated showroom from California’s Heath Ceramics, offering handcrafted mugs, plates, and more. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., it follows Swedish Hill’s recent Westlake debut, with another downtown location coming this fall.
La La La Kind Cafe
1400 S Congress Ave. Ste. A102
La La Land Kind Cafe opened its first Austin location this month on South Congress, bringing its signature sunny energy and feel-good mission to the city. The cafe pairs bright, minimalist white-and-yellow interiors and positive messages like “just be nice” on its coffee cups with an Instagram-worthy menu of lattes, matchas, and avocado toast. Opening day drew a line down the block thanks to giveaways and half-off specials, but it’s the brand’s mission to support foster youth and individuals in need that sets it apart from the typical coffee shop.
Paperboy South
1401 S Lamar Blvd.
Fans of the beloved brunch spot Paperboy can now enjoy its elevated diner classics in South Austin. The new South Lamar location brings all-day brunch favorites, house-made pastries, and craft coffee and cocktails to a bright, design-forward space with cozy booths, bar seating, a covered patio, and a convenient walk-up window. The menu sticks to the hits like the Classic Breakfast, light and fresh Granola Bowl, and the indulgent Paperboy Pancake made with the same care as the East Austin original.
Neptune
501 W. 6th St. Suite 100
Nova Hospitality, the team behind Austin favorites like TenTen, Devil May Care, and The Well, has debuted Neptune, a premium to-go-only concept delivering chef-driven sushi, customizable donburi and poke bowls, and Japanese-inspired snacks across the city. The menu, led by Chef Dimitri Voutsinas, highlights sustainable seafood and fresh, high-quality ingredients, all gluten-free, seed oil–free, and refined sugar–free. Standouts include seared Wagyu rolls with wasabi chimichurri, bluefin tuna with yuzu truffle, plant-based nigiri, and desserts like matcha cheesecake and Tokyo banana rice pudding.
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