2026-08-28 09:33:23
There’s room to roam in West Austin. These wide-open spaces are the city’s getaway for Texas Hill Country retreats, fun on the water and dining with an amazing view.
Tex-Mex goes surfer at Hula Hut, with Polynesian flavors and grass-thatched umbrellas overlooking Lake Austin. Next door, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters shares the same panoramic views paired with deli sandwiches, quiches and pastries. Slow-smoked barbecue comes with a side of Bull Creek scenery at The County Line on the Lake.
The Oasis is famous for its Tex- Mex cuisine and hillside decks with a front-row seat to stunning Lake Travis sunsets. Visit sun-loving Ski Shores Cafe for Angus burgers and fried catfish baskets. Oasis Texas Brewing Company serves up Texas beef burgers and lagers 450 feet above the lake.
Wood-grilled chicken from airy Fresa’s comes with all the fixings for tasty tacos. Sit on the rooftop patio at Sway for modern Thai dishes and aromatic cocktails. Greek taverna Yamas specializes in Mediterranean seafood like butterflied branzino and grilled sea bass.
Find fresh heirloom vegetables and farm-to-table fare at cottage-inspired The Wayback Cafe. Tour the brewery, visit the goats and sample IPAs and farmhouse ales at Jester King Brewery. Seafood towers and sustainable catches celebrate the Gulf Coast at Shore Raw Bar & Grill.
Hill Country’s Lantana Place is a thriving foodie outpost. Sleek La Popular puts a modern spin on Mexican favorites like short rib enchiladas. Curated omakase sushi comes at an accessible price point at welcoming Tancho. Lantern-lit Ling Wu Asian Restaurant’s rich soup dumplings and Peking duck are Chinese comfort food.
Share a bottle of French Beaujolais at bright Flo’s Wine Bar & Bottle Shop. A cacio e pepe pie from Allday Pizza on the patio completes the perfect pairing.
Littlefield’s Tacos + Coffee gathers great eats under a greenery-covered trellis. Local favorite Veracruz All Natural whips up migas tacos and fresh juices. SnoRideATX offers shaved ice topped with cane sugar syrups and rainbow sprinkles, while pink Bésame’s special-edition ice cream comes in scoops or pints to take home.
Bliss out with steam and cold plunges at Barton Creek Resort & Spa. Miraval Austin Resort and Spa offers equine therapy and breathwork alongside massages. Sip Tempranillo between treatments at Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa.
Refresh with wellness retreats at Lake Austin Spa Resort or head for the hills and the Garden Spa at Sage Hill Inn & Spa. Hotel Viata Austin’s Spa Viata soothes with mineral baths and body scrubs.
Cruise Lake Austin in a pontoon and peek at luxury lakefront homes. Farther west, spacious Lake Travis beckons for boating, fishing and even scuba diving. Hike Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve to spot endangered golden-cheeked warblers among hilly overlooks.
Red Bud Isle has gone to the dogs — the entire 13-acre island is an off-leash puppy park. A stone staircase leads to the summit of Mount Bonnell, with expansive views across Lake Austin and beyond.
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures’ five high-speed ziplines soar through the treetops and over the water. Tour the lakefront gardens and outdoor sculptures at The Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria. See iconic Hill Country views from the Pennybacker Bridge (also known as the Austin 360 Bridge), perched over Lake Austin.
Spend the day in the historic Deep Eddy neighborhood. Go swimming at the springfed Deep Eddy Pool. Dine on Texas wagyu burgers grilled in a silver Airstream trailer at Pool Burger. In the evening, order a shot and a Lone Star Beer at Deep Eddy Cabaret, a local favorite since 1951.
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