People typically gasp with envy when I say I am from Austin, Texas. They reply with comments like, “I’ve heard Austin is the best place to live” or “Austin is the coolest place I’ve ever been.” A true local experience that makes Austin so special is patio dining, complete with pets, live music, sports, Happy Hour specials, large party deals and good food. If friends and family come to visit Austin, I always take them to one of these best Austin, Texas patio restaurants for the quintessential Austin night out on the town.
These favorite Austin patio restaurants have indoor and outdoor dining. Some also have covered patio dining so you can enjoy a nice cool rainfall while eating. Most of these Austin patio restaurants have changing live music calendars, changing Happy Hour specials for various sports events, and changing hours of operations and menu items depending on the seasons. Each name of the Austin patio restaurant is linked to its web site for your convenience in finding the most current information.
Shady Grove
1624 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704
(512) 474-9991
One of my favorite things to do in Austin from April to September is hang out on the Shady Grove patio on Thursday nights to see Unplugged At the Grove live music shows, sponsored by KGSR 93.3 Radio. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. but you need to get there by about 6:30 to get parking. Plan to enjoy the Happy Hour drink specials and appetizers. The dinner menu offers something for everyone, including vegetarians and meat lovers. I highly recommend the Green Chile Black Bean Burrito, with steak or chicken, made with Hatch Green Chiles. Another favorite of mine is the Hippy Chick sandwich made with grilled eggplant, oven-roasted bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, arugula, tomato, mozzarella cheese and pesto mayonnaise, served on their famous Hippie Bread. I always ask for a side of their Balsamic dressing to dip the sandwich. There is simply nothing like it!
Red’s Porch
3508 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 440-7337
Red’s Porch is a fun Austin patio restaurant complete with Monday Movie Nights, Geeks Who Drink Trivia contests on Tuesdays, and Sunday Brunch with $2.50 Mimosas. Red’s has a dog friendly patio with an awesome view of the west Austin hills. The main reason I like to go to Red’s Porch for a patio Happy Hour is to order the Queso Con Todo made with chorizo and guacamole. If I stay for dinner, there is nothing in town like their Red’s Chicken Fried Chicken served with bacon gravy, mashed potatoes, and spinach casserole. You cannot eat at Red’s Porch without ordering Red’s Fried Snickers for dessert – geez, it is like Heaven.
Freddie’s Place
1703 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
512-445-9197
Freddie’s Place is a local favorite Austin patio restaurant with live music, shade trees, and is dog friendly. I love the way they serve nachos with chips on one plate and all the toppings on another plate. That is really smart considering most patrons want to sit and watch live music and enjoy Happy Hour specials for at least a couple of hours. One bad thing about Freddie’s Place is the limited parking so you may have to drive around the block a few times, or park a couple blocks away and walk. It is worth the hassle!
Doc’s Backyard
5207 Brodie Ln # 100, Sunset Valley, TX 78745
(512) 892-5200
Doc’s Backyard is one of my favorite year-round Austin patio restaurants because they have a huge fire pit and heaters for the winter months and patio AC for the summer months. The fried stuffed avocado for around $10.00 is the best I have ever eaten. Doc’s Backyard on Brodie Lane is dog friendly and has a huge playground area off the patio for kids. They have lots of big screen televisions for all the sports fans, too. We often close the place down playing shuffle board at the tables inside the restaurant.
Cuatros
1004 W. 24th St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 243-6361
Cuatros is a fun Austin, Texas patio grill and sports bar located near Downtown Austin and the University of Texas in between Guadalupe and North Lamar. It is a favorite patio restaurant among local Brits who gather to watch their favorite English soccer teams play. Cuatros has the best fish tacos I have ever eaten, but you can also get their famous tacos with shrimp, Ahi tuna, pulled pork, or vegetarian style. The green chile chicken soup is another one of my favorites.
The Oasis on Lake Travis
6550 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732
(512) 266-2442
The Oasis on Lake Travis is the best Austin patio restaurant to visit if you want to see the awesome sunsets of the Texas Hill Country. We usually go to the Oasis patio restaurant every 4th of July to listen to live music and watch fireworks from all around Lake Travis. The Oasis has wonderful Margaritas although they are a bit pricey. There are also all kinds of shops and boutiques to visit during your Austin patio dining experience. The Oasis on Lake Travis is one of Austin’s top tourist attractions.
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
801 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 480-8341
I cannot say enough about how fun Stubb’s Bar-B-Q is for outdoor eating and backyard concerts. Stubb’s has a permanent outdoor stage and outdoor bars to enjoy concert favorites like Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keene, Blondie, and Joe Ely. Past legends like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Johnny Cash also graced the Stubb’s stages. Stubb’s also has a Sunday Gospel Brunch that is pretty good. I always pick up jars and packages of Stubb’s Bar-B-Q sauce, dry rubs, and spices after my Austin night on the town.
Scholz Garten
1607 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-1958
Scholz Garten is a great Austin patio hang out that is near Downtown Austin and the University of Texas campus. Scholz has a wonderful selection of import beers on tap and great food to go with it. Although Scholz Garten serves great Bar-B-Q and burgers, I always order the Wiener Schnitzel, Grilled Bratwurst, Jagerschnitzel, or my very favorite, the Scholz Schnitzel made with queso and pico de gallo. They also have a really good Chicken Fried Steak. Scholz has live music on the patio and is a great Austin patio restaurant to book private parties like weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries.
Magnolia Cafe
2304 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-8645
1920 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 445-0000
Magnolia Café is my number one favorite Austin patio restaurant for breakfast. My favorite menu items are the Gingerbread Banana Pancakes topped with Pecans and the Spinach/Ham Omelet. Get to Magnolia Café early for breakfast because after about 9:00 a.m. there is usually a line out the door waiting to be seated. There are nice shaded patios with live music or you can eat indoors. Another great thing about Magnolia Café is they are open 24/7 which is hard to find in Austin.
Rudy’s Bar-B-Q
7709 RNCH RD 620 N, AUSTIN, TX 78726
(512) 250-8002
2451 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746
(512) 329-5554
2400 North IH-35
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512)244-2936
The best Bar-B-Q in Austin can be found at Rudy’s Bar-B-Q. This Austin patio restaurant is a favorite among locals because it is pet and kid friendly. There is a country store attached if you want to take home some of the best Bar-B-Q sauce, spices, rubs, and souvenirs of your visit to Austin, Texas. Rudy’s has the best smoked brisket in town and I can’t complain about the smoked pork loin, turkey breast or sausage either!
