Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Austin

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Austin? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cuvée Wine & Piano Bar

4.9

4.9 (23)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Fredericksburg

About the restaurant

Charming Wine and Piano Bar right on the heart of Main Street, Fredericksburg! We offer educational wine flights from across the globe. Also enjoy by the glass and bottle options. Don't forget our LIVE piano bar every Friday and Saturday from 6-9pm!

Top review

Nicolevip

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

2nd time my husband and I have been here and both times have been a blast! The wine is great, but Andy the piano man is awesome, both times that we’ve been he’s had the crowd singing along and just having an awesome time. Highly recommend!!

J Carver's

4.9

4.9 (1801)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Downtown

About the restaurant

J Carver's Oyster Bar & Chophouse features market fresh oysters & premium wood grilled steaks. Nestled in West 6th District of Downtown Austin, John Carver, Owner and Chef delivers an elevated classic fine dining experience featuring a gorgeous raw & oyster bar and intimate dining experience.

In order to honor all reservations booked, we ask that all bookings adhere to our suggested dining time frame. Please contact our reservationist if you have additional questions. Our time frames are as follows
2 people - 2 hours
3 people - 2 hr 15 minutes
4-5 people - 2 hr 30 minutes
6-7 people - 2hr 45 minutes
8+ people - 3 hours

Please reach out to our reservationist for private dining.
We offer Valet at $12 daily

Top review

Arivip

Dined 7 days ago

Amazing food, great service, worth it for a special event. Thanks to the staff for making our Anniversary dinner great!

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Popular dish

Beef Filet Steak Tartare

Popular dish

Maine Lobster Bisque "En Croute"

Popular dish

Seared Foie Gras

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge

4.8

4.8 (239)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Central Austin

About the restaurant

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge is a vintage-chic restaurant/speakeasy with a well curated menu of elevated comfort food and modern American share plates. The menu includes a craft cocktail list emphasizing fresh juices and classic ingredients, and an extensive and diverse wine list featuring varietals from around the world with a selection of beers and ciders, and a tap of local craft brews.

Top review

Philvip

Dined 2 days ago

Fun place for dinner and drinks - service was great!

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Experience

Burlesque Brunch

Carillon Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (935)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Carillon is a New American restaurant featuring familiar food with a refined twist. The Carillon provides a sophisticated and approachable dining experience for all occasions. Our culinary team masterfully creates dishes with local, fresh, and seasonal produce and organic, grass-fed or free-range proteins. The Carillon offers ‘a la Carte’ or 3-course dinner for $45 tasting menu, which can be skillfully paired with award-winning wines.

Located at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, The Carillon delivers an impressive and memorable experience. Complimentary self-parking in the Conference Center Garage. Bring your ticket to be validated. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Top review

Ronnie

Dined 3 days ago

Quiet atmossphere where you can have a conversation with you dining companion. Great service and food served at your pace.

Goldie's

4.8

4.8 (113)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Goldie’s is an intimate cocktail bar on the ground floor of the Austin Proper Hotel & Residences, helmed by Austin locals McGuire Moorman Hospitality. Goldie’s serves as an elegant and vibrant setting for a posh celebration, sophisticated drinks, or a romantic evening out — open to Proper’s hotel guests and residents only. The focal point of the room is a marble sunken bar, surrounded by a plush array of tweed and velvet seating. Seasonal cocktails will rotate based on ingredient availability, while a classic martini, Pink Lady Champs-Élysées, and other favorites are menu mainstays.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 2 days ago

I absolutely loved the teatime experience at Goldie’s! I booked a reservation here a few weeks in advance for mine & my partner’s anniversary, and in the resy I let them know we are grain free. Upon arrival, the service and ambience were on point, and the small food was delicious AND the pastry Chief actually made us special grain-free desserts

Siena Ristorante Toscana

4.7

4.7 (2568)

$31 to $50

Italian

Northwest

About the restaurant

For over 20 years Siena has been Austin’s premier destination for authentic Tuscan cuisine. Locally owned and operated Siena's owners wanted to share their love of Tuscany with Austin diners. Utilizing the talents of long time veteran of the Austin food scene, Chef Harvey Harris, Siena's goal is to transport the dinner from the hills of North Austin to the rolling hills of Toscana. Chef Harvey received his Master's Chef in Italian cuisine while attending culinary school in Piedmonte Italy, but his heart is in Tuscany where he lived and worked. All food at Siena is prepared to order, pasta is made fresh daily as well as all stocks and sauces. Our food is complemented by an award-wining wine cellar and served in rustic, elegant surroundings of thick stone walls and tall wood-beamed ceilings. Whether visiting for happy hour, special event, or a romantic evening, experience the welcoming charm of Tuscany close to home.

Top review

TerryM

Dined 3 days ago

We used Austin Restaurant Week as an opportunity to revisit Siena. We hadn't dined her since before Covid. We were reminded how delicious the food is. Our server, Isabelle, was attentive and accommodating. The ambiance is lovely. I highly recommend dining here.

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Popular dish

Pappardelle

Lonesome Dove Western Bistro Austin

4.9

4.9 (1610)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Lonesome Dove Western Bistro Austin is Chef Tim Love’s second location for his flagship restaurant. Open since 2015 it has become the go to place in Austin for wild game and creative dishes.

In order to serve all our guests in a timely manner, we ask that you arrive on time. A 15 minute grace period will be given to all tables. Unfortunately we are unable to seat partial parties.

Top review

Frank

Dined 3 days ago

Uniquely exotic menu featuring wild game and fish. Bison, boar, elk, rattlesnake, redfish, and rabbit are served in an upscale environment along with craft cocktails. Service is knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Sadly, the bison ribeye, overpriced at $91, was barely edible due to grizzle, tendons and sinew throughout. The glaze and peppery sauce on the bison was outstanding but could not overcome the meat it covered. We did enjoy everything we ordered for first and second courses. When in Austin, I would recommend this place, but avoid the bison ribeye.

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4.8

4.8 (1263)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Roosevelt Room is Austin's most awarded cocktail bar, offering a seated experience with table service provided by its knowledgeable bar staff to guide guests through its expansive menu of classic and original cocktails, craft beer, wine, and epicurean bar food.

The Roosevelt Room has received the following accolades: Top Four Best American Cocktail Bar 2022 by the Spirited Awards, Top Four Best American Bar Team 2022 by the Spirited Awards, Top Five Best Cocktail Bar 2022 by Liquor.com's Liquor Awards, Austin's Best New Cocktail Bar 2015 by Thrillist, & Bar of the Year 2017 by TimeOut Austin.

RESERVATIONS ARE STRONGLY SUGGESTED. Walk-ins are welcome, but please note that there may be a short wait for the next available table. If your reservation details change, please let us know. We will do our best to accommodate last-minute alterations, but we cannot guarantee immediate seating for any additional guests. For reservations of 11+, click the "Book an Event" tab on our website.

Top review

AmyCvip

Dined 3 days ago

Judith, our server,are the best of recommendations to my friends who clearly didn’t have their drinks picked out a week before like I had. The invisible garden was out of this world. Def check it out. A cute, dark, upscale cocktail spot that had people in jeans, up to full on little black dresses. Highly Recommend

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4.8

4.8 (994)

$50 and over

Mediterranean

East Austin

About the restaurant

Aba, meaning father in Hebrew, is a Mediterranean restaurant with a California influence. The menu features Chef CJ Jacobson’s modern approach to Mediterranean cooking and the beverage program showcases spirits and rare wines from lesser known Mediterranean regions.

Top review

Renukavip

Dined 7 days ago

Loved the food and great service!!!Great ambience!!

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4.7

4.7 (78)

$31 to $50

Speakeasy

Downtown

About the restaurant

Step into the secret world of Powder Room, an intimate cocktail lounge that exudes timeless energy. Here, guests are invited to indulge in crafted cocktails in the warmth of an intimate living room setting.

Powder Room caters to individuals in search of refined experiences. Elevate your evenings with table-side mixology, complemented by the rhythmic melodies of live music and artistic performances that embody the essence of this hidden gem.

Top review

Yesseniavip

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

2nd time back and it keep getting 5 starts for me

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