Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Austin

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes 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!

Codependent

4.9

4.9 (63)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Serving up cocktails, coffee, and serious design - without taking itself too seriously.

The brain child of Urbanspace's Kevin Burns, CEO and Merrill Alley, Principal - Codependent is a conceptual cocktail and coffee bar inspired by Italian luxury, aperitivo culture and the belief that beautiful design should be enjoyed by all. Think of it as a high-end design showroom meets Austin hospitality.

Located on the ground floor of the Independent condo tower, Codependent is designed for duality. Where day meets night. Dark meets light. And iconic Italian furniture is best appreciated with a glass of wine.

We welcome design aficionados and cocktail connoisseurs, the local and the far flung, friends and neighbors to come for sustenance, fun, and for a bit of the unexpected.

Top review

BrittonVIP

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

Diana & Gabe were amazing!! Will definitely ne going back to visit them

Devil May Care

4.8

4.8 (254)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located at the bustling corner of 6th & San Antonio, Devil May Care delivers a fresh and enigmatic experience to Austin’s dining and entertainment scene. With its cozy, eclectic vibe, Devil May Care provides a downtown, art-filled, underground hideaway. Family-style dining features a healthy and shareable play on Modern Mediterranean cuisine.

Top review

Dave

Dined 6 days ago

Great food, attentive servers. Had a bit of a clubby feel

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Experience

Live Lounge Wednesdays

Experience

Thursdays at Devil

Bangers Sausage House & Beer Garden

4.8

4.8 (88)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The name really says it all. With 202 beer taps and over 20 house-made sausages we have one of the largest selections in the country. We are equally committed to quality, serving up the most delicious sausages we can make and the best craft beers we can source. In addition to beer and sausage we also operate an onsite smokehouse with a variety of offerings centered on slow smoking and open fire cooking.

At the end of the day, Banger's is all about being a wonderful place to eat, drink and hangout. Not too rowdy, not too laid back, just a good old fashioned good time.

Top review

April

Dined 5 days ago

This place is awesome! The outdoor spaces are fantastic! Live music during brunch was wonderful! Food and service was excellent! Can’t wait to come back here when visiting Austin in the future! It’s a whole vibe!

Prélude

4.8

4.8 (180)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Chef Mathew Peters, the first American to win the prestigious Bocuse d'Or in 2017, is bringing his culinary expertise to the heart of Austin with the opening of Prelude, an elevated cocktail bar and canapé lounge set in a historic home in West Austin. The space has a beautiful back lawn lounge with views of downtown Austin and private rooms throughout the house that can accommodate groups of 6-18 with private events options of groups up to 120 guests.

Prelude will offer a unique Austin experience, combining innovative cocktail creations with elevated small bites. The menu will feature a curated selection of small plates, designed to complement the bar programs signature cocktails and highlight Chef Peters' culinary artistry. Please note that our kitchen closes each evening at 10 pm.

Join Prélude during Happy Hour Tuesday-Thursday from 4-6 pm for $2 oysters and drink specials.

Top review

Kristen

Dined 7 days ago

Prélude was okay! Really pretty spot but noisy and expensive. The Hamachi tacos were really good, the chicken nuggets were not. The sausage was pretty good. The cocktails are unique. It’s a fun spot with girlfriends for a pre-dinner drink. We went and got Tex Mex somewhere else later because the food options were so limited.

Old Thousand

4.7

4.7 (105)

$30 and under

Chinese

East Austin

About the restaurant

Old Thousand is a neighborhood Chinese restaurant on Austin's east side. We offer an eclectic and inventive mix of flavors, ingredients, and styles with modern interpretations of classic American-Chinese recipes.

Top review

KoonjVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Server was just amazing!! We got the whole fish. Expensive but really really good. Cooked perfectly and super tasteful. High quality ingredients were used.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

4.7

4.7 (53)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Four Seasons Hotel Austin
98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701

Top review

Bishvesh

Dined on Apr 29, 2025

Excellent high tea experience, loved the ambience, food and the service.

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Experience

Roses & Rosé A-Tea-X, Afternoon Tea

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse - Austin

4.7

4.7 (40)

$30 and under

Japanese

Northwest

About the restaurant

KOBE is the finest place in Austin to enjoy Teppanyaki Japanese Cuisine. We take the extra time and care to make every dish truly special. Come and enjoy our large selection of sushi, all prepared to serve you only the best in Austin! We also welcome walk-in guests, and you can visit our website for more information and to book your private party!

Top review

Anderson

Dined on Apr 15, 2025

Host/server awesome, chef pretty goofy making best of a lil kid telling him not to do his trade

Anthem - Rainey St.

4.7

4.7 (170)

$30 and under

Fusion / Eclectic

Downtown

About the restaurant

Anthem is a pub that honors American comfort food with lip-smacking Asian and Latin flavors. We feature 40 craft beers and lick-your-plate-clean options for every appetite. Our playful and eclectic digs located on Austin’s Rainey Street make Anthem the perfect place for friends, canoodling, and any other shenanigans you’re into.

Top review

Roger

Dined 4 days ago

Good food with great service. Would go again.

Standard Proof Whiskey Co - Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (28)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Standard Proof Whiskey Co. (Whiskey Distillery) has landed on Rainey Street, bringing a new standard of flavor and experience to Austin's most iconic district. Our stylish Whiskey Tasting Room is more than just a bar – it's a neighborhood destination where award-winning infused whiskeys, expertly mixed cocktails, and a delicious gastropub-inspired food menu collide. Let our friendly and talented bartenders guide you on a journey, from neat pours of our signature expressions to masterfully crafted cocktails that highlight the versatility of our spirit. Fuel your Rainey Street adventures with our food menu built for sharing, perfect for a night out with friends or next date night. Step inside our modern, lounge-like space, discover your next favorite pour, and experience a new Standard for your Rainey Street nights.

We are pet friendly and have a small outdoor seating area!

Food & Drinks created by our talented team.

Top review

Dined on Apr 12, 2025

The only concern was charging $60 for a bottle of their Bourbon and adding 20% tip for no reason. Also, it only costs $33 in a store! Other than that….

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The Best Happy Hour in Downtown Austin!

Urban Rooftop

4.4

4.4 (139)

$30 and under

Lounge

Round Rock

About the restaurant

Speakeasy inspiration with a modern vibe! Come experience our rooftop cocktail bar, with indoor and outdoor seating options, craft cocktails, great views and live music! We offer a sophisticated spot to enjoy an evening out for date night or with your group. Our menu offers light food pairings to compliment our cocktail menu.

We are located on the 4th floor of the 411 Building in Downtown Round Rock near the Baca Center. Enter through the main entrance and take the elevator up! Two free parking garages are available within a block from our location.

For our full restaurant dining experience, visit our restaurant across the street... URBAN Eat.Drink

Top review

SusieVIP

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

Urban Rooftop was so accommodating with our party. We had a special dinner to celebrate our friend’s upcoming wedding. We were worried about possible weather and they had indoor options already prepared. Charcuterie boards were well created and the flatbread pizzas were tasty. Great place for pregaming!

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