Where to eat and drink near the Austin Convention Center
Although the Austin Convention Center area isn't usually considered a major dining destination, it's home to restaurants and bars that are worth a visit.
The area attracts visitors from all over the world for events like South by Southwest (SXSW) and numerous fairs and exhibitions. From barbecue and cocktails to tacos and fine dining, there's something for everyone. Eater also offers guides to the downtown neighborhoods, Rainey Street, and Red River Street.
Veracruz Todo Natural, a short walk from the Line Hotel, serves tacos and migas poblanas, with thick tortillas and crispy totopos. You can order online for pickup, or eat in the dining room or on the patio with cocktails and aguas frescas. The Irish pub Foxy, on the other hand, is a good spot for beer, whiskey, and fish and chips, with a rooftop terrace overlooking Brazos Street.
Gus's is famous for its spicy fried chicken, served in a rustic setting with checkered tablecloths, accompanied by baked beans, fried okra, and macaroni and cheese. Revolución is the place to refuel with coffee, juices, smoothies, and açaí bowls, as well as breakfast tacos and tamale dishes.
La Tecla de Regreso is a small Neapolitan pizzeria with a classic and romantic atmosphere, featuring a wood-fired oven in full view. During happy hour, beers and wines by the glass are half price, and the puddings are a dessert not to be missed.
Barbacoa Iron Works is a casual barbecue restaurant downtown, just steps from the convention center. The ground beef and ribs are excellent, and it has a covered patio. It's open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM and also offers takeout.
For an elegant dinner, Garrison, at the Fairmont Austin hotel, is a Michelin-recommended fine-dining restaurant. After an appetizer that looks like it belongs in a theme park, it offers wood-grilled steaks, fries with aerated Gruyère cheese, and good vegan options with local vegetables. It has no windows or terrace.
Moonshine Grill is a sprawling Southern-style restaurant with a covered patio, a classic for cocktails and comfort food like chicken waffles or macaroni and cheese with green chile. It also houses the Kinfolk speakeasy, with a select collection of whiskeys and cocktails. Rumor has it that it's one of the most haunted places in Austin.
Casino El Camino is an intimate, dimly lit bar known for its giant burgers, which some consider the best in the city. The Central District Brewery, right next to the convention center, brews a variety of beers, including the award-winning Kayaker's Kölsch, and also offers a spicy margarita.
