Here's a look at the best new Austin restaurants, corporate event venues, hotels, conference centers, and private and party rooms to open for events this summer. These new and renovated Austin venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, conferences, meetings, weddings, business dinners, teambuilding activities, cocktail parties, and more.
Shake Shack made its Texas debut in April in South Austin. Seating includes picnic tables, high-top tables, and booths. The space features a living green wall designed by Articulture Designs. In addition to its standard offerings, the eatery serves the Lockhart Link Burger with sausages from famous barbecue restaurant Kreuz Market. For dessert, there’s the Uchi-konkrete, made with miso hazelnut blondies from the nearby sushi staple Uchi.
The modern and elegant Prospect House in the Hill Country opens in mid-June. The 6,600 square feet of space inside includes the Main Hall, which seats 275. There’s also the screened-in Breezeway, a catering kitchen, five public bathrooms, two changing rooms, and a full bar and service area. Outdoors, there’s both a 4,000-square-foot lawn as well as a 1,500-square-foot beer garden with ledge seating and bar. Furniture is included with space rental.
Hotel Van Zandt, a Kimpton Hotel, is scheduled to open this summer near the bustling Rainey Street. The hotel will offer more than 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space, with the largest space seating 570 guests theater-style. Geraldine’s, a Texas-style eatery with a full bar, will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night hours.
Vox Table, a New American restaurant in South Austin, focuses on small plates with French and Spanish influences. The bar serves cocktails, including a special section on low-alcohol beverages. The patio seats about 20 people, and the private dining room seats 12.
The Houston-based oyster bar and seafood restaurant the Liberty Kitchen came to Austin in April. A private room seats 24 people and includes a television. The menu includes lobsters, burgers, and rotisserie options.
The East Austin bar the Craftsman is available for full buyouts for as many as 300 guests. The 2,000-square-foot outdoor space includes front and back yards, which are available together or as separate spaces. Inside offers another 2,000 square feet of space along with a stage with lighting. For audio, there is a QSC PA system with microphones available. Craft cocktails on the menu include the East Side Sour made with velvet falernum foam. Attached to the venue is the food trailer, the Violet Taco, which can cater events of as many as 1,000 guests.
Focusing on coastal Latin seafood, Alcomar seats 150 guests. The menu revolves around sharable bites, like grilled pastor octopus tostadas and snapper ceviche. The communal tables seat groups of six, eight, or twelve.
The island-inspired Isla took over the former Pleasant Storage Room space in March, shifting from rum cocktails to tiki drinks like Mai Tais, Zombies, and sharable bowls. Fare includes assorted ceviche, roti, and grilled octopus. The space seats 85 or holds 120 for receptions.
Creative designers can transform the black space that is the 101, a 6,300-square-foot venue with two floors. For outdoor space, there’s a wraparound patio. The private parking lot can be used for cars or as additional space. There is access to a full commercial kitchen, or there is catering available from Swift’s Attic, Wu Chow, or Delish.
Garbo’s turned the space next door to the seafood restaurant into a dedicated oyster and wine bar, complete with a separate entrance. The room holds 40 for receptions or seats 20 guests at two tables. The bar serves wine, beer, and sake, and the kitchen offers rotating raw oyster specials. It opened in May.
