Here's a look at Austin restaurants, music venues, bars, and other spaces open for events this fall. The new and renovated Austin venues are available for conferences, meetings, corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, and more.
Founded by brothers Jon and Adam Schlegel in Denver, Snooze recently added two new locations in the North and South Lamar neighborhoods of Austin. The eatery specializes in hearty breakfast grub like pineapple upside-down pancakes, chilaquiles with roasted poblano hollandaise, and an egg sandwich on a pretzel roll. Plus, 1 percent of sales from each location is donated to the local community through goods and services. The North Lamar spot, which opened in June, boasts 3,935 square feet and a 174-person seating capacity, while the South Lamar location, which opened in May, measures 3,900 square feet and seats 186.
Offering a modern spin on the classic Italian-American supper club idea, Sophia’s opened its doors in downtown Austin in July. Its menu includes familiar Italian dishes like orecchiette tartufate with cremini mushrooms, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, black truffle cream, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, and white truffle oil; whole roasted fish with lemon, fresh herbs, and breadcrumbs; and a spumoni bomb for dessert. The 3,700-square-foot restaurant includes a bar and lounge area, an open dining room with intimate dining coves, and an upstairs covered terrace, with seating for 100 indoors and 25 on the terrace.
Scheduled to open in August, the Residence Inn Austin Lake Austin/River Place will offer studios and one- and two-bedroom suites with separate living and sleeping areas. Along with fully equipped kitchens, the four-floor, 100-room property will provide complimentary grocery delivery service. Plus, the extended-stay hotel will offer one event room, measuring approximately 400 square feet and accommodating as many as 30 people.
The family-owned-and-operated Tiny Pies bakery recently expanded, opening a 1,000-square-foot South Lamar location in April. Larger than the original Burnet spot, the new space offers bench seating for as many as seven people, as well as a large refrigerated case stuffed with goodies, including individually-wrapped three-inch pies, Mason jar pies, and pie pops. The savory and sweet treats are made from scratch daily with locally sourced ingredients. In addition, the bakery also offers catering, customized corporate gifts, and pie case display rentals.
Located in downtown Austin, the Statesman Skyline Theater at the Long Center features a panoramic view of the city’s skyline, with standing capacity for 7,000. Opened in June, the venue also offers a terrace, which is adjacent to and overlooks the lawn and stage areas; it can be set up to hold a food court, full bar, and sponsor activations. In addition, the theater’s V.I.P. passes include access to an air-conditioned indoor lounge.
Michael Icenhauer, owner of the popular Rainey Street bar Icenhauer's, plans to open a second bar and lounge called Sellers in September. The one-story, 5,800-square-foot cocktail lounge, located in the Warehouse District, will hold as many as 250 people and offer lounge seating, along with a private event space. The new venue will have the underground feel of a 1970s basement lounge with velvet, brass, and wood details.
Opened in June, contemporary Italian restaurant L'Oca d'Oro has an open kitchen with a six-foot wood-burning grill and a family-style menu that includes house-made pasta, pork shank, fried rabbit, and roasted carrots with pistachio butter and honey. The 2,900-square-foot, 120-seat space also boasts two private dining rooms: the pasta room, where diners sit around a butcher-block table, and the prima room with a 10-person, U-shaped banquette. Design highlights include a barrel-vaulted ceiling, hanging greenery, sky blue and gold-plastered walls, and antique mirrors in the dining room.
Opened in May, Austin’s new music venue and event space Grizzly Hall features a rustic log cabin vibe, with lots of reclaimed wood and taxidermy. The 6,396-square-foot space, which was a former sports bar, holds 500 people and includes a new sound system, full-service bar, and a balcony to view the stage. In addition to musical performances, Grizzly Hall will host comedy, art exhibits, and film events.
In July, Austin-based La Corsha Hospitality Group opened Boiler Nine Bar & Grill, a 10,000-square-foot, four-story restaurant located in the historic Seaholm Power Plant. The space includes three distinct areas: the main restaurant with an open kitchen and a wood-fired grill that offers seasonal small plates; a rooftop bar with picnic-style tables; and a subterranean drinking den, located on the lowest level and serving cocktails from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The venue’s design preserves the bones of the power plant, including the original beams, which are complemented by custom-made steel and wood tables and floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The main restaurant seats 125, while the basement and rooftop bars each hold 80.
Slated to open in September, the Archer Hotel Austin, a luxury boutique hotel within the Domain Northside community, will have many nods to its home state, including distinct Austin murals in the guest rooms and locally produced snacks. The 171-room, eight-story property will boast over 6,600 square feet of indoor meeting space, 2,400 square feet of pre-function space, and nearly 2,500 square feet of outdoor space on the second-floor terrace. Five meeting rooms and two breakout rooms can accommodate groups of as many as 300 people. In addition, there is a boardroom that will seat as many as 10. The event space will offer dinner seating for as many as 350 people.
