Here's a look at new Austin eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces to open for events this winter. The new and renovated venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Axe-throwing facility Urban Axes opened its first location in Austin, and second location overall following Philadelphia, in September. The B.Y.O.B. (beer and wine only) and B.Y.O.F. space spans 7,375 square feet and includes four individual areas available for rental. Coaches guide participants through the axe-throwing process. For music, there is Spotify access with the option to create custom playlists for events. Overall the space holds 115 guests for reception-style events.
Found among the 28-acre Dripping Springs property that is Treaty Oak Ranch and Distillery is the new full-service restaurant and bar, Ghost Hill, which opened in August. The 3,500-square-foot restaurant, which is meant to mimic whiskey barrels through wood siding and soaring ceilings, features indoor communal tables that seat 65 people, as well as plentiful outdoor seating. The menu is centered on Texas-inspired seasonal cuisine with dishes such as duck confit tacos, brisket banh mi, and pork spare ribs. For drinks, there are beers from Treaty Oak’s brewery, as well as kegged cocktails made with spirits from the distillery.
Austin Central Library, the city’s new flagship library, was unveiled in late October. It includes six spaces available for private events. The 4,750-square-foot Special Event Center holds 350 theater-style for presentations, 230 for banquets, or about 475 for receptions, and includes projectors, a stage, and a lectern. A cooking demonstration area holds 80, and a gallery that overlooks Lady Bird Lake seats 140 for banquets or holds 270 for receptions. The fourth-floor Reading Room features mesquite wood floors, Italian glass light fixtures meant to resemble stars, and library-related quotes on steel; it holds 60 for seated or reception-style events. The roof garden, which holds 225 guests for receptions, features a solar panel arbor tree and deck. An outdoor amphitheater features stone seating for 25. The library is available for event rental starting on December 1.
Downtown Austin will become home to a new 8,500-square-foot shared creative studio, coworking space, and event venue all in one when the Refinery opens in December. Helmed by founder Hayley Swindell and Notley Ventures, the two-story venture features seven private studios, 22 dedicated desks, and an open seating area that can fit 100 people. There are three levels of membership, some of which offer access to the on-site photography studio, retail shop, sprinter, and coffee and juice bar.
Las Perlas, the Los Angeles-based mezcal bar from 213 Hospitality, expanded with a third location in Austin in September. The mezcal library offers more than 400 varieties, and the drinks menu also has mezcal cocktails including margaritas and palomas. The space covers 2,000 square feet inside that holds 150 standing guests, while a 1,500-square-foot patio holds 200 for receptions and is suited for mariachi bands and taco vendors. The decor features 400 rabbits painted on the walls, as well as the specific Farmacia green color, which recalls Oaxacan pharmacies and mezcalerias.
The bee-obsessed storefront Two Hives Honey made its debut in September. The Montopolis property includes a fully equipped workspace, a 750-square-foot classroom, and outdoor event space. Amenities include a black dry erase board, a flat-screen television with Google Chrome hookups, and Wi-Fi. The retail portion sells items made with beeswax and honey, as well as beekeeping equipment. Overall the space spans 1,700 square feet.
Austin’s intimate prix-fixe restaurant Lenoir transformed the former next-door cooking supply and cookbook store into a separate private dining room space. The specially-crafted table can fit about 14 people, and there is a full kitchen. The outdoor space, featuring Astroturf and a small water fountain, can be configured for anything from cocktail parties to weddings.
Shedding its former life as a home decor shop, Aviary Wine & Kitchen is now a full restaurant and wine bar, serving seasonal wine-region fare with a Mediterranean influence. There’s an extensive wine list spanning the globe, as well as cheese boards, raw bar, and shareable large dishes. The funky 1,200-square-foot space features playful wallpaper, a Warhol-inspired mural of The Last Supper, and other whimsical details. Seating configurations include the bar, tables, a 36-seat patio, and the rock star booth for larger groups. It opened in October.
The Hive, which opened on October 23, aims to make it easier for working mothers by combining coworking and daycare elements into one space. The interior area of the house includes desks and couches, a reservable conference room, and lounges good for small meetings. A dedicated food truck serves coffee, wine, and snacks. The garage will be converted into the childcare area with dedicated sitters, with a one-way mirror from the house. Overall the space covers 2,000 square feet.
Local jam purveyor Confituras opened its first brick-and-mortar space in South Lamar in October. It comes complete with a community kitchen and a space that could be used for retail pop-ups, private dining room and bar area, and general private events. There’s a large commercial prep kitchen, as well as an outdoor deck. The 1,600-square-foot space seats 20 guests indoors and can hold more outdoors for receptions.
