The Four Seasons Hotel’s Austin location has replaced its original restaurant, Trio, with a new eatery under the guidance of celebrity chef Richard Sandoval. Called Ciclo, the restaurant features modern Texas dishes with Latin influences, which means dishes like oxtail bone marrow empanadas and hickory-smoked prime ribeye steaks. The space is bigger now, expanding to more than 5,000 square feet, which includes two private dining rooms that each seat 12. The main dining room seats 90 and a patio seats 112. The restaurant opened in late September.
Progressive American seafood restaurant Guild debuted in June with a modern space complete with indoor and outdoor spaces. For private events, the 5,134-square-foot venue has a private dining room and multiple patios, as well as audiovisual capabilities. Overall, it seats 160 or holds 250 for receptions. The menu, under the helm of executive chef Sterling Ridings, focuses on seasonal seafood dishes and raw bar offerings.
Members-only club Pershing opened a private event space to non-members earlier this year. The Gallery features its own sound, lighting, projector, and sound system capabilities. The courtyard is also available when the club is closed. There are various food and drink menu options, from passed appetizers like baked oysters, steak skewers, and curry lamb meatballs, to bar packages with liquors, beer, wine, and mixers, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. The Gallery holds 370 guests.
She’s Not Here brought Pacific-Asian food and drinks to downtown Austin starting in August. The 4,000-square-foot, vibrant tropical space features the main dining room, a lounge area, and both sushi and cocktail bars. The menu spans sushi and hand rolls and larger entrees like pork shanks with roti. The venue seats 125, including an outdoor patio.
Opened in May, Wolf House’s indoor and outdoor event space in East Austin is found within a landmarked historic 1890 mansion. Audiovisual capabilities include outdoor electrical outlets, two flat screens, projector, and Google Fiber access. In-house catering services are from Wolf House Catering and Wolf House Patisserie, served in its own kitchen. Next year, Wolf House will open up the second and third floors for overnight stays. Overall, the venue holds 99 inside and 1,600 outside.
Work & Woof, which opened in June, is a combination coworking space, dog park, and event venue. There are desks, private offices, a conference room, and a kitchen. For audiovisual capabilities, there is a projector and television. For the canines, there is a screened-off section as well as 6,000 square feet of outdoor space. It holds 150 people—or 100 people and 50 dogs—inside, while outside holds 150 people or 125 people plus 60 dogs.
The clothing brand Madewell opened its first experiential retail shop in Austin this July. While functioning first as a store, Madewell Commons is designed to be capable of holding live music performances, pop-up shops with other vendors, panels, and dinners.
Greater Goods Coffee Roasting opened a bright and airy modern coffee shop in East Austin in March. Special to the café is its training lab, which offers space for coffee classes, tasting sessions, and private event space. Outdoor seating arrangements include tables and banquettes, while the interior features the coffee bar and library nook with comfortable couches. The 3,000-square-foot venue seats 50 in the main café, 24 in the lab, and 30 on the patio.
Mexican restaurant Suerte opened to rave reviews in March with its focus on masa by chef Fermin Nunez. There’s the entire restaurant space, which fits 135 people, or the semi-private dining room, sectioned off with curtains. The bright open space features fixtures and knick-knacks sourced from Mexico, from the mezcal bottle chandelier to the Oaxacan textiles. Also available for large groups of eight people or more is the five-course family-style meal.
Apt 115 took over what had been a ground-floor apartment for its intimate and eclectic wine bar and shop space in March. The small kitchen serves up snacks like cheese and meat boards for as many as 30 guests. There’s access to 2,000 square feet of event space on the rooftop of the mixed-use development with views of downtown Austin; it holds 100 people.
The Sydell Group transformed the former Radisson Hotel into the stylish Line Austin Hotel, which opened downtown in early June. Overlooking Lady Bird Lake, the 428-room property has 20,000 square feet of event space and an upgraded pool. The largest event space is the Onyx Ballroom, which offers 6,000 square feet and floor-to-ceiling windows. There is also an intimate screening room, as well as rentable kitchen space for dinners, tastings, and cooking demonstrations. The flagship restaurant, Arlo Grey, is courtesy of Top Chef winner Kristen Kish, and the hotel is also home to Austin’s first location of the Los Angeles-based Alfred coffee shop. Still to come are two restaurants, one on the rooftop and the other a casual burger and beer spot on the ground floor. This is the group’s third hotel after Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
The stylish crafting space Upstairs Circus opened its first Texas location in late spring, complete with a full cocktail bar. The project menu features leatherworking, woodworking, jewelry making, and more activities suited for events such as teambuilding activities and bachelorette parties. Instead of classes, the venue allows customers to work at their own pace with staff at hand for assistance. The space accepts bookings for groups or is available for buyouts. It seats 80 or holds 125 guests for indoor receptions or larger groups when the patio is used. In total, the indoor and outdoor spaces cover 2,100 square feet.
Spin, the ping-pong restaurant and bar with locations nationwide, debuted in Austin in late May. The downtown space spans 9,000 square feet with 14 Olympic-style ping-pong tables. At the center of the massive open room is the center court with stadium-style seating. Tucked to the side is a small patio with a ping-pong table and a private room with musical icon murals. The menu offers Austin-specific cocktails and dishes such as Pork Jack tacos and the Muddy Waters drink.
James Beard-nominated chef Bryce Gilmore opened Sour Duck Market, his third Austin restaurant, in early May. The concept functions as multiple spaces in one location. There’s the market serving up loaves of freshly baked breads and pastries, as well as to-go meals and retail flour. There's the restaurant with an all-day menu focused on casual Texas fare and smoked meats. The bar and beer garden feature draft cocktails. Communal tables and television screens are everywhere, and there are two separate indoor spaces with air-conditioning.
Rosewood has brought South Texas cuisine to East Austin since mid-May. The remodeled Victorian home features a variety of rooms, including the eight-seat bar, dining room with 12 tables, private dining room for 10 guests, and front outdoor porch. The open kitchen features the seven-person Chef’s Counter.
Austin’s popular New York-style pizzeria Home Slice opened its second location in the North Loop neighborhood in late May. Unlike the original Home Slice, the new restaurant’s space features both dine-in and take-out menus. The space’s eclectic 1970s- and 1980s-inspired decor features chandeliers made with grape swag light fixtures, brass peacock screens, red upholstered booths and banquettes, and vintage gilt mirrors. There’s a patio as well, both indoor and outdoor bar seating, and a quirky outdoor play area with hilly AstroTurf and tunnels. Along with the concept's beloved pizza and subs, the new restaurant includes its first full bar with cocktails.
Owners of one of Austin’s favorite barbecue restaurants, Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew, opened a new restaurant out in Dripping Springs in mid-June. The Switch focuses on smoked meats and Cajun cuisine, delivered counter-service-style. The sprawling farmhouse-inspired space, measuring 5,600 square feet inside and 2,500 square feet outside, features bar seating, covered outdoor seating, and a private dining room that fits 100 people. Overall, the space holds 250 people.
Lin Asian Bar brought Chinese food and dim sum to Austin in late spring. The menu features noodle dishes, meat entrees, and giant seafood soup dumplings. The stylish house features a patio with a ceiling of red lanterns, an indoor dim sum bar, and a private dining room for eight people.
Wanderlust opened its second Austin studio up in the Domain in early July. Yoga classes range from beginner to power classes. For private events, there are two rooms available, as well as the front lobby, which includes a bar area and lounge. Special to this location is the first branch of South Carolina-based Southern Pressed Juicery, featuring juices, smoothies, and breakfast bowls, as well as catering for rentals.
Crafting and art studio Crafts & Drafts opened in Austin in mid-June, boasting of crafting classes and B.Y.O.B. event space. Classes are offered in the evenings and weekends, covering specialities such as making jewelry, wood-burning, nail-string art, and pipe lamps. During the daytime, the venue is available as an event space, suitable for meetings, workshops, or trainings. There is a refreshment station available with non-alcoholic drinks and cookies or doughnuts. The space includes Wi-Fi, whiteboards, and chalkboards.
