Here's a closer look at Austin's newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms and other spaces available for events this summer. The new and renovated Austin venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings and more.
A note regarding COVID-19: Some of the venues listed here may not yet be available for hosting events due to the pandemic, or they may be operating at a lower capacity.
Thompson Austin & Tommie Austin
Luxury hotel chain the Thompson & Tommie made their Austin debuts in January, boasting multiple venue spaces, meeting rooms and dining/drinking establishments. There’s a total of 6,300 square feet of meeting and event space. The various high-ceiling venue spaces—designed by Simeone Deary Design Group and named after Texas outlaws—range from the Red River Ballroom at 3,890 square feet to the Singer Boardroom at 311 square feet. There’s a total of 212 luxury guest rooms and suites (plus some residential spaces). A major feature of the new hotel is the restaurants and bars. There are two Southern-leaning restaurants from award-winning Savannah chef Mashama Bailey and business partner Johno Morisano, the Diner Bar and the Grey Market. Then there’s Wax Myrtle’s, the fourth-floor poolside bar and restaurant from the Chicago-based group Land and Sea Dept. Rounding out the offerings are the infinity pool, billiards room and wellness center. As for the Tommie, while the two hotels share meeting and venue spaces, it separately contains its own 193 hotel rooms with king beds, contactless check-in capabilities and its own coffee shop and wine bar.
Photo: Courtesy of Chase Daniel
Highbrow House, Lowbrow Gardens
Private social club Highbrow House, Lowbrow Gardens, which opened in East Austin in March, features various indoor and alfresco rentable spaces. The indoor 1,400-square-foot Highbrow House features eclectic furnishings and decor, from antiques to oil paintings to colorful light bulbs. The second floor takes on a Moroccan theme with Persian rugs, antique tea tables and cushion seating. There’s an on-site prep kitchen available, plus a bar. The outdoor Lowbrow Garden is spacious at 12,000 square feet, full of trees (bamboo, pecan and crepe myrtle), fire pits and string lights. As for seating options, there are picnic tables, wine barrel high tops and spool tables. There is access to silent disco headsets too. There’s also the option to rent out Highbrow/Lowbrow’s weatherproof tent, the Thunderdome, as well as the parking lot, plus access to the green room, which also functions as an Airbnb.
Photo: Courtesy of Highbrow House, Lowbrow Gardens
The Upper Story ATX
The East Austin duplex bungalow rentable, The Upper Story ATX, debuted in the fall of 2021, perfect for team building or smaller events. The fully furnished guesthouse with outdoor space (including a patio) can fit 50 people. The two-floor building includes a kitchen, televisions in every room and a side yard.
Photo: Courtesy of The Upper Story ATX
ICON's House Zero
3D printing company ICON's House Zero debuted its new show home during South by Southwest in March, and the East Austin residential space is available. The mid-century modern ranch house—which features curved 3D printed walls and energy-efficient design—includes a Samsung frame television with Apple Play, a Sonos sound system, an indoor electric kitchen, various appliances and plentiful outdoor space.
Photo: Courtesy of Casey Dunn
The Pitch
The Pitch, a sprawling 2.5-acre outdoor development in North Austin, opened in February. The space is decked out with several multi-level shipping containers designed by Mark Odom Studio. Given the soccer theme (the city’s team Austin FC’s practice space is nearby), there’s an on-site 1,200-seat stadium designed by STG Design, complete with a soccer pitch. There are also several dedicated areas for performances and seating (including a raised seating space), televisions as well as a large screen, jogging trails and volleyball courts. The Corner Kick Hospitality Group oversees the Pitch’s food and beverage options, ranging from a burger bar, a Vietnamese rotisserie chicken spot, to a beach bar. In total, The Pitch is able to fit approximately 3,000 to 4,000 people. The project is part of the larger Parmer Pond District, all run by Karlin Real Estate.
Photo: Courtesy of Karlin Real Estate
Blue Norther Hard Seltzer Tasting Room
Austin-based hard seltzer company Blue Norther Hard Seltzer Tasting Room opened its 5,000-square-foot St. Elmo-area warehouse headquarters as a public tasting room and event space in September 2021. The ranch-style space features a tasting room, indoor pool and a stage.
Photo: Courtesy of Blue Norther Hard Seltzer Tasting Room
Koko’s Bavarian
Koko’s Bavarian revamped the former Brewer’s Table space into a sprawling biergarten and restaurant space in East Austin in December 2021. The 1,800-square-foot indoor space fits 60 people and the over-10,000-square-foot beer garden fits more than 400 people. The restaurant serves up German dishes and smoked meats. There are televisions along the bar and a large 10-foot screen outdoors, plus a whole indoor-outdoor audio system and a large outdoor stage.
Photo: Courtesy of Mackenzie Smith Kelley
Element at the Domain
Marriott opened Element at the Domain, its brand of extended-stay hotels, up in North Austin in January. Boasting 155 allergy-free rooms and on-site laundry, the hotel also contains a 748-square-foot meeting room with a 100-person capacity, plus coffee, a fitness center and a pool.
Photo: Courtesy of Element at the Domain
Aloft Austin South
Marriott’s hipper Aloft Austin South hotel opened in the St. Elmo area just this April. Along with a pool, outdoor area with an open fire pit, fitness room, the 24-hour pantry re:fuel, the WXYZ cocktail bar and re:mix lounge, there are two meeting rooms totaling 1,125 square feet with the larger room fitting 60 people.
Photo: Courtesy of Aloft Austin South
Kinfolk Lounge & Library
New cocktail bar Kinfolk Lounge & Library debuted within the cellar of downtown restaurant Moonshine Grill in late December. The intimate space—which fits up to 20 seated people or 24 standing people—includes areas like the spirits library and the lounge. Snacks include charcuterie, cheese and chocolates. There are television capabilities with Wi-Fi. Drink add-ons for events include open bars, tasting menus, cocktail classes and bourbon workshops.
Photo: Courtesy of Kinfolk Lounge & Library
Camp Hideaway
Out in Fredericksburg, the renovated and revamped event venue and lodging space Camp Hideaway took over what had been Sunset Ranch as of January under new ownership. The 25-acre space includes three main rentables. There’s the Event Hall with garage doors, an outdoor area with Astroturf, two private rooms with bathrooms, a bar, plus various seating and tables available. The Ranch House fits eight people with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus a kitchen, laundry room, hot tub and more. Then there’s the Bunkhouse, a cottage-style home with one bedroom and one bathroom.
Photo: Courtesy of Camp Hideaway
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Austin Northwest/Research Boulevard
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Austin Northwest/Research Boulevard opened just at the end of March. The brand focuses on suites rather than rooms. There are 99 in total, alongside pools, fitness centers and a 24/7 market.
Photo: Courtesy of SpringHill Suites by Marriott Austin Northwest/Research Boulevard
