10 New Venues in Austin for Spring 2023 Meetings and Events

Austin-based hospitality startup InKind opened its very first restaurant and bar, Ember Kitchen & Subterra Agave Bar, in February 2023. It took over what had been the multilevel Boiler Nine space in the Seaholm Power Plant district of the city's downtown. The main-floor Ember Kitchen restaurant focuses on Latin American live-fire cooking, made in a coal-fired Josper oven, with favorites like pork chops with peach mojo sauce, filet mignon in birria jus with bone marrow, and cured amberjack crudo with smoky charcoal oil. The physical space has been brightened up and softened from its previous industrial look with velvet surfaces, bold artwork, and a flowering tree. And downstairs is the Subterra Agave Bar, where the menu focuses on cocktails infused with agave-based spirits like tequila and mezcal. A rooftop area overlooking the lake will open sometime later this spring. The entire space is massive—8,000 square feet—and can fit 120 guests in total. Ember Kitchen & Subterra Agave Bar can be bought out for private events or split up by the ground and mezzanine floors for semiprivate functions. Each space has its own audio system, and there are DJ booth capabilities upon request.

The Choice Hotels company opened a new outpost of its Cambria Hotel brand in North Austin's trendy tech corridor in January 2023. The Cambria Hotel Austin Uptown Near the Domain features a total of 6,500 square feet of venue space. Highlights include the 4,576-square-foot Uptown Ballroom that can hold up to 350 people and boasts built-in audio capabilities and a divisible layout; the 377-square-foot ATX Boardroom, an executive meeting space that can fit up to 12 people; and alfresco Oaks Courtyard that can accommodate up to 75 guests. Cambria Hotel Austin Uptown Near the Domain also has an on-site restaurant, Uptown Kitchen & Cocktails, as well as a pool and fitness center.

Up in Cedar Park, Spare Birdie Public House opened the doors to its massive full-service restaurant, bar, and entertainment venue in February 2023. Within its 23,000 square feet, guests will find multiple activity areas dedicated to bowling, virtual golf, pool, darts, and bocce ball, with enough space to accommodate a total of 300 people. The patio, which includes a stage, can also be used as an outdoor private dining room for up to 50 seated guests. The restaurant and bar focuses on New American dishes and drinks, which are customizable per event, with plenty of meats and seafood options. Throughout the space are AV capabilities, which include hook-ups to multiple large screens.

The owners of Suerte, a celebrated Austin Mexican restaurant, opened a new seafood Mexican restaurant, Este, last September. And in October 2022, Este debuted a standalone private dining space, Bar Toti, which boasts its own full kitchen. The 750-square-foot, indoor-outdoor space also has its own bar, and all F&B is helmed by executive chef Fermín Núñez. Up to 40 seated or 50 standing guests can be accommodated inside Bar Toti, or a total of 75 standing guests including the teak exterior space. Bar Toti also offers groups their own entrance, and a private event room that's notable for its mosaic-tiled floor and views of the restaurant’s garden. Food can be served on a large buffet-style table upon request, or smaller tables are available to accommodate varied seating arrangements.

Superstition opened in December 2022, making it Austin’s newest luxury nightclub and lounge. It's located in bustling South Austin—right by South Congress Avenue—and is memorable for its major 1970s vibes and decor details that feature glossy and metallic materials and, of course, disco balls. For groups, the 12,000-square-foot space offers three private rooms, each with its own separate entrance. There’s also the main dance floor (pictured) that has its own stage, plus a mezzanine with lounges and tables to accommodate VIP guests. AV capabilities abound, including DJ setups and a L’Acoustic sound system, as well as an LED wall to display branding or other personalized graphics. There’s also an on-site cocktail lounge and patio called the Gold Room that's—you guessed it—accented by an eye-catching, gold-washed bar.

Brazilian steakhouse chain Fogo de Chão moved its original downtown Austin location to a nearby address on Congress Avenue. The newer digs include an open-air churrasco grill where gaucho chefs can butcher and cook in front of guests. There’s a first-floor private dining room on offer for groups of up to 30, plus two enclosed patios with outdoor seating and a mezzanine dining space with its own outdoor area. Fogo de Chão spans 6,800 square feet in total, and is equipped with AV capabilities—including high-definition televisions, LCD projectors, microphones, and speakers—to accommodate hybrid events or live entertainment. For events, dining packages are available, and they're fully customizable to meet specific needs.

The Archer Hotel opened an on-site outpost of its signature bar chain in late January 2023, replacing the existing restaurant and bar, Second Bar and Kitchen (the East Austin location inside of the East Austin Hotel remains open). AKB features a New American menu where Texas influences abound, with offerings such as glazed pork riblets and ahi tuna taquitos, and accompanying drinks like the signature Violet Sky cocktail, an infused butterfly blue gin-based beverage. The atrium-style, 2,015-square-foot space is altogether inviting and comfortable, with leather tufted lounges, potted trees, and circular floor-to-ceiling windows to watch the sunset. Speaking of, a hand-painted mural in AKB pays tribute to Austin’s purple and pink sunsets, which groups of up to 102 seated or 175 guests can admire during a full buyout. Partial buyouts of AKB are also available upon request.

San Antonio restaurant J-Prime Steakhouse opened its first Austin location in August 2022, bringing with it a restaurant that's sleek, modern, and upscale. Aside from menus with high-quality meats—as well as beer, cocktail, and wine programs—groups can take advantage of four private dining rooms of varying sizes and capacities. PDR 1 and PDR 4 each span 468 square feet, with room for up to 35 and 40 seated guests, respectively. Meanwhile, PDR 2 and PDR 3, which each span 225 square feet, are perfect for more intimate affairs with anywhere from 12-20 guests. PDR 1-3 can also be combined for larger food-focused affairs with up to 80 diners. Also notable: Each space includes high-definition televisions with HDMI hookups, AV capabilities, microphones, Bluetooth, and screen-mirroring capabilities. The rooms also include remote-control fog glasses, which can make each section fully private. The kitchen can offer both open and prix fixe menus.

In February 2023, Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin opened its doors in downtown Austin. On-site, there's a restaurant and bar from San Antonio chef Steve McHugh. And Luminaire, a ground-floor restaurant with a New American and Texas menu, offers all-day service with indoor and outdoor spaces that can be booked for semiprivate gatherings. On the eighth-floor, look to terrace bar Las Bis for a vibe reminiscent of Spanish tapas bars with conservas, cocktails, and natural wines. Aside from swanky F&B outlets, the 246-room hotel also features 2,560 square feet of event space, the largest of which is the 940-square-foot Marquee Room (pictured), which can host up to 60 people. There's also a 1,400-square-foot penthouse dubbed the Artist Residence, which has its own living room and dining room spaces, not to mention 360 views of the city.

West Lake Hills’s Hotel Granduca underwent a massive renovation and transformation last year, and emerged as Hotel Viata in November 2022. The 194-key, nine-story property now boasts a lighter vibe, with upward of 10,000 square feet of designated venue space—the largest of which is the 3,600-square-foot Courtyard that can play host to receptions with up to 300 guests. Other highlights include the 3,540-square-foot Cypress Ballroom, for receptions of 300 or banquets of 230; the 800-square-foot Magnolia room, for banquets of 50 or conferences of 24; and the 376-square-foot Olive room, which is perfect for intimate meetings of 12. For food-focused events, planners can look to the 1,200-square-foot on-site Laurel Restaurant, which can accommodate up to 50 guests and boasts a 714-square-foot bar, and divisible 2,340-square-foot terrace. The classic Italian restaurant also has a private dining room on offer, which can host up to 12 in its 300 square feet.