Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Austin

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Austin? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Betty

4.9

4.9 (12)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Betty is an elegant vinyl cocktail lounge offering an ambiance of relaxed luxury, perfect for socializing over expertly mixed cocktails. The music, often a mix of jazz, lounge, or modern classics, complements the refined atmosphere, making the vinyl cocktail lounge a stylish destination.

The dress code is strictly enforced and we politely ask you to dress your best for an elegant evening with us!

Top review

TishaVIP

Dined on Dec 1, 2024

Absolutely loved it !!! The drinks were next level and service impeccable. Great music and plenty of room.

Old Thousand

4.8

4.8 (60)

$30 and under

Chinese

East Austin

About the restaurant

Old Thousand is a neighborhood Chinese restaurant on Austin's east side. We offer an eclectic and inventive mix of flavors, ingredients, and styles with modern interpretations of classic American-Chinese recipes.

Top review

Kelly

Dined 7 days ago

Food was delicious! So many flavors! Ambience was lively and festive during the holidays. Highly recommend!!

Suerte

4.8

4.8 (53)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

East Austin

About the restaurant

Suerte is a restaurant inspired by the people, cooking techniques, and flavors of Mexico. Nationally acclaimed Chef Fermin Nunez and his team pride themselves on the use of local ingredients from our beloved farmers to achieve something delicious and uniquely East Austin.

Top review

Dana

Dined 4 days ago

Awesome experience and love this place, but noise level during busy peak time difficult to hear each other. Five star rating!!!!

De Nada Cantina

4.8

4.8 (539)

$30 and under

Mexican

East Austin

About the restaurant

De Nada Cantina. Tacos y margs y menos.

East Austin’s loveliest little taco spot. Handmade tortillas pressed and cooked on the comal, slow-braised meats, and traditional handcrafted margaritas served in a greenhouse.

Top review

Nathan

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Excellent meal. Good vibe. Everything was spot on.

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4.8

4.8 (126)

$30 and under

Lounge

Round Rock

About the restaurant

Speakeasy inspiration with a modern vibe! Come experience our rooftop cocktail bar, with indoor and outdoor seating options, craft cocktails, great views and live music! We offer a sophisticated spot to enjoy an evening out for date night or with your group. Our menu offers light food pairings to compliment our cocktail menu.

We are located on the 4th floor of the 411 Building in Downtown Round Rock near the Baca Center. Enter through the main entrance and take the elevator up! Two free parking garages are available within a block from our location.

For our full restaurant dining experience, visit our restaurant across the street... URBAN Eat.Drink

Top review

PeterVIP

Dined 2 days ago

It was a great time with good friends. Little pricey but good view.

Uchiba Austin

4.8

4.8 (156)

$50 and over

Sushi

Downtown

About the restaurant

:: ADDITIONAL RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE ON RESTAURANT WEBSITE ::

Uchibā, loosely "Uchi Bar" in Japanese, is Uchi's izakaya‑inspired cocktail bar and restaurant delivering a vast selection of Japanese whiskies, unique cocktails, yakitori grill items and Uchi classics. Reservations are encouraged and can be booked online up to 1 month in advance. Walk-in bar seating is available and is subject to wait times. Patio seating is weather permitting and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. We look forward to serving you, Kanpai!

Top review

carylVIP

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Overall, as usual, another fantastic addition to the Uchi family of restaurants. Outstanding. The food, the service, the menu - impeccable. The one thing that I found surprising was (IMO) the lack luster of the ambiance. I have always loved the aesthetics of his restaurants - this one fell flat to me. Our server, Anthony, was fabulous! I’m partial to Uchi and Uchiko.

Bar Toti Neighborhood Bistro

4.8

4.8 (6)

$31 to $50

Bistro

East Austin

About the restaurant

Located in East Austin alongside sister restaurant Este, Bar Toti is a lively neighborhood bistro inspired by the bar cultures of Spain, France and Mexico. With a colorful handcrafted interior, a mix of communal and intimate seating, and a spacious tree-shaded patio, Bar Toti is perfect for any occasion- join us for drinks and snacks, or settle in for a full meal.

Bar Toti’s menu features produce grown in the half acre Este Garden right out back - we welcome you to take a stroll through the garden during your visit! A true neighborhood haven, Bar Toti invites you to relax and enjoy seven nights a week.

Top review

Christine

Dined 5 days ago

Lyle and Jake were very accommodating and we enjoyed everything we ordered, mixed marinated olives, Hongos a la plancha (mushroom medley), and La Smashburgesa. Jake paced our meal well and even sent a sweet surprise at the end.

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Experience

1/2 off Smashburgesas Every Monday! 🍔

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - Austin

4.7

4.7 (748)

$30 and under

Sushi

Arboretum

About the restaurant

Blue Sushi Sake Grill unites creative ingredients with energetic vibes, premium cold sake with happy moments to give you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. Our sushi and grill menus allow you to explore your sushi favorites in new and unexpected ways. We like to say that sushi is for sharing, and our menu encourages it. Order a spread of all your maki, nigiri and sashimi favs from the sushi bar, and throw in a few orders of starters from the grill. We'll stagger your plates so you can savor it all bite-by-bite, and maximize the sushi experience you've been craving all week. If you're not sure where to start, tour the menu during Happy Hour, where all our guest favorites — from our sushi, grill and drink menus — are available at an amazing value. We offer Happy Hour every day of the week at Blue Sushi Sake Grill!

Top review

Luis

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

This was our first time at Blue Sushi. It was pretty empty so we were seated immediately. Short wait time between ordering and the food arriving. The host and the server were great, super friendly and attentive. Love the atmosphere and the music. Clean bathrooms. Food was amazing and great price. Overall great experience!

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4.6

4.6 (230)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located at the bustling corner of 6th & San Antonio, Devil May Care delivers a fresh and enigmatic experience to Austin’s dining and entertainment scene. With its cozy, eclectic vibe, Devil May Care provides a downtown, art-filled, underground hideaway. Family-style dining features a healthy and shareable play on Modern Mediterranean cuisine.

Top review

KarinaVIP

Dined on Nov 7, 2024

Great night out with a friend. Lived the live music, ambiance and terrace.

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Experience

Cumbia Night

Experience

Thursday Ladies Night

Lil' Easy Fine Cajun Food & Bar

4.6

4.6 (90)

$30 and under

Creole / Cajun / Southern

East Austin

About the restaurant

From the chef that brought you Sawyer & Co. and De Nada Cantina comes Lil' Easy Fine Cajun Food & Bar – a restaurant with an extensive menu and outdoor, dog-friendly seating.

Top review

JenniferVIP

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Great food- had the beef tips-butterflied shrimp both excellent Polite staff Cool vibe

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