Make memories you and your girls won’t remember with the definitive wine drinkers guide to Austin! From fancy to to the most darling wine spots in town we’ve got you covered!
Salt & Time Wine Shop
4.7 ★
Enjoying a glass of wine with friends is a timeless pastime for those who can’t get enough of life’s simple pleasures. Salt & Time Wine Shop knows how to take in the little things with an easy setup and a flavor selection that is anything but basic. Whether you’re looking to purchase a bottle (or case) to give a high quality gift to your friends or have some time to sit on the patio for a sip of local wine, take a chance on Salt & Time Wine Shop. Located only two doors down from the Salt & Time Wine Shop restaurant, you don’t have to search for many reasons to stick around the area. Wednesday through Sunday from noon until 8 pm, the friendly staff at Salt & Time can’t wait to help you find a wine that suits any of your needs. Try out the restaurant if you have the time, or maybe even walk down to the butcher shop. Regardless of which way this journey down 7th takes you, Salt & Time is a must stop when you want to take in some of Austin’s finest flavors. When you inevitably end up at the restaurant, a sizable selection of steak, pasta and farm fresh salad waits for you on the menu. Take a seat at their lovely outdoor setup and experience lunch or dinner at one of Austin’s local treasures with time spent at Salt & Time.
Aviary Wine and Kitchen
4.6 ★
When you want to be sure that there is a vast selection available to satisfy the specific taste buds of any and all members of your group, Aviary Wine and Kitchen has a wine menu for everyone. Just take a look at their categories to know that this establishment takes wine seriously but not without a playful air. Peruse their menu and have a fun time identifying different categories titled with musicians like David Bowie or Frank Zappa. Each selection features special choices that pair up with their food menu to create an entirely delectable experience for all guests. Tuesday through Saturday from 4 – 11 pm you will want to make plans to have dinner at Aviary Wine and Kitchen on S Lamar Blvd. Their food menu doesn’t allow room for substitutions but it won’t need to. More than 120 different bottles of wine wait for you at this slightly upscale restaurant, or even at your next big event. Aviary Wine and Kitchen offers stellar catering services and can bring the party right to you if necessary. This staff will treat any venue as if it was their very own restaurant, skipping out on none of the details that make any party great.
Underdog Wine Bar
4.2 ★
Truly different from your average wine bar, Underdog Wine Bar on 1st St is an upscale experience that will have you itching for more visits. With Asian inspired dishes on their food menu and a wine list that is always changing, Underdog Wine is upscale in the most inviting kind of way. Always ready to indulge in a conversation, you can always ask a member of the staff to guide you through the wine list or just let them know what your particular pallet is interested in, this menu is stocked full and will surely have something that you’re craving. The food portions are smaller, giving you enough room to try out more than one option but don’t worry, the wine portions are more than worth your money. Closed on Sunday and Monday, the Underdog Wine Bar is open any other day from 5-10 pm at least. Their food and drink menu changes depending on what season is happening so you might want to make more than one trip in a year to the Underdog Wine Bar. These folks have a talent for always managing to create prime flavor combinations regardless of what ingredients are available to them at the time.
Birdie’s Wine Bar
4.4 ★
Get ready to expect the unexpected at Birdie’s Wine Bar on east 12th st where the menu doesn’t stay the same from one day to the next. Birdie’s was voted “Best Restaurant of the Year” by Food & Wine Magazine and once you have dinner with them, you will know why. Tuesday through Saturday, you can eat dinner and drink wine with the cheerfully informative staff at Birdie’s from 5-9 pm, they are first come first serve so show up early if you can. This family owned restaurant takes all the best parts of fine dining and offers them in a counter service style setting with no pressure to be over-the-top. There is virtually no wait time with any food orders since they bring out their food the moment it has finished cooking, leaving you plenty of time to experience your wine with your meal. Small but mighty, their wine list does not need to be so expansive when the available selection is so divine. Attend Birdie’s Wine Bar one of these evenings to figure out what keeps Austin talking about this little spot.
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Lolo Natural Wine Bar
4.7 ★
Not intended for those who are easily flustered by large quantities of information, Lolo Natural Wine Bar has over one thousand different kinds of wine on their shelves all available for order. Any day that you want to find a new favorite wine by way of sampling plenty of others, Lolo Natural Wine Bar has an array of choices for all pallets. Sit down inside or on the patio, rain or shine there is always a place to sit for wine lovers in Austin. They don’t take any days off at Lolo so if the door is open, so are they. Come in and bring all of your friends (even the dog is allowed to come out) for some drinks and snacks anytime from noon until 11 pm at least. To save a few bucks on your experience, come by during the week days from 4-6 pm when happy hour is in full swing. Shave 2$ off of glass pours and 1$ off package beers, leaving more room for taking advantage of the entire wine list.
Cape Bottle Room
4.6 ★
Take a step away from American made wines when you visit Cape Bottle Room on San Marcos St to try out their selection of South African Wines. South Africa is celebrated for being a place full of culture, creativity, and general sustainability, much like the growing community of Austin. With the quickly expanding wine industry in South Africa, there is always something new to try off the wine list at Cape Bottle Room. Locally owned and operated with a sense of family in mind, Cape Bottle Room features selections of wines and snacks that will satisfy your sweet or savory tooth flawlessly. From 2 pm – 10 pm (at least) every day, you can take a trip to Cape Bottle Room and experience wine with people who care more about the process than you might guess. These folks are on a mission to change the way people understand and experience the whole wine process from grape seed to glass and everything in between.
The Austin Winery
4.6 ★
Get the party started at Hopsquad Brewing Co on Kramer Ln and find out what has people coming back often to this Latino owned brewery. Along with an “anything goes” approach to the way they create their beers, you won’t have to search far for the Doughsquad food truck that keeps the bar food coming hot and fresh. Even when beer isn’t quite the taste for someone in your party, have them taste the house seltzer and find out what these skilled creators have come up with. There’s no missing when you ask your bartender for a cocktail, a brewery does not have to be just beer when you’re at Hopsquad. Though they are closed on Monday, any other day from 12 – 10 pm the Hopsquad squad can’t wait to have you come in and try beers like the Pennybaker or Orange Sour. When anything goes, you never know what to expect at Hopsquad Brewing Co.
The Meteor
4.4 ★
Unlike any business combo you have heard of before, The Meteor is a mash up of an all day cafe and boutique bike shop with a twist, they also serve natural wines. Multiple locations have opened since their initial start and the owners have plans to keep expanding as long as there is a demand for what they serve. For those who love to be involved with the cycling community, this is a one stop shop for all the ingredients you need to stay fueled up for a long ride. Even if you are not a cycling enthusiast, this all day cafe/natural wine selection is made for any and everybody. Plan to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at The Meteor as the S Congress Ave location is open from 7 am – 10 pm every day. You can have wine with your meal or take a few bottles to go. Regardless of what time of day you decide to visit The Meteor, there’s no missing this establishment. Just keep an eye out for the massive “ESPRESSO, CHAMPAGNE, CHAIN LUBE” sign. There’s no going wrong with The Meteor whether you’re having a fruit bowl for breakfast, a sourdough pizza for dinner or need to restock on some biking gear. Make sure you add this triple threat to your list of places to be in Austin.
The Grove Wine Bar
4.6 ★
Central Texas can’t get enough of The Grove Wine Bar and any of their three locations in Austin. Don’t blink, they are growing fast, adding to their local buildings quickly with hopes to expand to other states in the future. With a friendly staff, food for days, and a wine menu that is as unique as each location, The Grove Wine Bar is ready to seat you for an afternoon or evening for dinner. Both locations outside of downtown open at 11 am every day, in the city they start a little later at 4 pm. Whether you go for lunch, dinner or just to have a few glasses of select wine, every menu is filled with options that will have you wanting to try them all. Wines from all over the world can be ordered for those wanting a taste of Italy or even just good ol’ California, and that’s only the start for the epic flavors at The Grove Wine Bar. Red, white, sparkling, you are even able to place “to-go” orders for bottles that would make a solid addition to any party or event. The only hard choice when considering The Grove is which spot to visit. Pick from Downtown, Lakeway, or or Westlake and enjoy every ounce of ambiance, flavor and hospitality that this growing local business has to offer. There is even a Cedar Park version to visit if you find your group needing to take a trip away from Austin, but not too far.
CONCLUSION
Here at The Austin Insider, we know all of the town’s best options for any activities you would like to indulge in. Come back here to our articles section next time you need any ideas for where to hang out while staying in our favorite town. We like to talk about everything from cheap food to concert venues so go ahead and learn everything you need to know about Austin, Texas.