5 Austin Restaurants with Romantic Patios
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching I wanted to share the list of places I considered taking my partner to for Valentine’s Day. This year, given the pandemic, I wanted to make sure we were going to be able to enjoy dinner on a romantic patio. Although many of these will likely be booked up by the time this is written, they would still be great for any date.
Olive & June ($$$)
Olive & June is an elegant restaurant serving Southern Italian cuisine. Their large, multi-level terrace surrounds a majestic, 200-year-old live oak tree and offers heaters, fans, and umbrellas to create a pleasant atmosphere regardless of weather. The restaurant offers complimentary valet and accepts both reservations and a few walk-ins.
Full disclosure, this is the restaurant my partner and I chose for our Valentine’s Day. I’ve heard great things about it and we have never been so it checks all three of my requirements: good food, new experience, and a gorgeous patio!
Dine-in service is only offered Tuesday through Saturday from open to close, although on Sunday they offer a pri-fixe menu. They are famous for the pasta which is made fresh each day in house.
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing ($$)
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing (ABGB) is of my favorite outdoor hangouts in Austin. Most of their dinning space is outside under several large trees and because of covid-19 they have separated the tables and expanded the patio. There is usually ample parking and reservations are not required so this would be a great last minute Valentine’s Day option (though keep in mind they close at 8 pm on Sundays).
Though they are famous for their award-winning beer, the real star at ABGB is the pizza! I am sure the sandwiches are great but truly nothing beats their calabrese pizza. As a weirdo who does not like pepperoni pizza, trust me when I say the calabrese pizza is a mind-changing, phenomenal pepperoni pizza.
Fresa’s South First ($)
Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon at the South First location has a wonderful patio which boarders East Bouldin Creek. The space is colorful and airy with many trees and spaced out tables. The patio currently has limited seating so I would recommend making a reservation.
Fresa’s wood-gilled Mexican cuisine is to die for. Personally I love the La Fresa taco and the side of grilled beets with saffron-chile aoili, but you can’t go wrong with this menu. The South First location also serves margaritas, beer, and wine. Do not go to the location on 9th and Lamar for a night out as it is drive-thru only.
Loro ($$$)
Loro is the lovechild of Uchi’s chef Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue. The Asian smokehouse and bar has a large and modern patio with picnic tables and 100-year-old oak trees. The restaurant is currently not accepting reservations so this could also be a great last minute Valentine’s Day idea.
It’s hard to find bad barbecue in Texas, I am of the mind that if it’s moist and there’s a good sauce it’s delicious. But I have to say the flavors at Loro are refreshing and worth checking out. The candied kettle corn with burn end brisket and togarashi seasoning is one of my favorite menu items. And don’t miss the cocktails or the salted caramel creme brulee!
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile ($$$)
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile is a ranch-to-table restaurant that focuses on Southern classics. The patio is large, rustic, and overlooks the beautiful Colorado River. When I have been they offer complementary valet parking and reservations are recommended but not required.
I would highly recommend the brunch at Jacoby’s, I can personally vouch for the biscuits, the crab cake benedict, and the croque monsieur. Additionally, the restaurant has mastered the art of serving hot, runny egg yolks via delivery so this brunch is great option for a date on your own romantic patio!
