clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

The Best Hotel Bars in Austin

The Best Italian Restaurants in Austin

The Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Austin

More in Austin See more maps
Two plates of eggs benedicts.
Brunch benedicts at Moonshine.
Moonshine

Where to Eat and Drink Around the Austin Convention Center

Great and convenient restaurants and bars near the city’s event epicenter in downtown Austin

by Nadia Chaudhury
View as Map
Brunch benedicts at Moonshine.
| Moonshine
by Nadia Chaudhury

The area surrounding the Austin Convention Center isn’t typically thought to be one of the city’s premier food and drink destinations. But in fact, the area, that welcomes guests from all over the world for major events like South by Southwest (SXSW) and so many trade shows and expos, is home to a number of restaurants and bars worth a visit.

Here’s Eater’s guide to the best eating and drinking options around the Austin Convention Center. This map has everything covered, including barbecue, cocktails, burgers, juices, fine-dining, very casual, and everything in between.

Neighborhood-wise, there’s Eater’s guides to downtown, Rainey Street, and Red River Street. And then for more Austin dining and drinking, there’s Eater’s complete guide to dining and drinking in the city, as well as Austin’s essential restaurants, hot new restaurants, essential bars, hot new cocktail bars, and the best happy hour deals.

This article was originally written by Sommer Brugal.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

The Backspace

Copy Link

The tiny Neapolitan pizzeria is the place for dinnertime pizza, cheese boards, and meatballs. During happy hour, enjoy half-priced beers and wine by the glass, and antipasti. Reservations can be made online; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services.

507 San Jacinto Blvd (btwn 5th & 6th St.), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-9899
(512) 474-9899

Also featured in:

The Grey Market [Austin]

Copy Link

For daytime casual and/or quick-and-easy meals, head straight to this Thompson Austin hotel restaurant from Savannah chef Mashama Bailey. Find fried chicken meals on Sundays; loads of breakfast dishes with eggs, meats, and even sides of cheese grits; all sorts of sandwiches, salads, and larger entrees (fried fish and grits, turkey clubs); plus coffee, beers, wines, and cocktails. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services.

501 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

Casino El Camino

Copy Link

Sneak away to this dimly lit dive bar for giant burgers, easy beers, and cocktails. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

517 E 6th St (bt Red River & Neches Sts), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 469-9330
(512) 469-9330

Also featured in:

One Taco

Copy Link

Breakfast and lunch tacos are always a must, so make a stop at the downtown location of the Austin mini-chain. Find classic corn and flour tortillas filled with migas, meats, and, yes, there’s a pancake taco. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

402 Brazos St (at E 4th), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 527-3002
(512) 527-3002

Central District Brewing

Copy Link

This is Austin, so it makes sense that there’s a brewery right next to the convention center. Central District brews up all sorts of beer styles, from its award-wining Kayaker’s kolsch to the One way Conversation hazy IPA to the aged Saint of Lost Causes Belgian quad. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

417 Red River St (5th St), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 993-4511
(512) 993-4511

Also featured in:

Revolucion Coffee & Juice

Copy Link

The San Antonio-based mini-Texas-chain’s Austin location is the place to fuel up with well-sourced coffee, juices, power shots, and smoothies. There’s also acai bowls and breakfast tacos. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

207 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

Foxy's Proper Pub

Copy Link

The Irish pub is a good watering hole for all things beer, whiskeys, and hearty pub fare (the fish and chips are good). There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

201 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 501-6713
(512) 501-6713

Also featured in:

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill & Kinfolk

Copy Link

The Southern restaurant’s downtown location is a classic space for comfort foods and drinks — think chicken and waffles, chicken fried steak, and green chile macaroni and cheese — alongside a strong drinks list. Even better: there’s a speakeasy bar, Kinfolk, on the property, focusing on loads of whiskeys and well-made cocktails. Reservations can be made online; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 236-9599
(512) 236-9599

Also featured in:

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Copy Link

Famously hot and spicy fried chicken is what you’ll find at the fried chicken chain’s Austin location. Pair the fried bird with comforting sides like baked beans, fried okra, and mac and cheese. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services.

117 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-4877
(512) 474-4877

Also featured in:

Iron Works BBQ

Copy Link

The downtown Austin barbecue restaurant is one of those ever-reliable smoked meats destinations in the city that happens to be just steps from the convention center. Indulge in daytime and evening chopped beef, beef ribs, and all sorts of sauces. Takeout orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4855
(512) 478-4855

Also featured in:

Garrison

Copy Link

For a fancy-pants dinner, wander through the maze that is the Fairmont Austin hotel to find this windowless fine-dining restaurant that’s actually great. Reservations can be made online; there are indoor dine-in services.

101 Red River St (E Cesar Chavez St), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 600-2000
(512) 600-2000

Also featured in:

Nadia Chaudhury is an editor for Eater Northeast and Eater New York and was the former Eater Austin editor, who often writes about food and pop culture.

More in Maps

© 2025 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

The Backspace

507 San Jacinto Blvd (btwn 5th & 6th St.), Austin, TX 78701

The tiny Neapolitan pizzeria is the place for dinnertime pizza, cheese boards, and meatballs. During happy hour, enjoy half-priced beers and wine by the glass, and antipasti. Reservations can be made online; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services.

507 San Jacinto Blvd (btwn 5th & 6th St.), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-9899
(512) 474-9899

The Grey Market [Austin]

501 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

For daytime casual and/or quick-and-easy meals, head straight to this Thompson Austin hotel restaurant from Savannah chef Mashama Bailey. Find fried chicken meals on Sundays; loads of breakfast dishes with eggs, meats, and even sides of cheese grits; all sorts of sandwiches, salads, and larger entrees (fried fish and grits, turkey clubs); plus coffee, beers, wines, and cocktails. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services.

501 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

Casino El Camino

517 E 6th St (bt Red River & Neches Sts), Austin, TX 78701

Sneak away to this dimly lit dive bar for giant burgers, easy beers, and cocktails. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

517 E 6th St (bt Red River & Neches Sts), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 469-9330
(512) 469-9330

One Taco

402 Brazos St (at E 4th), Austin, TX 78701

Breakfast and lunch tacos are always a must, so make a stop at the downtown location of the Austin mini-chain. Find classic corn and flour tortillas filled with migas, meats, and, yes, there’s a pancake taco. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

402 Brazos St (at E 4th), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 527-3002
(512) 527-3002

Central District Brewing

417 Red River St (5th St), Austin, TX 78701

This is Austin, so it makes sense that there’s a brewery right next to the convention center. Central District brews up all sorts of beer styles, from its award-wining Kayaker’s kolsch to the One way Conversation hazy IPA to the aged Saint of Lost Causes Belgian quad. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

417 Red River St (5th St), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 993-4511
(512) 993-4511

Revolucion Coffee & Juice

207 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

The San Antonio-based mini-Texas-chain’s Austin location is the place to fuel up with well-sourced coffee, juices, power shots, and smoothies. There’s also acai bowls and breakfast tacos. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

207 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

Foxy's Proper Pub

201 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

The Irish pub is a good watering hole for all things beer, whiskeys, and hearty pub fare (the fish and chips are good). There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

201 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 501-6713
(512) 501-6713

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill & Kinfolk

303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

The Southern restaurant’s downtown location is a classic space for comfort foods and drinks — think chicken and waffles, chicken fried steak, and green chile macaroni and cheese — alongside a strong drinks list. Even better: there’s a speakeasy bar, Kinfolk, on the property, focusing on loads of whiskeys and well-made cocktails. Reservations can be made online; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 236-9599
(512) 236-9599

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

117 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

Famously hot and spicy fried chicken is what you’ll find at the fried chicken chain’s Austin location. Pair the fried bird with comforting sides like baked beans, fried okra, and mac and cheese. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services.

117 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-4877
(512) 474-4877

Iron Works BBQ

100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

The downtown Austin barbecue restaurant is one of those ever-reliable smoked meats destinations in the city that happens to be just steps from the convention center. Indulge in daytime and evening chopped beef, beef ribs, and all sorts of sauces. Takeout orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4855
(512) 478-4855

Garrison

101 Red River St (E Cesar Chavez St), Austin, TX 78701

For a fancy-pants dinner, wander through the maze that is the Fairmont Austin hotel to find this windowless fine-dining restaurant that’s actually great. Reservations can be made online; there are indoor dine-in services.

101 Red River St (E Cesar Chavez St), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 600-2000
(512) 600-2000

Related Maps