The West Lake Hills hotel underwent a big revamp from the previous Hotel Granduca into the Hotel Viata, a space that’s similarly upscale but replaces the Tuscan aesthetic with a lighter, breezier look inspired by the Amalfi Coast. Laurel, the hotel’s current restaurant, embraces this coastal Italian idea wholeheartedly, with bright pastas like fettuccine al limone and frutti di mare, salads with fresh greens and vegetables, and seafood served alongside hearty steaks (because it’s still Texas, after all). The cocktails play around with Italian aperitivo, and there is all-day service, making it a convenient respite for West Lake Hills residents and Austinites in need of a not-so-distant getaway. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Commodore Perry Estate, a luxurious resort in Hyde Park, features elaborate landscaping with perfectly tended lawns, trees, and flowers. All of this natural beauty can be found front and center at Lutie’s, the hotel’s restaurant, from Austin chefs Bradley Nicholson and Susana Querejazu. The hyper-seasonal menu offers Texas-raised meat and fresh seafood, but the vegetable and fruit dishes — like cherry tomatoes and sweet peppers with creamy cheese, the green dish with of-the-moment vegetables and savory broth, and Texas camembert that’s grilled with pickled cherries — deserve particular attention. Its cocktail list emphasizes Texas ingredients — grapefruits, pecans, herbs — all included in expertly crafted drinks. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

A hotel right beside a major college campus needs to have a restaurant that can satisfy students, faculty, visiting family, and neighborhood residents alike. Luckily, the AT&T Hotel near University of Texas at Austin can count its hotel restaurant as a crowdpleaser on all fronts. The team makes creative use of ingredients, such as pairing fried yam dumplings with scallops; serving a smoked Texas lamb leg with pozole verde; and pairing a New York strip from Dallas with black garlic, broccolini, and bordelaise. There are indoor dine-in services.

The Thompson Austin in downtown serves as the Texas home base for acclaimed Savannah-based James Beard Award winner Mashama Bailey as the location of her first restaurants in the state and city. The expansion of the existing Diner Bar into Austin is an upscale casual all-day restaurant that focuses on New American dishes with global influences and a heavy dose of Southern flair. Think bucatini with pork belly; dirty rice with braised rabbit and chicken livers; and crisp fritters made with corn-based Kenyan porridge ugali, which are paired with zesty, nutty salsa macha. The lively beverage menu (with a mix of classic and original cocktails and a locally-focused beer list) pairs perfectly with the food, as does the space’s abundant natural light and relaxed, unpretentious energy. There are indoor dine-in services.

A downtown restaurant that takes major inspiration from Rat Pack-era and Little Italy cuisine, Dean’s Italian Steakhouse in the JW Marriott focuses on both Texas’s commitment to top-quality beef and to Italian American classics like chicken piccata, lobster tail scampi, and salads with salami and provolone. The steaks are beautifully marbled, the leather banquettes are tufted, the wine flows freely, and the general vibe is one of celebration with loved ones. Those looking for an airier dining environment should head to the plant-filled outdoor veranda. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The importance of the grill to Austin cooking can’t be overstated, and at the downtown American restaurant, everything from beef, poultry, seafood, to even vegetables get the post-oak-smoke treatment. In Garrison’s open kitchen, executive chef Jakub Czyszczon and his team do nimble work over open flames to serve up entrees and sides like roasted squash salad with pecans and salsa macha; rib-eye with horseradish and grilled peppers; and smoked duck breast with grilled chicory, chamomile, and cherries. Garrison offers an in-depth international wine list and a seasonal cocktail menu, but the nonalcoholic cocktails are especially noteworthy, with examples like the Luxe Bergamot (Earl Grey tea, yuzu, lemongrass, and blueberry). There are indoor dine-in services.

South Congress’s namesake hotel in Travis Heights hosts a number of businesses that cater to guests and locals alike, including a coffee shop, bars, stores, and a handful of restaurants. The newest of these dining establishments is Maie Day, a restaurant that trades in the old-fashioned stuffiness often associated with quality steak houses and replaces it with relaxed, unpretentious vibes from the Olamaie team. While the indoor seating is comfortable, dark-toned, and steakhouse sexy, the sidewalk tables offer excellent people-watching and a respite from the lively (and loud) indoor soundtrack, making it the superior setting for a feast of strip steak, tenderloin, rib-eye, or raw options like steak tartare or cold-shaved prime rib. 

Another South Congress Hotel restaurant, Otoko provides guests with an intimate omakase experience that includes both Tokyo-style sushi and Kyoto-style kaiseki. Chef Yoshi Okai and the team give reserved parties (only 12 guests can attend each seating, so reservations are very limited and pricy) the option of a sushi-kaiseki omakase, an all-sushi omakase, or an all-kaiseki omakase, and they take the time to talk guests through the flavors, textures, and overall experience of each course. Otoko also has a sister bar, Watertrade, which specializes in Japanese-ish cocktails (and is also available by reservation only). There are indoor dine-in services.