The Resy Guide to Patio Drinking in Austin

This East Side wine bar is designed to feel like you’re in a friend’s apartment — and the location at the base of an actual apartment complex makes that design pretty compelling. Fortunately, the patio here is a little bigger than that of your average apartment unit, though not by much. Be sure to reserve ahead if you want to grab one of the few tables out front, then get comfortable as you navigate their extensive list of low-intervention wines and light bites.

Hidden away in the new Music Lane development, Summer House is a new restaurant at Hotel Magdalena, right off of South Congress. They also happen to have a large patio that spans the length of the restaurant, surrounded by plants and greenery. The cocktails here feature unique twists on the classics, like an old fashioned with peppercorn honey and banana liqueur, or a ginger and lemongrass daiquiri, but you can just as easily enjoy a margarita or a glass of wine. 

Lolo is something of an oasis. Hidden in plain sight on a busy strip of East 6th, it’s a departure from the busyness that surrounds it. The focus here is primarily on low-intervention wines, but even if you’re not a seasoned veteran of the natural world, as it were, the knowledgeable staff will help you navigate a seemingly endless list of bottles. Or just stick with one of their daily selections available by the glass. Either way, you’ll be able to enjoy it in a relaxed atmosphere, on one of the many picnic tables spread across the spacious patio.

Excellent vegan food and craft beer join forces at The Beer Plant, resulting in Austin’s first plant-based gastropub. The patio here might not be large, but secure a table ahead of time and you’ll find yourself in a cozy breezeway in Tarrytown, enjoying almost 40 craft beers (hopefully not all at once) and meatless versions of all your favorite pub fare. Not in the mood for beer? There’s also wine, cocktails, and a full list of non-alcoholic beverages that are a lot more exciting than your standard fountain drinks.

Two Hands is an Australian-themed cafe on South Congress, with origins in New York City. On the menu, you’ll find their takes on classic brunch staples — like avocado toast and lemon poppy seed waffles — along with a large selection of coffees, teas, and smoothies. They also have a full bar with wine, beer, cocktails, and rotating frozen drinks. The patio here is mostly shaded, and situated right near the sidewalk of a busy shopping district, making it great for people watching as well as for catching up with friends on a sunny afternoon.

Right where the Mueller and MLK neighborhoods meet, you’ll find Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches. And if you couldn’t guess by the name, you’ll find two Texas favorites that taste great together — and excellent versions of both. The beer is brewed in-house, covering a wide range of styles, and the kolaches are some of the best in town. The patio here is large enough that you’ll rarely have trouble finding a spot to sit, with enough tree cover to provide a bit of shade during those warm, sunny hours of the day.