The July Hit List: Austin Motel, The Backspace, Summer House, and More

Access to a pool when the temperature is consistently in the triple digits is part of any smart Austinite’s survival kit. Get a Resy for the always-happening Austin Motel Pool this month. It’s casual, pool float-friendly, and includes easy access to cold Modelos. Come during the day, at happy hour, or for events like the Chunky Dunk or Daft Hunks dance party.

Originally from Mexico City, this new spot is already, as the name promises, a busy spot for cocktails and tacos. Convenient for the south Austin folks and worth the trip for everyone else, the patio is an ideal spot for happy hour or dinner. The queso fundido with chorizo, ahi tuna tostada, and al pastor rib-eye tacos are a few of the standouts.

Find more info here.

For date night, work dinners, or post-SoCo shopping nourishment, Summer House can do it all. Make a Resy for brunch to try the smoked salmon toast, or grab a table for dinner on the patio for the caramelized onion dip and backyard chicken with sweet potatoes. It’s part of the Hotel Magdalena, but it also redefines “hotel restaurant” one brilliant onion dip at a time.

The old Violet Crown Clubhouse got new owners and a glow-up. It reopened as a natural wine shop and hang-out spot for coffee, snacks, and, of course, wine. Order by the glass or shop around in the store and test out your new bottles (note: there’s a corkage fee). Among the ideal wine snacks on offer: cheese boards, tinned fishes, and olives.

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Every city needs a dependable steakhouse that feels nice enough for your birthday, and casual enough for a Tuesday last-minute Resy. Bartlett’s fits the bill: Start with a martini and grilled artichokes, and then move on to the steak of your choice or the Asian noodle salad, if you want something lighter. The hot fudge sundae is so shareable, and the perfect closer.

From the moment you walk in to see pink walls, a spiral staircase, ornate decor, and flowing floral arrangements, you’ll understand the vibes Estelle’s is putting out there. This upscale lounge offers cocktails like a matcha martini and Granny Smith gimlet. The drinks are the focal point here, but they do offer seafood towers or truffle fries if that’s what you’re looking for. The lounge turns more into a club as the night progresses, so plan your time accordingly.

Find more info here.

Some may call it crazy to eat ramen in peak summer; we call it a power move. The team behind Sazan Ramen expanded to UT campus with Daiboku, serving shoyu ramen and spicy miso ramen. A full bar, as well as sake and beer, keep the drinks flowing. Starting later this summer, omakase service also will be on offer. We recommend dropping in before the students are back on campus and realize how close they are to great ramen.

Find more info here.

Even at night during the summer, it can still feel too hot to be outside for drinks. The Eden Cocktail Room, a speakeasy in an alley off Dirty Sixth Street, provides a great indoors escape from the heat and the crowds. You’ll definitely want to get a spot in advance, as seating is limited. Try cocktails like the Fruit of the Forbidden made with gin and pomegranate or the Water of Life with bourbon, coffee, and chocolate cream.

A little bakery, a little cafe, and a little grocery, Epicerie is a neighborhood favorite. Pop in for croissants and coffee to start your morning or farm-to-table lunches like the quiche of the day. The wine selection is exciting yet accessible; grab a bottle to split with friends.

Find more info here.

When looking for a restaurant to eat dinner downtown, it’s hard to find something that isn’t a chain, a truck, or a tourist trap. Backspace is tucked away off Dirty Sixth in an old brick building. They make wood-fired pizza and baked ricotta with fresh ciabatta. Grab a table for date night and if you’re not up for going downtown, they have an Anderson Lane location, too.