Austin’s Newest Restaurant Openings, Now on Resy

Named for a popular Spanish libation of red wine and cola, Kalimotxo serves a wide choice of impeccable pintxos (Basque tapas), Andalusian tapas, and other snacks, along with plenty of cocktails and wines. The place started life downtown but is now drawing crowds at the Arrive Hotel in East Austin, and you’ll want to join them, now.

This pioneering 6th Street gastropub — an Austin standby since it opened in 2008 — has a fresh look, with bigger windows, better booths, a wood-burning oven, and a covered patio. Come to enjoy old favorites (including sea-fresh oysters) and do pay attention to menu additions that take advantage of the kitchen’s new live-fire grilling capabilities.

This Austin offshoot of the buzzy New York City original is just plain fun, with its offbeat pub atmosphere — part Australian saloon, part Midwestern diner, with a touch of Texas on the side — and its comfort-food menu, spectacular cocktails, and irresistible roof deck. 

The Manhattan original of this quintessential modern Irish pub has been named “the world’s best bar” more than once, but this Austin location might give it some competition for its impeccable cocktails, displays of first-rate Irish art, and of course (this being Austin) abundant live music.

France meets Italy in the kitchen (gougères, say hello to giardiniera) at this intimate Congress Street bistro from the team behind Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine and Gràcia Mediterranean. The classy cocktail list includes seven variations on the Negroni, and the sides include shoestring fries with housemade mayo that are so good you might want a second helping.

You know you’d like to be here, at this third location of Austin’s popular Fresa’s — devouring their trademark wood-grilled achiote-and-citrus or Yucatán-spiced chicken (or something else from the enticing Mexican menu), sipping a margarita or an agua fresca, looking out on a Hill Country vista.

Cameron Lockley, proprietor of the popular Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine in Rosedale, expresses his love for the entire Mediterranean with this wine-and-seafood-focused delight next door to Gusto, where the culinary ports of call include Spain, Greece, and Turkey.

Soaring wraparound windows, opulent leather seating, a communal table, an elegant bar, original cocktails (try the Texas ti’, which boldly mixes Scotch and bourbon), and morning-to-night meals from irresistibly eclectic menus — what’s not to like about this signature bar at the Archer Hotel?

Chef Ling Qi Wu (of Lin Asian Bar) scores again with this luminous Chinese establishment in southwest Austin. Look for showpiece dishes like Peking duck with foie gras paste and salt and pepper whole red snapper — and definitely put the extravagant dim sum brunch on your calendar.