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It’s getting to be one of the nicest times of year to visit the Texas Hill Country – a little bit cooler, a nice breeze, and pleasant sunshine. It’s an area of Texas spanning from the outskirts of west Austin to just north of San Antonio, encompassing several smaller towns, and boasting not just beautiful scenery, but also incredible food. These are the best restaurants you must visit on your next trip to the Hill Country.
The Salt Lick
18300 Farm to Market Rd 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619
The Salt Lick is one of the best barbecue places in the area, and it started as just a massive barbecue pit. The restaurant opened in 1967, but the family recipes date all the way back to the mid 1800s! Most of the space is outdoors so you can enjoy the beautiful hills along with your amazing food.
The Oasis
6550 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732
The Oasis is a massive — and we mean massive — multi-storied restaurant right on Lake Travis. There are balconies galore overlooking the lake, and for good reason too, the Tex-Mex restaurant is famous for having some of the most stunning sunset views you’ll ever see!
Little Gretel
518 River Rd, Boerne, TX 78006
Little Gretel is an adorable family-owned restaurant with some of the best Central European fare for miles around. Their primary focus is cuisine from the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and Hungary — and they offer dishes we haven’t found anywhere but Europe! It’s amazing.
The Leaning Pear
111 River Rd #110, Wimberley, TX 78676
In the heart of the Hill Country sits the Leaning Pear, a fantastic farm-to-table style restaurant. The menus change seasonally, with ingredients sustainably sourced from local farms around Wimberley. It effortlessly blends classic Hill Country dishes with a more craft-food approach.
The Laurel Tree
18956 N 187, Utopia, TX 78884
The Laurel Tree is a very special restaurant attached to a bed and breakfast in treehouses! One of the best restaurants in Hill Country is open by reservation to the public on Saturdays, with a menu that changes weekly — so you’ll never have the same meal twice! To make it extra special, you can reserve their private treehouse dining room.
Otto’s German Bistro
316 E Austin St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
At Otto’s you’ll be able to enjoy a seasonal menu developed by Düsseldorf native Chef Henry Gutkin, and filled with more modern interpretations of traditional German and Austrian cuisine. Whether you opt to visit for dinner or for brunch, your taste buds are certain to be wowed!
Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar
1287 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Gristmill blends together gorgeous river scenery, historic architecture, and amazing food. The building was previously used to process cotton, but since 1977 it’s become an excellent restaurant for all your classic Texas Southern cooking needs.
