Austin’s in the midst of holiday preparations, which usually means shopping and eating, and the city’s restaurants and bars are getting into the spirit with a variety of festive offerings. This season, take advantage of boozy eggnogs, gingerbread house dining, Christmas trees, and plenty more.
Are we missing any holiday specials, dinners, treats, drinks, etc. below? Let Eater know through [email protected]. This guide will be updated throughout the end of the year.
Ongoing Festive Experiences
All of Austin’s Holiday Cocktail Pop-Ups
There are plenty of holiday-themed cocktail bar pop-ups throughout the city during the reason, from Miracle at the Eleanor to the tiki-esque Sippin’ Santa at Nickel City to the year-round Christmas vibes at Lala’s Little Nugget to the spectacle that is Mozart’s holiday light show. Scope out Eater’s full map.
Commodore Perry Estate
4100 Red River Street, Hancock
The new fancy hotel is lighting its Christmas tree this week, and although tickets for the Thursday, December 1st ceremony are already sold out, there will be a second event on Friday, December 9. It features live music, a holiday projection show, cocktails , s’mores, and more. Tickets are $35, and it takes place from 6 to 9 pm
Four Seasons Hotel
98 San Jacinto Boulevard, Downtown
For the holiday season, the hotel created what it is calling its ice rodeo. This means a skating rink, s’mores, cabins, and wintery foods and drinks. The decor includes a gingerbread Airstream trailer (yeah), a longhorn sculpture, and a pinecone-chestnut guitar. It runs through Sunday, January 8.
Omni Barton Creek Resort
8212 Barton Club Drive, Barton Creek
The sprawling resort hotel is offering a ton of holiday experiences for the season, including a lit trailer, a Christmas tree and other outdoor decor, s’mores, and a lot of kid-friendly activities. It runs through the end of the month.
The Fairmont
101 Red River Street, Downtown
The downtown hotel’s holiday festivities include the kid-friendly tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 3 from 5 to 8 pm Elsewhere, there’s the poolside light show with a whole ski theme, plus there are bookable cabanas. It runs through the end of the month.
The Driskill Hotel
604 Brazos Street, Downtown
The historic hotel’s very tall Christmas tree will be lit on Thursday, December 1 at 6 pm There will be a gingerbread village decorated by patients of the Dell Children’s Hospital and the hotel staff. The bar is serving up pumpkin spice martinis and the Nutcracker drink, and the bakery is offering tea services. And then there’s the annual cookie sale, where profits will go towards the Statesmen‘s Season for Caring Initiative, with pickups on Wednesday, December 14. Everything will stay up until the end of the month.
Non-Christmas-Day Meals
2 Dine 4 Fine Catering
3012 Gonzalez Street, Govalle
The catering branch of New Orleans diner Sawyer & Co./Mexican restaurant and bar De Nada is hosting several holiday dinners in December. The four-course meal includes dishes such as ale-braised beef short ribs, redfish, and cake. The meals are $100 per person, and they take place on Saturday, December 3; Wednesday, December 14; and Thursday, December 22, all at 7 pm
Actual Christmas Dining and Drinking
Actual New Year’s Dining and Drinking
