5 Best Date Night Spots in Austin’s Mueller Neighborhood
Known as a family-friendly neighborhood, it may surprise some to know that Mueller is home to a number of Austin’s top date night spots.
Whether you’re looking for dinner before a show at Mueller’s Alamo Drafthouse, a leisurely Sunday brunch or the right spot for a celebratory dinner, there are a number of great options in the Mueller neighborhood.
Here is my list of the five best date night spots in Mueller. Enjoy!
1. L’Oca d’Oro
If you’re (or your date is) a foodie, L’oca d’Oro is the place to go in Mueller. Named one of Texas Monthly’s Favorite New Restaurants in 2016, this cozy neighborhood spot produces top-notch Italian food.
Ingredients are all local, many of them made in-house, and the menu is seasonal – featuring a selection of fresh pastas and shareable appetizers.
For a special night out, I recommend you try the six-course pasta tasting and wine pairing to get a taste of all that the restaurant has to offer.
Or, keep an eye on the special events the restaurant hosts, which offer guests an intimate, themed dinner.
And it’s not just a dinner spot. L’Oca d’Oro offers plenty of bar space and cocktail tables to pop in for a drink, and the menu features delicious desserts if you’re craving something sweet.
2. Colleen’s Kitchen
Colleen’s Kitchen serves up refined southern food. From chicken pot pie and cheeseburgers to “little biscuit” sandwiches and buttermilk fried chicken. It’s the comfort food you love, in a cute package.
And the cocktail menu is not to be missed, with a combination of house specialties, like the Farmers Market Mule that features herbs from the Mueller Farmers’ Market, and classics like the French 75.
The bright, eclectic interior feels like you stepped into someone’s house, pairing pink velvet chairs with mismatched frames and plates along the walls. When it’s patio weather, Colleen’s has one of the best patios in the neighborhood, plus – it’s dog-friendly!
An added bonus? Colleen’s is right below the Alamo Drafthouse, setting you up perfectly for a classic dinner-and-a-movie date night.
3. Contigo
Technically located just outside of Mueller, Contigo is still worth a mention!
The atmosphere is inspired by the Contigo Ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas and features wood and metal community tables, leather chairs and festive cafe lights. The food – as described by Contigo itself, is “fresh, quality, bar food.” On the menu, you’ll find a range of options – including sharable starters, hearty mains and a variety of sides.
My personal favorites are the crispy green beans and the burger. It’s one of the best burgers in town!
The restaurant’s outdoor seating is consistently named one of Austin’s best patios. More than your typical patio seating, there is plenty of seating outside, but when the weather is nice, the entire restaurant opens up to allow for the al fresco feel.
On a brisk night, there are blankets and a fire pit to keep you warm on the patio. And on a nice spring day, there’s corn hole in the bar area to keep you entertained while you wait for a table.
4. Gino’s Vino Osteria
Gino’s Vino Osteria brings white table clothes and classic Italian vibes to Mueller.
Start with a drink off of Gino’s creation from the cocktail menu, or order a bottle of wine to pair with the hearty Italian food that you’re about to enjoy.
Start with the tableside caesar salad, then follow it with any one of Gino’s handmade pastas. We recommend the gnocchi!
Still have room after the pasta? Order one of their delicious desserts or pop next door and pick up some Tiff’s Treats to go.
Get the full scoop: Gino’s Vino Osteria: Mueller’s Most Authentic Italian Restaurant
5. Kyoten Sushiko
Behind an unassuming front, below one of Mueller’s luxury apartment complexes, sits Kyoten Sushiko. Inside lies an intimate omakase sushi experience that’s making waves amongst Austin’s restaurant scene.
Omakase translates loosely to “chef’s choice.” The restaurant serves a single option – the $150 omasake menu – which changes with the seasons or (according to the website) at the “chef’s whim.”
Limited seatings are available at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m.
Did I miss one of your favorite spots? Let me know! I’m always looking for a new place to visit.
