The Best Austin Rehearsal Dinner Venues
Emily Forsythe
Choosing to have your rehearsal dinner in Austin, Texas naturally sets the tone for an incredible evening with family and friends. This sparkling city offers a guaranteed good time (and good food). Venues that have outdoor patios with the Texas night sky in view, intimate underground rooms, beautifully layered dishes from award-winning chefs and never ending lists of decadent wine. No matter what your aesthetic, the venue to suit you and your family's vibes is here. Whether you're focused on a decadent meal, beautiful space, award-winning wine, or all of the above, Austin has plenty of private dining options perfect for a memorable rehearsal dinner. Here are some of our favorites.
Eberly
- 615 S. Lamar St.
- Contemporary American
- Private Dining Capacity: 20-250
Contemporary American cuisine beneath a glass ceiling, dining here gives the feeling of being true royalty. With the option to private dine on rooftop as well, (Austin skyline in full view) you won’t want to miss the sunset. Eberly sets the mood for a magical evening under the stars, even if it’s raining. Rumor has is that Taylor Swift was the first to rent out the speakeasy behind the famous bar, but don't fact-check us on it.
La Condesa- Flour House
- 400 W 2nd St A
- Mexican
- Private Dining Capacity: 20
Previously part of a brewery and now listed on the Texas Historical Commission, La Condesa’s Mexican cuisine has another home at its underground private dining room, Flour House. The rough walls show a slice of Austin history as you enjoy dinner in a cozy and secluded dining room. The space also includes a game room to entertain between drinks. If your group is on the smaller side, the Flour House can host up to 20 guests and is a great choice for a comfortable and tasty experience.
Olive & June
- 3411 Glenview Ave
- Italian
- Private Dining Capacity: Up to 100
Tucked away in a lovely and quiet part of town, Olive & June is known for its wonderful handmade pastas, great Italian wine list, and beautiful, three-story balcony. Incorporating local ingredients into authentic Italian cuisine, Olive & June is best known for their eclectic menu and tranquil patio. Their third floor event space, shaded by their enormous courtyard oak tree, can seat up to 100 rehearsal dinner guests.
Irene's
- 506 West Ave.
- American
- Private Dining Capacity: 15-125
365thingsaustin.com
If you haven’t already seen the classic ivy covered neon entrance welcoming patrons into Irene’s all over your social media, you’ll see the appeal once you visit this polished but laid back Austin hangout. The menu has a wide variety of American food and cocktails, beers, and other libations to choose from. Set under large oaks and near the bank of Waller Creek, not one, not two, but three different patios wrap around the restaurant and can accommodate a wide variety of group sizes. You’ll be sure to find something that suits your needs and entertains your guests.
Lonesome Dove
- 419 Colorado St.
- Urban western
- Private Dining Capacity: up to 200
Nestled right into the heart of West Sixth, Lonesome Dove takes inspiration from Western aesthetic mixed with an urban setting. Their private dining experience can host up to 200 guests and puts emphasis on customization, with the ability to choose between three different dining rooms that match the atmosphere you want, and letting you select your ideal menu choices. The venue is also always willing to accommodate any dietary restrictions if needed. And you know you’ll be in good hands with celebrity chef Tim Love and a venue that has hosted Fortune 500 company events to charity galas and more.
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
- 303 Red River St.
- American
- Private Dining Capacity: Contact for details
Moonshine is an all-time Austin favorite for a reason, giving off prohibition era vibes, with whiskey, bourbon and cocktails to match. Their lovely private patio is located right in the middle of downtown, and features a crowd-pleasing menu of southern favorites - make sure to try the green chile mac & cheese.
FREEDMEN'S
- 2404 San Gabriel St
- Texas BBQ
- Private Dining Capacity: 40-150
freedmensbar.com
Tucked away near the UT Campus, Freedmen's is one of our very favorite places for authentic Texas BBQ. Their BBQ always falls apart (in TX, this is a good thing), their cocktails are creative (check out their huge bourbon selection), and the vibe is perfectly Austin. For a laid-back rehearsal dinner, the Freedmen's beergarden backyard is a beautiful setting with dressed-up picnic tables under patio lights.
MAX'S Wine Dive
- 207 San Jacinto Blvd
- American, "Gourmet comfort food"
- Private Dining Capacity: 35-350
Wine lovers, rejoice. MAX'S offers a modern, customizable underground cellar space (which actually used to be an old warehouse) that can seat anywhere from 35-350 people. The owners, a couple, were inspired by their desire to have the enjoyment of fried chicken and champagne in the same place. MAX’S wine dive wanted to create and offer their guests “gourmet comfort food”, and they have done so quite successfully. The underground experience is complete with fantastic wine options and a menu with a wide array of options to complement your sips. Perfect for the urban couple who knows their way around a grape.
Fonda San Miguel
- 2330 W. North Loop Blvd.
- Interior Mexican
- Private Dining Capacity: Up to 80
Treat your rehearsal dinner guests with some of Austin's finest Mexican food - no, not Tex-Mex, but authentic interior Mexican. Not only is Fonda San Miguel's food excellent, but its interior design is absolutely exquisite, with a colorful, hacienda-style private room for up to 80 guests. You and your guests will feel like you’ve gone on a mini vacay... or an early honeymoon.
Steiner Ranch Steakhouse
- 5424 Steiner Ranch Blvd
- Steakhouse
- Private Dining Capacity: 50-120
For stunning vistas and always-incredible steaks, take your guests out to Lake Travis to experience Steiner Ranch Steakhouse. While it is quite a hike from downtown Austin, it is worth the drive for one of the best dinners you can get in the city. With three floors of private event space to choose from, each with indoor and outdoor eating areas, rehearsal dinners of any size can get a taste of our famous Texas beef while taking in the expansive lake views. For a taste of Texas, book your dinner at Steiner Ranch.
Parkside
- 301 E 6th St.
- American
- Private Dining Capacity: 40-200
Don't be fooled by Parkside's location in the heart of "dirty sixth." It is the diamond in the rough. Coining farm-to-table in Austin, Parkside set the standard for sustainable dining. With a seasonal menu and a famous raw bar and vast selection of oysters, this joint is thriving with delicious local seafood. Head to their second floor event space for indoor/outdoor seating and impressive city views from the rooftop. Have a giant rehearsal dinner party? The entire restaurant is available for buyouts, too.
Clay Pit
- 1601 Guadalupe St
- Indian
- Private Dining Capacity: Contact for details
Contemporary Indian cuisine in an elegant and sophisticated setting, complete with stone walls and a wine bar. For the couple who likes to be outside the norm, Clay Pit's spicy, savory menu might be just the thing you're looking for. With multiple private dining room options, including a cellar and a wine room, you can pick the size and atmosphere that works best for your party and count on Clay Pit to delight the senses with naan, curries, fine wines, and more.
Jacoby's
- 3235 East Cesar Chavez St.
- American
- Private Dining Capacity: 20-250
An Eastside favorite, this restaurant doubles as a charming gift shop mercantile during the day and is the perfect combination of Texas southern comfort and the East Austin art scene. Run and owned by a value-driven family focused offering a ranch-to-table dining experience and located right on the Colorado river, this rustic experience will have you never wanting to leave with your loved ones.
Justine's Secret House
- 1303 East 7th St.
- French
- Private Dining Capacity: 20-50
justines1937.com
When you think of Justine’s, you think of the east 5th St. former bungalow with a specialty for steaks, cocktails, and French cuisine. But did you know this lively locale has it’s own secret venue the can be rented out for private events? The mystery gets heightened when all the website has to offer is a password protected page and flashes of what happens inside. A backyard string-lit patio is tucked behind high shrubs hidden away from the street in this truly exclusive and intimate experience for your guests. With three-course meals, piano filling the atmosphere of its dining rooms and hallways, and full hosted bar, look no further to find a perfect hideaway in the heart of the city.
No two weddings are exactly alike, and no two rehearsal dinners are, either. This collection of our favorite private dining spaces is sure to have just the right fit for your big night before the big day.
Let us know if we missed any of your local favorites in the comments.