A couple weeks ago, Austin Food Heads, one of the most followed food accounts in the city, sat down at our farm-to-table café, ordered a variety of our signature dishes, and posted their verdict to Instagram:

The post took off. The comments filled with two kinds of people: the ones asking where we are, and the regulars who already knew.

Underrated is a funny compliment. It means the food is running ahead of the fame. We’ll take it.

What the Food Heads Ordered

They started with the burrata and the crab cakes, which they called perfect starters. Then the sirloin steak with big, fresh Texas tomatoes. Then the herbed wedge fries, which, in their words, hit the spot.

Every one of those plates starts the same way ours always have: with ingredients from farms we know, cooked simply and cooked well. Texas olive oil and butter in the kitchen. Produce that changes with the seasons. A menu that never gets old.

Classic. Timeless. No fuss, just good food.

That was the idea on day one, and it will always be the ethos of The Wayback Café.

The Lost Art of Being a Regular

Esquire published a piece this month about becoming a regular, and it struck a chord with us. Their opening question: “What if there were a place you could go where everybody knows your name?”

Between reservation apps, viral lines, and menus built for the camera, dining out can feel like a competition. Being a regular is the opposite of all that. It’s a standing order the bartender starts when you walk in. A table that feels like yours. A place that holds still while everything else moves.

That kind of place has become rare. We built The Wayback to be one.

Our servers learn names. The happy hour crowd overlaps week to week. There are guests who found us for a wedding or a weekend away and now show up every Friday for the cocktails and stay for dinner under the oaks.

Every regular started with a first visit. This is your invitation to make one.

Fifteen Minutes from Downtown, Open to Everyone

Here is the part of the Austin Food Heads post we want every local to read twice: “You do not need to stay at the hotel to dine here.”

The café is its own destination. Come for lunch. Come for date night. Come for Sunday brunch and a slow morning in the Hill Country.

The details:

• Lunch and dinner: Wednesday through Saturday, 11 am – 9 pm (last seating 8:30)

• Sunday brunch: 9 am – 3 pm (last seating 2:30)

• Happy hour: Wednesday through Saturday, 3 – 5 pm. Half-price bottles of wine and $3 off signature cocktails, dine in.

• Where: 9601 Bee Cave Road, Austin, TX 78733. Fifteen minutes from downtown.

• Reservations: open three weeks in advance at waybackaustin.com/cafe, or call (512) 520-9590.

The Wayback Café: A Hidden Gem (for Now)

Hidden gem is a lovely thing to be called. Find us before our Michelin star.

Come see what the Food Heads were talking about. Order the burrata. Try the sirloin. Let the bartender make you something. Then come back next week and do it again.

That second visit is where it starts. By the third, we’ll know your name.

Reserve a Table

Though mahjong has been played in China for nearly 200 years, it’s only recently become popular in the West, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z.

And this summer, it’s coming to Austin, Texas.

Why It’s So Popular

There is a reason the game is spreading the way it is. In a world of endless phone scrolling and laptop jobs, mahjong asks four people per table to sit down, put the screens away, and be together for a few hours at a time. It combines strategy, luck, and social interaction. It’s competitive, but there is also plenty of room for lighthearted banter between rounds.

In Austin, mahjong night has become one of the most enjoyable outings in the city, and the rooms keep getting fuller. We’ve hosted several already at The Wayback.

We wanted to give that energy a place to stretch out. Not a two-hour meetup squeezed into a weeknight, but a whole night under the oaks, with nowhere else to be.

Tile Me Away

Tile Me Away is our overnight mahjong retreat, co-hosted with Austin Mahjong Social, and it is exactly what it sounds like: a full day and night of the game you love, wrapped in everything The Wayback does best.

You arrive to a welcome cocktail and a goodie bag. You play poolside in the afternoon sun, and yes, there is Water Mahj in the saltwater pool for the brave. You gather for a farm-to-table dinner under the stars, with live music drifting across the cabana. Then you keep playing, later than you should, before getting some shut eye. In the morning, a full latte bar and biscuit spread, one final round, and a winner crowned.

One night. Nothing on the schedule but fun.

One Night, Well Spent

Here is how the retreat unfolds:

• 3:00 PM — Check-In & Welcome. A cocktail, your goodie bag, and pool time.

• 5:00 PM — Round One. Friendly competition, poolside.

• 7:00 PM — Cabana Picnic Dinner. Farm-to-table, under the stars.

• 8:00 PM — Late Evening Play. Live music and desserts.

• 9:00 AM — Round Two & Breakfast. The final round, with french press and a biscuit bar.

• 10:45 AM — Winner Announced. First place takes home a bespoke Mahjong Mat and Tile Set. Second place, a Back to Mahj mat.

With raffle prizes and a few happy surprises scattered all the way through.

All the Tiles, Taken Care Of

Your ticket covers the whole experience:

• Two scoring rounds plus open play, poolside, with Water Mahj

• Happy hour drinks and bites by the pool

• A cabana picnic dinner, farm-to-table and under the stars

• Live music and desserts through late evening play

• A breakfast biscuit bar with a full latte bar

• A welcome goodie bag and raffle prizes throughout

All of it made possible by the makers and friends who love this game as much as we do: Mahjong Bespoke, Back to Mahj, Marfa Spirit Co, The Gilded Grasshopper, Illahe, Cut ATX, Seda by Danica, and fine art photographer Jessica Schumaker.

Only 24 Seats! Sign Up Now.

There is a maximum capacity to this event, so it’s beneficial to sign up sooner rather than later. There are twenty-four seats at the table exactly. Spots are offered first come, first served, and they are already going.

If a night like this is calling to you, reserve your spot before it’s gone.

Shuffle in. Settle in. Enjoy the moment.

Reserve your seat at Tile Me Away →

August 5–6, 2026 · The Wayback, Austin, Texas · Co-hosted with Austin Mahjong Social

What they do tell us is that The Wayback feels different. More comfortable. More restorative. More health-conscious.

These are all connected.

From the very beginning, our goal wasn’t simply to build a beautiful place to stay. We wanted to create a place that felt good to be in. That meant paying attention to details that many guests may never consciously notice, but experience all the same.

Every Decision Matters

When we started designing The Wayback, we found ourselves asking questions that didn’t always have obvious answers. What should our guests sleep in? What products should we use to clean the cottages? How should we filter our water? What ingredients belong in our kitchen? How could we preserve the natural beauty of the property while building something that would last for generations?

Each answer led to another thoughtful decision. Over time, those decisions became the foundation of what The Wayback is today.

A Different Way to Think About Hospitality

The word “non-toxic” means different things to different people. For us, it has always been about intention. It means choosing natural materials whenever possible, filtering the water across the entire property, using thoughtfully selected cleaning products throughout our cottages, opting for a saltwater pool instead of a traditional chlorine pool, cooking with Texas olive oil and butter while sourcing ingredients from farms across the state, and preserving more than 300 heritage live oaks because they are part of what makes this place feel special.

None of these choices happened by accident. Each one reflects the kind of experience we wanted our guests to have.

Luxury Lives in the Details

Real hospitality isn’t defined by one grand feature.

It’s found in the feeling of climbing into crisp cotton sheets after a long day, filling your water bottle before heading out to explore Austin, sitting beneath the oak trees with a glass of wine as the sun begins to set, and enjoying a meal made with ingredients that were thoughtfully sourced.

Individually, these moments may seem small. Together, they shape an experience.

Built With Care

Recently, a travel publication dedicated to non-toxic living featured The Wayback as one of the most thoughtful properties they’ve visited.

We were honored by the recognition, not because it highlighted a list of products, but because it recognized something we’ve believed since day one.

Hospitality is an accumulation of small decisions. The guest may never notice every one of them. They shouldn’t have to.

Our job is simply to make each stay feel effortless, comfortable, and memorable. That’s the kind of place we’ve always hoped to build.

And it’s the kind of place worth returning to.

Book Your Stay

That’s the one we’d vote for.

The Wayback is just fifteen minutes from downtown Austin, but it feels like a world away — and never more so than on a holiday weekend, when the city revs up and we stay exactly as we are. Eight cottages tucked into the trees. A café with food that actually tastes like summer. A pace that lets you remember why you took the days off in the first place.

If you’ve been thinking about a long weekend away this July, this is your sign. Use code “SUMMER15” for 15% off your cottage stay.
*please note, discount codes can not be applied retroactively.

Reserve your stay at waybackaustin.com and come spend the summer the slow way. Available any night of the week between June 1 and August 31, 2026.
Book online or call the Wayback at 512.520.9590

UPCOMING EVENTS!​​​​​​​​​​​

​July 9th: Morning Mahjong, 9am - 11am

July 23rd: Pool Pass & Art Class, 9am - noon

July 30th: Watercolor Workshop 9am - 11am

Book a POOL PASS

THE WAYBACK CAFE HOURS:

​Wednesday 11 am - 9 pm

Last Seating 8:30 pm

​Thursday 11 am - 9 pm

Last Seating 8:30 pm

*Half Priced Bottles of Wine All Day

​Friday 11 am - 9 pm

Last Seating 8:30 pm

​Saturday 9 am - 9 pm

Last Seating 8:30 pm

Sunday 9 am - 3 pm

Last Seating 2:30 pm

Happy Hour *dine in only

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 3 pm - 5 pm

1/2 off bottles of wine $3 off signature cocktails

See yall at the Wayback soon!

-Sydney

Check us out on Instagram

It’s the one we got to live for a weekend at The Wayback — four friends, eight cottages, a saltwater pool catching the late afternoon light, and absolutely nowhere to be. No itinerary. No group chat full of “should we...?” Just mornings that stretched as long as we let them, and a porch that didn’t mind if we never left it.

We came for a girls’ weekend. We left wishing we lived here.

The Hill Country has a way of doing this to you

Just outside Austin, the city noise fades and something softer takes over — cedar and limestone, golden light through the live oaks, the kind of quiet that actually lets you hear yourself think. The Wayback sits right in the middle of it, and the property does the rest. Mornings started with warm freshly roasted coffee. Afternoons disappeared into the pool. Evenings were porch wine and somebody always reading with a book over their face, because no one was checking the time.

What we wore (and didn’t want to take off)

If you’ve seen our reel, you know about the nightgowns. We spent the whole weekend in soft white cotton pieces from @jacarandaliving — 100% cotton, breathable in the Texas heat, and somehow get even softer with every wash. The kind of thing that’s built to last a lifetime but feels brand new every time you put it on. We basically lived in them, cottage to porch to pool deck, and they were the easiest, most beautiful part of packing for this trip.
*Use code WAYBACK15 for 15% off your purchase!

This could be your weekend too

The Wayback was built for exactly this — eight board-and-batten cottages, a saltwater pool, a farm-to-table café, and just enough quiet to remember what doing nothing actually feels like. Whether it’s four of you or eight, this is the kind of trip that becomes the thing your group talks about planning again before you’ve even left.

Book your summer stay and use code SUMMER15 for 15% off stays through August 31st. The Hill Country — and your girls — are waiting.

🔗 Book your cottage at The Wayback, Austin Texas

We’ve been sitting on this one for a while, and we are so excited to finally share it with you.

On August 5th and 6th, The Wayback is hosting its very first overnight mahjong retreat — Tile Me Away — and it is exactly what it sounds like: one unforgettable night of tiles, good food, great drinks, live music, and the kind of company that makes you not want to go home.

We’re doing this one in partnership with Austin Mahjong Social, and together we’ve built something really special.

Here’s what your $400 ticket gets you

This isn’t just a game night. It’s a full experience — from the moment you check in to the moment you reluctantly check out.

• Welcome Bird Bam cocktail and a goodie bag waiting for you at check-in

• Shop our pop-up inside the cabana

• Pool open play + Water Mahj — yes, mahjong on the water is a thing and yes, it’s as fun as it sounds

• 2 competitive mahjong scoring rounds with Austin Mahjong Social, plus open play throughout

• Cabana picnic dinner — a full farm-to-table spread from The Wayback Café

• Late evening live music, specialty desserts & coffee

• Raffle prizes throughout the evening

• Breakfast biscuit bar + full latte bar the next morning

• And a grand prize — a Bespoke Mahjong mat & tiles set — awarded to our top scorer

All of that, for one night at one of Austin’s most tucked-away properties.

The Schedule at a Glance

Wednesday, Aug 5

• 3:00 pm — Check in & get settled

• 3–5 pm — Swim, Sip & Snack (pool open, open play, Water Mahj)

• 5–7 pm — Friendly Competition Begins

• 7–8 pm — Cabana Picnic Dinner

• 8–10 pm — Late Evening Play, live music & raffle prizes

Thursday, Aug 6

• 8:00 am — French press in the cabana

• 9–11 am — Round Two & Breakfast Biscuit Bar

• 10:45 am — Grand Prize & Second Place Winner Announced

• 11:00 am — Check out & farewell (until next time 👑)

  

About the cottages

There are only 8 cottages at The Wayback — and cottage guests get first pick of tickets. Once our cottages are filled, remaining tickets open to the public. Cottages are booked separately at waybackaustin.com and are not included in the $400 ticket price.

A booking link will be sent directly to ticket holders. Cottages are available on a first come, first served basis.

All tickets and room bookings are non-refundable once booked.

Thank you to our sponsors

This retreat wouldn’t be possible without the support of some truly wonderful partners:

Jessica Schumaker · Fine Art Photographer · Mahjong Bespoke · Marfa Spirit Co · The Gilded Grasshopper · Illahe Wines · Back to Mahj · Cut ATX · Seda by Danica

Ready? Here’s what to do.

Tickets go on sale Monday, June 22nd at noon. Head to the booking link in the @waybackaustin Instagram profile or use this link HERE to grab yours!

Only 24 seats. Cottage guests get first pick. Don’t wait on this one.

See you at the table. 🀄

The Wayback · Austin, Texas · waybackaustin.com Co-hosted with Austin Mahjong Social

Spend the morning on Lake Austin.

Cool off in our saltwater pool.

Gather for dinner beneath heritage oaks.

Then end the evening with sparklers in the grove as the Texas sun sets.

A few cottages remain for this 4th of July weekend, which is also America’s 250th anniversary! Book your trip now and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Start the Day at Lake Austin or Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park

There are few better ways to spend a July morning in Texas than on the water.

Wake up in your cottage, enjoy a slow breakfast beneath the trees, and then head down to Lake Austin for a morning of kayaking, boating, paddleboarding, swimming, or simply soaking in the views.

Another excellent option is to go hiking in Commons Ford Ranch, just five minutes up the road from The Wayback, where you can also jump into the water.

Spend the Afternoon by the Pool

After a morning in the sun, return to The Wayback and settle into a slower pace.

Find a lounge chair.

Order lunch.

Enjoy a cocktail.

Float in the saltwater pool.

Summer afternoons were made for relaxation, and there is no better place on the property for exactly that.

Dinner Beneath the Oaks

As the day begins to cool, gather for a farm-to-table dinner at The Wayback Café.

Seasonal ingredients, craft cocktails, and a setting that feels distinctly Hill Country.

The kind of meal that starts at sunset and somehow lasts well into the evening.

Sparklers in the Grove

Then comes our favorite part.

As darkness settles over the property, bring a few sparklers into the grove and enjoy the simple traditions that make summer holidays memorable.

Kids running through the grass.

Friends gathered beneath the lights.

Laughter carrying through the trees.

The Fourth of July has a way of creating those moments.

Celebrate Independence Day, Austin-Style

If you haven’t done the Fourth of July the way Austin does it, now is the time.

A limited number of cottages remain available for this historic holiday weekend.

We’d love to welcome you to The Wayback for one of our favorite times of the year.

Book 4th of July Getaway

A great wedding venue should do more than provide a beautiful place to say “I do.”

It should create the feeling of the day.

The setting, the food, the drinks, the music, the photos, the reception, the small but meaningful moments before the ceremony, and the place everyone gathers after the last toast. When those pieces come together naturally, the whole day feels effortless.

That is what makes The Wayback one of the best all-inclusive wedding venues in Austin.

Tucked into the hills just 15 minutes from downtown, The Wayback offers a wedding experience that feels intimate, elevated, and deeply connected to Austin. With heritage oak trees, farm-to-table dining, craft cocktails, cozy private cottages, a saltwater pool, and a setting close to trails, rivers, and Hill Country views, it gives couples everything they need for a wedding that feels both beautiful and personal.

Subscribe now

A Dreamy Austin Wedding Venue Under the Oaks

The ceremony is the heart of the day.

At The Wayback, couples unite beneath heritage oak trees in a natural setting that emanates peace, romance, and a distinctly Austin vibe. It has the beauty of a Hill Country escape with the convenience of being just a short drive from downtown.

It is close enough for guests to reach easily, yet tucked away enough to feel like its own private world.

The result is a wedding venue that is timeless in photos and even better in person.

Farm-to-Table Food and Craft Cocktails

The menu is one of the biggest parts of the guest experience.

At The Wayback, food and drink are built into the identity of the property. The farm-to-table café, seasonal menus, and craft cocktails create a dining experience that feels warm, thoughtful, and elevated without feeling overly formal.

From cocktail hour to dinner to the final celebratory drink of the night, the menu can feel like part of the celebration rather than just another detail.

It is Austin hospitality at its best.

A Reception Made for Dancing, Toasts, and Memories

After the ceremony, the celebration takes hold.

The Wayback offers ample space for the moments that make a wedding memorable: the first dance, the speeches, the candid photos, the long conversations, the late-night laughter, and the little scenes guests remember long after the weekend ends.

The property has an easy rhythm to it. Guests can gather, move, celebrate, and settle into the evening without feeling rushed.

It is elegant, relaxed, and full of atmosphere.

Live Music That Fits the Moment

Music is part of the soul of Austin.

The Wayback often hosts live music on weekends, which means the property is already connected to local musicians and the rhythms of Austin’s live music scene. For couples who want music to shape the mood of the day, The Wayback can help guide the experience toward the right sound and the right feel.

Soft acoustic music for the ceremony. A lively set for cocktail hour. A band that keeps the reception moving.

The right music can transform the day, and The Wayback is well positioned to help bring that vision to life.

Private Cottages for the Wedding Party

One of the most special parts of The Wayback is that it is also a boutique hotel.

With eight cozy private cottages on the property, the wedding party has a beautiful place to get ready before the ceremony, take a breath during the day, and wind down after the celebration.

The cottages make the whole wedding feel more personal and more complete. Instead of moving from place to place, the experience can unfold in one setting.

Get ready, tie the knot, celebrate, stay the night, and wake up still surrounded by the people and place that made the day special.

A Full Austin Wedding Weekend

The Wayback is also made for the moments around the wedding itself.

Guests can enjoy the saltwater pool, explore nearby nature trails and rivers, linger over brunch, and spend time together in a setting that feels like a true Austin retreat.

For couples planning a wedding weekend, not just a wedding day, that makes all the difference.

The Wayback brings together the venue, the food, the drinks, the cottages, the music, and the atmosphere in one beautiful place.

That is what makes it one of the best all-inclusive wedding venues in Austin.

Reserve your dream wedding day at The Wayback.

Check Availability for Your Wedding

Stop by our pop-up today with SEDA (custom vintage shirts & Levis)— hosted until
3 PM! Then stick around for happy hour from 3–5 PM and dinner from 5–9 PM tonight.

Tomorrow: MAY 30TH! Join us for a special evening of live jazz on the lawn during dinner, starting at 6:30 PM. The perfect way to end your weekend. 🎷

CAFE RESERVATIONS BOOK HERE

POOL PASSES JUST LAUNCHED for the summer!

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am-3pm . BOOK HERE

SEE YALL AT THE WAYBACK! —USE CODE “SUMMER15” for 15% all 2 nite stays this summer from JUNE 1- AUGUST 31.

There was a time when a café meant coffee, a pastry, and maybe a small table by the window.

In Austin, the definition has evolved.

The city’s best cafés are part coffee shop, part restaurant, part patio, part neighborhood ritual. They are places for long brunches, casual meetings, first dates, shaded afternoons, and the occasional cocktail that turns a quick stop into the best part of the day.

Some are built for laptops and lattes. Some are made for lake views. Some feel like neighborhood institutions. And a few manage to feel like a miniature escape from the city altogether.

Here are some of the best cafés in Austin right now.

Subscribe now

The Wayback Café

The Wayback Café is one of Austin’s rare café experiences that feels complete.

Set on a tucked-away property in West Austin, The Wayback brings together a farm-to-table café, craft cocktails, boutique cottages, shaded outdoor seating, and a poolside atmosphere that feels especially made for Texas summer. The café serves classic farm-to-table meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour, and weekend brunch, with beer, wine, and cocktails available as well.

What makes it stand apart is the setting. This is not a café you simply pass through. It is the kind of place where the meal, the property, and the atmosphere all work together.

On a warm day, the patio is the draw. You can sit outside beneath the trees, order something seasonal, and settle into the kind of relaxed Austin afternoon that feels increasingly hard to find. When the heat peaks, the pool nearby gives the whole place a resort-like ease, while the indoor air conditioned seating keeps it comfortable even in the heart of summer. The Wayback’s own property description highlights alfresco dining, outdoor lawns, and the chance to lounge poolside and cool off in the heat of a Texas summer.

The menu is rooted in elevated comfort: fresh, seasonal, farm-to-table food that feels polished without becoming precious. Add in a thoughtful cocktail list and the whole experience becomes more than brunch or lunch. It becomes a reason to gather.

The Wayback is ideal for a weekend brunch, a summer lunch, a casual date, a drink under the trees, or an afternoon that starts with coffee and ends with cocktails.

In a city full of great cafés, The Wayback feels like one of the most distinctly Austin.

Mañana

Mañana is one of Austin’s easiest coffee shops to recommend.

With locations in South Congress and the Seaholm District, it has the clean, polished feel of a modern neighborhood café without losing warmth. The South Congress location is a coffee, tea, and bakeshop inside South Congress Hotel, while the downtown location gives the brand a second home near the water, offices, residences, and the rhythm of central Austin.

Mañana works especially well for a morning coffee, a pastry, or a quieter start before the day gets busy. It is not trying to be a full restaurant in the same way The Wayback is. Its strength is focus: good coffee, good design, good placement, and a calm sense of taste.

If The Wayback is the Hill Country café escape, Mañana is the refined city café: bright, efficient, and easy to love.

Better Half Coffee & Cocktails

Better Half understands the modern Austin café formula almost perfectly.

It is an all-day café just west of downtown, with espresso, brunch, cocktails, wine, beer, and menus that carry it from morning through evening. The appeal is casual but energetic, with the kind of indoor-outdoor feel that makes it work for everything from a weekday coffee to a weekend brunch.

It is especially good for people who want the café experience to have a little more edge. Coffee in the morning, a burger or brunch later, cocktails when the day starts to loosen up.

Better Half is not trying to be quiet or hidden. It is social, versatile, and very Austin.

Mozart’s Coffee Roasters

Mozart’s remains one of the most iconic café settings in Austin.

The reason is simple: Lake Austin.

Since 1993, Mozart’s has been an in-house roaster and café, and its waterfront location has made it a long-running favorite for coffee, desserts, live music, community events, and lakefront afternoons.

It is the kind of place that belongs on any Austin café list because the view does so much of the work. You go for coffee, but you stay for the deck, the water, and the feeling of being somewhere that could only exist in Austin.

For visitors, it is an easy recommendation. For locals, it remains a reliable classic.

Radio Coffee & Beer

Radio Coffee & Beer is one of Austin’s best examples of a café that doubles as a community hub.

It has coffee, beer, drinks, food, live music, and a laid-back patio atmosphere. Radio also describes itself as Austin’s best coffee shop winner eight years in a row.

Radio works because it feels less like a designed experience and more like a living one. People come for coffee, tacos, music, friends, work, or just a place to be outside.

It is casual, local, and energetic in a way that feels true to Austin’s older coffeehouse spirit.

What Makes a Great Austin Café

Austin’s best cafés are defined by atmosphere: the patio, the menu, the people, the hour of day, and the ease of staying longer than planned.

That is where The Wayback feels especially at home.

With its farm-to-table café, seasonal menu, craft cocktails, shaded outdoor patio, nearby pool, cool indoor seating, and live music on select weekends, The Wayback brings together the best parts of an Austin café experience in one tucked-away Hill Country setting.

Come for brunch, stay for a cocktail, and let the afternoon unfold from there.

Plan your next café visit at The Wayback.

Reserve a Table at The Wayback Café

There’s a version of an Austin summer that lives in everyone’s head: warm nights on a patio, a cold drink sweating in your hand, live music drifting down the block, a swim in spring-fed water that somehow stays 68 degrees in July.

That version is real. You just have to know how to plan it.

Here’s The Wayback’s guide to doing summer in Austin the way we’d do it for ourselves, and the way we help our guests do it every week.

When to Visit Austin in Summer

Late May through early June is our favorite window. Everything is green, the wildflowers are still hanging on, and the heat hasn’t fully settled in yet. It’s the city at its most photogenic.

July and August are hotter, but arguably more fun. Flights are cheaper, restaurants are less busy, and the city leans fully into patio-and-pool mode. There’s a particular pleasure in a 100-degree afternoon followed by a sunset margarita. Austin is engineered for it.

Labor Day weekend is a sweet spot, too. The light starts shifting, the worst of the heat breaks, and the city begins its slow pivot toward fall before the football and festival rush.

Where to Stay in Austin

A boutique hotel should feel like a friend’s very well-designed home. Good coffee in the morning, the right books on the shelf, a neighborhood you can actually walk out into. We built Wayback to be that kind of place: somewhere you want to hang out in, not just sleep in. (More on booking at the end.)

Whatever you choose, book early. June fills up fast, and the run-up to ACL in early fall is even worse.

What to Do in Austin in Summer

Swim somewhere beautiful

Barton Springs is the obvious move, and it earns its reputation. Three acres of spring-fed pool that holds at 68 to 70°F year-round, right in the middle of the city. Go early on a weekend morning or late in the afternoon to skip the crowds.

Beyond that:

• Deep Eddy for a classic neighborhood pool with a 1930s bathhouse charm

• Hamilton Pool Preserve for the grotto photos everyone has on their phone (reservation required, book weeks ahead)

• Krause Springs for a Hill Country day trip with rope swings and cypress trees

• The Guadalupe River for a long, slow afternoon of tubing. Bring sunscreen and low expectations about staying dry.

Catch live music

Summer is when Austin’s music scene sprawls outdoors. Between The Continental Club, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Stubb’s amphitheater, and a dozen smaller patios, you can catch something great almost any night of the week.

For the cooler, slightly grittier side of town, check the weekly lineups at Mohawk and Hotel Vegas. The shows that aren’t on every tourist’s radar are usually the ones you’ll be telling people about for years.

Eat outside

Summer in Austin is patio season. A few of our regulars:

• Breakfast tacos at El Dorado Cafe, the kind of unfussy, perfect breakfast that sets the tone for the whole day

• A long afternoon at Better Half Coffee and Cocktails: coffee in the morning, a spritz by 4

• Sunset oysters at Clark’s. Dress up a little, sit on the patio.

• Pasta and negronis at Il Brutto, east side, no notes

• The Hotel San José courtyard, for when you just need to sit with a cold beer and do nothing

Go early for dinner. The light after 8 p.m. is the whole point.

Explore by foot or bike

Mornings are the move in summer. Rent a bike and ride the Lady Bird Lake boardwalk before 10 a.m., walk South Congress before the shops open, or spend a slow morning wandering East Austin’s cafés and record stores. By 11 you’ll be ready for an iced coffee and a swim.

Take a Hill Country day trip

The Texas Hill Country is at its summer best:

• Fredericksburg for wineries and a lazy lunch

• Wimberley for the swimming holes (Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole)

• Lockhart for serious barbecue. Black’s, Smitty’s, and Kreuz are all worth the drive.

• Luckenbach for the most Texas-feeling afternoon of your life: dance hall, picker’s circle, cold beer, dust

  ---

A Sample Three-Day Austin Summer Weekend

Friday. Arrive, drop bags, walk to a patio dinner nearby. Don’t try to do anything ambitious. Just ease in. Have a cocktail under the old oak trees.

Saturday. Start your day with delicious breakfast tacos. Morning swim at Barton Springs. Long lunch somewhere with shade. An afternoon nap (non-negotiable). Golden-hour drinks on a rooftop. Late dinner. Live music until your cottage calls.

Sunday. Sleep in. Brunch. Then a leisurely walk through South Congress or East Austin. One more swim. Early dinner before you fly home tan, relaxed, and restored.

How to Beat the Austin Heat (Without Complaining About It)

The secret to Austin in summer is rhythm.

Be outside early. Come back in from 2 to 5. Go back out after the sun softens around 7. Drink more water than you think you need, and then more than that. Say yes to a midday pool break. Embrace the siesta.

It’s how locals actually live. Once you adjust to the cadence, the heat stops being the enemy and starts being part of the trip.

Plan Your Stay at The Wayback

We’d love to host you this summer. The Wayback Cafe & Cottages is a boutique hotel with a farm-to-table cafe, built around a saltwater pool, set in one of Austin’s most walkable neighborhoods, close to the springs, the music, and the patios above.

Book your summer stay between June 1 and August 31, 2026, and use code SUMMER15 for 15% off your cottage booking.

Book Your Stay (15% Off via SUMMER15)

Reply to this post if you want a personalized list of recommendations for your trip. Tell us who’s coming and what you love, and we’ll send back a shortlist of restaurants, music venues, and hidden spots tailored to you.

See you this summer.

– The Wayback team

Tonight at 4pm sharp, Marimar Estate takes over The Cabana at The Wayback — three wines, light bites, and a story 150 years in the making.

This isn’t just any pour. Marimar Torres brought her family’s centuries-old Spanish winemaking tradition to California’s Russian River Valley, and tonight, those bottles land on our patio.

Two hours. One Cabana. Zero reasons to stay home.

Tonight, 4–6pm The Cabana at The Wayback Free. Open to all. No RSVP.

Grab a friend, skip the traffic, and we’ll see you with a glass in hand. Hungry? Reservations for dinner are open — book before you come so your table’s ready when the last pour ends.

See you at 4.

The Wayback

Marimar Torres comes from one of the most storied wine families in the world. The Torres family has been making wine in Spain’s Penedès region for over 150 years, with roots tracing back to the 1600s. In 1986, Marimar brought that centuries-old European winemaking tradition across the Atlantic, planting her own vineyard in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. The result is Marimar Estate — a California winery with a Catalan soul, known for elegant Pinot Noirs, graceful Chardonnays, and the Spanish grape Albariño that nods to her homeland.

We’ll be pouring three of their standout wines from The Cabana, paired with light bites from our kitchen.

When: Wednesday, 4–6pm

Where: The Cabana at The Wayback

What: Three wines from Sonoma, one remarkable family story, and small bites.

Cost: Free and open to the public — no RSVP required

Whether you’re new to wine or know your way around a glass, come for the pours, stay for the conversation. Bring a friend (or two) — we’d love to see you.

The tasting is just the opening act. Make a reservation and stay for dinner.

Make a Cafe reservation Here

When: Wednesday April 22nd, 4–6pm

Where: The Cabana at The Wayback

What: Three wines, three stories, and small bites to match

Cost: Free and open to the public — no RSVP required

Whether you’re a curious sipper or a seasoned oenophile, come for the pours, stay for the conversation. Bring a friend (or two) — we’d love to see you.

Why stop at a sip? Book a table, stay for dinner, and make a proper night of it.

Reserve your table HERE!

Stay for lunch or dinner:

reserve your table here

Beginner Watercolor Class
Earth Day Landscape
Wednesday April 22nd
9am-11am

Date & Time: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM CST
Location: The Wayback Café, 9601 Bee Cave Rd, Austin, TX 78733
What You’ll Learn

• Essential watercolor techniques

• Color mixing

• How to use them in your final landscape painting

reserve your spot here

Morning Mahj
Thursday April 30th
9am-11am

grab a seat here!

Shop inside The Cabana at
The Wayback
w/ House of Alaan
Saturday April 18th
10am-2pm

Mother’s Day Brunch
Reservations Open April 19th

***Mark your calendar! Mother’s Day Brunch reservations open April 19th - Mother’s Day is May 10th.

If you want to gift your mom the perfect getaway- purchase a gift card to The Wayback! They can use the gift card for a cottage stay - a pool passes- or for a meal at the restaurant.

Purchase a gift card here

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It’s atmosphere. It’s pacing. It’s the feeling that you’ve stepped outside the ordinary. Somewhere that draws you in, invites conversation, and leaves an impression.

These are five of the best date night spots in Austin right now according to locals. Each offers something distinct. One, in particular, brings it all together.

The Wayback

Tucked just outside the city, The Wayback feels like you’ve discovered something.

Cottages scattered across the property. Oak trees overhead. String lights at dusk. It’s quiet in a way that’s increasingly rare in Austin.

The menu features farm-to-table cuisine, with elevated takes on familiar classics. Clean, seasonal, and thoughtful without trying too hard. The craft cocktails are equally considered. Strong, balanced, and worth arriving early for.

It’s the kind of place where a quick dinner turns into a long evening. Where conversation flows easily. Where everything feels just a bit more intentional.

For a date night that actually feels like one, it’s hard to match.

La Piscina

Set above downtown, La Piscina brings a different kind of energy.

It’s polished. Designed. A place where the setting is as much a part of the experience as the food.

Expect elevated Mexican dishes, a strong cocktail list, and some of the best views in the city. It leans lively rather than intimate, making it a good choice when you want the night to feel a little more social.

Uchiko

Uchiko has long been one of Austin’s most reliable date night spots.

The space strikes a balance between refined and relaxed. It’s intimate without being quiet, energetic without feeling crowded.

The Japanese menu is thoughtful and precise, with standout small plates that naturally turn dinner into a shared experience. Sit at the bar if you can.

Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile

Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile delivers something distinctly Texan.

Family owned, ranch driven, and set along the water, it offers one of the best patios in the city. The atmosphere is open and easy, especially at sunset.

The menu leans steakhouse, with locally sourced beef and simple, well executed sides. It’s less about flash, more about comfort done right.

Bill’s Oyster

For something that feels slightly removed from Austin altogether, Bill’s Oyster stands out.

Downtown, dimly lit, and unmistakably East Coast in tone. It has a New York energy. Tight, focused, and a little more formal than most spots nearby.

The menu is intentionally simple. Oysters, seafood classics, and a strong martini. It’s a place for a certain kind of night. Clean, direct, and quietly confident.

Choosing the Right One

Each of these works, depending on the kind of evening you want.

Something lively and design forward. Something intimate and culinary. Something classic and grounded.

But if the goal is to slow things down, settle in, and let the night unfold naturally, The Wayback offers something harder to find.

A setting that feels removed. A meal that feels considered. And the space to actually enjoy both.

If you do choose The Wayback for your date night, we look forward to welcoming you.

Reserve a Table at The Wayback

Stay late and grab a bite!

reserve a table

There is something about Austin that makes it uniquely suited for weddings. The light feels softer. The landscapes feel more alive. Spring arrives with wildflowers and warm breezes, and summer evenings stretch long enough for celebration to unfold at its own perfect pace.

Weddings here are not confined to ballrooms or rigid timelines. They spill out onto lawns, under oak trees, beside pools, and across candlelit patios. They feel personal. Intentional. Rooted in place.

For couples searching for a venue that captures both the beauty and spirit of Austin, these are some of the most compelling settings across the city.

The Wayback

Farm style meets sophistication.

Tucked away in West Austin, The Wayback offers a setting that feels at once intimate and expansive. A wide open lawn framed by heritage oak trees creates a natural gathering space where ceremonies, cocktails, and receptions flow seamlessly into one another. The property carries the quiet charm of the countryside while remaining elevated in every detail.

Guests move easily from sunlit ceremonies to golden hour cocktails, then into evenings filled with live music, thoughtful farm to table cuisine, and warm conversation under string lights. The presence of the pool, the cottages, and the surrounding landscape allows the entire experience to unfold as more than just a single event. It becomes a weekend. A memory that lingers.

For couples seeking a venue that feels both grounded and refined, The Wayback offers a rare balance that is difficult to replicate.

Commodore Perry Estate

Stunning interior design.

For those drawn to European elegance and architectural detail, Commodore Perry Estate delivers a striking visual experience. The interiors are layered with rich textures, curated furnishings, and a sense of old world grandeur that sets the tone for a more formal celebration. Every corner feels considered, making it especially compelling for couples who value design as a central element of their wedding aesthetic.

Barr Mansion

Expansive grounds.

Barr Mansion is known for its sweeping natural beauty. Expansive gardens, towering trees, and open green spaces create a setting that feels timeless and deeply connected to the land. Ceremonies here are often framed by nature itself, with receptions that carry an easy, organic elegance. It is a venue that allows the outdoors to take center stage in a way few others can.

Woodbine Mansion

Nothing more quaint.

Woodbine offers a sense of intimacy and charm that feels almost storybook in nature. The historic home, manicured grounds, and understated elegance create a setting that is both romantic and approachable. It is especially well suited for smaller gatherings where every detail can be appreciated and every guest feels close to the moment.

Hotel Magdalena

Funky and fun.

For couples looking to embrace Austin’s creative energy, Hotel Magdalena provides a refreshing alternative to traditional venues. With its laid back design, vibrant textures, and music inspired roots, it brings a sense of personality and movement to the celebration. It is a space where weddings feel less formal and more like an extension of the city’s culture.

Choosing a wedding venue is ultimately about more than aesthetics. It is about how a place feels. How it holds the people you care about. How naturally the day unfolds from one moment to the next.

Austin offers no shortage of beautiful settings, each with its own character and charm. Yet the most memorable weddings tend to share something in common. They feel effortless. They feel personal. They feel grounded in a space that allows both celebration and connection to exist side by side.

In that sense, the best venue is not simply the most beautiful. It is the one that creates the right atmosphere for your story to take shape.

If you do choose The Wayback for your wedding, we look forward to welcoming you!

The Wayback: Weddings & Events

Looking ahead to this week, we’re hosting a tequila tasting this Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. in our cabana, featuring complimentary tequila samples from Aguasol Tequila! The event is free and open to the public. Be sure to reserve a table after the tasting to enjoy dinner at the restaurant.

Then on Saturday 3/28, join us for a live jazz band on the back lawn during dinner, playing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Be sure to make a reservation—the weather is looking beautiful, and we can’t wait to have y’all out!

book a table here

Tune in next week to see an all American wedding at The Wayback!

Thank you for being a part of everything we do!

-Sydney

To kick off the celebrations, we’re hosting a fun cookie decorating class the Wednesday before Easter from 9:30–10:30 AM. Professional chef, Allison, will be leading the class and teaching guests how to decorate beautiful Easter cookies.

It’s the perfect activity for kids and families—create treats for lunchboxes, Easter baskets, gifts, or even to bring to church. Plus, you’ll leave with new skills (and some delicious creations)!

We highly recommend saving your spot—both for brunch and the class. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 💛