Is “rosé all day” your personal mantra? At Austin’s many wine bars, you’ll find plenty of reds, whites, rosés, and more—enough to keep even the most enthusiastic oenophiles happy. Visit one of these Austin favorites to find the best bottles in town.
APT 115
Intimate wine bar APT 115 is designed to make you feel like you’ve snuck into someone’s very stylish apartment when they weren’t home. With vintage decor and residential proportions, this spot has all plenty of charm, combined with a staff that knows their stuff. And you may need their help to navigate the wine list—it has over 400 bottles! Come to APT 115 prepared to learn something and have a great time.
House Wine
Tucked inside a historic 1940s home, House Wine is strong in community support. You’ll find works by local artists on the walls, and frequent live music by local musicians. The wine list is robust-yet-approachable, broken into simple categories like Light & Fresh Reds and Bold & Fruit-Forward Reds. If you’re looking for something refreshing, try their frosé or a glass of divine peach basil sangria.
The Austin Winery. Credit Amadeo Garcia.
The Austin Winery
As the city’s only working urban winemaker, The Austin Winery keeps it local. All grapes in their wines come from family-owned Texas wineries to be smashed, fermented, aged, bottled, and sold in their laid-back warehouse space at The Yard. Their approach to wine is accessible and enthusiastic—the anti-snob winery. Sample current vintages at their industrial-chic tasting room in South Austin.
LoLo Natural Wine Bar
Natural wine used to be relegated to a single dusty shelf at the back of the liquor store. Now, it’s having a moment! Popular East Austin spot LoLo Natural Wine Bar has gone all-in, focusing their entire menu on wines made with no additives or added sulfites. The modern-minimalist space serves as both a bottle shop and a bar, with a large covered patio for open-air sipping.
Birdie's. Credit Mackenzie Smith Kelley.
Birdie’s
Cute counter service wine bar and restaurant Birdie’s is a labor of love for its husband-and-wife owners. Chef Tracy Malecheck-Ezekiel keeps the menu fresh with rotating dishes inspired by French and Italian cuisine. Meanwhile, wine expert Arjav Ezekiel curates a list of organic and biodynamic wines, with a “vibe” assigned to each. The Vouette & Sorbée blanc de noir is “baller,” while the Eyrie Vineyards chardonnay is “righteous.”
Water 2 Wine
Local chain Water 2 Wine lets you get involved in the winemaking process. With expert guidance, you’ll get to combine all the ingredients and pitch the yeast into your wine. After six to eight weeks, you’ll return to fill and cork your 28 bottles and apply your own custom labels. If you’d rather get to the good stuff without the work, sample one of their wines made locally with grapes from around the world.
Flo's. Credit Mackenzie Smith Kelley.
Flo's
This West Austin newcomer has quickly become a popular hang out spot. Grab a table on the breezy outdoor patio and order gourmet pizza from the connected AllDay Pizza. Flo's Wine Bar and Bottle Shop is a great spot to grab a glass of vino with friends or take some to go!
Whip In
Beloved Austin icon Whip In has been on the scene since 1986. Originally a corner store, this eclectic spot is now a combination Indian restaurant, beer and wine bar, live music venue, and market. Stop by on Wine Wednesdays to save $2 on a glass of draft wine from the bar, or get a bottle from the market that they’ll open for you on the spot with no corkage fee.
Cape Bottle Room. Credit to Cassandra Kelpac.
Cape Bottle Room
Cape Bottle Room brings a taste of South Africa to the heart of Austin. Specializing in South African wines, this sleek, modern tasting room offers a curated list of reds, whites, and sparkling varietals rarely found elsewhere in Texas. Whether you're sipping by the glass or building your own flight, the knowledgeable staff is on hand to guide your experience. Pair your wine with small plates like biltong and cheese boards for a truly transportive evening.
The Violet Crown
Located in North Loop, The Violet Crown offers a laid-back atmosphere with a serious passion for wine. This welcoming neighborhood spot features a diverse list of Old and New World wines, plus beer, cider and bites. It’s the kind of place where locals linger at the bar, discovering new favorites and enjoying occasional tastings and live music nights.
Rosie's. Courtesy of Howards and Rosie's.
Rosie’s Wine Bar
Rosie’s Wine Bar is a romantic hideaway in the Clarksville area, serving a rotating lineup of global, natural wines from small producers. The compact, warmly lit interior features a long bar and a charming, secluded patio—perfect for a laid-back date night or late-night sip
Wanderlust Wine Bar & Speakeasy Wine Cave
With three locations in town, Wanderlust Wine Co. offers a one-of-a-kind tasting experience that blends laid-back Austin charm with the elegance of a good glass of wine. Choose your experience — explore their airy, art-adorned tasting rooms, sipping global wines, from pet-nats and tempranillo to orange blends, from taps and bottles. Or, descend into their hidden speakeasy wine cave for a cozy, candle-lit cellar tasting.
Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar
In East Austin, Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar offers a truly unique concept, serving as the city's first independent bookstore wine bar. Housed in a charming 140-year-old building, this cozy spot is the perfect marriage of literature and libations. Patrons are invited to browse a carefully curated selection of new, used, and antique books while sipping on wine, including a rotating featured Texas winery.
Contributed by Kate McDermott.
Kate McDermott is a local copywriter, content writer, and mocktail enthusiast. She writes about and for restaurants, hotels, event companies, and more from her home in Way South Austin.
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