Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Austin

OpenTable

Updated 05 May 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Austin? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Codependent

4.9

4.9 (63)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Serving up cocktails, coffee, and serious design - without taking itself too seriously.

The brain child of Urbanspace's Kevin Burns, CEO and Merrill Alley, Principal - Codependent is a conceptual cocktail and coffee bar inspired by Italian luxury, aperitivo culture and the belief that beautiful design should be enjoyed by all. Think of it as a high-end design showroom meets Austin hospitality.

Located on the ground floor of the Independent condo tower, Codependent is designed for duality. Where day meets night. Dark meets light. And iconic Italian furniture is best appreciated with a glass of wine.

We welcome design aficionados and cocktail connoisseurs, the local and the far flung, friends and neighbors to come for sustenance, fun, and for a bit of the unexpected.

Top review

BrittonVIP

Dined on 27 Apr 2025

Diana & Gabe were amazing!! Will definitely ne going back to visit them

Soto - Cedar Park

4.8

4.8 (1245)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Northwest

About the restaurant

Our sushi restaurant provides the best makimono in the area. We offer vibrant flavors, and use the highest quality ingredients for each of our dishes, giving you an experience you won't forget. If you are looking for a casual lunch spot or a special occasion dinner, our modern and upscale Japanese restaurant is the perfect choice. We also have a full bar with an extensive sake menu. Our hand crafted specialty cocktails are sure to please. Stop in today for a unique Japanese dining experience!

Top review

Margaret

Dined on 2 May 2025

As always the food and service was outstanding- it was a little chilly though, but other than that great evening

Ciclo

4.8

4.8 (818)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Downtown

About the restaurant

Spanish for "cycle," Ciclo is a modern Texas steakhouse featuring locally-inspired dishes with a Latin influence, all brought to life through a unique collaboration with world-renowned chef and restaurateur, Richard Sandoval. Ciclo's name reflects its focus on seasonal dishes, from grilled and smoked meats, ceviches and crudos to inventive craft cocktails. In addition to offering year-round outdoor dining, this downtown restaurant (overlooking Lady Bird Lake) offers an ever-changing dinner menu, serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch year-round, with all menus providing gluten-free and vegan options.

Top review

Judy

Dined 5 days ago

Food, cocktails, and staff are all incredible! Truly the best service. Definitely the secret gem of Austin.

Discover more

Popular dish

8 oz Filet Mignon

Carillon Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (952)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Carillon is a New American restaurant featuring familiar food with a refined twist. The Carillon provides a sophisticated and approachable dining experience for all occasions. Our culinary team masterfully creates dishes with local, fresh, and seasonal produce and organic, grass-fed or free-range proteins. The Carillon offers ‘a la Carte’ or 3-course dinner for $45 tasting menu, which can be skillfully paired with award-winning wines.

Located at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, The Carillon delivers an impressive and memorable experience. Complimentary self-parking in the Conference Center Garage. Bring your ticket to be validated. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Top review

Aubrey

Dined 4 days ago

The Carillon continues to be our favorite high-end restaurant experience with the best service, the best food, the best value, and absolutely the best location to have dinner before a show at Bass Concert Hall. The staff always go above and beyond, and the meals are exquisite!

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

4.7

4.7 (53)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Four Seasons Hotel Austin
98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701

Top review

Bishvesh

Dined on 29 Apr 2025

Excellent high tea experience, loved the ambience, food and the service.

Discover more

Experience

Roses & Rosé A-Tea-X, Afternoon Tea

Experience

Summer Spritz A-TEA-X

Experience

The Hidden Flask

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse - Austin

4.7

4.7 (40)

$30 and under

Japanese

Northwest

About the restaurant

KOBE is the finest place in Austin to enjoy Teppanyaki Japanese Cuisine. We take the extra time and care to make every dish truly special. Come and enjoy our large selection of sushi, all prepared to serve you only the best in Austin! We also welcome walk-in guests, and you can visit our website for more information and to book your private party!

Top review

Anderson

Dined on 15 Apr 2025

Host/server awesome, chef pretty goofy making best of a lil kid telling him not to do his trade

Standard Proof Whiskey Co - Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (28)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Standard Proof Whiskey Co. (Whiskey Distillery) has landed on Rainey Street, bringing a new standard of flavor and experience to Austin's most iconic district. Our stylish Whiskey Tasting Room is more than just a bar – it's a neighborhood destination where award-winning infused whiskeys, expertly mixed cocktails, and a delicious gastropub-inspired food menu collide. Let our friendly and talented bartenders guide you on a journey, from neat pours of our signature expressions to masterfully crafted cocktails that highlight the versatility of our spirit. Fuel your Rainey Street adventures with our food menu built for sharing, perfect for a night out with friends or next date night. Step inside our modern, lounge-like space, discover your next favorite pour, and experience a new Standard for your Rainey Street nights.

We are pet friendly and have a small outdoor seating area!

Food & Drinks created by our talented team.

Top review

Dined on 12 Apr 2025

The only concern was charging $60 for a bottle of their Bourbon and adding 20% tip for no reason. Also, it only costs $33 in a store! Other than that….

Discover more

The Best Happy Hour in Downtown Austin!

The Melting Pot - Austin - Northwest

4.6

4.6 (1664)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Northwest

About the restaurant

Enjoy an unforgettable interactive dining experience with friends and family with fondue at The Melting Pot in Austin. We believe in celebrating the everyday, so you don’t need a special reason to come out for our delicious menu offerings.

Whether you’re here for drinks, cheese, and chocolate, or you want to dig into our four-course fondue experience, we know you’ll love every bite! From artisan cheeses to our decadent chocolate fondue desserts, there is something to tickle your taste buds in each pot. Let our friendly staff help you choose the right fondue experience for your table tonight.
Make reservations for everyone at The Melting Pot and turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!

Top review

Jodi

Dined on 6 May 2025

Excellent food and service as always. Celebrated our son's birthday like we have for the past umpteen years, lol. There was a card & a chocolate covered pretzel waiting for him. During dessert they brought out 2 non alcoholic sparkling drinks and 1 champagne to toast. Thank you for another amazing meal

Space Cowboy

4.6

4.6 (326)

$50 and over

American

East Austin

About the restaurant

Modern kitchen redefining expectations by blending innovative service with elevated dining. Serving globally inspired, made from scratch plates and cocktails.

Our journey began with a simple idea: to venture into uncharted territory, blending robotics with elevated dining to push the boundaries of what a dining experience can be. Our menu is crafted around a spirit of breaking boundaries since, in space, there are no bounds. Each dish and cocktail is an invitation to taste something unexpected—a fusion of cultures, and styles that feels both familiar and surprising.

While our playful robot servers glide by, delivering your food and drinks with a wink toward the future, Space Cowboy is deeply human at heart. Our team is a collection of creators who infuse their own stories and passions into every sip and bite.

Top review

John

Dined on 13 May 2025

Amazing food. Great service and price was great. Drinks were off the charts.

P.F. Chang's - Austin - Arboretum

4.5

4.5 (212)

$30 and under

Chinese

Arboretum

About the restaurant

We are an Asian & Chinese restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, to-go, delivery, and catering. Make a reservation online to dine in. Order Asian and Chinese food delivery, takeout, and catering online or through the P.F. Chang's mobile app. Let us cater the perfect feast for you - corporate office catering menus are also available. P.F. Chang's offers a variety of signature Asian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, and Chinese food dishes including Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Pad Thai, Signature Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef, Chang's Spicy Chicken, and Pork and Shrimp Dumplings. Order online for sushi delivery and takeout. Many gluten-free and vegetarian menu items are available. Try our seasonal cocktails and seasonal menu items.

Top review

Kim

Dined on 26 Apr 2025

They had 2 dinner specials, one a couple of dollars more - both under $20. but they were confusing. Regardless, food and everything else was great. There on a Saturday night. Not busy, but don't know why. Hope it was an aberration.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Austin

Explore more Diners' Choice lists