Best Restaurants Near Lake Travis & Lago Vista

Lake Travis is one of Central Texas’s best destinations for waterfront dining. From legendary sunset decks to casual lakeside BBQ joints, you’ll eat and drink well during your stay at The Island.

On-Site Dining

Island Bar & Grill

Don’t leave the resort for your first night: Island Bar & Grill, The Island’s on-site restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with lake views. Happy hour specials run daily. Ask your host for current hours.

Waterfront Restaurants

Several of the lake’s best restaurants sit right on the water, and most have docks, so you can arrive by boat. Hours change with the season, so check before you go.

Captain Pete’s Boathouse

Point Venture, a few minutes from The Island A floating restaurant and bar at the Point Venture marina, open to visitors by car or by boat. Frozen drinks, seafood and a pier where children feed the giant catfish. captainpetesboathouse.com

The Lighthouse Restaurant & Lounge

Briarcliff, above Briarcliff Marina A scratch kitchen serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with its own boat dock at the marina below. thelighthouseonthelake.com

Beachside Billy’s at Volente Beach

Volente, on the east end of the lake Steaks, seafood and one of the best sunset decks on Lake Travis, next to the Volente Beach water park. beachsidebillys.com

Canyon Grille

Rough Hollow, Lakeway Perched above the Rough Hollow Yacht Club with wide lake views. It reopened in 2026 under new ownership with a farm-to-table menu. canyongrillelakeway.com

Sundancer Grill

Sail & Ski Yacht Club, Lakeway A casual lakeside bistro with salads, sandwiches, steaks and seafood. sundancergrill.com

The Oasis on Lake Travis

~25 minutes from The Island The most famous restaurant on Lake Travis — a massive multi-level deck built into the limestone cliff above the lake. Known for sunset views rather than gourmet food, but it’s an unmissable experience for first-timers. Arrive an hour before sunset and grab a margarita on the terrace.

Hula Hut

~35 minutes (Austin) A festive tiki-themed waterfront spot on Lake Austin with a long dock, colorful cocktails, and Mexican-Caribbean food. Not on Lake Travis, but worth the drive to Austin for a fun dinner.

Ski Shores Café

~30 minutes (Austin) A classic Austin lakeside hangout on Lake Austin — casual burgers, cold beer, and a laid-back vibe on the water.

Casual Eats Near Lago Vista

Solstice Coffee + Cocktails

Jonestown, about 10 minutes Craft coffee in the morning and cocktails at night, from the team behind Austin’s Odd Duck, with rotating food trucks. solsticejonestown.com

Lago Vista Area Restaurants

Lago Vista has a handful of local spots for breakfast tacos, burgers, and casual lunches within 5–10 minutes of The Island. Ask our team for current recommendations — the local dining scene evolves and we know what’s good right now.

BBQ

Texas Hill Country is BBQ country. Some excellent regional options:

Opie’s BBQ — Spicewood (~30 minutes); slow-smoked brisket and ribs
Marble Falls BBQ options — About 45 minutes for a day trip; several good spots in town
Austin BBQ (day trip): Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Terry Black’s — plan ahead, lines can be long

Wine Country Dining

The Texas Hill Country Wine Trail is within day-trip distance. Fredericksburg (~90 minutes) is the center of Texas wine country, with dozens of wineries, tasting rooms, and excellent restaurants on Main Street.

Closer options (~45–60 minutes):

Spicewood Vineyards — Right on Lake Travis, in Spicewood
Stone House Vineyard — Marble Falls area

Grocery Stores & Meal Prep

Cooking in your fully-equipped Island unit? Lago Vista has a grocery store within 10 minutes. For a larger selection, Marble Falls (45 min) or north Austin (40 min) have full HEB supermarkets.

Tip: HEB Curbside delivers to the Lago Vista area — order before you leave home and pick up on arrival.

Have a favorite restaurant near Lake Travis we should add to this guide? Let us know at rentals@theislandonlaketravis.com.

Best Restaurants Near The Island on Lake Travis