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If you’ve been waiting for the return of truly classic fine dining in Austin, the moment has finally arrived. The Driskill Grill—Austin’s most historic dining room, originally opened in 1930—is officially reopening after years of renovations and a full culinary overhaul. For the first time since its 2020 closure, locals and visitors will once again be able to experience white‑tablecloth Texas luxury inside The Driskill Hotel’s landmark space at 604 Brazos St.
The Driskill Grill
$$$$And because the reopening is happening right now in early 2026, this is one of the most important—and most timely—restaurant events of the year.
If you want one of the first tables back at The Driskill Grill, start checking the hotel’s site and booking platforms daily—high‑end spots like this often quietly flip reservations to “live” with very little notice.
WHAT’S NEW AT THE DRISKILL GRILL
The hotel partnered with MML Hospitality in 2025 to reimagine all food and beverage operations, including The Driskill Grill and The Driskill Bar, a partnership detailed in renovation coverage on CultureMap Austin.
Chef April Bloomfield has led a complete menu redesign, bringing a refined but Texas‑rooted style of cuisine back to the iconic dining room—her Southern debut and role in the culinary revival are highlighted in this Resident feature. Expect classic steaks, elevated Gulf seafood, heritage‑driven sides, and a cocktail program that draws directly from the hotel’s Old Texas archives.
The dining room itself—one of Austin’s most historic spaces—has been restored to its 1930s grandeur, preserving architectural details while modernizing lighting, flooring, acoustics, and seating, in line with the phased restoration outlined by Hotel Interactive’s renovation report.
WHAT WE KNOW (AND WHAT’S STILL COMING SOON)
The reopening window has consistently been described as “late 2025 to early 2026,” and with the calendar now at January 30, 2026, the return is rolling out imminently, matching the Phase 1 timeline documented in industry renovation announcements. While some on‑site details like hours, final menu layout, and reservation links have not yet been published by the hotel, the core information is confirmed through renovation updates and hospitality announcements, including the Driskill’s own press archive.
Opening details—especially hours and reservation links—are still fluid as the Driskill Grill comes back online. Always double‑check the hotel’s official channels the week (or even the day) of your planned visit.
ESSENTIAL DETAILS SO FAR
• Location: 604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701 (inside The Driskill Hotel)
• Menu direction: Classic fine dining led by Chef April Bloomfield, whose role at the Grill is profiled in this culinary deep‑dive
• Hospitality partner: MML Hospitality
• Vibe: A restored 1930s dining room with elevated Texas service that nods to the Grill’s original 1930s legacy
• Opening timeframe: Early 2026 (exact date forthcoming), following the late‑2025 reopening targets outlined in hospitality trade coverage
INSIDER INTELLIGENCE: WHAT LOCALS SHOULD KNOW
• Expect reservations to open suddenly—MML properties often release booking systems within days of launch. Monitor the hotel’s official site frequently.
Turn on email alerts or push notifications from your preferred reservation app (like Resy or OpenTable) for “The Driskill Grill” so you’re pinged the moment tables drop.
• Weekday nights are historically easier at The Driskill due to downtown event traffic. Weekend reservations will be highly competitive.
• The Driskill Bar has already undergone its redesign, meaning beverage service and bar snacks may soft‑launch before the full dining room opens, a sequencing hinted at in recent renovation coverage.
If you can’t land a dinner spot right away, start with a cocktail crawl: the refreshed Driskill Bar is likely to be the first piece of the experience to open for walk‑ins.
• Parking at The Driskill historically includes valet only, but nearby garages on 7th, 8th, and Trinity are cheaper and walkable; if you’re trying to optimize downtown parking costs, this Hidden Park ATX hack is essential reading.
Downtown valet at historic hotels can get pricey fast, especially on weekends and during events on 6th Street. Build in extra time for traffic and secure a garage spot a few blocks away if you want to avoid surprise parking charges.
Use the Hidden Park ATX hack to stack two free parking sessions, then time your Driskill Grill reservation inside that window for a splurge dinner without the splurge parking bill.
• Because this is a major heritage comeback, expect media coverage to surge quickly—getting in during the first month will feel like a true insider moment, especially as local outlets such as Eater’s Austin section start tracking opening‑week buzz.
INTERNAL LINKS TO RELATED GUIDES
If you’re planning a downtown outing around your first visit to the new Driskill Grill, these insider articles pair perfectly:
• For a contrasting seafood‑centric evening on another night out, explore Inside Austin Oyster Co: The Insider Guide to Austin’s New Coastal Oyster Bar Opening on East Cesar Chavez.
• If you’re chasing more high‑end dining experiences, dive into Inside Austin’s Japanese Dining Boom: The Insider Guide to the City’s Fastest‑Growing Food Movement.
• To build a full downtown day that doesn’t revolve solely around dinner, bookmark Inside Austin’s Hidden Park ATX Hack: How to Stack Your Two Daily Free Parking Sessions Like a Local so you can time your Driskill arrival with free parking windows.
As one of Austin’s most important historic reopenings, The Driskill Grill marks the return of classic luxury dining in the city’s original grand hotel. The comeback story is big, the timing is perfect, and the insider advantage is being ready before the reservation books go live.
Related Austin Data
Inside The Driskill Grill Reopening: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Most Historic Fine‑Dining Comeback
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