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Taverna Downtown Austin Interior - Taverna - Downtown Austin, Austin, TX

Taverna - Downtown Austin

4.4 (1388)
$31 to $50
Italian
258 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701

Make a reservation

A photo of Taverna - Downtown Austin restaurant

Taverna - Downtown Austin

4.4
$31 to $50
Italian
Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 13 times today

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Good for groups
  • Great for outdoor dining
Taverna brings the warmth of Northern Italy to Downtown Austin's 2nd Street with authentic Italian cuisine where guests become family. Our chef-driven menu showcases house-made pasta, creamy risotto, fresh seafood, and seasonal Italian specialties crafted from locally-sourced ingredients. Perfect for date nights, family gatherings, or celebrations, Taverna offers exceptional Italian dining throughout the day. Join us for lunch, happy hour with Italian wines and cocktails, weekend brunch, or intimate dinners in our welcoming atmosphere. Menu highlights include handcrafted pasta, traditional Italian entrees, and antipasti. Our bar features an extensive Italian wine list, classic cocktails, and aperitivos. Located in the heart of Downtown Austin on 2nd Street, Taverna is your neighborhood Italian restaurant for business lunches, weekend brunches, happy hours, or private events. Experience authentic Northern Italian hospitality where seasonal ingredients create unforgettable meals.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizzeria
  • Hours of operation
    The Baci Room Mon–Wed 4:00 pm–12:00 am Thu, Fri 4:00 pm–2:00 am Sun 10:00 am–10:00 pm The Baci Room Sat 10:00 am–2:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Raymundo Rueda
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    W. 2nd Street and Lavaca Street
  • Parking details
    AMLI garage 2hr max. validation available.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

What 1,388 people are saying

Taverna - Downtown Austin reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Taverna in Downtown Austin offers a charming Italian dining experience with "fantastic food" and "outstanding service." Guests praise the "warm welcome" and "great atmosphere," perfect for pre-show dining. The patio brunch features a DJ, and the Baci Room offers a spacious, relaxing setting. Ask for servers like Jackie or Charles for a "top tier" experience.
1,388 Reviews
  1. Dana

    Charleston5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely Italian restaurant with great food & ambience. Danielle, our server, was excellent & we enjoyed dining there!
    Taverna - Downtown AustinResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for dining with us! We're so happy you enjoyed the food and ambience, and we'll be sure to let Danielle know she made your evening special. See you again soon!

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  2. Maggie

    Austin6 reviews

    1.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    There are no fans that worked outside. This is a second street restaurant unfortunately they don’t have the staff or the fans to make it comfortable.

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  3. Amy Gold

    Austin17 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was good, not great, small portions for price. The waiter took a while and did not check on us. We had to ask for our bill after being done eating for a while.

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  4. Robin Gold

    Austin10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our waitress was very friendly and an excellent server.
    Taverna - Downtown AustinResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for the kind words about our waitress! We're so glad she took great care of you during your visit. We hope to welcome you back to Taverna soon!

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  5. Ken Gold

    Austin62 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Taverna is our go to when attending a show at ACL Live. My spouse had a delicious pear and gorzangola ravioli dish. I ate tagliatelle in a bolognese sauce that could have been spicier, but I still enjoyed it. Very good service. I recommend it when downtown.
    Taverna - Downtown AustinResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for making us your go-to spot before shows at ACL Live! We're so glad you both enjoyed your meals—the pear and gorgonzola ravioli is definitely a favorite. We appreciate the feedback about the bolognese and will keep that in mind. See you next time you're downtown!

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  6. Amanda Gold

    Austin3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    We were there for a graduation lunch and out of the five of us, only one person really enjoyed their food. We didn't complain at the time because the service was so slow and we didn't have time to have everything done over again, but we were not impressed with 4 of the 5 dishes. The caesar salad was good and the appetizer of fries and meatballs, but the actual pasta dishes were pretty underwhelming. Our waiter was also very slow and seemed distracted, but the restaurant was not busy at all. It was around 3pm on a Friday and there were only 2 or 3 other tables inside. Pretty disappointing for spending over $500.

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  7. Susan

    San Francisco4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 3, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Perfect brunch on the patio! We Enjoyed the DJ, the wait staff was friendly and helpful. The Manager made accommodations for food allergies going above and beyond! Food was fantastic!
    Taverna - Downtown AustinResponded on May 6, 2026
    Susan, thank you so much for sharing this! We're thrilled you enjoyed brunch on the patio with us. It means the world to hear our team took great care of you, especially with the food allergy accommodations. We hope to see you back soon!

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  8. Jessica Gold

    Denver5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 1, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food is incredible, service was just as good! Charles was 100/10. Great spot for catching up with friends over delicious drinks and Italian food. Ultimately Charles made our experience top tier! Ask for him when you go
    Taverna - Downtown AustinResponded on May 5, 2026
    Jessica, we're so happy you had such a wonderful time! Charles is truly special, and we'll make sure he knows how much he made your visit memorable. Thank you for choosing us for good food, drinks, and time with friends. We can't wait to have you back!

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  9. Cathy

    Austin2 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on April 27, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    You changed your filet menu item for the worse. Instead of the filet with whipped potatoes and asparagus, I got the filet with only flavorless and room temp (at best) fried-like potatoes. It was terrible. And, I always ask to be seated at the round table behind the hostess area (and you repeatedly kindly accommodate) but there are always flies in the corner. Same happened tonight. We bring someone new each time because we are treating them to an ACL live taping, but after tonight, we’re picking a different dining option. Sorry-I want to love you again but can’t get back to that especially after tonight’s experience.

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  10. catherine

    Austin1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    They changed the type of mussels they serve and the sauce. Still really good bit not as goos as the old combo. Juan is a great waiter! i have had him a few times.
    Taverna - Downtown AustinResponded on April 30, 2026
    Thank you for the 5 stars and for sharing your thoughts! We appreciate your feedback about the mussels—it's helpful to know what our guests love. We're so glad Juan has been taking such great care of you during your visits. He's wonderful! Hope to see you back at our table soon.

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizzeria
  • Hours of operation
    The Baci Room Mon–Wed 4:00 pm–12:00 am Thu, Fri 4:00 pm–2:00 am Sun 10:00 am–10:00 pm The Baci Room Sat 10:00 am–2:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Raymundo Rueda
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    W. 2nd Street and Lavaca Street
  • Parking details
    AMLI garage 2hr max. validation available.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Yes, Taverna is a popular choice for date night. Guests frequently praise the attentive service, house-made pasta, seafood dishes, and a lively yet stylish atmosphere; many pick it specifically before shows at ACL Live across the street. If you want a quieter experience, ask for the Baci Room or a table away from the bar and patio. Reservations are recommended on weekend nights or event evenings.

Portions are generally moderate to generous. Guests often note large, shareable appetizers (the focaccia and meatballs are commonly mentioned) and reasonably sized entrees, some say portions are ample for downtown pricing while a few found certain specials smaller. Expect hearty starters and entrées that are easy to share if you want to graze.

Family-friendly seating: yes, guests regularly dine with kids, enjoy brunch and customizable pasta for children, and many families celebrate birthdays here. Accessible seating: specific accessibility details (ramps, ADA seating) are not listed in the provided info; call the restaurant ahead to confirm accommodations so staff can prepare.

For a quieter meal, choose midweek evenings (Mon–Wed) or early dinner times, guests note these nights are less crowded. If you want the buzz and people-watching, weekend nights, brunch hours and pre-show times before ACL Live are lively and fun. Reservations are recommended for Thurs–Sat nights and concert evenings.

Taverna has a lively, energetic Italian vibe, upbeat music (sometimes loud), bright lighting, and a bustling downtown crowd. Guests love the people-watching, outdoor patio, and hip atmosphere, though several note it can be noisy on busy nights; the Baci Room and lounge offer a slightly calmer feel if you prefer lower volume.

Casual dress is the stated policy, guests typically dress smart-casual for date nights or pre-show dinners. You’ll fit in whether you’re dressed up for a night out or in neat casual wear for brunch.

Yes, guests report the staff often accommodates special requests like menu substitutions, allergy needs, seating preferences, and custom pasta for children. Call ahead to confirm dietary needs, allergy handling, or seating location and the team will usually do their best to prepare.

Yes, families dine here frequently and guests mention bringing children for brunch or dinner. Servers have accommodated custom kids’ pasta and shirley temples are available for kids. If you’re visiting with young children, consider an earlier seating or ask for a more relaxed area such as the Baci Room.

For a balance of good food and fewer crowds, midweek (Tuesday or Wednesday) evenings are the best bet. Weekend brunches and Friday–Saturday nights are popular and energetic, great if you want a lively scene but expect noise and busier service.

There’s no dedicated private-dining program listed, but the restaurant does offer the Baci Room and a private lounge area that guests describe as more spacious and relaxed. For large-group needs or semi-private space, contact the restaurant directly to discuss options.

Patio/dog-friendly: yes, guests report bringing a “fur baby” to patio brunches and staff have been described as pet-friendly. Service animals: specific policy for service or emotional support animals isn’t listed in the provided information; call the restaurant if you need confirmation or accommodations.

Yes, multiple guests mention bringing their dog to patio brunches and describe staff as welcoming to pets. If you plan to bring a dog, request patio seating when you reserve to ensure a pet-friendly spot.

Yes, Taverna has a covered outdoor patio that guests frequently use for brunch, dinner and people-watching. The patio is popular for pre-show dining, happy hour, and alfresco evenings; note that outdoor music or street activity can affect the ambience.

How FAQ content is generated

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  2. United States
  3. Austin
  4. Austin
  5. Downtown

Make a reservation

A photo of Taverna - Downtown Austin restaurant

Taverna - Downtown Austin

4.4
$31 to $50
Italian
Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 13 times today
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