Driftwood may be a small Hill Country community, but there are some genuinely great places to eat and spend an afternoon or evening here. You’ll find everything from Texas barbecue and Italian food to local beer, cocktails, wineries, and plenty of outdoor seating.

If you're visiting Driftwood for the first time, thinking about moving here, or just looking for somewhere new to try, these are five places I think are worth knowing about.

1. Hays City Store

Hays City Store is one of those places that works for just about any occasion. It's casual, has a large shaded outdoor area, and regularly has live music. It's a great place to grab lunch, meet friends for dinner, or hang out outside when the weather is nice.

The menu has a little bit of everything, including burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads, pizza, and plenty of Texas comfort food.

What I like about Hays City Store is that it feels like a neighborhood gathering place rather than somewhere you only visit for a meal.

2. Whiskey Ridge

Whiskey Ridge is another local spot with a relaxed Hill Country feel. It's a good choice when you want a sit down dinner without anything feeling overly formal.

They serve homestyle American food along with cocktails and whiskey, and it's the kind of place where you can settle in for dinner rather than feeling rushed.

If you're exploring the Driftwood area, it's an easy place to add to your list.

3. The Salt Lick BBQ

The Salt Lick is probably the restaurant Driftwood is best known for, and it's been part of the community since 1967.

The barbecue is cooked over the restaurant's famous open pit, and the experience is just as much a reason to visit as the food. There are big picnic tables, plenty of outdoor space, live music at times, and people coming in from all over Texas and beyond.

It's also BYOB, which is worth knowing before you go.

If someone were visiting Driftwood for the first time and wanted a classic Texas experience, this would be one of the first places I'd send them.

4. Vista Brewing

Vista is a little different from everything else on this list.

The property has a huge outdoor area surrounded by the Hill Country, with plenty of room to sit outside and enjoy a beer and something to eat. They brew their own beer and have a food menu that changes with the seasons.

It's especially nice when the weather is good and you don't necessarily want to sit inside a traditional restaurant.

Vista also gives you a good feel for what I like about Driftwood in general - there's space, you're outside, and there's no reason to be in a hurry.

5. Trattoria Lisina

If you're looking for something a little nicer, Trattoria Lisina is one of my favorite options in the area.

It's an Italian restaurant located next to Duchman Family Winery, surrounded by vineyards and beautiful Hill Country scenery. The stone buildings and property make it feel completely different from most restaurants around Austin.

It's a great option for a date night, birthday, anniversary, or just an excuse to have a good Italian dinner.

You can also visit Duchman Winery while you're there, which makes it easy to turn dinner into an afternoon or evening in Driftwood.

What I Like About Eating in Driftwood

What makes the restaurant scene here interesting isn't that there are hundreds of choices. There aren't.

It's that the places we do have tend to be places where you actually want to spend some time.

You can sit outside under the trees at Hays City Store, bring your own drinks and spend an evening at The Salt Lick, have a beer outside at Vista, or have dinner overlooking the vineyards near Trattoria Lisina.

That's a pretty good reflection of Driftwood itself.

Things move a little slower, there's more room to spread out, and a lot of life here revolves around being outside, eating good food, and spending time with other people.

Thinking About Living in Driftwood?

If you're researching Driftwood because you're considering moving here, restaurants are only a small part of what makes the area special.

Driftwood has everything from neighborhoods and custom homes to larger acreage and horse properties, and every part of the area feels a little different.

I live here and work in real estate throughout Driftwood, Dripping Springs, Austin, and the surrounding Hill Country. If you have questions about the area - even if you're just starting your research - I'm always happy to be a resource.