La Piscina

Finding La Piscina requires navigating the Austin Proper Hotel’s elevators to the fifth floor, where the doors open onto a pool deck that feels distinct from the street-level traffic below. The restaurant occupies an indoor-outdoor space designed by Kelly Wearstler, blending the hotel’s swimming area with a dining room defined by heavy textures – undulating plaster walls, raw wood, and handcrafted tiles. It feels less like a hotel lobby and more like a bustling coastal cantina, complete with a soundtrack of Latin house music and the scent of wood smoke drifting from the kitchen. An open comal anchors the cooking line, where staff press tortillas by hand throughout the night. The menu focuses on Texas-inspired Mexican cuisine, but the format is strictly family-style, designed for groups rather than solo diners. Meals here tend to sprawl across the table, centered on wood-grilled platters and sizzling fajitas – often piled with pineapple and ribeye – that arrive smoking from the fire. Seafood is equally prominent, with options ranging from raw bar ceviches to lobster quesadillas. Because of the generous portion sizes, tables often end up crowded with more food than a couple can finish, making this a frequent choice for birthday dinners and large parties willing to pass plates. The bar keeps pace with the high-energy environment, pouring frozen margaritas and a wide selection of small-batch agaves and native Mexican spirits.