22-05-2025
Headed to Wimberley for Memorial Day? Try these restaurants in the Hill Country hamlet.
The food scene in Wimberley has exploded over the last several years, thanks in part to a new downtown sewer system, along with a Covid-era influx of tourism and new residents.
The town, famous for its bucolic Blue Hole, features restaurants serving everything from quality steaks to wood-fired pizzas topped with local ingredients.
A devastation flood ravaged Wimberley in 2015 and the town, though stripped of many of its trademark towering cypress trees along the Blanco River, has bounced back stronger than ever.
Wimberley will honor the lives lost in the 2015 Memorial Day flood on Saturday with a benefit concert featuring Gary P. Nunn at Blue Hole Regional Park.
If you're headed to the town southwest of Austin over Memorial Day (or any) weekend, check out these dishes at Wimberley's best restaurants. (You can read about all of the options in town here.)
The restaurant, which serves supple, charred pies has become a hub of the scene, with adults sipping cold beers and children of all ages climbing on the adventure netting and playground equipment in the outdoor courtyard. You can create your own pie, or go with my favorite, the Illuminati pizza, made with confit garlic, mozzarella, soppressata, sausage, gorgonzola, hot honey and serrano peppers. 111 Old Kyle Road, #330. 512-858-6756,
Sit on the patio overlooking the pleasant Cypress Creek while enjoying a Yardbird sandwich (chicken breast, bacon and brie) or WTX Power Bowl (spinach, quinoa, roasted chickpeas and sweet potatoes, marinated cucumbers and onions, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, Greek vinaigrette and dill tzatziki sauce) with chicken.
Houston chef Ryan Hildebrand moved to the Hill Country a few years back, and though he and his partners shuttered their original restaurant located on the edge of town, Hildee's found new life just off the Wimberley Square. I've only had the cheeseburger at the new iteration, so that is my default answer, though I am excited to try the steaks here. 13900 RR 12. 512-222-9904,
Kelly Evers closed his Creekside Cookers on River Road during the pandemic and moved his operation into a trailer with less space but better visibility on RR 12. The former school teacher and coach is right at home in the smaller operation, as proven by the Texan Turkey Sandwich with arugula, pickled onions and Alabama white sauce. 14306 Ranch Rd 12. 512-947-1609,
Rachel and Matthew Buchanan are as responsible as anyone in town for helping create the modern Wimberley food scene. Their corned beef Reuben, made with house-cured brisket and served on toasty marbled rye is one of the town's most iconic dishes. But trying to decide between it and the Southern Clucker Sandwich (fried chicken with pimento cheese and Alabama white sauce) and Leaning Pear house salad (pear, spiced pecans, goat cheese and shallot vinaigrette) with an added crab cake is always a challenge. 111 River Road, #110. 512-847-7327,
This open-air bar directly across from the town square is a perfect place to people watch, appreciate your empty calendar and dig into and a pretty dang good cheeseburger. While you're at it, cheers owners Michael and Morgan Mekuly, who are also responsible for the good food and vibes at Community Pizza & Beer Garden and the forthcoming Tex-Mex restaurant Nada Mucho. 13904 RR 12.
The roster of upmarket Hill Country dishes at this restaurant on the Wimberley Square is exemplified with the mushroom-and-apple-stuffed quail with bourbon-glazed Brussels sprouts. 314 Wimberley Square. 512-842-3044,
You can't get much more Texan than fajitas and a margarita. At one of Wimberley's rare Tex-Mex spots, operated by the well-oiled team behind the popular Community Pizza, the margaritas are clean and strong and the fajitas come out tender and sizzling. 13710 RR 12. 512-648-8904,
You're not a proper Texas town until you have a great taqueria inside a gas station. The move at this Diamond Shamrock spot is the Texan Taco (fajita, grilled peppers, onions, pepper Jack queso and potatoes). 14410 RR 12. 512-847-5951,
Even if you're not staying at this charming revamped inn, you're still welcome to stop in for some lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes during weekend brunch. 200 RM 3237, 512-847-3750,
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Going to Wimberley for Memorial Day weekend? Try these restaurants.
