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    1886 Cafe & Bakery

    4.0 (759 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    1886 Cafe & Bakery American Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    1886 CAFE & BAKERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - 1886 Cafe & Bakery

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    Delores L.

    Today, I was downtown Austin at 9 am to await my first Austin Matcha Half Marathon (walking marathon that is). Well I did not read the fine print and upon my arrival, I realized the group did not leave until 10:45 am on the walking marathon. Thus, I had an entire hour to kill. Off I went to the Driskill Hotel to their 1886 Cafe & Bakery for a pastry to line my stomach before the walk. I have heard friends and colleagues rave about their pastries. So I strolled down Congress Avenue to 1886 Cafe and Bakery. The 1886 Cafe & Bakery is located in the historic Driskill Hotel and as of 2025 is 139 years. The Driskill hotel opened in December 1886, hence the name of the cafe and bakery. The Driskill is the oldest operating hotel in Austin. When you walk in, you are instantly captivated by the juxtaposition of the old and new. The old...beautiful cut class, ceiling tiles, wall paper and fine China. The new...modern kitchen with a viewing galley and coffee machine. Crista, my server, recommended the chocolate pecan croissant or the apple tart. I went with croissant. OMG...this literally the best chocolate pecan croissant I have ever eaten. I highly recommend this pastry. After leisurely eating my croissant, i headed back to the walk starting point.

    Register
    Reeta B.

    My friends and I stopped by at this bakery while we were exploring Austin during my bestie's bachelorette trip. It is such a cute place to stop by and sit and hang out. It is attached to this amazingly beautiful hotel and has all the beautiful vibes of it. We got a classic croissant which was buttery, flaky, and had a little sweetness on top which we loved. A little extra salt would have been nice, but otherwise the texture and flavor was amazing. Such a fun little stop!

    Hummingbird cake
    Mike R.

    Breakfast at the Driskill Hotel (1886 Cafe) was a very enjoyable experience overall. We ordered the Driskill Eggs, which are a classic breakfast with eggs, potatoes, and bacon. The eggs were cooked perfectly over easy, and the bacon portion was very generous -- honestly more than I could eat - but it tasted great. The potatoes were a bit overcooked in my opinion, which slightly took away from the dish. For drinks, the matcha was good but not perfect, while the Driskill latte was full of flavor and very well done for a cold drink. The real standout was the Hummingbird cake - absolutely amazing. It's not overly sweet and very well balanced. I'm not sure every traditional cake lover will immediately gravitate toward it, but I personally loved the flavor. It reminded me of a European-style cake, almost like something you'd find on a trip from Rio to France, and it's the kind of cake you don't see very often in the U.S. Overall, a great downtown breakfast spot with strong flavors and a historic setting, with just a few minor areas for improvement.

    Omlette.
    Debbi N.

    Went there two mornings in a row and first time was much better. Not sure if the server or kitchen made the difference. We had the cinnamon bun each day and yesterday it was hot and gooey and today the server brought it cold and we sent it back. She must have zapped it for three seconds. Ehhh. Still enjoyable and love the ambience. Bit pricey and they don't come with toast or potatoes. But we ordered the potatoes which are good.

    Latte
    Amy M.

    What a beautiful cafe! Honestly, it's breathtaking but onto what matters, coffee and pastries! I got a hot latte and a croissant. The croissant was given to me cold as ice which I politely asked if they could warm it up. Thankfully they did. The difference that made was night and day. The croissant became flakey and appetizing. It was shocking to serve something so cold without even giving an option to warm it up. The latte was good. It did not need sugar and was hot. Good taste. We enjoyed the cafe and lounged for a bit. Would recommend if looking for a quick break.

    Clau R.

    I really wanted to like 1886 Café & Bakery, especially given its historic location inside the Driskill Hotel--but overall, it didn't live up to the hype. Let's start with logistics: parking is a headache. We had to find expensive street parking two blocks away, and unfortunately, the café does not validate for nearby garages. I tried calling ahead to ask about parking, but the listed phone number goes straight to a voicemail that reads off a completely different number than what's online. I double-checked the website and tried again, but got the same result. Confusing and a bit sketchy, honestly. Once inside, we were seated immediately, and I'll give them credit for a clean, comfortable atmosphere. The staff was friendly, but service was very slow, and we had to flag down our server multiple times just to get basics like sugar, utensils, and an extra cup of coffee. The menu is pretty limited and heavily overpriced--most breakfast items are $20+, and lattes run about $6-$7. I ordered the breakfast bun (steamed egg, cheese, and bacon), which was decent but forgettable. My friend got the Texas waffle, which surprisingly came without any fruit, even though all the online photos show it topped with berries (fruit is now an extra charge). It also seems like the menu has changed recently, because we couldn't find updated pictures or descriptions online. All in all, the food was mediocre, the experience was pretentious, and the price tag just isn't justified. You're definitely paying for the Driskill name, not the quality. Sadly, I won't be back, and I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to try it.

    Jen H.

    A really cool brunch spot that's at a historical location! The food itself is good but you're really coming here for the classic elegant hotel brunch vibes. I got the eggs Benedict, which was a little on the salty side, but the eggs were cooked perfectly. You are paying for the experience more so than for the food, but service is super friendly and inviting.

    N.Y. Strip Steak and Eggs* avocado
    Lori C.

    This was a lovely cafe bakery located inside the Driskell hotel. Without a reservation our wait for breakfast was only 20 minutes which was great. The wait staff were attentive and efficient. It was a little annoying that they were out of every juice but orange juice at the time but it happens. The food was delicious overall. Only opportunity was with the eggs. I'm a fan of regular scrambled, not fluffy scrambled eggs. The absolute highlight of this meal was the chocolate pecan croissant. I almost stopped at the bakery for another o e before heading home. I recommend this place for sure.

    Afternoon tea
    Kim D.

    Did the afternoon tea here with my 11 year old niece and we both absolutely loved it! The service is 100/10!! Table was prepped upon arrival, and starters were already on the table. Then they brought out the 3 tiered tray (so important!!) with all the goodies! My niece loved the sprinkler dipped PB&J and j loved the inclusive unlimited Prosecco! I would come again 100 times over.

    Texas Pecan Waffle
    Susie G.

    I had two charming and delicious experiences at 1886 Cafe and Bakery during my recent visit to Austin. First, my friends and I visited for lunch. We could not get over how delicious our food and drinks were. Not only were they a feast for the eyes, the taste and texture combinations were perfection. We all agreed the Texas waffle was the best waffle we had ever had. The 1886 chocolate cake was Absolutely To Die For. For lunch we placed an order at the counter and were given a number, the food was brought to our table. We were instructed to give a few minutes then return to the counter to pick up our cocktails. We returned later in the week for Afternoon Tea. Again, a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Three sets of tiered stands were brought out, one at a time, each served with a different tea. There was a printed menu listing all the teas and the treats thereupon, and our server explained everything and answered questions as well. A lovely experience, you do need to make a reservation. Built in 1886, the Driskill is stunning in appearance and a beautiful setting for both these visits. There is a tour, which we missed because it was at the same time as our tea reservation. However, a gentleman at the front desk was kind enough to give us a tour and we so appreciated learning the rich history and some of the stories of this hotel.

    Thick ass cookie and Cold Brew Coffee
    Emmy H.

    All I got here was a cookie and a cold brew but both were satisfactory. The cookie was actually gas, love a big ass thick ass choc chip cookie. And the sea salt MADE it!!! Seriously very yummy. The interior of the place was really big, I really liked the seating situation. The 1886 choc cake or whatever it's called looked bomb, I would come back for that. No issues with service. The total was like $15 or some shit which seems lowkey steep for just a cookie and coffee but what the hell do I know. Overall bien place !

    Cinnamon Roll
    Angela B.

    What a quaint place. Have walked by here several times and finally popped in on a Sunday morning to grab a bite. Service was quick and friendly and the Matcha Latte was delicious as well as the Austin American breakfast. Loved the mix of potatoes with sweet potatoes added in. The ham was thick and cooked perfectly, while I don't know the type of bread it was tasty. The jam looked a bit peculiar as it's a brownish color and sorta an apple ish flavor. Only tried a bit. While I didn't get the cinnamon roll, you can see the photo that's a meal in itself or at least a two person appetizer. Perhaps next time?

    Front door
    Justin T.

    Stopped in and grabbed an almond croissant for breakfast. One of the best I've had. Great job guys!

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    7 months ago

    Food, service and atmosphere was awesome! Very cool historic building. Loved the TX shaped waffle!

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    1886 Cafe & Bakery Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - 1886 Cafe & Bakery

    Is there a private room? Can a reservation be made?

    I called Monday 10/23 and was told no reservations not call ahead list

    What's the average wait time to be seated for large groups between 5-10 people for Saturday brunch?

    So you actually don't seat yourself until you have ordered. There are ample seats inside and on the patio plus more in the foyer. Good luck and enjoy.

    View All 3 Questions

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    I booked this spot roughly 1 month in advanced, and I was only able to snag a 7:15pm reservation…read more(even as a solo diner). Music Lane is a beautiful area with corridors bustling with fresh air, which greatly contrasts the area not too far south of it. Aba lies within these corridors, so I was completely gobsmacked to see the size of the establishment and its number of seating. There are outdoor tables, a dedicated bar section, a decently large interior, and patio and sofa seats for the people waiting. Even then, the place was completely packed, so getting a reservation is an absolute must. Not only are the prices completely reasonable, the food itself had everything that I was looking for: a delicious spread starter, a balanced fiber dish, and an entree with intentional flavors and texture. The Short Rib Hummus is a must get! It is incredibly filling and completely worth the price. The short rib was a nice meat protein since I opted for a seafood main, and the pita bread that it came with was lightly seasoned and was as fluffy as it could possibly be. I could not eat much of my Brussel Sprouts because it was also very large. However it was not too oily or drenched, and each bite had a perfect light crunch, which is the standard for Fried Brussels Sprouts. Top it all off, the Grilled Branzino was the finisher to my savory dishes. The grill gave the fish a roasted flavor, which was complimented by the sweetness from the corn purée. The various greens, roasted tomatoes, and corn pieces themselves added bites of textures and secondary bursts of flavor. I can see why it took a month in advanced to book a decent time at Aba Austin. The atmosphere was so perfect because the air flows through all the doors and windows, allowing the diners to enjoy fresh oxygen. This place is a must visit, both as an experience and a meal that is WORTH the bill.

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    Eberly - ONE of the main dining areas!

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    1886 Cafe & Bakery - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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