The almond croissant was perfect - fluffy, flaky, and full of almonds. The Benedict was also delicious.

Outstanding breakfast with many options to choose from. Excellent cinnamon rolls and Mariela was extremely friendly and went above and beyond to give us a superior breakfast experience read more

My family and I enjoyed the brunch menu very much. The only thing I did not like was that in the Paris Texas Benedict plate it lists a croissant as an ingredient, well I was only given the bottom half of the croissant. Throughout my whole meal I kept thinking how this plate would have been way better if the top half was included. I mean what do they do with the top half? Put it in another plate if so then that's not right. Other than that it was a nice place, a little pricy, especially since I have to find my own table and get my own coffee refill and the gratuity is automatically added. However the waiter that brought out our food was very nice and thoughtful, he was able to explain things to my parents in Spanish so that's always a plus. read more

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I'm writing this review focusing on one major issue: that of an Automatic Gratuity ("AG") of 18% that is added to every bill. First off, this AG is not made clear either prior to or during a customer's paying for a transaction. The restaurant does not (voluntarily at least) offer a physical menu. One must scan a QR code to see an online version of the menu. At the very bottom of the menu - in very small font that is even harder to read on a phone - is verbiage indicating that an AG of 18% will be charged. However, other than this hard-to-read language, no other indication that an AG is being added is given, either by a sign at the register or verbally by a cashier. I only noticed that an AG might be charged when my bill was a bit higher than I had expected. At first I thought it might be some special Austin-city tax (on top of Texas state taxes), but when I asked the cashier about the charge, only then was I told that there was an AG. Fortunately, the cashier did remove the charge, but she certainly wasn't friendly or professional about doing it. After speaking to the shift manager and explaining the situation, later in the day a representative from the restaurant management team contacted me via email. That representative essentially wrote the following: The AG was put into place because reduced service during the pandemic (there is no longer table-side ordering) made it such that tipping was no longer possible at the end of the meal. The representative also indicated that such AG charges are common among other restaurants. I take issue with this response for the following reasons: (1) Tipping was presumably completely discretionary prior to the pandemic when full service was in place, so making tipping now automatic post-pandemic with reduced service makes no sense, and (2) This still doesn't address the issue that the tipping is still presumably voluntary. While the AG is technically "automatic" and not "mandatory," I think this is merely splitting hairs semantically, because when an AG is being charged - with no clear notice that it is being charged - in practice it is effectively mandatory. And this brings me to my point of why this is a big deal: Over the course of a business day, this automatic 18% charge can cost customers thousands of dollars. While it is certainly true that many customers will leave a tip voluntarily, I'm sure that those customers are tipping on top of the AG because they're unaware an AG is being charged in the first place. I should note that I do feel workers should be adequately compensated for the work they do, but the best way to do this is either by: (1) Having the restaurant pay a higher wage for better performance, and/or (2) Letting customers tip at the end of the transaction if they deem the service to be worthy of a tip. (As a side-note, there is a physical tip jar, so clearly the suggestion is that a separate tip should be given). In closing - and this is addressed to the restaurant management team - I will gladly remove this review if you contact me and let me know that you either will: (1) Remove the AG policy, or (2) Make it crystal clear to each customer that an AG is being charged, either by posting a sign next to the register - or even better - by having the cashier tell every customer that an AG is being charged. read more

This review is only based off of desserts and service! Came by a little late at night after grabbing dinner with friends. We got the Sundae and lime tart thing and chocolate cake! They were all really yummy and relatively fresh (they were made probably the same morning) except for the Sundae since its like scooped ice cream lol Service was great! Considering we were the only ones inside, I would assume all attention was on us. The server we had was very bice and patient when we wete deciding which desserts we wanted to order and had good explanations/recommendations. It was good, but nothing particularly special, so 4 stars. Will be back soon to try their foods read more

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Huevos rancheros muy bueno. The eggs were perfect, the sausage was spicy and the tortillas were crisp. It was served in a small metal pan. Very good for hotel food and a value compared to the Holiday Inn breakfast buffet. Nice high ceilings as that was a requirement in the days before air conditioning. read more

Delicious! My boyfriend and I loved the huevos rancheros! Def a must get. The bloodymarys were also delicious! read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I stayed at the Driskill for 2 nights and ate breakfast here both mornings. The first morning I got the Texas waffle and it delicious. The second morning I decided to go with the Texas Migas with egg whites. I thoroughly enjoyed both meals and would recommend either of them. I got a hot chocolate both mornings and it was also very good! Minus 1 star because the seating situation is awful. read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Texas Pecan Waffle minus the bananas - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

We stayed at the Driskill this week, and grabbed coffee to go each morning before work. Finally got to stay in for breakfast since it's Saturday, and it didn't disappoint. I had the Hangover Omelet but substituted deli turkey for the chorizo. The hatch green chilis made the perfectly cooked omelet pop! Instead of toast, I ordered their banana pecan bread, and asked them to throw it on the grill. They did, and it rated like a campfire marshmallow that had been gently singed. Yum. Their country potatoes are a surprise and delight mix of potatoes, purple potatoes, sweet potatoes, and taro. So. Good. My companion had the All American breakfast. Bacon was perfectly crispy, eggs were true over medium, and as a "not a fan of breakfast potatoes" she was surprisingly a huge fan of theirs. Our waiter, Patrick, was so delightful. Soft spoken Texan charm, and an unobtrusive attention to detail made him the best part of the meal. It's the little stuff that matters, and Patrick is a master in that space. He had plenty of tables, but we never felt lost in the shuffle. He swung back by just a few moments after my companion ordered a coffee to quietly and politely acknowledge he'd forgotten what he'd walked away to get - because he was clearly hustling for his tables. This is service. He owned and acknowledged and recovered in stellar fashion. We would come back in a heartbeat, because both the food and the service were top notch. read more

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So my husband and I decided we wanted to try a different place for coffee and baked goods earlier tonight to break routine. He found 1886 Cafe and Bakery and I decided to go along with it without even checking Yelp. In retrospect, I should have checked Yelp. I probably would have been more on the fence and avoided it altogether. Located in The Driskill hotel, a historical hotel with a charming lobby, 1886 Cafe offers a traditional menu featuring appetizers, main courses, drinks, coffee and desserts. He had fried chutney donuts with a double espresso, and I had chocolate cake and a latte. The coffee was extremely average (I did not finish it) and the chocolate cake was okay. The chutney donuts were the best part of it all to be frank. Price wise, I was very unimpressed to find upon receiving the bill that they charge $4.50 for a double espresso (if only it was a great double espresso, except it was just okay), and $10 for a chocolate cake with a tiny ice cream scoop on top and some added fudge. Had I known the waiter was going to add these extras to the cake I would have declined, as it wasn't worth the price I paid for it. When I order a $10 piece of cake, it better be amazing. This didn't make the cut. Not even close. 1886 Cafe and Bakery isn't a bad place, but it's definitely not great either. The highlight of my night was that they had the WSJ for us to read and clean bathrooms. They had a fair service. The lobby was also nice; it had that charming southern hospitality look. Will I be back? I don't think so. They overcharge and under deliver. Even a cute decor can't make up for that. read more

i tried the almond and chocolate croissants, i liked the almond a lot more. it was one of the best i've ever tried - a nice balance between flakey and soft! the lattes were also good. i went twice here for an early lunch. first i had the burger (which tasted like it had just been reheated along with the fries) and then pecan waffles. second time was a much better experience. i have to give them 5 stars for the ambience though. definitely come here nicely dressed here so you can take pictures. what left a sour taste is my mouth was a 20% service charge - if you are just getting coffee or a dessert, what is the service charge for? plus, it is hard to justify when it's ran like a takeout joint. if you need something like more ketchup or salt, you have to hunt someone down because there will be no waiters to check on you. there's only 2 people at the counter and the lines can get long so it felt like anytime we needed something I felt like we were disturbing them. there was milk and a water station to help yourself but i still think 10-15% would be more fair. read more

Good, not heavy, but expensive. A very cute place to visit and at eat at least once at though! Just knowing the place is haunted also adds to the atmosphere:) read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Lobby - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Went for breakfast and had an amazing lox platter sitting in the lobby. Wonderful experience

This place was amazing. The Brazos Huevos Rancheros was beyond words. The favors were from another world with some Tomatillo salsa and a Mimosa with sweet tea. You are good for the day. You can sit in the cafe or in the lobby of the hotel. Either with way this is a must do. read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Brazos Huevos Rancheros & Mimosa with Sweet Tea - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Omg the Paris Benedict was amazing best thing I've eaten yet in my trip to Texas, and I've had a lot of great food. The seating is nice you pick it your self they have a beautiful patio area. The wait staff is helpful and kind. Truly amazing. Soo good. read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Paris Benedict - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

If you're in the Austin area, GO HERE. Great vibes, great food, even better service. It almost reminded me of some places in New Orleans. I don't usually go for waffles or pancakes for brunch but this was a solid 10/10. Not too sweet and the pecans added a nice touch. The coffee here was also amazing. read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Texas Pecan Waffle - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

What a place! Is special because of the arcHitecture and most because of the tasty food that we found here! Traditional but modern. Such a great combination! We liked it a lot! read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Oh man I was completely blown away at how good this place was I had the chicken and waffles and this has to be the best friend chicken I've had in a long time I definitely recommend stopping in at 1886 read more

Food was delicious and staff was attentive. The almond croissant is superb. The handover omelet was cooked perfectly and the Paris Benedict' was amazing! Will return read more

To begin with, the restaurant itself is stunning. A friend of mine and I were in town for a podcast festival and wanted to try a local restaurant and grab something light to eat. We stumbled across the cafe located inside a hotel. The host/waiter was very nice. He was attentive and not at our table constantly which I like. The food, was amazing! I ordered a side mixed greens salad and the green chile chicken soup. The salad had an amazing vinaigrette that was full of flavor! The greens were all fresh and the salad was topped with carrots,tomatoes, and red onions. Next came the soup. This soup is one of the best I've had! There was shredded chicken, corn, beans, and I believe onions in a green chile broth. This was amazing and I highly suggest giving both of these items a try. I'll definitely be back! read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Green Chile Soup - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Ordered the Hangover Omelette. Contained maybe three ounces of chorizo; diced jalapeños made up most of the omelette. Country potatoes on the side were room temp and a bit on the soggy side. Beware of 18% gratuity being included by default. This is noted in small type at the bottom of the first page of the QR-code accessible menu. read more

The food was soo good I can't even put into words. And the service was rlly good and friendly. read more

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For a hotel breakfast spot it was pretty good all things considered. Plenty of seating, beautiful atmosphere, bit pricey though and the food was good, not great. read more

Best Cafe & Bakery downtown! This place pretty much speaks for itself. It's a beautiful atmosphere with fantastic food and great service. They offer a brunch burger that is truly "breakfast on a bun". An egg, bacon, and hash browns all on a burger? Absolutely! Breakfast, brunch, or lunch. I'm confident you will be pleased with either one of those choices. Cheers. read more

Breakfast/brunch was amazing!! Food was so yummy. There was a long wait, but it was worth it. The atmosphere and the eating area inside the restaurant and inside the hotel lobby was nice. Wasn't sure because of Covid there was seating in the lobby, but I enjoyed it a lot. Overall, the service was great. The food doesn't look filling but it is! read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Waffles and Texas egg Benedict - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wait time is long but quick. Food was amazing. Sitting in the lobby of an old grand hotel was pretty cool to enjoy breakfast. Definitely saw some ghost. read more

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Absolutely amazing. Place was busy, but the staff was so accommodating. We are staying at the Driskill and couldn't be happier with our choice for breakfast. The cinnamon roll was to die for. The biscuits and gravy, yum. I had the Brisket Hash skillet and the Mrs had the American plate. Can't wait to go back for more. read more

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We stayed at the Driskill and had breakfast here daily. We tried at least half the amazing menu. The servers and staff were excellent and friendly and remembered us each day. They always had the strawberry croissants ready and set aside for the girls as those are delicious and popular and tend to sell out! Every single dish we tried was so hearty and yummy but standouts for me were the strawberry croissants, the hot fried chicken and the brisket hash. My husband loved the cowboy breakfast and the brisket mac and cheese. Overall, you can't go wrong! read more

I was delighted to get this Texas shaped waffle!! It was delicious, and it was even more enjoyable to be seated in such a lovely space. The high arches, tin ceilings, and beautiful stained glass windows made for a perfect breakfast spot. We went early on a Saturday morning and it wasn't very busy, but later around 10 the line was out the door, so go early to avoid a crowd! read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Maple Texas Pecan Waffle - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I stayed at the hostel across on Brazos and walked across street to this cute cafe. I decided to splurge on my breakfast since I would be exploring Austin and wanted a good breakfast. The first day had to try the Texas shaped waffle with fresh fruit and it was so nice and warm it melted in my mouth . Then the 2nd day I wanted to try the avocado toast and it was just perfect. However, had to do another waffle the next day of how delicious it was! read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - The best waffle breakfast! - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Delicious!!!! Was quick and so tasty for breakfast! Highly recommended! Service was great can dine in and outside. We had the Paris Benedict and the avocado toast, so so good! read more

If you want to enjoy a fantastic coffee with an even better breakfast in an even more beautiful environment ... come here! read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was super excited to come to 1886 and got the opportunity to come for a 4 course tasting during their craft series with Skull Mechanix. It was underwhelming to say the least. Starting with the octopus, which was slightly overcooked, to the fried green tomatoes with a minuscule portion of pork belly, and herb crusted salmon (which was really green colored panko). There was also very little range of flavor amongst the 4 beers, 2 pilsners and a light IPA. What really made the experience a 2 star was the 30 minutes wait time between courses and the lack of knowledge I gained from the tasting. I'm used to attending tasting that are more put together with information about how and why the beers were created and why that particular dish was created to compliment it's drink. The staff seemed like they had no sense of urgency, it was almost a 3 hour, 4 course meal that wasn't even plated individually. They couldn't even get the pre-made, bite sized mediocre cheesecake out fast enough so finally 2 hours and 40 minutes into the tasting I asked for them to pack it to go. I believe service is just as important as the food itself, and this experience lacked the care and attention I expected from such a historic, well-respected establishment. read more

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Food is amazing, pricey but excellent in taste. Quick service too! Overall great food and experience! read more

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Hated order at counter model. Ordered signature Paris Texas Benedict. Hollandaise was virtually flavorless. "Country potatoes " included chunks of sweet potato, which I hate, w/o mentioning on menu. Coffee and cookie were ok. read more

First off...this place is in the historic and gorgeous Driskill downtown, so star just for location! I went right before happy hour on a weekday, so I don't know that my experience as far as "crowd" goes is the real deal for more peak meal hours, but I loved that only a handful of tables were occupied. This is the time and place to go if you want to read a book or get some business done because it was pleasantly quiet. The decor is open, simple and reflects the historic Driskill. I love all the stained glass mosaics! The service was very attentive and I was left wanting for nothing! And for the prices, this should most definitely be the case. I had the Hangover Burger, which is as epic as it sounds...let's just say if any of the guys from the movie had eaten this, there wouldn't have been any sequels! We are talking breakfast on a burger here y'all: egg, hashbrowns, cheese, and bacon on an angus patty covered by a brioche bun! It needed a lil something, so I added some A1 and that's when the magic happened! My sobering burger nom was accompanied by the house made salt & vinegar kettle chips, which were quite tasty and a house made hibiscus ginger soda, which was ridiculously delicious and refreshing! Believe it or not, I still had room for some dessert...and trust me there is plenty delectable treats to choose from, but I went for what might just be the fanciest Moonpie in Austin! I had never had one before, so there's that...but, for the $4 price tag, it is small and honestly, there are so many other fantastic options, which left me having self-endured order envy w/a side of caloric regret. No matter, as I plan to return post haste to remedy my dessert malady (the waiter did warn me, but the "yankee" in me had to see what all the Moonpie fuss was about) by ordering their famous chocolate cake (again with the "fuss" and the me "seeing what it's about")...as for the coffee that I ordered to keep my Moonpie company, well that was fantastic and I have big plans to introduce a cup or two to my next dessert selection! read more

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Great service, and even better food! The ambience was amazing, we enjoyed it very much.

Great place to start your day at. Sitting outside was so peaceful & mimosa were great! I tried the hibiscus lavender mimosa, it's a little on the sweet side but I figured since it was a syrup. Servers were very nice & attentive. Waited about 30 minutes for food but so worth it! Best brunch I've ever had. We got the chicken & waffles & migas....so delicious! Wish it was close to home read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Mimosa - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped in promptly @ 7am and the Eggs Benedict was great, fast service, Driscoll hotel was worth the visit as well, true Austin history! I'll be going back for the hotel lounge as well! read more

It's a holiday tradition to eat here the days before Christmas. We love it. The way the food is served is different than before the pandemic. Previously, customers orders were taken at the table and there was more personalized attention when for example a person had a birthday. Now you stand in line to give your order to one person in the restaurant and take a wooden spoon with a number that you place on your table for the server to bring your food to you. Turns out our food was delivered by the manager on duty and he was terrific. He took our photos and when I mentioned it was my husband's birthday (a significant bday) the manager brought a piece of 1886 chocolate cake to the table compliments of the cafe. We both ordered a scrambled egg platter and it was fresh and delicious including the bread and coffee. The cake was fantastic. The ambience is still nice and festive --especially the giant Christmas tree in the lobby of the hotel. This cafe and hotel remain among our favorite destinations in Austin especially during the holidays! read more

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