I've only been here for dessert, and it has always been fantastic. Most recently, we had the creme brulee and their famous chocolate cake. Call me odd, but I normally do not like chocolate in any form. Despite this predisposition, their chocolate cake is amazing. It's very rich, so I recommend having someone on the sidelines waiting to jump in and finish it for you. The creme brulee was good, although the top was slightly too sweet for my taste. This was solved by simply scraping it off and getting to the creme-y goodness below. The coffee they serve here is extremely good. If only they readily served coffee to go, or had more of a coffee shop atmosphere, this would be my new coffee stop. Be sure to wander around the hotel after your dessert. We found a balcony overlooking 6th street and people watched for a while before leaving. We were told we could bring our coffee up there too, but it was too tasty to last until the end of dessert. read more

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

hesitation for 4 or 3 stars. Personally I liked their sun/Sat brunch. Food is not bad. appropriate tea and coffee, reading news paper at the patio seats and watching people during the weekend is rather relaxing. The only draw back is serving. Maybe little bit of racism or what, whenever I go there, the service is pretty bad. Hard to find a server to ask more coffee or little more butter. If the service can improve, definately 4 stars. read more

Soo yummy! I got the avocado toast and I know it's such a simple dish that you can make almost everyday at home.. but I was craving something light and toasty and decided to order it. Legit-- best decision made! It's filling and the eggs were cooked perfect. Would def recommend! Also the interior was super cute and decorative. read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Avocado toast, iced Latte - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Quaint cafe with historic grandeur. The ambience elevates your experience. Should definitely feature on a tourist list. Good food and excellent service. read more

After getting no service at Driskell Bar, we wandered over to this restaurant which is located in the Driskell Hotel as well. The host was a little too familiar with us, but the server was v. good. We tried a couple specialty drinks and three of their appetizers. Sadly they stopped running the sliders and beer promotion Amanda M had. The nachos were massive. The fries and crawfish hushpuppies came with truffle aioli. A stone's throw from dirty 6th, this is an option to get a meal or HH before heading out. It also has better service than Driskell on a busy night. read more

hmmm... almost could have been great but a few misses... We had breakfast here on 2 sequential mornings. First morning, bread pudding french toast. Cold, hard, really just two slices of bread pudding amiss from the treatment of french toast that would take a bath in some egg and milk and hit the grill with some butter. Bummer. Flavor was on point though.. Next morning... Huevos Rancheros. Muy delicioso. Much better choice. Coffee was good. Service was good. Atmosphere good. Cinnamon rolls as big as your head and tasty. read more

I have to say, I am fairly disappointed in Cafe 1886. I expected more from the Driskill. We did get to sit on the patio, which was lovely, but our waitress was completely non-existent. Outrageously bad service, in fact. My beer took 20 minutes to come out and finally the bartender brought it to me, obviously confused as he stood on the patio and looked around until one of us signaled him. My sandwich was just okay - I've definitely had amazing sandwiches for half the price. All in all, a pretty mediocre lunch experience. p.s. Just in case you go here against my better judgment, I had the Salami sandwich. I would recommend ordering something else. The empanadas looked pretty tasty from a distance. read more

The food was good and piping hot! The lady bird omelet made me feel good about myself. The chocolate croissant was flaky, warm and chocolatey. The eggs Benedict was parfait! The coffee was coffee. Service was quick, but nothing to write home about. There a lot of servers flipping tables, so to say there was a sense of being rushed, well, that feeling was present, but not overwhelmingly so. The atmosphere felt very European - a French bistro, if you will. 1886 fits well with its location in the Driscoll. Nothing exciting, but wouldn't say I wouldn't come back, that's for sure. read more

This is a difficult review for me to write. The restaurant itself, and the hotel that houses it, deserve 5 stars hands down. I am a huge fan of historic buildings and The Driskill has got it goin' on! It was enjoyable for me simply to be in the lobby and sitting in the restaurant, admiring the location. For dinner on a Saturday night at 5PM, the place was not crowded. I am not terribly sensitive to slow service, but this was a little extreme. We waited a good while for our food, dessert, the check, and our receipts to sign. The food was pretty good. The black and blue sliders were delicious, fries were lovely, and my cappuccino was damn good. Here's what I would say: Definitely go, but when you have some time to linger. read more

Stopped here for a quick bite in between touring beautiful Austin. The restaurant is adjacent to the beautiful Driskell Hotel, and shouldn't be missed. My honey glazed fried chicken came with mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Not the best fried chicken I'd ever eaten, not the worst. My friends had the beef and barley soup and the cheese soup, and they both seemed to enjoy a lot. The service was very good, especially since the waitress was working very hard and she was busy the entire time. read more

This cafe is conveniently located on the lobby floor of the Driskill so we figured we'd give a try for a quick breakfast before heading out to further explore Austin. We were seated here after a 15 min wait and I ordered The Continental Breakfast which came with choice of pastry, choice of juice, coffee and mixed fruit. The cinnamon roll was HUGE, warm and sinfully sweet. The fruit was very fresh and I also appreciated the variety, which included berries and was more than just melon. The coffee and juice were both standard. My boyfriend ordered the Austin Breakfast which came with your choice of eggs, sausage, potatoes and toast. The sausage was great as it had great snap and great spice. The potatoes were the star of the show. There was a mix of probably four or so varieties and they were so warm, crispy and salted perfectly. The service was terrible. I didn't catch her name but she was terrible across the board. Rude, inattentive and just seemed miserable. Definitely put a cloud over the experience. Other than that, the food was great! read more

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Food was wonderful, the wait was not. Felt like I had been forgotten about... but the breakfast potatoes were amazing!

1886 is the one place in town that I actually used to work at. I worked there back in my sophmore year of college for about 4 months. The Driskill really takes pride in their establishment and the service they provide to their regulars. Having worked at a really crappy bar/restaurant in high school, I really appreciated 1886. The "line cooks" are all trained chefs and they also have a dedicated pastry chef that you can see through a window from the restaurant. While I hated working here (4pm-2am, Fri/Sat in college), I could actually eat here, both while I worked there and after I left. I knew the food was clean, the kitchen was clean, and the chefs weren't complete idiots. They have some really fantastic soups and pizzas and if you have the chance to try the 1886 cake, do yourself a favor and sin. read more

A favorite spot of mine to enjoy a brunch in the downtown part of Austin. Here I was savory get a Croque Madame with a side of mac & cheese :-) read more

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

The food was great and we love the atmosphere. The only issue was the service. We got our check practically with our food and she would pick it up and look in it to see if our card was there. We weren't even done eating. We got a togo box just because we felt like we were being pushed out the door. I am writing the review from our table and my tea glass has been empty for 15 minutes. It has never been refilled. For a $350 a night hotel and $40 a night for parking you would expect thier associated Cafe to have good service. ... Tea Glass still empty. read more

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

Had breakfast here this morning on my way to a conference. The building itself was first class and the service was friendly. The service was slow 5 minutes to get seated and food probably took a good 20 minutes after ordering. I had the Texas waffle, somewhat lacking in flavor, but fruit toppings were fresh. Not as tasty as the room service waffle from the omni hotel the previous morning. Save your money and just go to IHOP, the ambiance isn't worth the money. read more

Staying at a nearby hotel but decided to take a walk down 6th Street to find a more interesting breakfast. This hidden jewel inside the Driskill was the perfect place. Delicious vegetable quiche, decedent almond croissant, perfect latte! Manager Andrea was delightful as was newly promoted head pastry chef Delora. read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Chef Delora's wall of bread and pastries. - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Underwhelming. The food is standard fare - not great, not bad. I did not like that they peppered the crap out of my eggs- I find that really annoying. The service was spotty and slow. They do have an outdoor patio that would make for some good people watching. All in all just meh. read more

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

1886 Cafe is currently my first choice for indulging in breakfast or brunch. Not only do they have excellent illy coffee, but I always find myself indecisive about what to have from the menu. So far, the 'Hippie Hollow' is a perfect omelet portion with mushrooms and goat cheese. 'Green Eggs and Ham' is for larger appetites; grilled pork loin with green chile, eggs, and purple potatoes. I think a large part of what makes this place work is the ambiance. Nice dark wood with cloth covered walls and honeycomb beige tile make this place classy, yet not uptight. You also can see into the kitchens, right next to the main bar. I forsee this place coming to my breakfast rescue many times in the future. read more

Being a Hyatt diamond and staying at the Driskill, somehow someone thought I needed $40 a head for breakfast each day. Of course, breakfast at 1886 is very reasonable and their mix of root vegetables are quite tasty, but what I found most impressive was their ability to accommodate all those extra breakfast certificates I ended up with! The staff was incredibly helpful in suggesting I get a few tins (5 tins to be exact) of their house-made cookies, which were delicious. Pretty little 886 themed tins with peanut butter, oatmeal, choc chip, and macarroon-like sugar cookies. And by little, I mean the tins. The cookies were humongous, and their overflow for them were takeout containers in addition to the tins full of those cookies.Good thing I had a birthday party the next day to spread out the cookie love! read more

Outstanding breakfast! We were able to sit inside the lobby to eat with full service and enjoy the beauty of the historical hotel lobby. Very sophisticated atmosphere for a reasonable price. If you are wanting to tour thru the Driskill Hotel, I recommend eating brunch here on your trip. The architecture and decor is worth the visit. Be sure to check out the bar area upstairs also, definitely a wonderful Texas feel. The Eggs Benedict, Austin Fried Chicken, and Austin American Breakfast were all delicious. The breakfast potatoes were some of the best I've ever had! read more

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Stopped in this weekend during the ATX TV festival for a quick coffee. Sat at the bar and ordered a caramel latte and a chocolate croissant. The caramel latte was quite good - shaken, not stirred, which was nice. They use actually caramel sauce, rather than syrup, for the lattes, which leads to a better and tastier coffee experience. The croissant was ever so good. Butter, sugary, and filled with bittersweet chocolate. They offered to heat it up for me, but I declined; I think chocolate croissants are bit a better cold. Bonus: if you sit at the bar, you can watch the master bakers construct cakes for various no doubt fancy occasions. It's like one of those ubiquitous cake shows on cable TV, but in. Real. Life. Plus, any time you walk into the Driskill, you feel at least 10% fancier. I don't know about you, but I can use a 10% fancy-boost most days. read more

Breakfast here is decent, but I don't think it hits the spot for flavor. It's located inside a hotel that was there since 1886. I was very impressed at the entrance because it has that old classy southern design with the columns and stairway. It reminded me of the scene from Titanic when Jack is waiting for Rose at the stairway with the clock....it basically looks like that! So the hotel is beautiful and definitely worth taking a quick tour for pictures. Anyways, the restaurant also has the same theme which I thought initially required dressy attire, but majority of the customers were casual so it's not considered fine dining. We ordered the normal breakfast entrees where you have a mix of eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, and pancakes. I noticed new potatoes in the food that was brown/purpelish in color...that was my favorite one. I'm thinking it's maybe a taro that's fried...dunno, but it's tasty! Pancakes were good, but I think I like the ones I've tried at Dream Cafe in Dallas better. The eggs, sausage, and bacon are average good....but nothing different or new in flavor to me. I also had the Chicken Tortilla Soup which was not great. It was a tomato based type and I don't like that kind....I actually like the one from Corner Bakery way better haha! Soooo would I come back? Sure, why not... but it's not on my list of best places for breakfast read more

Breakfast was wonderful. This is a great environment, wide menu selection and wonderful service. I really enjoyed the fresh made bagel with smoked salmon. Fantastic combination of flavors. read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery is a nice, less fancy restaurant in the same location as the Driskill. You can either sit on the casual patio on 6th street or in the large interior with a cool view of the bakers at work. I had the Hangover Burger (Black Angus Beef, Cheddar, Brown Sugar & Chili Rub Bacon, Sunny-Side-Up Egg & Crispy Hash Browns, served on a Whole Wheat Bun) and wow, it is as fantastic as it sounds. The Bacon flavor was just awesome, the most memorable bacon I have had in a while and perfectly cooked to a crisp. In fact the overall preparation of my burger was just done exactly right, the hash browns were well seasoned and a sticky clumpy delicious mess. The egg had a perfect yolk that oozed all over the burger. They actually cooked the burger medium as I asked, something that is surprisingly hard to get in Austin. I can't count the number of times I have had a burger over cooked when I ask for it medium or medium rare. Desserts wise I sampled both of their ice creams, the Tahitian Vanilla Bean and the Valrhona Chocolate. Between the two the vanilla bean won but they were both fantastic. I also had their famous 1886 Chocolate Cake. It was moist and delectable sitting in a pool of dark chocolate sauce. Service was not the best but certainly not nearly as bad as some other reviewers have mentioned. I'm guessing service quality may go down when they are really packed but if you go on off hours I think you will have a great experience. read more

It's alright. Every time we go here the waiters are a little too quirky, second guessing our menu choices or making comments about the restaurant's water pitchers. They're dressed so nicely and it's a fancy hotel so it's always surprising. The food is tasty but the last time we ate here my husband and I both felt a little ill later that night. Not sick but just off. Appetizers are the best part of the menu. read more

The historic Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin is a landmark not to be missed. This historic hotel is grand upon entering, reminiscent of hotels of the past - tall pillars, plush sofas, parlor type entryways, and staircases with true presence. Within The Driskill, 1886 Cafe and Bakery can be found with ease as you walk into the main entrance of the hotel. Both outdoor and indoor seating is available. 1886 Cafe and Bakery opened its doors on July 4, 2002 after having its predecessor, "1886 Lunchroom" which served recipes of those members from The Heritage Society who initially saved The Driskill from demolition. My friend and I were greeted and seated immediately inside, a plush booth by the window with history attached indeed. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Particularly for their lunch menu one can find soups and salads, various sandwiches and burgers, as well as flatbread pizzas. Their Griddled Four Cheese Panini ($10.00) is served with a cheesy combination of provolone, white cheddar, Swiss and boursin cheese on sourdough bread. A cup of tomato bisque is served as a perfect dipping soup for your cheese creation! Dessert is a must for anyone dining at 1886. Their warm apple pie ($8.00) is made fresh from Granny Smith Apples baked inside a flaky pastry crust, crunchy oat streusel and served with a scoop of homespun vanilla ice cream. Warm apply pie at its very best! A most perfect lunch in a historic surroundings, dining does not get much better than that! The history which surrounds The Driskill gives a glimpse of going back in time to grander hotels. Service with a smile and fresh made foods, 1886 Cafe and Bakery is a stop for anyone visiting downtown Austin. read more

During the madness of SXSW, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is slip away to actually sit down and have one real meal. For me, sometimes I only end up having one and the rest are grab and go snacks at venues or late night street meat. The Driskill was just down the street from where we were posted up for four days, so I'd been looking forward to treating myself all week when I finally snuck over for some lunch. I had a turkey sandwich on a calorie-splurge of a croissant that was totally worth it. I also had a little salad. The food was wonderfully fresh, and the croissant basically melted in my mouth. Food alone would be 4 or 5 star worthy. And while you should not judge anyone's service during SXSW because it is so crazy, I think what irked me was not the service per se but management who let it work this way. But from the time I was seated until the time a server spoke to me, ten minutes had ticked by. I was in their eye line the entire time, which just doesn't make a person feel good. The man who finally came over and took my order was nice, but that was the last I saw of him, since he was also one of the bartenders and busy making drinks. My food was delivered by the chef (who was lovely) and I was not spoken to again. I finally walked up to the bar to pay my tab. The bartenders had far too many drinks to make to also be waiting cocktail. Again, just blame it on SXSW, but I think next time I'll go to The Grill. Bonus: Bumped into a hotel employee when we both balked at the long line for the downstairs ladies. She showed me upstairs to a beautiful bathroom that was basically vacant. Plenty of room to feel okay about touching up my makeup, changing into my nicer clothes for the evening. I even brushed my teeth, which is a luxury in and of itself when you're working for 18 hours a day in a music venue! read more

I've been to the 1886 Cafe & Bakery (in the Driskill) a few times. Once for lunch, and once for dinner. The name is a bit of a misnomer.... It's much more than a cafe and bakery. They have a full menu and a full bar. Perhaps "1886 Diner" would be more descriptive. The service at 1886 has been great on both occasions. The staff is friendly and fast. I've never had to wait for a table. The food is high quality and fair priced (for a downtown hotel restaurant). Expect to pay between $15-20 per person for most of the menu items. The menu is a mix of traditional Southern and American cuisine. On my most recent trip I had the Hangover Burger. It's a thick patty, with maple bacon, hashbrowns and a fried egg on the top. One of the best burgers I've had in town. The only thing missing from 1886 is draft beer. They have a decent selection of bottles, but nothing is better than straight from the tap. If you want draft you have to hit the bar on the North end of the hotel. read more

Spectacularly bad. Slow, rude servers and mediocre food. From the arrogant hostess to the coffee guy who showed up once at the beginning of our meal, there was not a single employee who made us feel welcome. It's not hard. A smile, a kind word is really all it takes. The food was not great. We left behind an inedible croissant that we'd purchased to go. It took so long to get our check, I didn't bother sending it back. My muffin was so structurally questionable, it was hard to eat. The waiter was myopic, apparently unable to see when we were ready to order, when a water glass had been empty for 10 minutes, when our credit card had been sitting in its check folder on the table while I waited, went to the bathroom, strolled back to the table and still...there it sat. It was hard to leave...because we couldn't get them to take payment. P. S. If you mistake a guest's gender and it becomes obvious, you should apologize. It's the polite thing to do. read more

Since we couldn't afford to STAY at the Driskill, we went there for breakfast! The migas breakfast was delicious and spicy--kind of a deconstructed migas. Spendy but worth it. The service was stellar. Maybe it's a Texas thing, but the service was outstanding. When it was time to go, the waitress asked if we wanted ice teas to-go. Wow! Very thoughtful. read more

Like many other reviewers, I had always heard rave reviews about this little downtown gem but never had the chance to eat here myself. Today I changed that. Today I had a burger that was, by far, one of the best I've had ever. I'd say it could even rival Hopdoddy. Yes, it was THAT good. Where to begin? The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is formal, but relaxed. I loved the giant halls and doorways. Nice open area for seating; there were a few parties there for lunch but it wasn't very loud, which was a relief. Usually places can get quite noisy during the lunch rush. Ok enough, I can't hold off talking about the burger. It was juicy, it was the perfect hand held size, it had HUGE bacon pieces on it. REAL bacon. I mean BACON. But it didn't overpower the rest of the flavors! The cheese (bleu) was perfectly melted and soft. The beef was cooked exactly to order (medium-well), and was so moist and tender, with a hint of pink in the middle. I am almost positive I had a look of shock on my face as I took the first bite. I was expecting it to be decent, but this was absolutely outstanding. Flavorful but not greasy. Soft bun, but golden and slightly crispy. No slathering of sauces or condiments. Perfectly sautéed mushrooms, tender but not soggy. Crispy bacon. Moist beef patty, full of flavor and not charbroiled or charcoal-ed. I mean could you ask for anything more epic in a burger? I think not. Try this place out, at least for the burger. You will be pleasantly surprised at the perfect harmony of flavors in your mouth. I sure was! read more

Absolutely love the Driskill and the history. This was our first time trying The 1886 cafe. We chose to sit outside and it was surprisingly very loud with trucks and traffic going by. That's our own fault tho. The view and weather was nice though. Service (Laura) was very good, as was the good. Standard breakfast menu mostly, with some farm to table items (fruit) but to be honest, in ATX, I would expect more. It's easy to locally source bacon, sausage, produce etc in this town, so why not offer more of it? All in all, worth a stop, but I can think of better breakfast places (south congress café, moonshine) read more

Back for breakfast again after our second stay in the Driskill. This time we tried the Hippie Hollow and Hangover Omelette. Both were very tasty, but the steak and eggs with biscuits and gravy are hard to beat. Also, took a savory croissant to go. That made a great afternoon snack later on. read more

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

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Before moving to Austin I would visit and always eat at 1886. It's a cozy, clean little restaurant in the Driskill Hotel. Food is always fresh and amazing!! My absolute favorites: The Texas waffle for breakfast with a side of their delish bacon! Also, the club sandwich, Texas redfish, and fried chicken!!! Only gripe is the coffee is always so weak and the iced tea is gross (tastes like flavored instant tea, not fresh brew). But, don't let that stop you from eating here because the food is quality and sooo tasty!! read more

The best waffle I've ever had! Perfect amount of fluffiness and crispness along with the blackberry/blueberry sauce on top. I went here 2 days in a row and the waiter already knew my order! Best service ever. read more

Wow, thinking this is the driskill they'd have amazing service. it was horrible. There was no waiter or a hostess to sit for 20 minutes. Because she was to busy socializing with the staff. When she did arrive we were seated to wait for another 20 minutes for a server who took our order wrong. Brought out drinks with something floating in it, took off before i could even mention a word. The waitress took so long to come back. That i finally just fished out whatever was floating in my drink because I was that thirsty. When they brought out the soup, it was the wrong one. Which took longer to replace. So when the manager came over to apologize for all the problelms. He offered to take care of the whole meal and offered a free desert. Most people wouldn't turn down that. But well we did. I asked for the check and paid and left. To never return. That was the first time in my life I've complained about a meal. read more

Stopped in with a couple friends for coffee and a bakery item after the Paramount 5k on Valentine's Day. We were quickly seated and served. Staff was friendly, coffee was great and I got a giant 6$ cinnamon roll that was delicious! read more

1886 Cafe & Bakery - Yummy 6$ cinnamon roll - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I love to take out-of-town visitors to show off the Driskill Hotel, and we often stop in for a late lunch here. On a weekday mid-afternoon, I thought we'd have the place to ourselves, and we pretty much did. Unfortunately, it seems that the waiter wasn't very interested in us. Given that he had no other tables to service, I thought he'd be more attentive. I was also rather astonished to offer my guest a glass of Texas wine, only to discover that the Driskill has none on its menu. My conversation about this with the F&B manager proved unenlightening--they just don't have any, and he didn't know why. Though I will return to the Driskill to show visitors its architectural splendor, we will eat elsewhere. read more

What a great and beautiful place for breakfast! We had to wait around 15 minutes for a table, but it was for sure worth it. I decided to get the salmon and bagel, while my boyfriend ham, eggs and potatoes. Everything was so delicious - right down to the bread and jam that was brought out as a side. The jam was made of blackberries that weren't fully smashed up so you get a nice bite of juicy jam. Our server was WONDERFUL. Very attentive and completely friendly - even though he had multiple other tables to attend to. His name was Mike. Will definetly be coming back in the future when we visit Austin again. read more