We went to Hamilton Pool Vineyards after we went hiking at Westcave Nature Preserve. We ordered the…read moreCharcuterie and Hummus Platter. The food was very affordable and didn't stand out, but for the value, it was standard (price met the food expectation). I highly recommend ordering the Gold Buckle - bourbon barrel aged red blend and to skip the cider.

Hamilton Pool Vineyards is located at the former home of Westcave Cellars, whose owners took their…read morebusiness to the Johnson City area in 2020. So this is a relatively new business. Our party of two spent a couple of hours in the shady outdoor seating area, where we and quite a few others enjoyed perfect temperatures and some interesting wines. We chose to share a sampling of 6 different wines, some locally produced by Westcave and others bottled elsewhere. We ordered a Salumi board (similar to a charcuterie plate). It included several cheeses, 2 meat varieties, pickled red onions, beets, a bit of cucumber, grapes, and dates. This was not really as described in the menu, nor was there an assortment of crackers. The few water crackers that were included on a separate plate were stale and soggy, and we should have sent them back. But there appeared to be only 2 people running the show that day, so we were mindful of the situation and more tolerant. The location of this winery is lovely. We saw cows, a calf, and a longhorn in addition to sheep. The building looks new and is nice inside, and those working there are friendly. The vineyards did not appear to be well tended. I wish I could rate this place higher, and I am hoping for improvements over time.

So glad we finally decided to go to Doc's and we will for sure go back again!…read moreEasy to buy tickets online and there were staff present when we arrived to make sure we knew where to park. There are lots of options for food- they have a concession stand there with hot dogs, snacks, candy and popcorn and such. There is also a food truck you can order from. We got food from both and were pleasantly surprised at the fair prices, portions and taste. My husband also went to the bar/speakeasy and said it was a really cool spot with lots of beverage options. We brought blankets and pillows for the kids in the back of the truck and then some chairs for us. We had plenty of space and it was a perfect night. Such a fun, nostalgic activity for kids and adults alike!!

Went for the first time for their murder and mystery event at their speakeasy. The speakeasy is…read morevery cool. The hidden entrance and decor is awesome. The people who took our tickets were both really friendly. The African American bartender was really friendly too but the blonde just seemed like she didn't want be there. Either that or she just doesn't smile in life. We had a really good time playing the murder and mystery game even though there were some hiccups, they had to keep taking small breaks throughout the game to fix things. It was their first one though so I get that they are working out the kinks. I definitely want to come back once they have done the game a few times and really have it nailed down. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because I think we were legit ripped off by the bartender. My husband had one old fashioned for $15 and 3 canned beers for $3 each. I had one dirty martini, one Moscow mule and 3 glasses of Pinot noir and our bill , which wasn't presented itemized , came back as $150 which was $170 with tip. The math just doesn't make sense. Plus , the pours were really meh. Especially the wine she barely poured me a full glass. They really need to improve the pours if they are somehow charging $20 a pop for each drink, either that or the bartender really did rip us off. Shame too as other than that experience this please was amazing!

We had an amazing time at this little winery. The service was great. Our kids enjoyed playing…read morearound the grounds while we did a couple of tastings. Their Christmas Cuvée? Was delicious. Definitely coming back!

Parking - plenty and a private lot. But a bit off road (lol don't bring a low car unless you get…read morelucky with paved parking). Service - we have been here about 4-5 times, but service has never been too great or too friendly. The bar on the beer side is always pleasant but the tasting bar side always has a bit of a tiny rude vibe - and I don't mention it ever but I'm in the wine industry and we don't see this normally. Also tonight we were asked to move to a different table as they didn't prepare for a Harry Potter event ahead of time just as we settled in after a rough day (and our young pup finally chilled out). It felt we were being pushed out and the other table was by the window/door that was glass so I was cold. My senior mom was cold after we had found a great spot that was warm for her. Live music tonight was also quite off - I wouldn't suggest this place anymore. I'm not sure if in the last year it has gone down hill but it's no longer worth the drive for a mediocre experience. They gave many potential beautiful spaces but they don't utilize them, nor update them, so the vibe is just outdated. No music on the speakers can be heard when there isn't live music. So sorry to not write the best review here but it's honest.

We've visited this winery twice to try their tasting menu. Both times, the staff have been very…read morekind and helpful and it's been a great experience. We came as part of a larger tour across multiple Driftwood area wineries with reservations for their tastings. They have a set tasting menu and a staff member will guide you through each of the pours with explanations of the flavor profiles. On our last visit it was a mix of whites, reds and a sweet wine at the end. The pours are generous and all their wines have tasted great. You can order some snacks like a charcuterie plate on the side. The space is beautiful and I've heard they have a venue on the estate for hosting parties or weddings. They have a beautiful outdoor garden that makes for gorgeous photos or relaxing outside. Check this spot out on your next Austin area winery tour!

The winery is lovely. The people are really nice. We showed up for our wine tasting appointment and…read morewas told they did not have it, in fact had no tastings at that time. Luckily my sister had the reservation email to show them because the girl just kept repeating the same thing until someone senior came by to help us. The wine was tasty but the tasting itself was only moderately enjoyable. The main reason was the tasting was 30-40 minutes long and we just had to stand at a counter. We couldn't order food at the counter either. We are used to tastings being at a table where we do the tasting, order bottles we enjoyed while noshing on food from the menu. Standing for 40 minutes at a counter was not expected or enjoyable. One of our family members has a disability and is unable to stand that long so he and my husband sat outside while the ladies did the wine tasting inside at the counter. It was really disappointing as the expectation was a nice afternoon at the winery with the group and it ended up being two separate groups and standing the whole time at a counter wasn't enjoyable. The wine was good. We brought two bottles home. The experience left a lot to be desired.

This was my first year checking out Maifest at Saengerrunde Hall. It will not be my last. We…read morearrived around 6:15pm and got our cups and tickets for beer tasting. $25 in advance, 10 tastes, live music and merriment. The schedule said beer tasting only lasted until 7pm and then an after party through 11pm. So we headed inside to get a few tastes before they shut it down. They had a really nice assortment of local brews, plenty of hefeweizens and other German style beers. A taste was probably about 6-8oz. After about 3 tastes, we decided to go outside and grab some food from the Smokey Denmark which was on site serving up some delicious sausages and boudin, well worth it! I am definitely going to have to hit up their trailer proper sometime. Then we went back inside and around 6:35pm-ish all of the beer vendors started closing their tastings. Which made us sad since the hubs and I each had about 7 more tastes left to redeem. We got some conflicting guidance from the workers some of whom said the beer tasting was over and some of whom said they would reopen it outside again later. We were worried but hopeful, and boy am I glad that we stayed. Around 7:15, the indoor hall reopened with the Czech Melody Makers playing and the beer tasting back open at one end of the venue. There was also a very fancy spread of food set up, but it was restricted to VIP badges at first. The pours were generous, the choirs sang Germans songs, we sand along with our lyric sheets as best we could, and we made new friends. Around 8:45 p.m. or so the VIP food spread opened up to everyone, so as not to let any of the goodies go to waste. I enjoyed a fried pickle/sausage concoction as well as some divine fried cheesecake bites from that spread. This was like a smaller more intimate Wurstfest. And I liked it better for that. Next year I will come earlier and stay later at this hidden gem of a party. Plan ahead and buy your tickets in advance because they sold out this year. Prost!

Woohoo! What a great event! Thank you Yelp for being enablers! I kid, I kid…read more No better way to spend a sizzling saturday afternoon, than drinking some beer, listening to weird german fusion music, eating a pretzel, while surronded by people wearing lederhosens! The venue itself is a historical dance hall, whose name I can't pronounce to save my life. It is however located right next to Scholtz Garten (which I can pronounce). Thanks to everyone supplying the beers (Hops and Grain, LIve Oak, Austin Beerworks, and many more), thanks to bands such as Los Kolaches for supplying us with interesting music. And last and not the least, Yelp, for giving us the opportunity to go to such a great event!

I was in charge of hosting a fall company event for my work and I chose the Dripping Springs…read morePumpkin Festival. What intrigued me was that there were so many activities occurring at once for all ages. The company work event was not just for the adults, but also for kids and elders. Entry fee was $15 for ages 4 and up. $0 for babies 0-3, and $0 for elders 65 and older. The entry fee was reasonable for all of the activities that the festival had to offer but some activities had an additional fee. There was a little train ride, a petting zoo, and numerous vendors selling clothes, jewelry, etc. My team loved the food and drink options, my favorite was Pecos Petes! They sold a massive mug/cup for $25 and allowed refills all day. Pecos Petes had a selection of root beers, teas, and lemonade. The cup was a very cute memento as the back of it had the Dripping Springs pumpkin festival on it. There were swings and a talented bubble artist who kept the kids entertained for hours! The pumpkin festival was filled with numerous photo-ops for families and friends. My favorite was the horseshoe toss along with the lasso toss! Overall, we had a great company party, it was nice to be in such a festive environment. I am glad that parts of the festival had trees and tents to provide shade as it got pretty hot out there. A downside was the parking. On the website, they do stress that the parking is an issue and they even offer coupon codes for ride shares, so at least they are trying to make the public aware.

Very impressed with the pumpkin festival!…read more We have three kids that range from 4yrs to 8yr and 10yrs. While our youngest was on the rides and swings, our older boys could play patch pong and football next by. There were so many activities for all ages. They even had this kernel pit where they could all play. My son who is on the spectrum loved it. There is also a throwing ax spot that also has soccer balls so they loved kicking those too on the bull's eye. Then there was a feeding birds and feeding goats section. So much to do and we didn't even do it all. There was also a craft market and food trucks. Such a nice setup. And later in the day there is music and shows which we missed. There are a bunch of spots to take photos with skeletons and lots of pumpkins and gourds to buy at reasonable prices. You pay $15 to enter and parking is free. Then you pay for certain things like train ride, face painting and animal feed which our youngest wanted. All in all a great experience and our kids said they loved it - unprompted.

More like Austin Booze & Wine it seems like each year this festival becomes more and more spirit…read moreand wine forward rather than food focused which is disappointing. A lot of food vendors ran out before even halfway through the festival, and there were probably four to one wine versus food throughout the main area. There was another area near the fire pits that only had a few food offerings but all liquor vendor brand activations which meant (surprise, surprise) by the time that we left at 4pm (an hour before close) people were spilling their drinks on my shoes and trying to chat completely wasted. Ugh. No thanks. Maybe I would try the Friday night event next year, which seems to be more food focused, but I will not do the Saturday or Sunday thing again. Lots of other higher quality food events and many at a lower price point.

This is literally the best festival that Austin has. It is worth every penny. This is my fifth year…read moreattending and it never disappoints. Each day you get to taste a ton of different food and drinks. Every day they will have the same drink vendors, but they do change the food vendors. So it is worth getting the two day ticket, especially the price. Just makes it more worth it than paying just for one day. The DJ they have is amazing. They have had them for God knows how many years now. He puts on such a fun vibe. At the end of the festival, everybody gathers around him and it's just mingling and having fun and dancing and drinking. Definitely everybody that comes to this event is just so happy and sociable.

These run every other week through the summer on the back porch of the Sunset Valley City Hall…read more(just behind Berger center). The setting was intimate... maybe 75 people. Albert & Gage Band were phenomenal... a little bit country, gospel, bluegrass, some French mixed in... what can I say, very Austin. We brought a picnic and sat on the lawn, chilled to music as the sun went down and a light breeze blew. They do provide about 50 chairs, a half a dozen porch swings, ice water and use of the indoor city hall facilities. This is a great way to spend a Sunday evening and the cost - can't beat it - FREE! Check the schedule: http://www.sunsetvalley.org Click on: Community Events and Services. Select: Events