In addition to the lakefront views, residents of Vineyard Bay also enjoy plenty of convenient high-end shopping. The newly developed Hill Country Galleria, about 10 minutes from home, offers over 100 stores and 24 national and local restaurants.
Hill Country Galleria hosts Doncaster, a retail destination for anyone who values exclusive, runway-inspired fashions fresh from New York. Men enjoy Gatsby’s menswear where they find timeless, yet fashion-forward clothing from designers such as Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Remy Leather and Thomas Dean.
Luxurious Shopping at The Domain and Organic Groceries from Whole Foods
Those looking for an even greater variety of upscale shopping can head to one of Austin’s most prestigious shopping districts, The Domain — only about 30 minutes away. There are several shopping centers closer to home, but none offer The Domain’s splendidly luxurious experience. A beautiful 1,300,000-square-foot upscale outdoor shopping mall, The Domain features 100 stores, including high-end retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co and Barneys. For shoppers who want to take a break from shopping, The Domain also has a variety of popular restaurants including Maggiano’s Little Italy, McCormick & Schmicks, NoRTH and the Daily Grill.
And to keep their refrigerators and pantries well stocked, residents make the 10-minute trip to Whole Foods Market at the Hill Country Galleria. Whole Foods Market offers fresh, organic and all-natural grocery products as well as delicious, healthful, and freshly prepared foods.
Caribbean-Inspired Cuisine, Tex-Mex Comfort Food and Good Old-Fashioned Burgers
Vineyard Bay is nestled next to a growing restaurant scene, with top talent from Austin opening restaurants in the area such as Cafe Blue, with its Caribbean-inspired menu, and Fore, offering unique takes on American classics that the whole family will enjoy. An ample and distinctive variety of both casual and fine dining is available to Lakeway area residents with over 30 established local restaurants and the continued growth of new places. From relatively recent openings of the acclaimed Fore, Santa Catarina and Sobani, to established local favorites like Flores Mexican Restaurant, Pao’s Mandarin House, or Sandy’s Hamburger Hut, it seems there’s a local restaurant to please almost everyone in Lakeway.
Delicious Beef Bourguignon and Tempting Apple Tarts
For a fancy but unstuffy meal of fantastically prepared classical French dishes, there’s nowhere else in Lakeway like Artisan Bistro. Artisan Bistro is a traditional bistro serving much in the style you might find in Rouen, France. The menu is far from extensive; instead it is brilliantly concise. Regular diners at Artisan Bistro often mention the Duck Confit as being particularly good, but it’s hard to find someone who won’t rave about the lamb Provencal, the delicious beef Bourguignon or any of the other entrees. The pastries elicit the same sort of overwhelming praise as does the rest of the menu — perhaps most especially the crème brûlée and apple tart. In addition to the wonderful dishes at the restaurant, Chef d’Andrea also operates a bakery from the same space.
Exotic Game Prepared with Unforgettable Texas Flavor
Hudson’s on the Bend, just a few minutes from home, is a critically acclaimed fine dining restaurant famous for serving premium, locally sourced ingredients and adventuresome, inventive dishes featuring wild game. Freshly caught game and the best produce and dairy from local farms and ranches is expertly prepared for a truly distinctive and unforgettable Texas flavor. In addition to steaks and seafood, some dishes include bison, boar, quail, alligator, frog, and other rarely seen proteins. Many diners recommend the rattlesnake cake appetizer — something like a crab cake, but with an interesting twist.
Bistro-Style Dining with a View of Lake Travis
For a luxurious evening, many residents choose Cafe Soleil, a bistro-style restaurant with perfect atmosphere and breathtaking view of Lake Travis. Frequent diners often start with Cafe Soleil’s signature crab cakes served with a sweet and savory pineapple ginger slaw and agrodolce — a sort of Italian version of a gastrique. For entrees, there are both fish and farm delicacies to choose from. The espresso-glazed center cut beef filet served with green chili mashed potatoes and braised mushrooms never disappoints.