Long regarded as a cozy little town most widely revered for its exceptional antiquing, historical connection to the Civil War, and close proximity to Austin, Fredericksburg’s popularity as a destination has exploded over the last five to eight years, so much so that it’s been recently referred to as “the new Aspen.” And with an official town slogan like “Texas Heart. German Soul,” it’s easy to see why so many people are drawn to the city—especially when you put that slogan into architectural, cultural, and most of all, culinary context. Texas has officially entered the epicurean travel chat, y’all, and the delicious discourse is currently shining a high-beam spotlight on Fredericksburg. Known formerly just for its German-influenced food scene, this small town—affectionately known by locals as “Fred”—is establishing itself as a hidden-gem culinary and vino tourism mecca. Flaunting restaurants with Colombian, French, Venezuelan, Italian, Thai, and Japanese influences, “Hill Country” fare, artisan cocktails, hard-to-find Champagnes, and world-class wines from local vineyards, this town is definitively destination dining.
Best Places to Eat, Drink, and Explore
Best Bar: Six Twists Sparkling
This Champagne bar’s inventory of both accessible and hard-to-acquirein-the-US Champagne and sparkling wine producers from around the globe is outstanding, as are the multiple flight options. Food isn’t an afterthought, with a menu of Champagne pairing-perfect items including caviar, conservas, and charcuterie.
Best Brunch: Fredericksburg Brunch Co.
When it comes to the brunch lifestyle, FBC is making midmorning meals interesting again with classic plates, culturally inspired touches, and creative dishes. An impossibly fluffy French omelet topped with caviar, eggs royale with smoked salmon and hollandaise, a juicy burger slathered with peach and pepper jam with goat cheese, and escargot as a brunch starter? Yes, please.
Best Elevated Hill Country Cuisine: Cabernet Grill
Cabernet Grill shares an epicurean POV on high-quality, local, seasonal ingredients to showcase an amalgam of German, Czech, Tex-Mex, and Southern flavors with quintessential Texan flair. Chicken-fried deviled eggs, jumbo lump crab au gratin, a lobster-topped chicken-fried rib-eye with green chile gravy, and the lion’s mane “Magic Mushroom” topped with bone marrow butter are all standouts.
Best Michelin-level Dining: The Restaurant at Albert
Find seasonal sumptuousness from founder of Michelin-starred Olamaie and three-time James Beard Best Chef finalist Michael Fojtasek, who’s serving up lush, innovative plates like venison schnitzel, smoked mushroom gravy and grits, and roasted fish with smoked trout roe and fennel. The cocktail program keeps creative pace with drinks like the Dive martini, made with gin, herbal Italicus liqueur, and Lillet Blanc, that offers a silky, floral, citrusy, bittersweet punch.
Best Texas Gourmet Fusion: Hill & Vine
This is the spot for those craving wildly creative riffs on standard dishes. Burrata is given a “con Tejas” treatment with chile-infused Texas olive oil, aged balsamic, olive pico, blue agave sriracha tomato compote, and basil pesto, delivering razzle-dazzle to your tastebuds. Then there’s the cornbread crust Hill Country quiche; juicy brisket albondigas; and, in a clever Germanic nod, the chicken schnitzel and waffles.
Best Food-Focused Winery Experience: William Chris Winery
William Chris Winery naming a tasting experience the “chef’s table” says everything. This gourmet four-course tasting of exceptional wines and skillfully prepared chef-driven bites begins with a glass of welcome bubbles, followed by combos like seared quail atop a silky carrot puree paired with the 2020 “La Pradera” Reserve red blend, and melon gazpacho with a 2024 sauvignon blanc.
Best Wine Pairing: Texas Wine Collective
Texas Wine Collective’s uniqueness lies in both the fact that guests have the opportunity to sample wines from three renowned Texas Wineries (Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars) in their cool pairing experiences, which include Bread & Wine, Fair Fare & Wine (think corn dogs and funnel cakes), and Holiday Treats & Wine.
Claim to Fame
Renowned for its roots in Germanic heritage and architecture—plus peach orchards!—Fredericksburg has further carved out a name for itself as Texas Wine Country’s vibrant epicenter. It makes sense, then, that the town also hosts a bevy of food and wine fests such as the Stonewall Peach Jamboree, the Crawfish Festival, Oktoberfest, the all-you-can-eat sausage BestFest, and the epic Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival that features programming like a black tie barbecue, tacos and tequila event, a waterfront brunch, a grand tasting, and the super popular street dinner, where streets in downtown are closed off for dining under the stars.
Where to Shop
It’s impossible not to be mesmerized by Auer Haus’ well-curated cache of distinctive rugs, chandeliers, artwork, luxe barware, vintage and artisan objects, and custom-built furniture from small American factories. Owner Shelly Mazurek’s design ethos is to enable clients to create stylish, lush spaces from things “you can’t easily find on the internet,” with a bit of tasteful Texas flair to boot.
This boutique market is must-stop shopping for curated culinary indulgences like imported French butter, heirloom beans, lavender maple syrup, honey clover gouda, salumi, and gourmet snacks. There are rare cookbooks and artisan candles great for gifting, too. Better still, order one of the housemade sandwiches, get some gelato, grab a bottle of house label wine, and sit out in the private courtyard for a leisurely lunch.
Ladies looking to indulge their inner Texas cowgirl will feel right at home at Loca on Main. Think bohemian-Southwest flourishes for your wardrobe like the perfect pair of Texas-style cowboy boots, bold silver and turquoise jewelry, custom cowboy hats, and leather handbags with ornate detailed stitching.
Where to Stay
Relaxed and unpretentious luxury with a major dose of Texas hospitality, Albert Hotel’s amenities are everything you could ask for. Twice-daily housekeeping? Check. Turn down service? Check. Built-in window reading nooks with books provided? Check. A complimentary glass of wine at a nearby tasting room? Check. Full service luxe spa? Of course, y’all. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s the perfect property for food lovers, too. In addition to The Restaurant, Albert also features Junebug’s barbecue, The Pharmacy for grabbing a quick coffee and pastry before hitting the winery trail, and The Saloon for a late-ish nightcap and snack before drifting off to blissful sleep in the hotel’s plush, comfy beds.
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