Date Night

Sex and the Capital City: Austin's top spring date spots

As I mentioned a few columns ago, I’ve joined the ranks of coupledom, forgoing my Friday nights of couch time for romantic dinners and date nights. And with spring finally sprung, there’s no better time than the present to get out and about and enjoy the weather while it lasts.

And while I’m certainly no overnight expert on the matter, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite sweet spots for a night with your special someone. You know, before the heat prevents you from standing any closer than three-feet apart.

Justine’s Brasserie

Twinkle lights, French cuisine, and jazz. What’s not to like? This East Austin spot is a hotbed of weekend activity, but its romantic nature makes it perfect for some canoodling in the corner booth. Or something that sounds less vomit-inducing…

Perla’s

Another romantic patio, smack dab in the middle of the SoCo bustle. Enjoy seafood at its freshest, while sipping cocktails like the lemon gypsy and The Passenger. A known aphrodisiac, oysters are the perfect way to kick off this meal, which are available at $0.50 during happy hour.

Hotel San Jose

Once you’ve wrapped up your dreamy seafood date, head on over to the bar at Hotel San Jose, where you can enjoy some of the city’s most refreshing libations from the comfort of a poolside bungalow. Enjoy the Tinto de Verano, a surprisingly delicious concoction that combines red wine with tangerine soda. Plus, there’s a high likelihood that you and your special someone will rub elbows with one of Austin’s visiting celebrities.

Uchiko

There’s something great about a date at the sushi bar — chatting with each other and witnessing sushi mastery. With a slew of friendly chefs behind the knives, you’ll not only eat a great meal, but maybe even make a new friend while you’re at it. Ask for Wantu. He’s the best.

Contigo

Another patio! It’s beyond important to soak up the sweat-free sun while we can, and Contigo couldn’t be a better place to do it. While this isn’t a spot for the meat-phobic, it’s the perfect place for sampling small plates with your sweetheart. Wait for a table under a cozy blanket, while you enjoy one of the finest Old Fashioneds Austin has to offer.

Bonus: Mozart’s Coffee House

This is a throwback to my high school self. Not feeling intimate enough for a dinner date? Casual coffee is the way to go, and Mozart’s outdoor setting is the perfect scenario. Break the ice over some iced coffee, from the picnic tables that line Lake Austin.

Justine's.

Photo by Mark Herron

Justine's.

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Self-driving Roller Coaster

More self-driving cars expected to roll out in Austin for 2025

Photo courtesy of Waymo via KVUE

Various brands offering self-driving cars are on-and-off in Austin.

Expect to see more self-driving rideshare vehicles, also known as robotaxis, on Austin roads next year.

Robotaxi company Waymo, which you may have already seen on Austin's roads, is partnering with Uber. At some point next year, customers will be able to use the Uber app to call a self-driving ride.

Austin-based company Avride is in the testing phase and plans to roll out its robotaxis next year.

Currently, Volkswagen ADMT and Amazon's Zoox are in the testing phase in Austin, while Hyundai's Motional is in the mapping phase.

Last year, robotaxi company Cruise paused operations in Austin after the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the company's permits to operate driverless vehicles in the state. And last week, General Motors said it would no longer fund the company because of the time and resources needed.

This way of getting around has come with its safety concerns and issues. The city is tracking those concerns. According to the Transportation Department, the problems span from blocking the roads and parking in front of people's homes for weeks with lights beaming through their windows, to actual wrecks.

Since July 2023, robotaxis have been involved in 75 incidents. Only 21 of those incidents happened in 2024. It's important to note that Cruise has not been operating in Austin this year.

Since July 2023, driverless rideshare vehicles have been involved in 22 near collisions, eight collisions and seven instances where driverless taxis ignored directions from the Austin Police Department (APD).

According to the data, at least four of those Austin police incidents happened in recent months. The issues varied from driving through police checkpoints, to malfunctioning and getting stuck at an APD road closure near pedestrians, causing safety concerns.

A Waymo spokesperson said their vehicles have gesture recognition capabilities, which they've been training APD officers on using.

As the report shows, sometimes it does not work and Waymo said it is working to improve that. The spokesperson said that as of just last week, Waymo's First Responder Program has been independently verified by TÜV SÜD, making Waymo the first autonomous vehicle (AV) company to receive third-party validation for our emergency response protocols. They also said the data to date indicates the Waymo Driver is already reducing traffic injuries and fatalities in the places where the company currently operates.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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