Editor's note: This week's top Austin news is chock-full of happenings in the local restaurant scene. An Austin taco shop and Austin-born bourbon garner national acclaim, and a Lake Austin cafe lights up for the holidays. Plus, an exciting eatery plans its Austin debut, and a farmers market favorite returns to its roots. Read the hottest headlines of the week below, and then find some holiday fun for the weekend here.
1. Aba's sister eatery and a surprising Chinese closure jolt Austin food news. Big restaurant news surfaced at the end of last week, including famous restaurant Aba's new sister eatery, Zoé Tong's surprising closure, and a new shop from the folks at Small Victory.
2. Austin taco truck nabs spot on New York Times best dishes of 2024 list. Austin taco truck Paprika earns praise for its freshly made salsas and next-level brisket.
3. Austin cafe Mozart's adds luxe igloos to its sprawling light festival. Put this on your bucket list for a very festive VIP holiday experience.
Euro Igloos are decked out and cozy, providing a refuge for up to 10 guests.
Photo from Mozart's Coffee Roasters Facebook Page
4. Still Austin bourbon named one of the top 10 whiskies of 2024. Still Austin's five-year Red Corn Bourbon ranks No. 7 on Whisky Advocate's annual list, scoring 94 points.
5. Homey Austin jam and bake shop closing and returning to farmers market. In bittersweet news, Confituras is closing its jam and biscuit shop after service on Sunday, December 22.