Italian restaurant Poeta found fast success when it opened in late 2023. Coming from Krystal Craig and Ian Thurwachter, the duo behind Intero, it was met with high expectations and even still exceeded them. So its sudden and confusing closure in February of 2025 was a surprise and a disappointment to many locals.
It hasn't spent long in limbo, announcing in a March press release that it has already found a new space at 3012 Gonzales St. It'll reopen this spring.
Optimistically, fans could consider this the same neighborhood, since it remains in East Austin. For the more exacting, it's about a mile and half from its original location at the Frances Modern Inn on East 11th Street, just a few blocks from I-35. It'll now occupy a more residential space in the Govalle neighborhood.
The 1930s home most recently belonged to Swoop House, a supper club and event space that took advantage of the property's well-manicured lawn, holding multi-course dinners that looked like they took place at botanical garden. Fans of Swoop House have more to look forward to when Poeta moves in, since Craig and Thurwatcher are teaming up with 2 Dine 4 Hospitality — the team behind Swoop's catering — and its founder and owner Stephen Shallcross in transitioning the space.
“We’re happy to share that Poeta is reopening in a beautifully designed new location within a few weeks!" said Craig and Thurwatcher in the release. "We look forward to everyone experiencing the same thoughtfully prepared food, and warm hospitality you know and love—now with more gardens to roam and great on-site parking. We look forward to welcoming you to Poeta’s new home.”
It's a big change from the retro, urban interior that inspired Texas Monthly writers when tossing the restaurant an honorable mention on their 2025 best new restaurants list.
The write-up praised Poeta's "Italian standards [with] a generous dollop of inventiveness" after describing the design.
Poeta also won Best New Restaurant at the CultureMap Austin Tastemaker Awards in 2024. Notably, this is a fan-voted category where the Italian restaurant beat 15 other nominees in a bracket-style competition.
"This honor is far more than an award; it is a reflection of the passion, creativity, and dedication that our incredible team pours into every detail," said the restaurant's gracious announcement on Instagram. "From the visionary designers who crafted our beautiful space to the talented chefs and staff who bring Poeta to life every day, this win is yours. A huge thank you to our fellow nominees, who inspire us daily with their culinary artistry, and to the vibrant community of Austin for embracing and supporting us."
Part of the initial draw at Poeta was the all-day menu, but this new iteration is starting with condense service: dinner, desserts, and drinks from Thursdays through Sundays. The release does not mention the gelato truck, Piccola Gelateria, that was added in July of 2024. However, the restaurant's social media account did react to an Instagram comment about it with dutiful saluting emojis, so it seems it won't be far behind.
The release promises "additional details in the coming weeks."
