We had a reservation at 5pm on a Sunday. There was no one there so we had the place to ourselves…read more The location is about 40 minutes from downtown. It is serene and peaceful. I had a wine tasting with three different glasses of wine. The chicken empanadas were delicious with their red sauce. We also had the sausage. I had steak with rosemary potatoes. The steak was flavorful, the chimichurri was vibrant, and the portions were large. The potatoes were perfectly cooked and seasoned. My partner had the carrots, which were also tasty with a slight smoky flavor. We had the dulce de leche cheesecake as well. It was very delicious. Our server was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely return to El Gaucho.

Loved the winery! It's such a cool place. All the wine from the tasting was delicious. Mark was…read morekind and helpful with walking us through the menu. We also tried the ribeye and it was top tier. I will be back.

This is a beautiful venue. It is completely DIY so you can make it what you want it to be. Our…read moredaughter's wedding was on a perfect day in November and we couldn't have asked for a more lovely evening under the twinkling lights. The cottages you can rent are really cozy and welcoming too. Mark, the owner, is especially helpful and does everything he can to help make your event a success. Thanks, Mark!!

This place is a unique hidden gem in the Hill County. There are some really nice properties that…read moreyou can rent on AirBnb, and there are also some beautiful walks and trails to explore. The owner is very friendly and accommodating, and you can even catch some live events here from time to time. Overall, it's a great place to visit if you're looking for a peaceful and enjoyable stay.

Beautiful spot out in Hill country, but not too far from Austin City Center. There's a cute creek…read morewith a fountain so the ambience is really lovely for some wine tasting in the afternoon. When we went, it was in the middle of the day on a Monday so they did seem a little shortstaffed. However, the woman working was extremely nice and was able to guide us through our tasting very well. The wines were- in our subjective opinion- a bit hit or miss. Some of the wines were good, some were bland. If you enjoy full bodied wines stick with their vintage and pay for the upgrade wine tasting experience. Or I would even recommend just buying a bottle/ glass of their Tempranillo.

This was a great hidden gem on our way to the lake. Their grounds are gorgeous with grapevines as a…read morebackdrop. Their is plenty of space to bring your dogs and they have card games you can enjoy while you relax with a glass of wine. The staff is very nice and attentive. They have 2 different tasting options so we tried one of each. Both were good. There was one wine on each list we weren't a fan of, but overall were pleased with the selections. Our favorites were the Sammie's Sparkling and 2018 and 2020 Good Guy. The charcuterie board is a great deal with an assortment of cheeses and dried fruit. A great accompinament with a glass of wine. We will definitely be coming back!

A beautiful venue for our fundraiser! The property is so beautiful - Hill Country at its' finest!…read moreIt was such a magical venue and a true gem! Sandie & Joe are lovely hosts and worked to make our event successful! I'd highly recommend having an event at Mystic Sky Ranch!

What a great place to stay and unwind. The property with its fabulous pool with outdoor kitchen,…read morethe sauna, the bocce court and well appointed casitas were more than we could have asked for. The owners Joe and Sandie were just so accommodating and easily accessible. They provided us with relevant info to make our stay in the Hill Country the very best time. In addition to the warm morning muffin and the great fruit parfait delivered by their granddaughters, we enjoyed walking the grounds and exploring its history.....oh did I mention the goats? If your looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle, look no further.

We were genuinely excited about the possibility of having our wedding at The Retreat. The setting…read moreis beautiful, and at first glance, it seemed like a great fit. Unfortunately, the experience ended up being incredibly frustrating and disappointing. We had a simple but important request: to have outside kosher food for a small number of guests who keep strict dietary laws. We weren't asking to forgo their catering--just to bring in meals to accommodate religious needs. The venue refused outright, claiming "insurance restrictions," yet they offered no explanation of those restrictions, and no willingness to explore reasonable workarounds like guest waivers, additional insurance, or even discussing the options the caterer presented like naming them on their own insurance. We felt like we presented many creative and reasonable solutions that absolved them of liability and there was no legitimate reason to not move forward. Worse, we were consistently treated like an inconvenience. Messages and emails were ignored for days or weeks at a time--if they responded at all. We were never given the sense that they valued us as potential clients or were interested in helping us create a meaningful, inclusive event. This experience left us feeling dismissed and disrespected. If you're planning a wedding with any religious, cultural, or dietary considerations--or if you just expect professionalism and responsiveness--this may not be the right venue for you.

Animal lovers - beware!! They have this Scarlet Macaw (a huge parrot) imprisoned by itself in a…read moretiny cage that is not even big enough to open its wings. The bird has bouts of anger (can you blame it? It has been in a very small space for many years by itself) and looks very unhappy. For a place that cares so much about being in close contact with nature, keeping a majestic animal like a Scarlet Macaw in such condition is disappointing to say the least.

Great place for a getaway, you can see the river from the tent and it was an over all cozy fun…read morestay! Will definitely be back.

Wedding venue of my dreams. If you are looking for a venue where you have to do minimal touches…read morebecause the venue itself in its natural state is already so beautiful, then you've found it. Every detail of this place is absolutely gorgeous. My husband and I were married here in April 2024 and we seriously talk about this venue and all of its magic at least once a week since then. We wanted to have a small intimate gathering that had a very organic look. In the spring, this place really comes to life, the birds, the butterflies, the way the light shines through the windows in La Casa De Joy, everything felt like a fairytale. The venue is tucked away in a sweet lakeside neighborhood as well so the drive there in the spring is country roads lined with wildflowers and bluebonnets which was an added plus. We rented the entire venue and had some guests stay in the other houses on the property while we stayed in La Casa De Joy and everyone absolutely loved it. We heard nothing but positive things from every guest. Such a unique venue. Not to mention, Travis, the property manager was an absolute delight to work with. Really so so kind and understanding of our wants and needs and was truly there to answer any questions we had. We will definitely be coming back to relive our wedding day each year with a stay at La Casa De Joy. Truly such a gem of an experience. My highest recommendations to anyone looking to relax, reconnect, breathe and just be present. Go to this place!!

Just Beautiful! It's so quiet and peaceful here. The place…read moreis very well maintained, the owners are really friendly and helpful, the food is excellent, plus..it's only 10 minutes from town. Highly recommend this place. We will be back.

My wife and I stayed here on our 26 wedding anniversary. The grounds are fabulous and the view of…read morethe lake is spectacular. We only stayed one night as we were on our way to see our daughter in Austin. We would have stayed longer if not for that. Andy, one of the proprietors, was extremely helpful. My wife and I wanted a nice place to have dinner and Andy made some great recommendations and called in the reservation once we decided. There was no wifi while we were there, but this is not the kind of place you should be on wifi. The backyard with the chairs and swings beckons you to sit back, enjoy the view, and decompress.

What a lovely place to enjoy time with family and friends! 8 of us spent my 50th birthday here and…read moreloved every second of it. A real Texas experience with Buddy and Charmin, the longhorn steer. As an extra surprise, the beautiful Lisa had a nice bottle of bubbles chilled for us upon arrival. Get out of the city and visit!

From the owner: From wedding ceremonies and receptions to bridal showers, yoga retreats, art shows, rehearsal…read moredinners, anniversary parties, and photo shoots, Vista View Ranch offers a combination of areas, and spectacular surroundings: breathtaking Texas Hill Country views and our ranch is available year-round. Your celebration will be packed with memories to last a lifetime. We look forward to being part of your special day! Do your heart and mind a favor! Let nature calm your heart and ease your mind when you stay at Vista View Ranch. Built in 2004 Vista View Ranch sits on 11.26 acres of gorgeous rolling land with great views of the majestic Texas Hill Country. Beautiful post oak and live oak trees abound on the property. The ranch has a good amount of White-Tailed deer, Red Foxes and Jack Rabbits, 4 Texas longhorns, other Texas Hill Country birds and animals. Vista View Ranch is a secluded luxury ranch resort located just north of Austin, Texas. Uniquely situated Spicewood, the ranch offers direct entry from virtually all directions. Minutes from downtown Austin and a hop skip and a jump to Lake Travis and world famous Pedernales River. Vista View Ranch also was the former residence to a UT chancellor.

I applaud Andrew, F&B manager at the classics (Live Oak and Yaupon). After my round today, I…read moreenjoyed lunch and conversation at the bar in Smoke where he was holding court. Simultaneously, he artfully engaged, respected, served roughly 40 women who had completed their ladies' event while he never missed a step. He's professional, prompt, thoughtful and genuine with all in his space. And the food was might fine as well.

We had a beautiful wedding at this venue! I am very impressed on how everything came together and…read morewith Angela & Ann. I would highly recommend this venue for your wedding!

Beautiful retreat! Laura is hands down THE most considerate and helpful host. 10/10 would stay here…read moreagain or at any of her retreats.

From the owner: Your Oasis Away from Home!…read more We are a locally owned, intimate retreat venue in Austin, Texas located on a beautiful, natural property, minutes from downtown Austin. We host small wedding weekends, corporate retreats, family reunions, and more. We offer overnight accommodations for up to 30 people. Two night minimum stay required.