SingleThread, Post Malone and a Seat at Turn 20: The Haute Guide to F1 Weekend in Austin
The 2026 US Grand Prix hits COTA Oct. 23–25. Where to stay, eat and drink in Austin, and where to find the best race hospitality.
Three Michelin stars, 22 drivers and Post Malone, all in one weekend. The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix returns to Austin’s Circuit of The Americas October 23–25, 2026, and this year the city is pulling out every stop: Grand PrixView Thursday opens the circuit early on October 22, SingleThread is flying in from Sonoma for a three-night dinner series at the brand-new 1 Hotel Austin, and Maroon 5, Post Malone and Alesso are lined up for after the checkered flag.
Some weekends make Austin’s reputation as a good time feel almost understated. This is one of them.
The real challenge is deciding which reservations earn a spot on your calendar. From a Fairmont Gold stay to a rooftop dinner over Lady Bird Lake, these are the hotels, tables, cocktails and trackside seats to build the weekend around.
Where to Stay
Fairmont Austin
Downtown | Book: Fairmont Gold
For a weekend that calls for a little excess, Fairmont Austin is an excellent starting point: skyline views, a substantial dining program and the option to upgrade to Fairmont Gold, its hotel within a hotel. Private check-in, a dedicated concierge team and the Gold Lounge give the stay a more personal rhythm, with breakfast and culinary offerings that make lingering very tempting.
Garrison supplies the serious dinner; Rules & Regs, the rooftop cocktails. Book Gold for the service and lounge, then reserve dinner separately.
Haute Living Verdict: The most complete race-weekend base in town. Go Gold.
The Loren at Lady Bird Lake
South Congress | Book: a lake-view room
The Loren is for the traveler who wants Austin’s energy and a beautiful place to exhale afterward. Its 108 rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows framing the lake, the city, parkland or distant Hill Country, and the rooftop pool and milk + honey spa make a persuasive case for leaving time for yourself.
Then there’s Nido, the rooftop restaurant worth booking even if you’re staying elsewhere. Reserve the room for the view and dinner for sunset.
Haute Living Verdict: Lakeside calm with a skyline dinner on top. Perfectly balanced.
Austin Proper
Second Street District | Book: any room, then explore
Austin Proper has the kind of personality that makes the hotel part of the trip. Its Second Street address puts restaurants and shopping at your door, while Kelly Wearstler’s interiors and a lineup of dining rooms give the property plenty of pull of its own.
Start with Mediterranean plates at The Peacock, head up for Mexican cooking at La Piscina or settle into The Quill Room for cocktails; Goldie’s adds an intimate option for hotel guests and residents.
Haute Living Verdict: Four ways to spend the evening without leaving the building.
1 Hotel Austin
Rainey Street District | Waterline tower
Austin’s new 1 Hotel brings the brand’s nature-inspired approach to Waterline, the 74-story tower in the Rainey district, making it this year’s most timely address, with a very compelling culinary reason to visit during race weekend.
Audi and 1 Hotels are hosting the five-course SingleThread series October 22–24. Reserve the dinner independently; a room booking doesn’t automatically include it.
Haute Living Verdict: The newest address in town, with the weekend’s best dinner downstairs.
Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Lady Bird Lake | Book: a lake-view room
Four Seasons remains the natural choice for classic luxury on the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The waterfront gives the stay a sense of space while downtown stays close at hand, perfect for a weekend built around a great room, polished service and a quieter morning before race-day chaos.
Haute Living Verdict: Classic, calm and close to everything. Never a bad call.
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Collection
Hyde Park | Book: a mansion suite
Commodore Perry Estate sets a completely different mood: nearly ten acres of enclosed grounds, historic architecture and rooms that mix antiques with contemporary luxury, especially in the distinctive mansion suites.
Lutie’s adds a lovely dinner, and the gardens feel especially welcome during a busy weekend. Choose it for a true retreat, and make downtown dinners and nightlife a separate outing.
Haute Living Verdict: A 1920s estate escape from the race-week frenzy. Pure grace.
Where to Eat
Photo Credit: The Loren at Lady Bird Lake
Nido
The Loren | Rooftop
Some views decorate dinner; at Nido, the Austin skyline sets the entire mood. The Loren’s rooftop restaurant is made for wine, conversation and a cityscape worth looking up from the menu for.
Hestia
Downtown | Michelin star
Hestia belongs at the top of the list for anyone who takes dinner as seriously as the race. The Michelin-starred restaurant centers everything on live fire, with Texas produce and proteins on both an à la carte menu and a chef’s tasting menu. Give it the evening you want to devote entirely to the table.
Haute Living Verdict: Austin’s most serious fire-kissed dinner. Book it first.
Craft Omakase
North Austin | Michelin star
Craft Omakase offers a Japanese counterpoint to the weekend’s bigger dining rooms, and its Michelin star makes it a compelling dedicated tasting. Lock in a seating first, then build the rest of the evening around it.
Haute Living Verdict: The most intimate star in town.
Barley Swine
Burnet Road | Michelin star
Another Michelin-starred contender, Barley Swine adds contemporary cooking and a reason to venture beyond downtown. Give it its own night, especially if discovering Austin’s restaurants is as much the point as the race.
Haute Living Verdict: Worth the drive, and the whole evening.
Jeffrey’s
Clarksville | Since 1975
For a polished steakhouse dinner, Jeffrey’s is the classic. The Clarksville institution dates to 1975 and pairs elevated steakhouse cooking with one of the deepest wine lists in Texas. Dress up, order a serious bottle and settle in.
Haute Living Verdict: The dress-up dinner of the weekend.
Uchi
South Lamar | Tyson Cole
Uchi is an Austin essential for inventive Japanese cooking, sushi and chef’s tastings. Tyson Cole’s playful, nontraditional approach makes it ideal for a group happy to explore the menu together. Reserve ahead.
Haute Living Verdict: An Austin icon that still thrills.
Suerte
East Austin | Masa-driven Mexican
Suerte brings East Austin and the craft of Mexican cooking into the mix, with masa at the heart of a menu with a clear point of view. It’s an excellent choice for a night rooted in the city’s own food culture.
Haute Living Verdict: Austin’s soul, in a tortilla.
Lutie’s
Commodore Perry Estate | Garden dining
Lutie’s makes a beautiful case for dinner at Commodore Perry Estate, whether or not you’re staying there. The lush setting and Texas-focused menu suit an evening that starts with a drink and unfolds slowly.
Haute Living Verdict: The garden party dinner of the weekend.
Garrison
Fairmont Austin | Open-flame kitchen
Fairmont’s signature restaurant pairs an open-flame kitchen with local ingredients and global influences. Make it your first reservation if you’re staying at the Fairmont, then head up to Rules & Regs for a rooftop nightcap.
Haute Living Verdict: Fire, then the rooftop. A perfect hotel night.
Haute Living Verdict: The best sunset table in the city.
The Guest House Austin
Downtown | Also at COTA’s Turn 20
The Guest House adds a social downtown dinner with cocktails that embrace a little theater, and it has a new hospitality presence at COTA’s Turn 20 this year. Note that the restaurant and the trackside lounge are booked separately.
Haute Living Verdict: Dinner downtown, cocktails at the track. Do both.
Truluck’s Downtown
Downtown | Seafood
Truluck’s is the seafood reservation for a post-race dinner, and the Grand Prix lands just after Florida stone crab season opens, so order claws if the day’s catch allows. Its published race-weekend service runs until 10 p.m.; if you’re staying at COTA for Alesso on Sunday, pick another night.
Haute Living Verdict: Stone crab season meets race weekend. Order the claws.
The Peacock and La Piscina
Austin Proper | Mediterranean and Mexican
Austin Proper offers two ways to dine: Mediterranean plates at The Peacock on the ground floor and Texas-inspired Mexican cooking on the fifth-floor pool deck at La Piscina. Both work beautifully for an arrival-night meal close to your room.
Haute Living Verdict: Two great dinners, one elevator ride apart.
Make Time for Barbecue
La Barbecue, LeRoy and Lewis, InterStellar BBQ
Austin deserves at least one barbecue stop. La Barbecue, LeRoy and Lewis and InterStellar BBQ all appear in Michelin’s current one-star selection. Slot one into an extra day, and check hours and ordering arrangements before you go.
Haute Living Verdict: Michelin-starred brisket. Only in Texas.
Where to Drink
Photo Credit: Proper Hotels
The Quill Room and Goldie’s
Austin Proper | Hotel bars
Austin Proper makes it easy to keep the evening in-house. The Quill Room is a natural cocktail stop, while Goldie’s offers an intimate setting for hotel guests and residents; confirm access if you’re staying elsewhere.
Haute Living Verdict: Stay in, dress up, order another.
Here Nor There
Downtown | Cocktail bar
Here Nor There is for cocktail enthusiasts who want drinks to be an experience in their own right. Make it a deliberate stop and check booking arrangements ahead of race weekend.
Haute Living Verdict: Drinks as destination. Plan ahead.
In Plain Sight
Downtown | European-style cocktails
Here Nor There’s sibling pours European-style cocktails in a small downtown room, a lovely option for an aperitif or one last well-made drink.
Haute Living Verdict: The perfect first or last round.
The Roosevelt Room
Downtown | Cocktail bar
The Roosevelt Room earns its place with a deep devotion to cocktails. Choose it for a proper drinks outing, with time to explore the menu rather than a quick stop between reservations.
Haute Living Verdict: A cocktail bar for people who read the whole menu.
Nickel City
East Austin | Neighborhood bar
Nickel City gives the weekend a more relaxed East Austin evening. Strong drinks and neighborhood character make it a welcome break from dressed-up dinners and private parties.
Haute Living Verdict: The off-duty night out. Bring jeans.
Uchibā
Downtown | Izakaya-style bar
Japanese whisky, sake, cocktails and an izakaya-inspired menu make Uchibā a great address for an evening that blends dinner and drinks, and gives you every reason to settle in.
Haute Living Verdict: Whisky, sake and small plates. A night unto itself.
The Dinner to Book: SingleThread at 1 Hotel Austin
One of the weekend’s most exciting culinary announcements brings Sonoma to Austin. Audi and 1 Hotels present Driven by the Journey, An Evening with SingleThread, a three-night series (October 22–24) featuring an exclusive five-course menu from the three-Michelin-starred restaurant founded by Kyle and Katina Connaughton, which, as it happens, celebrates its tenth anniversary this December.
Reservations are open. Thursday is the smart night, leaving Friday and Saturday free for the concerts or another great dinner. Confirm pricing, seating times and beverage options when you book.
Haute Living take: The single best reason to arrive early. Book Thursday.
Where to Celebrate
My Yacht Club
Oct. 23–26 | Venue to be announced
My Yacht Club returns to Austin October 23–26 with its Monaco-style nightlife concept. It’s a land-based event, with VIP access by inquiry, guests 21 and over only and sophisticated nightclub attire required. The venue, programming and pricing hadn’t been announced, so request details directly before planning the rest of the night.
Haute Living Verdict: Monaco energy, Texas address. Dress the part.
Maroon 5, Post Malone and Alesso at COTA
Oct. 23–25 | Germania Insurance Super Stage
The circuit gives you plenty of reasons to stay after the on-track action. Maroon 5 headlines Friday, October 23; Post Malone performs Saturday, October 24; and Alesso closes the weekend with a post-race set Sunday, October 25. Concert access comes with race admission, with upgrades sold separately.
Choose your concert nights before booking downtown dinners; these shows deserve their own space in the itinerary.
Haute Living Verdict: Three headliners, zero extra tickets. Pick your night.
Photo Credit: Fairmont Austin
How to Watch the Race in Style
Paddock Club
COTA | Flagship hospitality
The Paddock Club is the flagship option for elevated dining, trackside views and access beyond a grandstand ticket. Read the package carefully, since team-suite benefits and insider experiences vary by booking.
Haute Living Verdict: The ultimate seat. Read the fine print.
The Guest House at Turn 20
COTA | New for 2026
New this year, The Guest House pairs panoramic views with all-inclusive dining, an open bar, climate-controlled interiors and a shaded rooftop terrace, ideal if food and comfort are a big part of your day at the circuit.
Haute Living Verdict: The comfiest new seat at COTA.
The Terrace at Turn 6
COTA | Overlooking the esses
The Terrace offers a shaded, open-air setting above the esses at Turns 4–6, with a guaranteed reserved seat. Food and nonalcoholic drinks are included; beer, wine and spirits are for purchase.
Haute Living Verdict: Shade, a seat and the best corners on the track.
Grandstand Seating
COTA | Main Grandstand, Turns 1, 4 and 15
For a classic race experience, COTA’s options include the Main Grandstand and Turns 1, 4 and 15, plus a dedicated Williams team grandstand at Turn 4. Single-day tickets let you focus on your favorite day, and Grand PrixView Thursday on October 22 offers early arrivals another visit. Club SI, the two-story lounge over Turns 12–15, is already sold out.
Haute Living Verdict: Turn 1 for the drama; Turn 15 for the overtakes.
What to Book First
Start with race admission and your hotel, then lock in the reservations that anchor each evening: SingleThread, a dedicated tasting menu and any private nightlife. Check the concert schedule before setting dinner times, and confirm availability for your exact dates. COTA is cashless, so leave the cash at the hotel.
Then leave room for the things you came for. A long dinner, a rooftop cocktail and a beautiful hotel morning are all part of Austin’s magic, and deserve a place on the calendar right alongside the race.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 US Grand Prix in Austin?
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix runs October 23–25, 2026, at Circuit of The Americas, with Grand PrixView Thursday on October 22. There is no Sprint race in 2026.
Who is performing at the 2026 US Grand Prix?
Maroon 5 headlines Friday, October 23, Post Malone performs Saturday, October 24, and Alesso plays a post-race set on Sunday, October 25. Concert access is included with race admission, with upgrades sold separately.
Where should I stay for F1 in Austin?
Top luxury picks include Fairmont Austin (with its Fairmont Gold floors), The Loren at Lady Bird Lake, Austin Proper, the new 1 Hotel Austin, Four Seasons Hotel Austin and Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Collection.
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