Poeta, the [Michelin Guide‑recognized](https://guide.michelin.com/cz/en/texas/austin_2958315/restaurant/poeta) Italian restaurant led by chefs Krystal Craig and Ian Thurwachter, officially opens at full capacity on January 8 inside the [East Austin Hotel](https://eastaustinhotel.com). After a year of pop‑ups, residencies, and award‑winning momentum, this fine‑dining concept finally plants permanent roots—marking one of Austin’s most anticipated culinary debuts of 2026 and further cementing the city’s place in the broader [Michelin Guide Texas](https://www.austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog/blog/post/michelin-guide-texas/) conversation.
<NeighborhoodCard slug="east-austin" />
<InspectionScore name="Poeta" />
<PlaceCard name="Poeta" address="1108 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702 (inside East Austin Hotel)" hours="Opening Jan 8, 2026 — official hours TBA; check website" price="$$$" phone=" website="https://poetarestaurant.com" />
<Note>Poeta is currently Michelin Guide–recognized, which means it’s listed and recommended by inspectors, even if it doesn’t (yet) hold a star.</Note>
ESSENTIAL DETAILS Location: 1108 E. 6th St., inside [East Austin Hotel](https://communityimpact.com/austin/north-central-austin/dining/2025/12/22/italian-restaurant-poeta-relocating-to-east-austin-hotel/)
<Address>1108 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702</Address>
Parking: 90 free on‑site spaces
<Tip>On‑site parking is a rare perk on East 6th. Plan to park in the hotel’s lot rather than circling for street parking on busy weekend nights.</Tip>
Opening timeline: - January 1: New Year’s Day brunch soft opening - January 5–7: Limited preview service - January 8: Public opening at full capacity
<Warning>Preview services (Jan 1 and Jan 5–7) often have limited menus and fewer seats. If you want the full experience, target reservations from January 8 onward—and book early.</Warning>
These key dates and logistics mirror what’s been shared in recent coverage of Poeta’s relocation and opening plans across Austin dining news outlets, as well as on the [official Poeta website](https://poetarestaurant.com).
<Menu formats return to dual offerings—a seasonally rotating chef’s tasting menu with optional wine pairings, plus the long‑requested à la carte menu. Early standouts include rigatoni with tomato butter and Italian sausage, marinated mushrooms, and chèvre cheesecake with pistachio and cherry, echoing the Italian‑meets‑Texas approach outlined in recent [local reporting on Poeta’s move east](https://www.aol.com/news/italian-restaurant-poeta-moves-east-174100641.html). Daily hand‑rolled pastas and Italian‑influenced treatments of Texas ingredients anchor the culinary approach.
<Tip>If it’s your first visit, consider the chef’s tasting menu to see the full range of Poeta’s Italian‑meets‑Texas style, then come back for à la carte pasta favorites at the bar.</Tip>
The space spans 4,000 square feet across multiple dining environments: a main dining room, full bar with specialty cocktails, an upstairs lounge, and a patio. Designer Ayse Iyriboz is adding final touches to the interiors, part of a broader wave of thoughtfully designed food destinations covered in pieces like [Inside Austin’s Global Dining Renaissance](https://austintexasthings.com/article/inside-austins-global-dining-renaissance-the-insider-guide-to-the-citys-ethiopian-georgian-and-trinidadian-breakthroughs).
<Note>The East Austin Hotel setting puts Poeta within walking distance of other East 6th bars and music venues, making it an easy starting point for a full night out.</Note>
INSIDER INTELLIGENCE - Poeta’s move into a permanent home reflects a larger shift: East Austin’s hospitality spaces are increasingly courting chef‑driven fine dining, not just casual concepts, as seen in roundups of evolving neighborhood dining and nightlife such as [Inside Austin’s New Family & Dog‑Friendly Restaurants](https://austintexasthings.com/article/inside-austins-new-family-dogfriendly-restaurants-the-insider-guide-to-fall-2025s-best-casual-openings). - The restaurant’s trajectory—from Frances Modern Inn to Swoop House to East Austin Hotel—highlights how Austin’s real estate landscape is reshaping where high‑end dining can thrive, a theme also explored in broader business coverage like [Inside Austin’s 2025 Business Closures](https://austintexasthings.com/article/inside-austins-2025-business-closures-what-the-city-lostand-what-it-means-for-2026).
<InspectionScore name="Frances Modern Inn" /> <InspectionScore name="Swoop House" />
- January 8 positions Poeta as the city’s first major restaurant opening of 2026, meaning early reservations will likely book out fast once the system officially goes live, especially given the buzz from [Community Impact’s report on the relocation and soft opening](https://communityimpact.com/austin/north-central-austin/dining/2025/12/22/italian-restaurant-poeta-relocating-to-east-austin-hotel/).
<Warning>Expect opening week and weekend reservations to disappear quickly once the booking portal launches. Join Poeta’s mailing list or check their website frequently if you want a prime slot.</Warning>
- The team’s sister restaurant Intero was described as “even more lauded,” making Poeta’s permanent relaunch a notable expansion of their culinary footprint and adding to Austin’s roster of [Michelin‑recognized restaurants](https://austin.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/michelin-guide-austin-restaurants-2025/).
<InspectionScore name="Intero" />
- Until official hours and reservation portals are released, direct outreach through [poetarestaurant.com](https://poetarestaurant.com) remains the only confirmed way to secure opening‑week access, which pairs nicely with exploring other Eastside experiences like a visit to nearby [Laguna Gloria’s lakeside art escape](https://austintexasthings.com/article/inside-laguna-gloria-the-insiders-guide-to-austins-hidden-lakeside-art-escape).
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<LocalData zip="78702" />