Golden Hour Cafe & Wine Bar brings all-day drinks and dining to South Austin

Stratton started cooking while enrolled in college, where he played football. Through his love of team sports and hands-on work, he discovered that being in a kitchen gave a similar sense of satisfaction.

Since then, he has fostered dreams of owning his own restaurant—one that came to fruition in October 2022. As a South Austin resident, Stratton wanted a space for him and his wife to enjoy a glass of wine with chef-driven cuisine in their own backyard. When they couldn’t find it, Stratton decided to open Golden Hour alongside his business partner Evan Dunivan.

What’s on the menu

Golden Hour offers breakfast classics such as homemade yogurt and granola, avocado toast, biscuits and its famous breakfast burrito, made with potato, egg, cheese, chipotle and green onions.

“I was inspired [by] travels in California, and their breakfast burrito culture versus our taco culture,” Statton said. “How do you stand out in a crowded field? Every coffee shop has breakfast tacos steaming all day. It's like, how do we offer some value and some really delicious food cooked to order?”

The lunch menu features a Paris ham melt and a chicken Caesar wrap before the kitchen closes to prepare for evening bites. After 3 p.m., the cafe and wine bar serve focaccia by the slice with cheese, crackers and hojicha tea basque cheesecake for dessert.

Each dish is made-to-order and crafted with ingredients homegrown in Texas, Stratton said. In the future, Stratton expects to expand the dinner menu once proper ventilation has been installed in the kitchen.

The drink menu

By day, Golden Hour baristas are crafting cappuccinos, miso panela lattes and ube violet iced matchas. Stratton’s go-to order includes the Golden Hour Latte, which includes Ras el Hanout, a North African spice blend, caramelized honey and orange.

“It's just so soul-warming,” Stratton said. “It's so delicious.”

Golden Hour also offers a selection of natural sparkling, white and red wines—as well as a few ciders. The wine bar also has a wine club where members can get three to six bottles per month and access to exclusive events. Membership prices start at $90 per month.

In April, Golden Hour will begin offering pastries from Nougatine Bakery, a husband-and-wife-owned French bakery. Nougatine offers almond croissants, za’taar labneh cruffin and tomato pie.

One more thing

In the last four years, the cafe and wine bar has cultivated a community in South Austin through events, discounts for residents at Perch apartments and a team of chefs and baristas who support the business.

“I'm so grateful for our customers, especially our loyal customers,” Stratton said. “They are people here [who] have been coming since the beginning, and they're still here, and it's amazing.”

• 7731 Menchaca Road, Ste. 100, Austin
• www.goldenhouratx.com