Fredericksburg, Texas is a charming town in the Texas Hill Country; a region of the state that’s green and hilly (unlike my arid and flat hometown; Lubbock).
I’ve stopped for lunch in Fredericksburg several times, but never long enough to stay the night until last fall when I drove down and stayed a few nights with the gals. Normally we’re a little loose with plans, but since we visited in 2020 we often needed reservations for everything so that we could get in to limited-capacity restaurants.
The following businesses being open and operating give me hope that they will continue to succeed when COVID-19 is less of a global threat. We all need the occasional getaway or long weekend, and Fredericksburg is well worthy of my continued patronage and your attention! Read on if you’re looking for a good excuse to have a glass of wine and enjoy some excellent German treats.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links; I may earn a tiny commission from purchases.
Here are my five favorites in Fredericksburg, Texas:
- Hilmy Cellars
- Becker Vineyards
- Vaudeville Bistro
- Der Küchen Laden
- Stouts @ Grape Creek Vineyards
— HILMY CELLARS
Budget wines are always a good buy, and Hilmy is great for this.
Full disclosure – I’m happy to pay $15-$45 for any bottle of wine; so budget is relative. Some may scoff at Hilmy’s reasonable prices, and that’s too bad. Hilmy (pronounced “hill-me”) is a charming spot for a relaxing flight. We found a nice patch of sun, but the cold winds prompted us to move indoors.
Our party of three had a wonderful time tasting wines and we especially enjoyed buying a few bottles. These bottles were an easy go-to for casual after-dinner glasses, and perfect to keep on hand for gifts. I gave away my last bottle to a friend because they are an easily shared hostess gift, and almost everyone enjoys a bottle with a story behind it!
— BECKER VINEYARDS
I’ll admit that I wasn’t familiar with Becker before visiting, and now I’m happy to know what the fuss was about.
Thanks to a certain pandemic, we didn’t know that Becker was reservation-only…we just saw it and hoped for the best. After asking nicely we were escorted to the tasting room where we had an amazing little flight – one tiny gourmet bite paired with two sips of wine, times five. Our designated driver skipped this flight (but she had been there before).
Afterwards we had the gift shop all to ourselves and we got what we needed. Becker grows their own lavender and they sell a lot of products adjacent to wine & lavender. I bought a bottle to share with Mister Jupiter and some gifts for holiday gift giving (they’re kind of famous for their lavender!).
— VAUDEVILLE BISTRO
This one was new to me, and I can’t wait to visit again!
All I knew going in was that it was a bistro under the ground level of a high-end boutique. My party and I were not disappointed. The menu was small, but I like that because it helps cut down on decision fatigue. For lunch I picked the vegan option (in Texas – I know), a glass of local rosé, and a chocolate croissant to finish.
When traveling I often pick vegetarian or vegan meals because that’s a great way to show my support of those options, plus I want to have room for dessert without feeling too full.
Definitely meander upstairs after your meal! Vaudeville is a popular spot for wedding registries with a selection of crystal glassware, art, and rugs. I nearly bought a few art objects, but ultimately did not because I only liked them, and I need to love something before it comes home with me.
— DER KÜCHEN LADEN
This pick is an old favorite. When I would drive through Fredericksburg from Odessa to Austin, I always made time for a quick trip to Der Küchen Laden. It’s a kitchen-wares shop with several nooks, more crannies, and an amazing selection overall!
They have everything you need or want – even if you think you have everything you need. When I popped in my friends were looking at knives and enameled cast iron, I was only really looking for new-to-me products (having just bought a braiser, I didn’t want to take anything new home) and I still left with an spiral potato masher and some wine glass covers.
If you’re only in town for ten minutes – spend all of that time in here. It’s worth it if you cook or love a cook.
— STOUTS SIGNATURE @ GRAPE CREEK VINEYARDS
Stouts Trattoria Signature is the name of the restaurant at Grape Creek Vineyards.
Stouts adapted quickly to COVID-19 life and was my first digital menu via QR code. This was an early lunch for us, so I tried to eat light…but I cannot say no to a club sandwich and a cool glass of wine! Everything here was excellent, and we would have sat outside if it was warmer that day.
After our meal we walked over to the bottle shop for samples and to buy a few bottles. We walked to the nearby Heath Sparkling Wines but were unable to sample any bubbles because another party was already in the space. I hope to visit another time because I definitely enjoy the occasional sparkling wine!
- Facebook.com/StoutsSignature/
- Facebook.com/GrapeCreekVineyards
- GrapeCreek.com
- Facebook.com/HeathSparklingWines
And that’s it for now! This list reflects my travel priorities; mostly eating the good foods, and a little practical shopping. For the most part I have stopped souvenir shopping, but there are always exceptions (especially in Tokyo).
I look forward to visiting Fredericksburg again!
Lady Jupiter 