When Poeta, the acclaimed Italian restaurant from chefs Ian Thurwachter and Krystal Craig, announced its closure mere days after receiving a Michelin Recommendation, worried diners should have anticipated greater plans were in the works.
Poeta has moved into the East Austin Hotel at 1108 East 6th Street, taking over both the hotel's restaurant and bar spaces — including late-night dining. The restaurant opened with a special brunch service on New Year's Day 2026.
This latest iteration of Poeta highlights local ingredients and house-made pastas with offerings like rigatoni with tomato butter and Italian sausage and chèvre cheesecake with pistachio and cherry. The beloved brunch menu sees the return of the restaurant's famous wafflegato, along with items like brunch arancini and an elevated breakfast sandwich. A chef's tasting menu is offered at dinner for those seeking the full Poeta experience.
"We're excited to bring Poeta to this new space where we can welcome more guests and expand our offerings," the team shared.
Poeta has also taken over the upstairs lounge and bar, offering cocktails and à la carte dining options daily, staying open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays — perfect for those seeking a late-night bite in East Austin.
This marks the third location for Poeta, the sister restaurant of Thurwachter and Craig's equally lauded restaurant Intero. Poeta debuted at the Frances Modern Inn in Central East Austin in December 2023, then moved to Swoop House in Govalle in March 2025 with a prix-fixe-only menu before closing in November.
Ayse Iyriboz, who did the stunning interior design for the Swoop House location, has again worked with the team to bring Poeta to its new East Austin Hotel home.
Poeta serves dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with bar service until midnight on weekends. Brunch runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For Austin food lovers, this is a rare second chance to experience one of the city's most celebrated Italian restaurants in an even better setting.