Restaurants near Castle Heights, Waco¶
Castle Heights itself has minimal commercial activity within its historic boundary (33rd–39th Streets). The primary dining corridor is the Uptown Austin Avenue strip (roughly 12th–25th Streets) — a short drive south along Austin Avenue — plus the broader northwest and downtown Waco restaurant scene.
Notable: Sironia Uptown Cafe (1509 Austin Ave.), the defining restaurant of the Uptown corridor for 20+ years, closed February 28, 2024.
Uptown Austin Avenue Corridor (Closest to Castle Heights)¶
| Name | Cuisine | Address | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinewood Coffee Bar | Coffee / light fare | 2223 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701 | $ | Named to Food & Wine Best Coffee Shops by State (2019). Functions as coffee roaster, bar, and public house. Open 7 days. |
| Harvest on 25th | American / brunch | 112 N. 25th St, Waco, TX 76710 | $–$$ | Breakfast & brunch; Mon–Sat 8am–3pm. Locally owned; serves Pinewood Roasters coffee; known for vegan/vegetarian options. |
| Maria Mezcaleria | Oaxacan / Mexican | 724 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701 | $$ | Bold Oaxacan cuisine; opened 2024. |
Broader Waco / Short Drive¶
| Name | Cuisine | Address | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Homestead | American / farm-to-table | 608 Dry Creek Rd, Waco, TX 76705 | $$ | Lunch Mon–Sat 11am–3pm; dinner Thu–Sat 5–8:30pm. Part of Homestead Heritage 510-acre farm. Pasture-raised beef, house-made bread, award-winning local cheese. Open 30+ years. |
| Ninfa's Mexican Restaurant | Mexican | 215 Mary Ave, Waco, TX 76701 | $$–$$$ | Waco institution; Mon–Thu 11am–9pm, Fri 11am–10pm; (254) 757-2050. |
| Magnolia Table | American / breakfast & lunch | 2132 S. Valley Mills Dr, Waco, TX 76711 | $–$$ | Joanna Gaines flagship restaurant; expect waits. |
| Terry Black's Barbecue | Texas BBQ | 228 S. 8th St, Waco, TX 76701 | $$ | Austin BBQ institution; opened downtown Waco 2023. |
Coming Soon¶
- Garden City Grocery (projected 2026) — 18th & Austin Ave; new neighborhood grocery market in the former H-E-B building, with 10 upper-floor lofts; may include café component. City-supported with $570K in incentives.