Aba Austin

The terracotta-tiled roof and cascading greenery draped over the stone walls define Aba Austin. Originally, this space held a quiet, mid-century bungalow that felt entirely removed from the city. The transformation replaced that domestic interior with an airy, Mediterranean-inspired courtyard anchored by a massive, centuries-old live oak tree. Chef CJ Jacobson centered the restaurant’s design around this singular oak, forcing the structural layout to weave branches through the roofline. Diners sit beneath that canopy to eat dishes inspired by Middle Eastern trade routes.