Neighborhood Recommendations
Food scene
Civil Goat Coffee
704 Cuernavaca Dr NQuirky local coffee shop with a resident goat.
Affordable wine bar with plenty of outdoor seating, underneath a huge live oak that once was a playground for our kids after services at St. Michael's Episcopal church. My favorite appetizers: fried oysters on homemade potato chips, with pico de gallo; crab cakes.
64 locals recommend
The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen - Westlake
6317 Bee Cave RdAffordable wine bar with plenty of outdoor seating, underneath a huge live oak that once was a playground for our kids after services at St. Michael's Episcopal church. My favorite appetizers: fried oysters on homemade potato chips, with pico de gallo; crab cakes.
Run by The Grove; good coffee, comfortable setting.
13 locals recommend
Lola Savannah Coffee Lounge - Westlake
6317 Bee Cave RdRun by The Grove; good coffee, comfortable setting.
Close by, on Cuernavaca. Once a food truck, now considered by many the best pasta in Austin.
Patrizi's
1705 Cuernavaca Drive NorthClose by, on Cuernavaca. Once a food truck, now considered by many the best pasta in Austin.
Wonderful, authentic French bakery, open only for breakfast and lunch.
22 locals recommend
Baguette et Chocolat
12101 FM2244Wonderful, authentic French bakery, open only for breakfast and lunch.
Breakfast and late night staples -- excellent pancakes.
9 locals recommend
Kerbey Lane Cafe - Westlake
701 S N Capital of Texas HwyBreakfast and late night staples -- excellent pancakes.
Tacodeli
1500 Spyglass DrFresh ingredients, great tacos. Casual, closes at 3:00.
Great happy hour appetizers and otherwise good Texas-inspired cuisine.
46 locals recommend
Jack Allen’s Kitchen 360
3600 N Capital of Texas HwyGreat happy hour appetizers and otherwise good Texas-inspired cuisine.
The best interior Mexican in the Westlake area. A favorite of our for years.
15 locals recommend
Las Palomas Restaurant & Bar
3201 Bee Cave RdThe best interior Mexican in the Westlake area. A favorite of our for years.
Local favorite for Tex-Mex food and margaritas. Two locations nearby: Shops at Bee Caves and Davenport Ranch.
27 locals recommend
Maudie's Milagro
3801 N Capital of Texas HwyLocal favorite for Tex-Mex food and margaritas. Two locations nearby: Shops at Bee Caves and Davenport Ranch.
Siena Restaurant
6203 N Capital of Texas HwyFantastic Tuscan food. Lovely ambience.
Wonderful dim sum on Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise terrific appetizers and main dishes. Take-out available.
10 locals recommend
Jade Restaurant
3801 N Capital of Texas HwyWonderful dim sum on Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise terrific appetizers and main dishes. Take-out available.
PLATE By Dzintra
12823 Shops PkwyFresh, locally sourced, beautiful space, ten-minute drive.
Lovely place to eat bar-b-q on the lake and feed turtles and catfish.
111 locals recommend
County Line
5204 Ranch Rd 2222Lovely place to eat bar-b-q on the lake and feed turtles and catfish.
Our favorite tapas bar, and I once lived in Barcelona. On South Lamar, so no downtown hassle.
91 locals recommend
Barlata
1500 S Lamar BlvdOur favorite tapas bar, and I once lived in Barcelona. On South Lamar, so no downtown hassle.
Beer garden and bakery -- lovely rooftop dining available. On South Lamar, so no need to hassle with downtown.
358 locals recommend
Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th StBeer garden and bakery -- lovely rooftop dining available. On South Lamar, so no need to hassle with downtown.
Not nearby, and not cheap, but the best interior Mexican food in Austin.
162 locals recommend
Fonda San Miguel Restaurant
2330 W N Loop BlvdNot nearby, and not cheap, but the best interior Mexican food in Austin.
If you want authentic Barbq, this is it. It's a drive, and it's worth it. No heavy tomato-based sauce, just lovely, flavorful dipping sauce. Butcher paper on the tables, good sides. Also, take it home.
19 locals recommend
Coopers Bbq
505 W Dallas StIf you want authentic Barbq, this is it. It's a drive, and it's worth it. No heavy tomato-based sauce, just lovely, flavorful dipping sauce. Butcher paper on the tables, good sides. Also, take it home.
Sightseeing
Small park very close by. Gentle trails on the lake, bird-watching, but also interesting wooded trails by a creek.
I recommend the Waterfall Trail
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Commons+Ford+Ranch+Metropolitan+Park/@30.3381291,-97.892435,16.67z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x865b3661d6f4f0b7:0x278634727e17f2cf!8m2!3d30.3363051!4d-97.891369
34 locals recommend
Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park
614 N Commons Ford RdSmall park very close by. Gentle trails on the lake, bird-watching, but also interesting wooded trails by a creek.
I recommend the Waterfall Trail
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Commons+Ford+Ranch+Metropolitan+Park/@30.3381291,-97.892435,16.67z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x865b3661d6f4f0b7:0x278634727e17f2cf!8m2!3d30.3363051!4d-97.891369
The best sunset view on the lake. Worth the trip, although you might want to stick with the appetizers.
506 locals recommend
The Oasis On Lake Travis
6550 Comanche TrailThe best sunset view on the lake. Worth the trip, although you might want to stick with the appetizers.
Mount Bonnell
Local favorite for beautiful views.
COLD water in a huge, natural, spring-fed pool. Go early to get a place to park.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrCOLD water in a huge, natural, spring-fed pool. Go early to get a place to park.
Beautiful light-filled installation architecture at the Blanton Museum. Totally worth it.
Ellsworth Kelly's Austin
200 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdBeautiful light-filled installation architecture at the Blanton Museum. Totally worth it.
Beautiful grounds and an interesting museum.
98 locals recommend
The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria
3809 W 35th StBeautiful grounds and an interesting museum.
Jester King has something for everyone: brewery, beer, wine, music, nature trail, and GOATS! A fun afternoon for the family, a favorite of millennials, and just fine for retirees. Also a pleasant drive.
298 locals recommend
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh RdJester King has something for everyone: brewery, beer, wine, music, nature trail, and GOATS! A fun afternoon for the family, a favorite of millennials, and just fine for retirees. Also a pleasant drive.
I love the many varied features of this place--the funky pool, the lovely springs, the creek. My children and I enjoyed visiting many times.
185 locals recommend
Krause Springs
424 Co Rd 404I love the many varied features of this place--the funky pool, the lovely springs, the creek. My children and I enjoyed visiting many times.
We love the olive oils and vinegars here -- tasting available. And a cute restaurant.
81 locals recommend
Texas Hill Country Olive Company
2530 W Fitzhugh RdWe love the olive oils and vinegars here -- tasting available. And a cute restaurant.
Hamilton Pool Preserve
24300 Hamilton Pool RdHiking, water-washed limestone bed, clear water. Always a good idea.
318 locals recommend
Pedernales Falls State Park
2585 Park Rd 6026Hiking, water-washed limestone bed, clear water. Always a good idea.
One of the oldest of the new Fredricksburg wine-tasting venues. Good wine, absolutely stunning Texas hill country architecture. Lovely lavender farm and products.
115 locals recommend
Becker Vineyards
464 Becker Farms RdOne of the oldest of the new Fredricksburg wine-tasting venues. Good wine, absolutely stunning Texas hill country architecture. Lovely lavender farm and products.
Wild Basin Preserve
805 N Capital of Texas HwyBeautiful hiking close by
City advice
Book before you go
A recent article on trendy Austin restaurants
https://www.austinmonthly.com/the-25-best-restaurants-in-austin/
Getting around
Hiking
Here is an Austin Trail Directory:
https://www.austintexas.gov/page/trail-directory?fbclid=IwAR0SaFXDjatoB2k1y4VKraQx10gBU7ME9b8dlvN0KyJu1aRN7VWIa2dsuTY
Here is another listing of hikes in Austin:
https://www.alltrails.com/us/texas/austin
Here is a Facebook group that might be helpful:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustinHikes
Article on local hikes:
https://www.austin360.com/story/entertainment/2022/01/21/austin-hikes-dog-central-texas-parks-outdoors-nature-walk-barton-creek-greenbelt-leash/6514177001/
Don't miss
Swimming holes
https://www.realtyaustin.com/blog/37-of-the-best-swimming-holes-in-austin