Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
best mexican food in town! don't mind the folding chairs and tables. Some of the best service in town and a hole-in-the-wall atmosphere. There's a reason all the cool kids are there on weekends...
277 locals recommend
Polvo's Mexican Restaurant
2004 South 1st Streetbest mexican food in town! don't mind the folding chairs and tables. Some of the best service in town and a hole-in-the-wall atmosphere. There's a reason all the cool kids are there on weekends...
if you haven't had it, you'll never experience sushi the same ever again! Chef master, Tyson Cole's famous and fresh sushi!
688 locals recommend
Uchi
801 S Lamar Blvdif you haven't had it, you'll never experience sushi the same ever again! Chef master, Tyson Cole's famous and fresh sushi!
Odd Duck
1201 S Lamar Blvdsmall plates~
great patio, diverse menu, bar scene + restaurant, fantastic atmosphere, good place to watch sports
90 locals recommend
Red's Porch
great patio, diverse menu, bar scene + restaurant, fantastic atmosphere, good place to watch sports
El Tacorrido
2316 S 1st Stget the el equinox: horchata + espresso. YUMMY!
best local roasted coffee. Get the summer moon latte (or half moon if you don't want as many calories.)
176 locals recommend
Summer Moon Coffee
3115 S 1st Stbest local roasted coffee. Get the summer moon latte (or half moon if you don't want as many calories.)
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st Sthungover? Not any more!
don't second guess this Mexican sensations. yummy food and fast service.
304 locals recommend
Matt's El Rancho
2613 S Lamar Blvddon't second guess this Mexican sensations. yummy food and fast service.
Winebelly
519 W Oltorf Stneighborhood favorite. Cozy and delicious.
Paul Qui's trailer-turned-brick-and-mortar. Out of this world. Great for lunch.
111 locals recommend
East Side King
2310 S Lamar BlvdPaul Qui's trailer-turned-brick-and-mortar. Out of this world. Great for lunch.
famous. If you like BBQ, all the locals rave of this place over Franklin's (which is good too but with a three hour line and they may sell out before you get to the front)
421 locals recommend
La Barbecue
2401 E Cesar Chavez Stfamous. If you like BBQ, all the locals rave of this place over Franklin's (which is good too but with a three hour line and they may sell out before you get to the front)
awesome sunday brunch matched with music and craft beer
264 locals recommend
Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden
79 Rainey Stawesome sunday brunch matched with music and craft beer
La Condesa
400 W 2nd Styou can't go wrong either for dinner or brunch!
Starbucks
1201 Barbara Jordan BlvdNew starbucks with a drive-thru
Shopping
Lick Honest Ice Creams
1100 S Lamar Blvdlocal farm fresh ingredients!
Austin Music Hall and great wine bars, as well as FANTASTIC shopping for the home and closet.
Austin Warehouse District
Austin Music Hall and great wine bars, as well as FANTASTIC shopping for the home and closet.
Big Top Candy Shop
1706 S Congress Aveold fashioned candy and soda fountain
great shop for the gals: clothing, accessories, and just a great shop all around!
34 locals recommend
Maya Star Austin
1508 S Congress Avegreat shop for the gals: clothing, accessories, and just a great shop all around!
Co-Star
1708 S Congress AveDrinks & Nightlife
best brewery two blocks away! Known for their pizzas as well!
435 locals recommend
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf Stbest brewery two blocks away! Known for their pizzas as well!
Saxon Pub
1320 S Lamar Blvdget your live music fix
Black Sheep Lodge
2108 S Lamar Blvdsports, beer, crowd.
Doc's Motorworks
1123 South Congress Avenuegood patio drinking
Gibson Street Bar
1109 S Lamar Blvdgood neighborhood bar with a great crowd
great BBQ after a day at Zilker or Barton Springs
98 locals recommend
Uncle Billy's Brewery & Smokehouse
1530 Barton Springs Rdgreat BBQ after a day at Zilker or Barton Springs
only go here on Thursday nights for live music. The food is well... not where I recommend eating...
171 locals recommend
Shady Grove
1624 Barton Springs Rdonly go here on Thursday nights for live music. The food is well... not where I recommend eating...
this is East Sixth. A cool hipster area of town with rows and rows of bars but with the late 20's and up crowd.
149 locals recommend
Shangri-La
1016 E 6th Stthis is East Sixth. A cool hipster area of town with rows and rows of bars but with the late 20's and up crowd.
homes are now bars. It's a trend. Don't mind the construction! Great place to bar hop! You'll probably see a lot of the 30's tourist directed here mixed in with the locals
793 locals recommend
Rainey Street
Rainey Streethomes are now bars. It's a trend. Don't mind the construction! Great place to bar hop! You'll probably see a lot of the 30's tourist directed here mixed in with the locals
Craft Pride
61 Rainey Styour beer-drinkers place on rainey
brewery that's becoming the "it brewery" around the nation. Gaining popularity for their sour beer selection
298 locals recommend
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh Rdbrewery that's becoming the "it brewery" around the nation. Gaining popularity for their sour beer selection
best vodka in town and a tasting room. What else can you ask for?
150 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room
2250 US-290best vodka in town and a tasting room. What else can you ask for?
"An artisan distillery dedicated to making only the finest Texas Bourbon and producing only a few hundred barrels each year, Garrison Brothers’ flagship bourbon is its Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey"
62 locals recommend
Garrison Brothers Distillery
1827 Hye-Albert Rd"An artisan distillery dedicated to making only the finest Texas Bourbon and producing only a few hundred barrels each year, Garrison Brothers’ flagship bourbon is its Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey"
Everything Else
SoLa
2005 South Lamar Boulevardcute boutique
going to a costume party? You can spend hours in here finding a one of a kind costume!
87 locals recommend
Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds
1506 S Congress Avegoing to a costume party? You can spend hours in here finding a one of a kind costume!
South Congress
best shopping + great restaurants
Trek Bicycle Lamar
517 S Lamar Blvdrent a bike from here!
Townlake YMCA
1100 W Cesar Chavez Stdrop in a get your lift on!
naturally heated when it's not hot out! Great for swimming laps
158 locals recommend
Big Stacy Neighborhood Park
700 E Live Oak Stnaturally heated when it's not hot out! Great for swimming laps
Peter Pan Mini Golf
1207 Barton Springs Rdmini golf two miles away
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar Blvdfamous dance hall!
Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center
1900 Red River Sthome of the longhorns
Old Pecan Street
Old Pecan Streetalso known as the famous 6th street
DAILY JUICE
1625 Barton Springs Roadbest smoothies and juice bar
H-E-B
5808 Burnet Rdgrocery store for any food or toiletries you left behind
CVS
2101 S Lamar BlvdCVS
St. David's South Austin Hospital
901 W Ben White BlvdJust in case you do something stupid on sixth street....
your typical walk-in nail salon. Super busy. (512) 804-5228 is their number, call to get an appointment if you can because weekend waits are about 45 min. Bring your favorite beverage :)
21 locals recommend
Great Nails & Spa
2911 S 1st Styour typical walk-in nail salon. Super busy. (512) 804-5228 is their number, call to get an appointment if you can because weekend waits are about 45 min. Bring your favorite beverage :)
Central Market
4477 S Lamar Blvdyummy produce, upscale grocery store
saturday mornings farmers market from 9-1! great prepared food and drink too! kid and dog friendly
81 locals recommend
SFC Farmers' Market Downtown
422 Guadalupe Stsaturday mornings farmers market from 9-1! great prepared food and drink too! kid and dog friendly
great when it's blazing hot outside and you want to get out of the heat. About an hour south but worth the drive
361 locals recommend
Natural Bridge Caverns
26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rdgreat when it's blazing hot outside and you want to get out of the heat. About an hour south but worth the drive
Entertainment & Activities
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdCorePower Yoga
4616 Triangle Avebest hot yoga in town!
par 3 golf course in the heart of downtown. Great time for sure, even if you're just OK at golf or want to kinda learn. If you're good at golf, this is a great place to practice your short game.
63 locals recommend
Butler Park Pitch & Putt
201 Lee Barton Drpar 3 golf course in the heart of downtown. Great time for sure, even if you're just OK at golf or want to kinda learn. If you're good at golf, this is a great place to practice your short game.
Iconic spring fed pool at a chilly 68 degrees year round. Sit on the grassy hill, pretend to read a book while really checking everyone and thing out, and get a good sweat on before making the plunge!
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton Dr
Iconic spring fed pool at a chilly 68 degrees year round. Sit on the grassy hill, pretend to read a book while really checking everyone and thing out, and get a good sweat on before making the plunge!
oldest pool in Texas and one of the "coolest" with it's spring fed water!
322 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Municipal Pool
401 Deep Eddy Aveoldest pool in Texas and one of the "coolest" with it's spring fed water!
loft feel, assortment of classes, some of the best teachers, rooftop classes, live music classes, blenders and bowls restaurant refreshments after class. I recommend Gustavo if you like a challenge
30 locals recommend
Wanderlust Yoga Downtown
206 E 4th Stloft feel, assortment of classes, some of the best teachers, rooftop classes, live music classes, blenders and bowls restaurant refreshments after class. I recommend Gustavo if you like a challenge
Paddle Zen
paddle boarding on the east side- less busy and more serine.
if you want to paddle board on the busier areas of the lake and see the city skyline, this is a great place to go! They also have kayaks and canoes for rental
148 locals recommend
Rowing Dock
2418 Stratford Drif you want to paddle board on the busier areas of the lake and see the city skyline, this is a great place to go! They also have kayaks and canoes for rental
rated the #1 water park in the world year after year
436 locals recommend
Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels
400 N Liberty Averated the #1 water park in the world year after year
Grey Rock Golf and Tennis
7401 TX-45I don't play golf but I know this place is popular
Parks & Nature
great dog park and access to Lady Bird hike and bike trail! Great place for dogs to swim or trample around in the off-leash park. It's exactly a 2 mile walk north so it's lovely to walk through the neighborhood and check out all the amazing houses.
246 locals recommend
Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park
900 W Riverside Drgreat dog park and access to Lady Bird hike and bike trail! Great place for dogs to swim or trample around in the off-leash park. It's exactly a 2 mile walk north so it's lovely to walk through the neighborhood and check out all the amazing houses.
great place to have a picnic. 1.5 miles from our house. Beautiful skyline view and you won't be displaced by a bunch of soccer/rugby/whatever sports are taking up all of Zilker Park. You also won't be disturbed by a lot of dogs. Additionally, there is a splash pad if you're traveling with kids. I love to do a little yoga here on the deck area by the pond so I can listen to the fountain as a meditative white noise.
56 locals recommend
Butler Metro Park
1000 Barton Springs Rdgreat place to have a picnic. 1.5 miles from our house. Beautiful skyline view and you won't be displaced by a bunch of soccer/rugby/whatever sports are taking up all of Zilker Park. You also won't be disturbed by a lot of dogs. Additionally, there is a splash pad if you're traveling with kids. I love to do a little yoga here on the deck area by the pond so I can listen to the fountain as a meditative white noise.
ACL, frisbee, sand volleyball, and good looking Austinites!
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdACL, frisbee, sand volleyball, and good looking Austinites!
this is where the greenbelt begins if you are adventurous and want to take a long hike
19 locals recommend
Hill Of Life
1710 Camp Craft Rdthis is where the greenbelt begins if you are adventurous and want to take a long hike
Essentials
by far, the best spa in the city. There is a second location on S Lamar if you just need a quick brow wax :)
23 locals recommend
milk + honey spa | 2nd Street District
100A Guadalupe Stby far, the best spa in the city. There is a second location on S Lamar if you just need a quick brow wax :)
Jack Brown Cleaners
2215 S Congress Avesame day service before 9 am