Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
THE GIT OUT BAR AND KITCHEN
4930 S Congress AveIt's right across the street. Grill and cocktail bar.
Taco truck with one of the best hamburgers I've ever had... and it's walking distance.
Tacos Las Amazonas Estilo Jalisco
4619 S Congress AveTaco truck with one of the best hamburgers I've ever had... and it's walking distance.
Great little diner on South Congress (towards town about 2-1/2 miles away).
478 locals recommend
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress AveGreat little diner on South Congress (towards town about 2-1/2 miles away).
24 Diner
600 N Lamar BlvdLofty local diner with great food.
Famous restaurant with sometimes live music. Right in the middle of the touristy part of South Congress.
398 locals recommend
Güero's Taco Bar
1412 S Congress AveFamous restaurant with sometimes live music. Right in the middle of the touristy part of South Congress.
One of the more elegant restaurants on South Congress, mainly serving seafood.
398 locals recommend
Perla's
1400 S Congress AveOne of the more elegant restaurants on South Congress, mainly serving seafood.
Excellent taco food truck, located at Radio Coffee Bar. Recommend ordering online as wait times are lengthy (but worth it!). They also have a downtown brick-and-mortar location.
314 locals recommend
Veracruz All Natural Food Truck
2505 Webberville RoadExcellent taco food truck, located at Radio Coffee Bar. Recommend ordering online as wait times are lengthy (but worth it!). They also have a downtown brick-and-mortar location.
Chops, seafood, wine & cocktails served in an upscale setting with a lounge & live jazz. You could do a lot worse to impress a date!
71 locals recommend
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille
114 W 7th StChops, seafood, wine & cocktails served in an upscale setting with a lounge & live jazz. You could do a lot worse to impress a date!
Juan in a Million
2300 E Cesar Chavez StWell known local favorite. Serving Tex-Mex in East Austin.
Shopping
Uncommon Objects
1602 Fort View RdEclectic antique store.
http://www.uncommonobjects.com/
Walmart Supercenter
710 E Ben White BlvdEasy and close by for basic provisions.
Mid-century Modern furniture and decor. Beautifully curated. New inventory all the time. 20% off sales all the time.
7 locals recommend
Uptown Modern
5111 Burnet RdMid-century Modern furniture and decor. Beautifully curated. New inventory all the time. 20% off sales all the time.
H-E-B
5800 W Slaughter LnVery large grocery store.
One of the closer-by grocery chains with a large catering of Hispanic foods/products.
Supermercado Poco Loco
611 W Ben White BlvdOne of the closer-by grocery chains with a large catering of Hispanic foods/products.
Drinks & Nightlife
Still Austin Whiskey Co
440 E St Elmo RdLocal whiskey distillery about a mile away.
Very elegant night club at the base of this hotel. Free admission. Unwritten dress code.
78 locals recommend
W Austin
200 Lavaca StVery elegant night club at the base of this hotel. Free admission. Unwritten dress code.
This 'speakeasy' style craft cocktail bar is a real gem on old 'Dirty Sixth Street'. Intimate and quiet. Low-lighting. Reservations required.
Only seated patrons will be served. Many cocktails will be crafted on an old-fashioned bar cart at your booth.
https://midnightcowboymodeling.com/
1-2 hour maximum stay.
If walk-in tables are available, the vacancy sign above the entry will be illuminated. Please ring the buzzer marked "Harry Craddock" for entry.
107 locals recommend
Midnight Cowboy Modeling
313 E 6th StThis 'speakeasy' style craft cocktail bar is a real gem on old 'Dirty Sixth Street'. Intimate and quiet. Low-lighting. Reservations required.
Only seated patrons will be served. Many cocktails will be crafted on an old-fashioned bar cart at your booth.
https://midnightcowboymodeling.com/
1-2 hour maximum stay.
If walk-in tables are available, the vacancy sign above the entry will be illuminated. Please ring the buzzer marked "Harry Craddock" for entry.
Small Victory
108 E 7th StInconspicuous entrance. Swanky interior. Craft cocktails.
Grungy but friendly bar with outdoor patio, billiards, darts, and often live music. Pretty decent grill too. Drink prices aren't half bad.
104 locals recommend
The Little Darlin'
6507 Circle S RdGrungy but friendly bar with outdoor patio, billiards, darts, and often live music. Pretty decent grill too. Drink prices aren't half bad.
Local brewery/bar with friendly atmosphere, patio seating, board games, food trucks, and sometimes live music or trivia night.
95 locals recommend
St Elmo Brewing Company
440 E St Elmo RdLocal brewery/bar with friendly atmosphere, patio seating, board games, food trucks, and sometimes live music or trivia night.
All the grapes are from Texas. The tasting room is great, very stylish and welcoming.
37 locals recommend
The Austin Winery
440 E St Elmo RdAll the grapes are from Texas. The tasting room is great, very stylish and welcoming.
I've never been but it's got standard pub grub & Austin-area brews & cocktails. Has a pool table, video games & an outdoor seating area.
22 locals recommend
Bender
321 W Ben White BlvdI've never been but it's got standard pub grub & Austin-area brews & cocktails. Has a pool table, video games & an outdoor seating area.
Part coffee lounge/ part liquor bar. Caters to the urban lumberjack. Proud sponsor of The Lumber Society. Pleasant environment with BBQ and Vegan food trucks.
246 locals recommend
The Buzz Mill
1505 Town Creek DrPart coffee lounge/ part liquor bar. Caters to the urban lumberjack. Proud sponsor of The Lumber Society. Pleasant environment with BBQ and Vegan food trucks.
Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Menchaca RdAlso serves craft beer and hosts live music.
Warehouselike beer garden matching house microbrews with pub bites such as pizza & sandwiches.
435 locals recommend
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf StWarehouselike beer garden matching house microbrews with pub bites such as pizza & sandwiches.
Down-home destination featuring a stage for live music shows, plus beer, cocktails & pool tables.
27 locals recommend
Sagebrush
5500 South Congress AvenueDown-home destination featuring a stage for live music shows, plus beer, cocktails & pool tables.
I don't know why this is being labeled as Nicolaza's, but it's actually called The Far Out Lounge & Stage. Buzzy alfresco venue offering food trucks, 2 bars & picnic tables, with a stage for live music.
18 locals recommend
Nicolaza's
8504 S Congress AveI don't know why this is being labeled as Nicolaza's, but it's actually called The Far Out Lounge & Stage. Buzzy alfresco venue offering food trucks, 2 bars & picnic tables, with a stage for live music.
Entertainment & Activities
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailMild-current river, perfect for kayaking and SUP.
Rock-climbing walls for all ages and experience levels.
Day passes available.
Go to http://www.crusclimbingcenter.com
32 locals recommend
Crux Climbing Center
121 Pickle RdRock-climbing walls for all ages and experience levels.
Day passes available.
Go to http://www.crusclimbingcenter.com
Local pool fashioned from local spring for many, many decades of relaxing, sunbathing, and leisure. Diving board; lifeguards, and large grassy slope for tanning (topless allowed). Water is a chilly 68-74 degrees year round. See rules before going (ie. no drink coolers or alcohol).
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrLocal pool fashioned from local spring for many, many decades of relaxing, sunbathing, and leisure. Diving board; lifeguards, and large grassy slope for tanning (topless allowed). Water is a chilly 68-74 degrees year round. See rules before going (ie. no drink coolers or alcohol).
Rent kayaks, canoes, or SUPs by the hour or day. Put in about 2 miles up the river (West) of downtown.
https://www.rowingdock.com/
148 locals recommend
Rowing Dock
2418 Stratford DrRent kayaks, canoes, or SUPs by the hour or day. Put in about 2 miles up the river (West) of downtown.
https://www.rowingdock.com/
Stylish theater chain for new & classic films features cocktails & creative bites served seat-side. Regularly hosts themed events and menus.
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdStylish theater chain for new & classic films features cocktails & creative bites served seat-side. Regularly hosts themed events and menus.
Arts & Culture
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveTexas History museum plus an IMAX theater.
Sightseeing
Great photo op of Austin's beautiful Hwy 360 bridge over the Colorado River.
63 locals recommend
Pennybacker Bridge Overlook
North Capital of Texas HighwayGreat photo op of Austin's beautiful Hwy 360 bridge over the Colorado River.
Frost Bank Tower
Iconic skyscraper of Downtown Austin.
Pedestrian bridge that parallels Lamar Blvd over the Ladybird Lake. Beautiful view of downtown Austin.
32 locals recommend
Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
222 Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailPedestrian bridge that parallels Lamar Blvd over the Ladybird Lake. Beautiful view of downtown Austin.
The 1888 granite & marble structure has a significant rotunda & dome plus House & Senate chambers. Free admission and guided tours.
1119 locals recommend
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveThe 1888 granite & marble structure has a significant rotunda & dome plus House & Senate chambers. Free admission and guided tours.
Neighborhoods
This part of Austin gets interesting after dark. Police usually barricade several blocks (kind of like Bourbon Street) after 8pm and the clubbing district really comes alive. Lots of options for your taste. Be wary of troublemakers and mounted patrol excrement.
137 locals recommend
Sixth Street Historic District
This part of Austin gets interesting after dark. Police usually barricade several blocks (kind of like Bourbon Street) after 8pm and the clubbing district really comes alive. Lots of options for your taste. Be wary of troublemakers and mounted patrol excrement.
This is a pretty active night life venue recently repurposed from older residential homes slated for restaurants, patio cocktails bars, live music and dancing. They also have lots to offer during the day time. A cleaner alternative to 'Dirty Sixth' Street, with notably less homelessness. Less safe for pedestrians as there are no barricades against cars and the sidewalks are narrow.
212 locals recommend
Rainey Street Historic District
This is a pretty active night life venue recently repurposed from older residential homes slated for restaurants, patio cocktails bars, live music and dancing. They also have lots to offer during the day time. A cleaner alternative to 'Dirty Sixth' Street, with notably less homelessness. Less safe for pedestrians as there are no barricades against cars and the sidewalks are narrow.