Guidebook for Austin
Entertainment & Activities
The heart and soul of Austin. Our crown jewel. And the only way to beat the heat. I strongly recommend!
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrThe heart and soul of Austin. Our crown jewel. And the only way to beat the heat. I strongly recommend!
Peter Pan putt putt is a local tradition. BOYB Mini golf with iconic installations by a local artist Cheryl D Latimer. Kid and adult friendly.
201 locals recommend
Peter Pan Mini Golf
1207 Barton Springs RdPeter Pan putt putt is a local tradition. BOYB Mini golf with iconic installations by a local artist Cheryl D Latimer. Kid and adult friendly.
Alamo Drafthouse is my favorite! It's a stylish theater chain for new and classic movies. Cocktails and creative bites are served seat-side. With really fun special events all the time.
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdAlamo Drafthouse is my favorite! It's a stylish theater chain for new and classic movies. Cocktails and creative bites are served seat-side. With really fun special events all the time.
For the golfers out there. It's just a walk down the street.
63 locals recommend
Butler Park Pitch & Putt
201 Lee Barton DrFor the golfers out there. It's just a walk down the street.
Parks & Nature
The largest park in Austin. Great for frisbee, kite flying, walking the dog, or playing sports. A perfect place for a picnic and great views of the city skyline.
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdThe largest park in Austin. Great for frisbee, kite flying, walking the dog, or playing sports. A perfect place for a picnic and great views of the city skyline.
A well designed, relaxing walk through lovely scenery. Very enchanting.
429 locals recommend
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs RdA well designed, relaxing walk through lovely scenery. Very enchanting.
A great park with a trail for walking, riding your bike, or running. Its also a nice dog park for dogs who like to swim and run free.
246 locals recommend
Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park
900 W Riverside DrA great park with a trail for walking, riding your bike, or running. Its also a nice dog park for dogs who like to swim and run free.
Arts & Culture
This outdoor graffiti gallery is constantly changing and full of bright and beautiful street art. If you don't mind a short but tricky hike to the top, you will find the best view there is of Austin.
130 locals recommend
HOPE Outdoor Gallery
741 Dalton LaneThis outdoor graffiti gallery is constantly changing and full of bright and beautiful street art. If you don't mind a short but tricky hike to the top, you will find the best view there is of Austin.
Wonderful entertainment just a walk away. I have never seen anything here I didn't love.
149 locals recommend
Zach Theatre
202 S Lamar BlvdWonderful entertainment just a walk away. I have never seen anything here I didn't love.
Check out their calendar for shows, concerts, and exhibits.
167 locals recommend
The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 W Riverside DrCheck out their calendar for shows, concerts, and exhibits.
A serine garden sprinkled with interesting sculptures. Small but lovely. If you only have time for one, do the Botanical Garden. If you have time for both, why not?
235 locals recommend
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton RdA serine garden sprinkled with interesting sculptures. Small but lovely. If you only have time for one, do the Botanical Garden. If you have time for both, why not?
Food Scene
Award winning unique sushi. One of the closest things to fine dining you can find in Austin. You can dress up or wear shorts and sandals and no one will scoff either way. About a 15-20 minute walk.
688 locals recommend
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdAward winning unique sushi. One of the closest things to fine dining you can find in Austin. You can dress up or wear shorts and sandals and no one will scoff either way. About a 15-20 minute walk.
Open 24 hours! It is the best food any 24 hour place in Austin has to offer.
238 locals recommend
24 Diner
600 N Lamar BlvdOpen 24 hours! It is the best food any 24 hour place in Austin has to offer.
A down-home neighborhood spot for delicious Texas BBQ. Friendly staff. Great prices. Live music on the weekend & an authentic and inviting atmosphere. Get the brisket & sausage or brisket sandwich!
68 locals recommend
Green Mesquite BBQ
1400 Barton Springs RdA down-home neighborhood spot for delicious Texas BBQ. Friendly staff. Great prices. Live music on the weekend & an authentic and inviting atmosphere. Get the brisket & sausage or brisket sandwich!
Great spot for breakfast/brunch/lunch. You may have to wait but no longer than 15 minutes. It moves quick! This tiny little diner was in the movie "Slackers". And has a quaint Austin vibe.
211 locals recommend
Counter Cafe
1914 E 6th StGreat spot for breakfast/brunch/lunch. You may have to wait but no longer than 15 minutes. It moves quick! This tiny little diner was in the movie "Slackers". And has a quaint Austin vibe.
A short walk to an eatery with tons food trailers, and picnic tables. If your group cant agree, you wont have to. There is something for everyone.
68 locals recommend
The Picnic - Food Truck Park
1720 Barton Springs RdA short walk to an eatery with tons food trailers, and picnic tables. If your group cant agree, you wont have to. There is something for everyone.
A local Tex Mex favorite. Our guilty pleasure is ordering chips & queso as take out. Usually walking over and grabbing a margarita while we wait, then coming home to watch a movie. It's just too easy!
412 locals recommend
Chuy's
1728 Barton Springs RdA local Tex Mex favorite. Our guilty pleasure is ordering chips & queso as take out. Usually walking over and grabbing a margarita while we wait, then coming home to watch a movie. It's just too easy!
Live Music thursday nights. An iconic outdoor patio. A diverse menu of american and texmex. Kid friendly. Full Bar.
171 locals recommend
Shady Grove
1624 Barton Springs RdLive Music thursday nights. An iconic outdoor patio. A diverse menu of american and texmex. Kid friendly. Full Bar.
They offer breakfast all day, and a full menu and bar, with a shady patio. They have healthy and not so healthy options. Go there to get some work done, or meet friends. These folks have it all!
85 locals recommend
Austin Java
1608 Barton Springs RoadThey offer breakfast all day, and a full menu and bar, with a shady patio. They have healthy and not so healthy options. Go there to get some work done, or meet friends. These folks have it all!
I do not recommend their BBQ, but they brew their own beer on site and it's quite tasty. A good spot to watch sports.
98 locals recommend
Uncle Billy's Brewery & Smokehouse
1530 Barton Springs RdI do not recommend their BBQ, but they brew their own beer on site and it's quite tasty. A good spot to watch sports.
A gorgeous outdoor hillside patio. A more elevated Mexican food experience.
170 locals recommend
El Alma
1025 Barton Springs RdA gorgeous outdoor hillside patio. A more elevated Mexican food experience.
Austin is very proud of our P. Terry's. Its an Austin local drive-thru, and you wont find a better quality one out there.
302 locals recommend
P. Terry's Burger Stand
404 S Lamar BlvdAustin is very proud of our P. Terry's. Its an Austin local drive-thru, and you wont find a better quality one out there.
Unique and interesting spot for a quick and hearty meal. Delicious!
502 locals recommend
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S Lamar BlvdUnique and interesting spot for a quick and hearty meal. Delicious!
The more casual sibling to Barley Swine. But still an elevated dining experience.
374 locals recommend
Odd Duck
1201 S Lamar BlvdThe more casual sibling to Barley Swine. But still an elevated dining experience.
A great food trailer where you can grab a snack while having a drink at Gibson.
28 locals recommend
Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant
506 West AveA great food trailer where you can grab a snack while having a drink at Gibson.
Essentials
A great corner store and grocer! Wonderful selection of beers, wine and snacks. Everyday wares and fun Austin gifts. You pay for the convenience, but the friendly staff helps you forget.
78 locals recommend
Thom's Market
1418 Barton Springs RdA great corner store and grocer! Wonderful selection of beers, wine and snacks. Everyday wares and fun Austin gifts. You pay for the convenience, but the friendly staff helps you forget.
This ain't your momma's Whole Foods. This is the Flagship, and it is pretty epic. Complete with a roof top ice rink and playground.
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdThis ain't your momma's Whole Foods. This is the Flagship, and it is pretty epic. Complete with a roof top ice rink and playground.
A more wallet friendly alternative to Whole Foods for those who are ingredient/health conscious.
289 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
211 Walter Seaholm DrA more wallet friendly alternative to Whole Foods for those who are ingredient/health conscious.
Shopping
Austin's original book store. Two stories and with a great selection. A wonderful place for gifts. Well curated.
146 locals recommend
BookPeople
603 N Lamar BlvdAustin's original book store. Two stories and with a great selection. A wonderful place for gifts. Well curated.
Anthropologie
601 N Lamar BlvdWe all know its over priced, but dang do they have cute stuff.
Drinks & Nightlife
Gibson Street Bar
1109 S Lamar BlvdGreat cocktails and tons of beers on tap.
An twinkling outdoor patio with relaxing live music. Very chill and romantic. Great wine selection.
85 locals recommend
House Wine
408 Josephine StAn twinkling outdoor patio with relaxing live music. Very chill and romantic. Great wine selection.
You will definitely find local color here, depending on the time of night. It is a dive, but its fun. They have a juke box, pool and some arcade games. But don't make this your choice if you are looking for a refined evening.
41 locals recommend
Barton Springs Saloon
424 S Lamar BlvdYou will definitely find local color here, depending on the time of night. It is a dive, but its fun. They have a juke box, pool and some arcade games. But don't make this your choice if you are looking for a refined evening.