Austin guidebook
Food scene
This is our absolute favorite restaurant in Austin. Quality ingredients, mostly locally sourced. THE BEST. Easier than new hot spots to snag a reservation.
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Dai Due
2406 Manor RdThis is our absolute favorite restaurant in Austin. Quality ingredients, mostly locally sourced. THE BEST. Easier than new hot spots to snag a reservation.
Cool rustic ambiance and creative menu. The cocktails are special. Good date night spot. Plan way ahead to secure a reservation.
374 personas locales recomiendan
Odd Duck
1201 S Lamar BlvdCool rustic ambiance and creative menu. The cocktails are special. Good date night spot. Plan way ahead to secure a reservation.
We’ve probably eaten at Homeslice more than any other restaurant in Austin. Really good classic pizzas, reasonable prices, cool vibe, and always great service. They also have an outdoor play area for the little ones.
791 personas locales recomiendan
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveWe’ve probably eaten at Homeslice more than any other restaurant in Austin. Really good classic pizzas, reasonable prices, cool vibe, and always great service. They also have an outdoor play area for the little ones.
After living in Austin for a couple years, I've learned that this is a top favorite among locals. Good central location.
372 personas locales recomiendan
Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs RdAfter living in Austin for a couple years, I've learned that this is a top favorite among locals. Good central location.
If you’re willing to drive a bit, Salt Lick is about a 30 min drive in Driftwood, TX. They serve family style and the property is such a central Texas kind of experience. Go hungry.
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Salt Lick Cellars
18300 Farm to Market Rd 1826If you’re willing to drive a bit, Salt Lick is about a 30 min drive in Driftwood, TX. They serve family style and the property is such a central Texas kind of experience. Go hungry.
This is our favorite BBQ spot. It's world famous so that's probably why. It's located in East Austin and open for lunch 6 days a week. Wait times can be long and they can sell out so go early. We think it’s worth it.
919 personas locales recomiendan
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StThis is our favorite BBQ spot. It's world famous so that's probably why. It's located in East Austin and open for lunch 6 days a week. Wait times can be long and they can sell out so go early. We think it’s worth it.
LARGER THAN LIFE chicken sandwiches served on a flaky biscuit is pretty much all you need to know. Just look up a photo and you’ll be sold. Place pickup orders online.
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Bird Bird Biscuit
2701 Manor RdLARGER THAN LIFE chicken sandwiches served on a flaky biscuit is pretty much all you need to know. Just look up a photo and you’ll be sold. Place pickup orders online.
Delicious ramen and also recommend ordering a beer with frozen beer foam. We like the 6th street location best. Find them on IG ramentatsu_ya for ordering inspiration.
502 personas locales recomiendan
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S Lamar BlvdDelicious ramen and also recommend ordering a beer with frozen beer foam. We like the 6th street location best. Find them on IG ramentatsu_ya for ordering inspiration.
If you ate too many tacos or BBQ and want something balanced and healthy to eat, Flower Child has many options including vegetarian, vegan, and paleo. Great kids meal options if you are traveling with little ones.
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Flower Child
11721 Rock Rose AveIf you ate too many tacos or BBQ and want something balanced and healthy to eat, Flower Child has many options including vegetarian, vegan, and paleo. Great kids meal options if you are traveling with little ones.
Coffee/Breakfast/Brunch
Summer Moon Coffee has delicious coffee and is a popular coffee shop in Austin. They have a cute truck just a few minutes from the house at 6711 Menchaca.
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Summer Moon Coffee Trailer
6711 Menchaca RdSummer Moon Coffee has delicious coffee and is a popular coffee shop in Austin. They have a cute truck just a few minutes from the house at 6711 Menchaca.
Radio Coffee is a hip spot with lots of outdoor seating and a couple food trucks on the lot. We like to go for coffee and breakfast tacos from Veracruz. If you like spicy food, be sure to get a side of the doña sauce. At night, Radio Coffee turns into a bar with good cocktails and live music. The Dee Dee Thai food truck is very popular in Austin and sells out fast. They only accept online orders and you can preorder before 3pm to avoid long wait times and sold out items.
435 personas locales recomiendan
Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Menchaca RdRadio Coffee is a hip spot with lots of outdoor seating and a couple food trucks on the lot. We like to go for coffee and breakfast tacos from Veracruz. If you like spicy food, be sure to get a side of the doña sauce. At night, Radio Coffee turns into a bar with good cocktails and live music. The Dee Dee Thai food truck is very popular in Austin and sells out fast. They only accept online orders and you can preorder before 3pm to avoid long wait times and sold out items.
Mattie’s is a beautiful, massive 19th century home on a large property full of Live Oak trees. Dine outside for a yummy southern brunch or go indoors to check out the antique chic lounge. This place has dinner as well but we loooove the brunch. Reservations are required and they tend to fill up fast.
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Mattie's
901 W Live Oak StMattie’s is a beautiful, massive 19th century home on a large property full of Live Oak trees. Dine outside for a yummy southern brunch or go indoors to check out the antique chic lounge. This place has dinner as well but we loooove the brunch. Reservations are required and they tend to fill up fast.
Shopping
If you are visiting Austin for the first time South Congress is a must. Fabulous shopping including some local spots, and great places to eat. Overall just a great place to wander. The famous 'I love you more' wall mural is there, next to Jo's coffee.
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South Congress
If you are visiting Austin for the first time South Congress is a must. Fabulous shopping including some local spots, and great places to eat. Overall just a great place to wander. The famous 'I love you more' wall mural is there, next to Jo's coffee.
Love this funky little gift shop. Super fun and cute souvenirs to bring home to people who deserve it, or maybe just for yourself.
46 personas locales recomiendan
Atown
5502 Burnet RdLove this funky little gift shop. Super fun and cute souvenirs to bring home to people who deserve it, or maybe just for yourself.
The Domain is a large open air shopping mall in North Austin. If you are looking for a mall type of shopping experience, this is the place to go. Upscale shops with pretty much everything you can think of and lots of restaurants too. It's about a 30 min drive during non rush hour.
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The Domain
11410 Century Oaks TerraceThe Domain is a large open air shopping mall in North Austin. If you are looking for a mall type of shopping experience, this is the place to go. Upscale shops with pretty much everything you can think of and lots of restaurants too. It's about a 30 min drive during non rush hour.
Kendra Scott jewelry is headquartered in Austin. Check out their flagship store on S. Congress. They also have a mini cafe inside, with treats from local bakeries and a selection of coffee, wines, and drinks.
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Kendra Scott Flagship
1701 S Congress AveKendra Scott jewelry is headquartered in Austin. Check out their flagship store on S. Congress. They also have a mini cafe inside, with treats from local bakeries and a selection of coffee, wines, and drinks.
Cocktails/bars/drinks/nightlife
Such a beautiful restaurant. Located on South Congress. Go for a cocktail and an appetizer. We've had luck with walking in if you go early.
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Summer House on Music Lane
1101 Music LnSuch a beautiful restaurant. Located on South Congress. Go for a cocktail and an appetizer. We've had luck with walking in if you go early.
Austin's most iconic live music destination. Check out their schedule online first to find out who’s playing and if advance tickets are required.
815 personas locales recomiendan
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveAustin's most iconic live music destination. Check out their schedule online first to find out who’s playing and if advance tickets are required.
THE bustling destination for bars, clubs, and music venues. Covers several blocks. Many places to go but a few recommendations are The Driskill Bar (get the Old Fashioned), Firehouse Lounge, and Midnight Cowboy (big cocktail menu, reservations required). You can also just head down there and begin walking to explore whatever calls your name.
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Sixth Street Historic District
THE bustling destination for bars, clubs, and music venues. Covers several blocks. Many places to go but a few recommendations are The Driskill Bar (get the Old Fashioned), Firehouse Lounge, and Midnight Cowboy (big cocktail menu, reservations required). You can also just head down there and begin walking to explore whatever calls your name.
Beer gardens are one of the things that Austin does best. They have an all day menu of great food and a bakery, too. There’s a few locations in Austin but we recommend the 7th street location as a destination to check out the East side of Austin with more to explore nearby. A fun place to spend a lunch/afternoon.
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Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th StBeer gardens are one of the things that Austin does best. They have an all day menu of great food and a bakery, too. There’s a few locations in Austin but we recommend the 7th street location as a destination to check out the East side of Austin with more to explore nearby. A fun place to spend a lunch/afternoon.
Specialty coffee, craft beers, select cocktails, and local food trucks with a very large outdoor picnic table space surrounded by a garden area. Great place to enjoy day or night. Check them out on IG: cosmiccoffeebeer.
205 personas locales recomiendan
Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden
121 Pickle RdSpecialty coffee, craft beers, select cocktails, and local food trucks with a very large outdoor picnic table space surrounded by a garden area. Great place to enjoy day or night. Check them out on IG: cosmiccoffeebeer.
A historic district nestled downtown with bungalow style homes turned into bars. The homes have large porches and outdoor yards and is a popular nightlife area. Parking can be challenging so recommend taking an Uber/Lyft.
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Rainey Street
Rainey StreetA historic district nestled downtown with bungalow style homes turned into bars. The homes have large porches and outdoor yards and is a popular nightlife area. Parking can be challenging so recommend taking an Uber/Lyft.
A totally different vibe than you’ll find downtown, with an old Austin feel. Usually some live music and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. This area is a convenient short drive from the house and parking is easy. Check out Moontower Saloon and Lustre Pearl. Search ‘Austin insider top things to do in South Austin’ for more info.
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South Austin
A totally different vibe than you’ll find downtown, with an old Austin feel. Usually some live music and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. This area is a convenient short drive from the house and parking is easy. Check out Moontower Saloon and Lustre Pearl. Search ‘Austin insider top things to do in South Austin’ for more info.
Things to do
This is the river looking body of water next to downtown. There’s a 10-mile loop that goes around it with lots of good photo ops with a city backdrop. It’s relatively flat so great for a morning run to work off all of the indulgent eats in this town. Highly recommend paddle boarding, there’s plenty of places to rent from. Also recommend checking out the thousands of bats that emerge from underneath the South Congress bridge around sunset - see austinbats dot org for more info.
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Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailThis is the river looking body of water next to downtown. There’s a 10-mile loop that goes around it with lots of good photo ops with a city backdrop. It’s relatively flat so great for a morning run to work off all of the indulgent eats in this town. Highly recommend paddle boarding, there’s plenty of places to rent from. Also recommend checking out the thousands of bats that emerge from underneath the South Congress bridge around sunset - see austinbats dot org for more info.
When we have out of town visitors, this is always on our list. Go watch the sunset and take nice pictures. There’s some stairs to climb but you’ll see people of all ages up there. Incredible views and a cool way to check out some dreamy houses on Lake Austin.
1082 personas locales recomiendan
Mount Bonnell
When we have out of town visitors, this is always on our list. Go watch the sunset and take nice pictures. There’s some stairs to climb but you’ll see people of all ages up there. Incredible views and a cool way to check out some dreamy houses on Lake Austin.
If you’ve looked up things to do in Austin, this is on every list. It’s a really stunning natural limestone pool that offers year round swimming with an average temp of 68-70 degrees. Kiddos love it. Recommend bringing swim shoes for the rocky bottom. It can get pretty busy and you may have to walk a bit or even shuttle from a parking area. Purchase day passes online.
2454 personas locales recomiendan
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrIf you’ve looked up things to do in Austin, this is on every list. It’s a really stunning natural limestone pool that offers year round swimming with an average temp of 68-70 degrees. Kiddos love it. Recommend bringing swim shoes for the rocky bottom. It can get pretty busy and you may have to walk a bit or even shuttle from a parking area. Purchase day passes online.
Such a cool outdoor concert venue. If there’s something playing and you can make it, go!
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Moody Amphitheater
1401 Trinity StSuch a cool outdoor concert venue. If there’s something playing and you can make it, go!
City/town information
This is NOT in Austin. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive away, in the heart of hill country. It’s the home of Texas wine country and has a lovely downtown area with plenty of shopping and antiques. Recommended as a day trip if you’ve got some time to spare! Try Emma and Ollie for brunch (take delicious pastries to go as well) and Pedernales Cellars for wine tasting (reservations required). Good and Gathered is a cute antique shop and it's difficult to walk out of there empty handed.
463 personas locales recomiendan
Fredericksburg
This is NOT in Austin. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive away, in the heart of hill country. It’s the home of Texas wine country and has a lovely downtown area with plenty of shopping and antiques. Recommended as a day trip if you’ve got some time to spare! Try Emma and Ollie for brunch (take delicious pastries to go as well) and Pedernales Cellars for wine tasting (reservations required). Good and Gathered is a cute antique shop and it's difficult to walk out of there empty handed.
Spas
Milk and Honey is national but a popular spa spot here in Austin. There’s a few locations but recommend the one on 2nd street so you can take advantage of being downtown to explore before or after your treatment.
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milk + honey spa | 2nd Street District
100A Guadalupe StMilk and Honey is national but a popular spa spot here in Austin. There’s a few locations but recommend the one on 2nd street so you can take advantage of being downtown to explore before or after your treatment.
Pamper yourself with a massage at this place. Lovely space, great staff, and good products.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Viva Day Spa 35th
1811 W 35th StPamper yourself with a massage at this place. Lovely space, great staff, and good products.