Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Pieous
166 Hargraves DrIf you spend a day in the hill country, you MUST go here for dinner.
Out in the middle of nowhere, but unique and pretty damn awesome. Delicious beer (mostly sour), homemade pizza that is really worth it, and a tour that is as informative as it is delicious. There are plenty of breweries in town--this is the most interesting.
298 locals recommend
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh RdOut in the middle of nowhere, but unique and pretty damn awesome. Delicious beer (mostly sour), homemade pizza that is really worth it, and a tour that is as informative as it is delicious. There are plenty of breweries in town--this is the most interesting.
Mozart's Coffee Roasters
3825 Lake Austin BlvdNice coffeeshop. Spectacular views.
Solid sushi. Reverse happy hour. Get the "Out of Control" roll.
67 locals recommend
Xian Sushi and Noodle
1801 E 51st StSolid sushi. Reverse happy hour. Get the "Out of Control" roll.
Also fantastic barbecue, get it right before going to Hops and Grain.
40 locals recommend
John Mueller Meat Co
2500 E 6th StAlso fantastic barbecue, get it right before going to Hops and Grain.
The best barbecue that doesn't require a 4 hour long Franklins line.
215 locals recommend
Micklethwait Craft Meats
1309 Rosewood AveThe best barbecue that doesn't require a 4 hour long Franklins line.
My girlfriend and I save this place for all the special occasions. Small plates. Brussel sprouts and short rib are absolute musts.
50 locals recommend
The Hightower
1209 E 7th StMy girlfriend and I save this place for all the special occasions. Small plates. Brussel sprouts and short rib are absolute musts.
Salt & Time
1912 E 7th StUpscale butcher's shop and restaurant.
My actual favorite taco place in the city. Mostly outdoor seating--don't go when it's too hot.
91 locals recommend
Paco's Tacos
1304 E 51st StMy actual favorite taco place in the city. Mostly outdoor seating--don't go when it's too hot.
Smoothies. World's best hangover cure. Also can be consumed if you're not hungover, and not half bad.
519 locals recommend
JuiceLand
1625 Barton Springs RdSmoothies. World's best hangover cure. Also can be consumed if you're not hungover, and not half bad.
Sawyer & Co
4827 E Cesar Chavez StCajun food, real cool atmosphere.
Only place in town with fresh, homemade bagels. And real NYC style iced coffee. Trust me--I'm a New Yorker.
88 locals recommend
Rockstar Bagels
1900 Rosewood AveOnly place in town with fresh, homemade bagels. And real NYC style iced coffee. Trust me--I'm a New Yorker.
Sa-Tén
916 Springdale RdCool, bizarre, Asian-themed coffeeshop.
AMAZING sandwiches. You didn't think sandwiches could be this good before you go to Gourmands.
193 locals recommend
Gourmands
2316 Webberville RdAMAZING sandwiches. You didn't think sandwiches could be this good before you go to Gourmands.
Most people will tell you this is the best taco in town. It's likely true.
1075 locals recommend
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st StMost people will tell you this is the best taco in town. It's likely true.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cool beergarden, great outdoor and indoor space in a 150-year old building. Puts you right in the middle of downtown.
358 locals recommend
Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th StCool beergarden, great outdoor and indoor space in a 150-year old building. Puts you right in the middle of downtown.
Barbarella
611 Red River StThis is where you go if you want your night to be insane.
Specializes in sours, which I love but some really don't. $15 for a flight, totally worth it.
127 locals recommend
Blue Owl Brewing
2400 E Cesar Chavez StSpecializes in sours, which I love but some really don't. $15 for a flight, totally worth it.
Hops & Grain Brewing
507 Calles StGreat brewery, they brew my favorite porter in town.
Such a cool old bar. Best old fashioned. Often has a great band playing.
561 locals recommend
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StSuch a cool old bar. Best old fashioned. Often has a great band playing.
Get your two-step on, or go see a big-name band like Nathaniel Rateliffe.
99 locals recommend
Historic Scoot Inn
1308 E 4th StGet your two-step on, or go see a big-name band like Nathaniel Rateliffe.
Sightseeing
Weird, awesome, cool shops. Allen's Boots is the most Texan place you could ever go.
447 locals recommend
South Congress Avenue
South Congress AvenueWeird, awesome, cool shops. Allen's Boots is the most Texan place you could ever go.
The epitome of Austin. A bunch of places that look like they're falling apart, but sweet on the inside.
395 locals recommend
East 6th Street
East 6th StreetThe epitome of Austin. A bunch of places that look like they're falling apart, but sweet on the inside.
It's where I work, so I don't find it particularly special, but so much of what happens in this city is directly tied to the place, and the campus is a really nice walk.
238 locals recommend
The University of Texas at Austin
2515 SpeedwayIt's where I work, so I don't find it particularly special, but so much of what happens in this city is directly tied to the place, and the campus is a really nice walk.
Despite what often goes on in there, the building is fantastic and worth an hour or two to walk the grounds. Everyone's welcome and it's free to enter.
1119 locals recommend
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveDespite what often goes on in there, the building is fantastic and worth an hour or two to walk the grounds. Everyone's welcome and it's free to enter.
Parks & Nature
Best gym there is. Clean, comfortable, massive indoor space with really great routes for pretty much anyone.
160 locals recommend
Austin Bouldering Project
979 Springdale RdBest gym there is. Clean, comfortable, massive indoor space with really great routes for pretty much anyone.
A hidden gem. Great for swimming, and the drive to and from is set in really, really beautiful country.
61 locals recommend
Emma Long Metropolitan Park
1600 City Park RoadA hidden gem. Great for swimming, and the drive to and from is set in really, really beautiful country.
One of the best swimming holes in the world. Collapsed cave and a 3 mile hiking trail. Requires reservations--google it.
588 locals recommend
Hamilton Pool Preserve
24300 Hamilton Pool RdOne of the best swimming holes in the world. Collapsed cave and a 3 mile hiking trail. Requires reservations--google it.
8 mile trail that ends at Barton Springs. Get all sweaty and then jump in the pool--there's no better way to do it.
235 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trailhead
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail8 mile trail that ends at Barton Springs. Get all sweaty and then jump in the pool--there's no better way to do it.
Best spot to get a glimpse of TX Hill Country landscapes. Amazingly gargantuan houses, too.
1082 locals recommend
Mount Bonnell
Best spot to get a glimpse of TX Hill Country landscapes. Amazingly gargantuan houses, too.
Vast ranch with great hiking routes through creeks and hills in the hill country. If you've never been out here, this is the epitome of Hill Country landscape. Hidden gem. Best known for rock climbing routes that hang over the Pedernales River.
96 locals recommend
Milton Reimers Ranch Park
23610 Hamilton Pool RdVast ranch with great hiking routes through creeks and hills in the hill country. If you've never been out here, this is the epitome of Hill Country landscape. Hidden gem. Best known for rock climbing routes that hang over the Pedernales River.
Arts & Culture
A park, a pool, a natural spring, a community, everything all in one. I've been told no visit to Austin is complete without getting baptized by the waters of Barton Springs.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrA park, a pool, a natural spring, a community, everything all in one. I've been told no visit to Austin is complete without getting baptized by the waters of Barton Springs.
Don't know where else you would find a place like this. Giant old ruins of a construction site that are professional graffiti'd every day. Walkable to Zilker.
207 locals recommend
Graffiti Park at Castle Hill
1008 Baylor StDon't know where else you would find a place like this. Giant old ruins of a construction site that are professional graffiti'd every day. Walkable to Zilker.
I love the 60s, and this is a great museum that really well explains the 60s.
240 locals recommend
LBJ Presidential Library
2313 Red River StI love the 60s, and this is a great museum that really well explains the 60s.
Surprisingly good art collection at UT. Students cheap, UT students free.
644 locals recommend
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardSurprisingly good art collection at UT. Students cheap, UT students free.
Essentials
I wouldn't survive without this place. Also has a nice cafe with good local food and beer.
1667 locals recommend
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdI wouldn't survive without this place. Also has a nice cafe with good local food and beer.