Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
The interior Mexican food is amazing. If you can get there before 6:30, the have happy hour 1/2 price pricing on drinks and certain appetizers. If you have kids, sit outside! There's a huge place for children to play.
44 locals recommend
Verde's Mexican Parrilla
16018 Hamilton Pool RdThe interior Mexican food is amazing. If you can get there before 6:30, the have happy hour 1/2 price pricing on drinks and certain appetizers. If you have kids, sit outside! There's a huge place for children to play.
Amazing pizza and pastrami. Can be a long line, so early is better. They've moved down the road to Belterra.
110 locals recommend
Pieous
166 Hargraves DrAmazing pizza and pastrami. Can be a long line, so early is better. They've moved down the road to Belterra.
This is really good food. There can often be a wait, so it's wise to make a reservation. The Sunday brunch is pricey and worth every penny. Again, make a reservation!
89 locals recommend
Jack Allen's Kitchen Oak Hill
7720 State Hwy 71This is really good food. There can often be a wait, so it's wise to make a reservation. The Sunday brunch is pricey and worth every penny. Again, make a reservation!
Mazama Coffee Co
301 Mercer StGood atmosphere.
It's also a coffee and sandwich shop. One of the cuter places to hang out in Dripping Springs.
127 locals recommend
Rolling In Thyme & Dough
333 E Hwy 290It's also a coffee and sandwich shop. One of the cuter places to hang out in Dripping Springs.
This is some of the best Texas bbq around if that's what you've got a hankering for.
Donn's Texas BBQ
7001 Oak Meadow DrThis is some of the best Texas bbq around if that's what you've got a hankering for.
Nice little atmosphere. Good food and drinks. Amazing fried chicken.
33 locals recommend
Proof & Cooper
18710 Hamilton Pool RdNice little atmosphere. Good food and drinks. Amazing fried chicken.
This is our favorite place for sushi, but the menu is amazing even if you don't want sushi. It has Japanese, Indonesian & American fusion dishes, salads, and drinks.
14 locals recommend
Eurasia Sushi Bar & Seafood
7101 State Hwy 71This is our favorite place for sushi, but the menu is amazing even if you don't want sushi. It has Japanese, Indonesian & American fusion dishes, salads, and drinks.
This place is a little gem. They have great breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a nice playscape for the kids. I recommend the Spicy Peanut Soup and the Chicken Fried Chicken.
7 locals recommend
Austin Java
3799 US-290This place is a little gem. They have great breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a nice playscape for the kids. I recommend the Spicy Peanut Soup and the Chicken Fried Chicken.
This is one of the best brunches around. It's unusual, really yummy and extremely close by.
Tipping T
13127 Fitzhugh RdThis is one of the best brunches around. It's unusual, really yummy and extremely close by.
Better known as The Salt Lick, this is probably the most famous BBQ joint in the area. It's a pretty little drive. Good food and atmosphere. It's cash only, and if I remember right, it's BYOB.
6 locals recommend
Pecan Grove
Ranch to Market Road 1826Better known as The Salt Lick, this is probably the most famous BBQ joint in the area. It's a pretty little drive. Good food and atmosphere. It's cash only, and if I remember right, it's BYOB.
Hat Creek Burger Company
3700 E Palm Valley BlvdGreat burgers. Good family atmosphere.
This is our new favorite. The menu is outstanding. Sit inside or out. They have a very reasonably priced Saturday and Sunday brunch. Highly recommend.
29 locals recommend
The League Kitchen
166 Hargraves DrThis is our new favorite. The menu is outstanding. Sit inside or out. They have a very reasonably priced Saturday and Sunday brunch. Highly recommend.
Summer Moon Coffee (Cedar Valley)
11601 US-290This is the newest, hippest coffee spot around.
This is a great restaurant. I've never had a bad meal there. It's BBQ with a cajun twist. The crawfish pot pie is outstanding.
13 locals recommend
The Switch BBQ
166 Hargraves DrThis is a great restaurant. I've never had a bad meal there. It's BBQ with a cajun twist. The crawfish pot pie is outstanding.
Great little Asian place. They have good Thai meals. The kids love the dumplings.
9 locals recommend
Spoon + Fork Kitchen
166 Hargraves DriveGreat little Asian place. They have good Thai meals. The kids love the dumplings.
Best Tacos around. Try the Trailer Park if you like fried chicken. If you go the website and order in advance, it will be ready when you get there. Great fish taco, shrimp taco, breakfast taco and awesome queso.
1075 locals recommend
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st StBest Tacos around. Try the Trailer Park if you like fried chicken. If you go the website and order in advance, it will be ready when you get there. Great fish taco, shrimp taco, breakfast taco and awesome queso.
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh RdJester King serves delicious pizza and it's just so close!
Drinks & Nightlife
They often have bands, and it's just a cute little place to have a draft beer.
55 locals recommend
The Barber Shop
207 W Mercer StThey often have bands, and it's just a cute little place to have a draft beer.
Also a distillery. They often have live music. Family friendly. They close between 9-10 pm. It's just a short drive.
171 locals recommend
Treaty Oak Distilling
16604 Fitzhugh RdAlso a distillery. They often have live music. Family friendly. They close between 9-10 pm. It's just a short drive.
Again, within walking distance - maybe 1/2 mile. Cute little beer garden that's hardly ever crowded like Jester King.
26 locals recommend
Last Stand Brewing Company
12345 Pauls Valley RdAgain, within walking distance - maybe 1/2 mile. Cute little beer garden that's hardly ever crowded like Jester King.
This is a world renowned brewery, known for its sour beers. The beer is quite pricey, but you can buy other beers that are more affordable. You can walk there or it's a very short drive. Great atmosphere. Kids can play outside.
298 locals recommend
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh RdThis is a world renowned brewery, known for its sour beers. The beer is quite pricey, but you can buy other beers that are more affordable. You can walk there or it's a very short drive. Great atmosphere. Kids can play outside.
This is actually a Cidery. And it's very good cider! The tasting room isn't open that often, but if you're headed to Last Stand Brewery, it's in the same complex.
19 locals recommend
Argus Cidery
12345 Pauls Valley RdThis is actually a Cidery. And it's very good cider! The tasting room isn't open that often, but if you're headed to Last Stand Brewery, it's in the same complex.
It's really a distillery. They make gin and they'll make you a fan! They give lots of samples and are really friendly. In the same complex as Last Stand and Argus. We recommend walking there from here. ;)
24 locals recommend
Revolution Spirits Distilling
12345 Pauls Valley RdIt's really a distillery. They make gin and they'll make you a fan! They give lots of samples and are really friendly. In the same complex as Last Stand and Argus. We recommend walking there from here. ;)
Solaro Estate Winery
13111 Silver Creek RdJust a short drive.
It's another distillery. This one makes the best vodka and flavored vodkas around. They keep odd hours, but it's become a local icon.
150 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room
2250 US-290It's another distillery. This one makes the best vodka and flavored vodkas around. They keep odd hours, but it's become a local icon.
Acopon makes great beer. The owner is really nice and the atmosphere is good.
33 locals recommend
Acopon Brewing Co.
211 W Mercer StAcopon makes great beer. The owner is really nice and the atmosphere is good.
A little jaunt away, but this place is new and awesome. The beer is great. The atmosphere is fantastic. They're still having their growing pains and sometimes the kitchen can't keep up with the crowd. But it's going to be a rockin' place for a long time. Very Texas.
64 locals recommend
Vista Brewing
13551 FM150 WA little jaunt away, but this place is new and awesome. The beer is great. The atmosphere is fantastic. They're still having their growing pains and sometimes the kitchen can't keep up with the crowd. But it's going to be a rockin' place for a long time. Very Texas.
Parks & Nature
This is an amazing state park. For $15 a car, spend the day mountain biking on their extensive trails, rock climbing - some of the best in the state, hiking, fishing, swimming or playing on the beaches of the Pedernales river.
96 locals recommend
Milton Reimers Ranch Park
23610 Hamilton Pool RdThis is an amazing state park. For $15 a car, spend the day mountain biking on their extensive trails, rock climbing - some of the best in the state, hiking, fishing, swimming or playing on the beaches of the Pedernales river.
This is one of the gorgeous grottos you can visit and swim in here in Central Texas. Sometimes it's closed, but worth it if you can get in.
588 locals recommend
Hamilton Pool Preserve
24300 Hamilton Pool RdThis is one of the gorgeous grottos you can visit and swim in here in Central Texas. Sometimes it's closed, but worth it if you can get in.
Jacobs Well
A beautiful natural swimming hole for a hot day.
This is a great river to float in the summer. There are lots of other folks doing it too. It's quite a scene. Take your own tubes.
45 locals recommend
San Marcos River
This is a great river to float in the summer. There are lots of other folks doing it too. It's quite a scene. Take your own tubes.
This is an iconic hill country river to float in the summer. A bit farther of a drive than San Marcos. Again, take your own tubes.
63 locals recommend
Guadalupe River
This is an iconic hill country river to float in the summer. A bit farther of a drive than San Marcos. Again, take your own tubes.
Essentials
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdThere's an HEB in OakHill toward Austin, but this one is just better.
If you're heading this way from Austin, this is your grocery store. Bring your own bags. In Austin you have to pay for plastic bags.
20 locals recommend
H-E-B - Our new H-E-B is at 7901 West Hwy 290
If you're heading this way from Austin, this is your grocery store. Bring your own bags. In Austin you have to pay for plastic bags.
If you're a real foodie and you want harder to find and more gourmet goodies during your stay, this is the grocery for you! They also have lots of pre-made food ready to grill or heat. Fresh soups, olive bar, great cheese, wine and beer selection.
765 locals recommend
Central Market
4477 S Lamar BlvdIf you're a real foodie and you want harder to find and more gourmet goodies during your stay, this is the grocery for you! They also have lots of pre-made food ready to grill or heat. Fresh soups, olive bar, great cheese, wine and beer selection.
Entertainment & Activities
If you're here with kids on a rainy day, the kids love this place. Better than a jumpy house.
16 locals recommend
Altitude Trampoline Park
6800 West Gate BlvdIf you're here with kids on a rainy day, the kids love this place. Better than a jumpy house.
Sky Cinemas
166 Hargraves DrThis is a brand new movie theatre.
Arts & Culture
This is a museum dedicated to Texas History. It's really well done.
593 locals recommend
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveThis is a museum dedicated to Texas History. It's really well done.
Sightseeing
You can see the famous Congress Bridge bats fly between May and October at dusk. Get there early. South Congress itself is one of the hipper places to hang out in Austin. Make a whole evening of it.
447 locals recommend
South Congress Avenue
South Congress AvenueYou can see the famous Congress Bridge bats fly between May and October at dusk. Get there early. South Congress itself is one of the hipper places to hang out in Austin. Make a whole evening of it.