Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Jo's coffee is right across the street from the complex, with outstandingly delicious coffee (I especially love their cold brew!) and great people watching in a quintessentially "Austin" outdoor setting. Sometimes there's a bit of a line, but completely worth it! As a bonus, snap a picture in front of Austin's famous "I love you so much" mural on the side of the building.
495 locals recommend
Jo's Coffee
1300 S Congress AveJo's coffee is right across the street from the complex, with outstandingly delicious coffee (I especially love their cold brew!) and great people watching in a quintessentially "Austin" outdoor setting. Sometimes there's a bit of a line, but completely worth it! As a bonus, snap a picture in front of Austin's famous "I love you so much" mural on the side of the building.
Perla's is celebrated for their oysters, but they also have a beautiful patio with great people-watching and delicious cocktails. If you want just a snack, they have some amazing small plates and side dishes.
398 locals recommend
Perla's
1400 S Congress AvePerla's is celebrated for their oysters, but they also have a beautiful patio with great people-watching and delicious cocktails. If you want just a snack, they have some amazing small plates and side dishes.
Famous for their burgers, but they also have a few veggie options. Try to go before the lunch rush or before the dinner rush to avoid lines.
780 locals recommend
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 S Congress AveFamous for their burgers, but they also have a few veggie options. Try to go before the lunch rush or before the dinner rush to avoid lines.
Great vegetarian restaurant and cafe several blocks Southwest - about a 20 minute walk, and well worth it!
565 locals recommend
Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S 1st StGreat vegetarian restaurant and cafe several blocks Southwest - about a 20 minute walk, and well worth it!
Amazing Italian food in a romantic setting, with a beautiful little bar and courtyard out back, sometimes with live music. Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Austin! Try the Botticelli bread (they have a meat option and a veggie option)!
65 locals recommend
Botticelli's
1321 S Congress AveAmazing Italian food in a romantic setting, with a beautiful little bar and courtyard out back, sometimes with live music. Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Austin! Try the Botticelli bread (they have a meat option and a veggie option)!
Famous taco joint with a patio out front, great option whether you want something quick or want to sit and enjoy your tacos with a beer or two. I love going early for the breakfast tacos!
1075 locals recommend
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st StFamous taco joint with a patio out front, great option whether you want something quick or want to sit and enjoy your tacos with a beer or two. I love going early for the breakfast tacos!
Hip spot for "tokyo-inspired street fare" including sushi, dumplings, Asian tacos, bowls, and sake punch.
112 locals recommend
Lucky Robot
1303 S Congress AveHip spot for "tokyo-inspired street fare" including sushi, dumplings, Asian tacos, bowls, and sake punch.
Walk up to the Amy's window for delicious homemade ice cream and milkshakes. There is no indoor area or bathroom, but there are a couple of tables out on South Congress.
397 locals recommend
Amys Ice Creams
1301 S Congress AveWalk up to the Amy's window for delicious homemade ice cream and milkshakes. There is no indoor area or bathroom, but there are a couple of tables out on South Congress.
Sausage house and beer garden with one of the most fun weekend brunches in the city. Banger's is famous for the Man-Mosa (giant mimosa the size of your head), but they also have a great michelada bar. Sunday brunch features the Urban Achievers Brass Band. Get there before 11 to avoid a line!
264 locals recommend
Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden
79 Rainey StSausage house and beer garden with one of the most fun weekend brunches in the city. Banger's is famous for the Man-Mosa (giant mimosa the size of your head), but they also have a great michelada bar. Sunday brunch features the Urban Achievers Brass Band. Get there before 11 to avoid a line!
Shopping
Great Austin standby featuring lots of cool t-shirts, tank tops, jewelry, artwork, and gifts, all made locally.
72 locals recommend
Parts & Labour
1704 S Congress AveGreat Austin standby featuring lots of cool t-shirts, tank tops, jewelry, artwork, and gifts, all made locally.
Drinks & Nightlife
Winery with a really cool industrial bar / seating area. They serve cheese plates but do not have a full menu, and you are welcome to bring your own food. Conveniently, they share a parking lot with a climbing gym, Cosmic Coffee (which serves delicious coffee AND beer), and a few great food trucks (including Pueblo Viejo, one of the best trucks for authentic street tacos in the city!). Not as walkable, I'd suggest using Uber or Lyft or renting a bike if you're going to head over there.
19 locals recommend
The Infinite Monkey Theorem
702 Shady LnWinery with a really cool industrial bar / seating area. They serve cheese plates but do not have a full menu, and you are welcome to bring your own food. Conveniently, they share a parking lot with a climbing gym, Cosmic Coffee (which serves delicious coffee AND beer), and a few great food trucks (including Pueblo Viejo, one of the best trucks for authentic street tacos in the city!). Not as walkable, I'd suggest using Uber or Lyft or renting a bike if you're going to head over there.
Iconic Austin music venue featuring live music every night. Also check out the Gallery Upstairs, or Continental Club's sister venue, C Boys Heart and Soul, which is about a 10-15 minute walk South on Congress.
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveIconic Austin music venue featuring live music every night. Also check out the Gallery Upstairs, or Continental Club's sister venue, C Boys Heart and Soul, which is about a 10-15 minute walk South on Congress.
Beautiful bar on Austin's hip East Side, with great ambiance, indoor and outdoor areas, and delicious craft cocktails. On weekends, they open up their tiny gem of a mezcal bar upstairs. Whisler's is also home to East Side Kings, one of the top rated food trailers in the country, serving delicious and spicy "Thai-Kun" cuisine.
561 locals recommend
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StBeautiful bar on Austin's hip East Side, with great ambiance, indoor and outdoor areas, and delicious craft cocktails. On weekends, they open up their tiny gem of a mezcal bar upstairs. Whisler's is also home to East Side Kings, one of the top rated food trailers in the country, serving delicious and spicy "Thai-Kun" cuisine.
A brewery and cafe which also serves up some delicious tacos, Lazarus is a great place to sit inside and do some work or sit out on the patio. They frequently have live music, and there are always dogs on the patio to pet :-)
227 locals recommend
Lazarus Brewing Co.
1902 E 6th StA brewery and cafe which also serves up some delicious tacos, Lazarus is a great place to sit inside and do some work or sit out on the patio. They frequently have live music, and there are always dogs on the patio to pet :-)
Zilker Brewing Company
1701 E 6th StFun little brewery on the East Side
Blue Owl Brewing
2400 E Cesar Chavez StBrewery specializing in Sour Beers, with daily tours.
Ego's Bar
510 S Congress AveKaraoke every night of the week.
Parks & Nature
The Town Lake Trail is great for running, walking, or biking, with beautiful views of the Austin skyline from the south shore of Ladybird Lake. There are a number of boat / paddleboard / kayak rental options all along Town Lake.
10 locals recommend
Auditorium Shores Dog Park
The Town Lake Trail is great for running, walking, or biking, with beautiful views of the Austin skyline from the south shore of Ladybird Lake. There are a number of boat / paddleboard / kayak rental options all along Town Lake.
Relatively easy climb up some stairs to beautiful vistas of the Colorado River
1082 locals recommend
Mount Bonnell
Relatively easy climb up some stairs to beautiful vistas of the Colorado River
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrTake a dip in refreshing Barton Springs Pool!
Walk, bike, or uber to one of the most famous parks in Austin! Conveniently close to both Town Lake and Barton Springs Pool.
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdWalk, bike, or uber to one of the most famous parks in Austin! Conveniently close to both Town Lake and Barton Springs Pool.
Beautiful trail in the heart of South Austin, get your waterfall fix hiking to Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls.
235 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trailhead
Barton Creek Greenbelt TrailBeautiful trail in the heart of South Austin, get your waterfall fix hiking to Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls.
Entertainment & Activities
Iconic Austin honkey-tonk featuring line dancing and two-steppin'. Bring your cowboy boots!
478 locals recommend
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar BlvdIconic Austin honkey-tonk featuring line dancing and two-steppin'. Bring your cowboy boots!
There are a number of Alamo Drafthouses around the city. Buy your tickets and select your assigned seats early, then enjoy full restaurant / bar service while you watch your movie! Try the milkshakes!
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdThere are a number of Alamo Drafthouses around the city. Buy your tickets and select your assigned seats early, then enjoy full restaurant / bar service while you watch your movie! Try the milkshakes!
Essentials
FARM TO MARKET GROCERY
1718 S Congress AveOpen 8-8 daily, great walkable option for essentials.
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdWhole Foods' flagship store, a fun experience!