Loving Austin
Coffee
Basically our fav category. Places to relax, meet people, read a book, be yourself.
This is one of our two neighborhood coffee shops. The drinks and food are great! Sometimes they host comedy or music in the evenings.
250 locals recommend
Cherrywood Coffeehouse
1400 E 38th 1/2 StThis is one of our two neighborhood coffee shops. The drinks and food are great! Sometimes they host comedy or music in the evenings.
One of our two neighborhood coffee shops. Very relaxed. Top-quality coffee. This is the place to go if you want to read or be alone... better for chilling solo than socializing.
251 locals recommend
Thunderbird Coffee
2200 Manor RdOne of our two neighborhood coffee shops. Very relaxed. Top-quality coffee. This is the place to go if you want to read or be alone... better for chilling solo than socializing.
This is an old Austin favorite. Bustling and lively, couched between a cheese shop, a Mexican restaurant, and a cute bar. Happy hour pastries (2 for 1) every day at 6:30.
197 locals recommend
Quack's 43rd Street Bakery
411 E 43rd StThis is an old Austin favorite. Bustling and lively, couched between a cheese shop, a Mexican restaurant, and a cute bar. Happy hour pastries (2 for 1) every day at 6:30.
Food
The most important topic in Austin - food! Every bit as good/affordable/fancy/whatever as any other city you've ever been to - and we're from Houston, so that's saying something.
A delightful, relaxing place to eat dinner. Handmade pastas. Lots of vegan options.
182 locals recommend
Patrizi's
2307 Manor RdA delightful, relaxing place to eat dinner. Handmade pastas. Lots of vegan options.
A few minutes' drive from our place, this is our favorite Korean food spot outside of Seoul. There's something for everyone, even if Korean food isn't exactly your thing.
31 locals recommend
Oseyo
1628 E Cesar Chavez StA few minutes' drive from our place, this is our favorite Korean food spot outside of Seoul. There's something for everyone, even if Korean food isn't exactly your thing.
Great tacos (lots of variety, with vegan options). Cool vibe. Just a nice place to be :)
141 locals recommend
Tyson's Tacos
4905 Airport BlvdGreat tacos (lots of variety, with vegan options). Cool vibe. Just a nice place to be :)
Sour duck is so great. No matter the time of day or your mood, they have something for everyone. Great happy hour ($3 beers), fun outside seating area. Perfect spot to enjoy the evening.
152 locals recommend
Sour Duck Market
1814 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdSour duck is so great. No matter the time of day or your mood, they have something for everyone. Great happy hour ($3 beers), fun outside seating area. Perfect spot to enjoy the evening.
The best vegan fare in Austin. It's on Burnet - a few miles West of us - but so worth the drive. All kinds of fun and interesting plates. Cute place to chill with a glass of wine and enjoy a slow meal.
30 locals recommend
Citizen Eatery - Vegan food, Paleo food, Gluten free food
5011 Burnet RdThe best vegan fare in Austin. It's on Burnet - a few miles West of us - but so worth the drive. All kinds of fun and interesting plates. Cute place to chill with a glass of wine and enjoy a slow meal.
One of the finest, coolest dinner spots in Austin. A massive $5-everything happy hour from 4 to 6. Enjoy walking through the neighborhood afterward.
198 locals recommend
Licha's Cantina
1306 E 6th StOne of the finest, coolest dinner spots in Austin. A massive $5-everything happy hour from 4 to 6. Enjoy walking through the neighborhood afterward.
We don't usually recommend fancy/expensive places - but this spot is amazing! Happy hour until 6:30. Just try everything... especially the ma-po bolognese dish.
30 locals recommend
Bar Peached
1315 W 6th StWe don't usually recommend fancy/expensive places - but this spot is amazing! Happy hour until 6:30. Just try everything... especially the ma-po bolognese dish.
Amazing tacos!!! Especially the breakfast tacos and tamales. A local favorite. Norma, the owner, is super kind and will go out of her way to make everything just right for you. Handmade everything, including salsa de chili arbol and handmade tortillas (blue corn on request!)
El Mana Mexican Food Truck
1402 E 38th 1/2 StAmazing tacos!!! Especially the breakfast tacos and tamales. A local favorite. Norma, the owner, is super kind and will go out of her way to make everything just right for you. Handmade everything, including salsa de chili arbol and handmade tortillas (blue corn on request!)
Such awesome small tacos and tortas. Some of the best in Austin. Everything is grilled (grilled burritos and tortas are essential).
35 locals recommend
Las Trancas Taco Stand
1210 E Cesar Chavez StSuch awesome small tacos and tortas. Some of the best in Austin. Everything is grilled (grilled burritos and tortas are essential).
El Chilango
701 Provines DrWow - damn good tortas. Crazy compilations. Super authentic norteno food.
Micklethwait Craft Meats
1309 Rosewood AveVery simply - amazing BBQ.
Pacha Organic Cafe
2915 Burnet RdAmazing savory pancakes (pear + bacon = omg).
Food and drinks and music. This place has it all. Its got a really cool vibe. Always bursting at the seams with life. The beers are HUGE. The pizzas are amazing.
435 locals recommend
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf StFood and drinks and music. This place has it all. Its got a really cool vibe. Always bursting at the seams with life. The beers are HUGE. The pizzas are amazing.
Such wonderful everything. They do creative things with meats and locally sourced fare. And - lesser known fact - they have an awesome glazed donut.
263 locals recommend
Dai Due
2406 Manor RdSuch wonderful everything. They do creative things with meats and locally sourced fare. And - lesser known fact - they have an awesome glazed donut.
Just a delightful, delicious upscale Cajun food spot. Awesome cocktails. Very laid back. Can't go wrong.
27 locals recommend
Vic and Al's
2406 Manor RdJust a delightful, delicious upscale Cajun food spot. Awesome cocktails. Very laid back. Can't go wrong.
Dessert
All the sweets :) For after dinner or whenever.
Austin's local healthy ice cream joint. Aughhh so good! Sugar free + vegan + dairy-free options.
47 locals recommend
Sweet Ritual
4631 Airport BlvdAustin's local healthy ice cream joint. Aughhh so good! Sugar free + vegan + dairy-free options.
The perfect snow cones. They have healthier options in addition to old-school favorites. It's next to Patrizis and the Vortex and all the fun stuff.
6 locals recommend
Sno.Co Flattop Shaved Ice
2307 Manor RdThe perfect snow cones. They have healthier options in addition to old-school favorites. It's next to Patrizis and the Vortex and all the fun stuff.
A bit of a drive from our place (Burnet Rd), but worth it. The best cookies you've ever had. They also do cookie dough like an ice cream shop!
Kellie's Baking Co.
5245 Burnet RdA bit of a drive from our place (Burnet Rd), but worth it. The best cookies you've ever had. They also do cookie dough like an ice cream shop!
Just simply delicious ice cream. A little pricey, but worth it. And Lick is a nice walk from our home.
270 locals recommend
Lick Honest Ice Creams
1100 S Lamar BlvdJust simply delicious ice cream. A little pricey, but worth it. And Lick is a nice walk from our home.
Drinks
The best places to cut loose and get a little silly.
Great drinks, nice people, fun vibe. Outdoors seating. Gold glitter on the roof.
153 locals recommend
Kitty Cohen's
2211 Webberville RdGreat drinks, nice people, fun vibe. Outdoors seating. Gold glitter on the roof.
This is our absolute favorite bar in Austin. It's in the North Loop where we used to live, which is a cool area (thrift shops, the works). Cheap drinks... try the Texas Marg.
105 locals recommend
Workhorse Bar
100 N Loop Blvd EThis is our absolute favorite bar in Austin. It's in the North Loop where we used to live, which is a cool area (thrift shops, the works). Cheap drinks... try the Texas Marg.
Grungy, cheap, chill. The perfect place to be when you don't want to be messed with - or if you want to meet good folks too :)
47 locals recommend
Barflys Austin
5420 Airport BlvdGrungy, cheap, chill. The perfect place to be when you don't want to be messed with - or if you want to meet good folks too :)
Super cool, super sexy place. Awesome drinks, to include a beet martini + mezcal bar upstairs. Super fun part of Austin too.
561 locals recommend
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StSuper cool, super sexy place. Awesome drinks, to include a beet martini + mezcal bar upstairs. Super fun part of Austin too.
A fun bar in the southern part of E Austin. They'll frequently have artists and poetry readings and comedy and music.
207 locals recommend
Stay Gold
1910 E Cesar Chavez StA fun bar in the southern part of E Austin. They'll frequently have artists and poetry readings and comedy and music.
Our local mescal bar. Tucked up behind a few other restaurants. Lively and fun. You can smoke cigars on the patio.
49 locals recommend
Techo Mezcaleria and Agave Bar
2201 Manor RdOur local mescal bar. Tucked up behind a few other restaurants. Lively and fun. You can smoke cigars on the patio.
This is a fun, different, chill, easy-going place. Be prepped to chill outside in their awesome backyard with campfires and beer. Every Friday night they have an African buffet ($8 for all you can eat - the food is ok). Music all the time. Cool spot.
132 locals recommend
Sahara Lounge
1413 Webberville RdThis is a fun, different, chill, easy-going place. Be prepped to chill outside in their awesome backyard with campfires and beer. Every Friday night they have an African buffet ($8 for all you can eat - the food is ok). Music all the time. Cool spot.
We used to live right behind this bar. It's chill as can be. The drinks are great, many of which are brewed on-site. Lots of regulars. Trivia on Sunday nights. FYI: mostly outdoor, so not great for rainy days.
131 locals recommend
Draught House Pub & Brewery
4112 Medical PkwyWe used to live right behind this bar. It's chill as can be. The drinks are great, many of which are brewed on-site. Lots of regulars. Trivia on Sunday nights. FYI: mostly outdoor, so not great for rainy days.
Super chill neighborhood bar. They usually have a game or two on. Free chips and salsa upon request. If it's too full, hit up Crown & Anchor next door.
12 locals recommend
The Posse East
2900 Duval StSuper chill neighborhood bar. They usually have a game or two on. Free chips and salsa upon request. If it's too full, hit up Crown & Anchor next door.
One of the last cheap, low-light, badass places in Austin. They always have music. Chicken shit bingo on weekends. Frequently they're celebrating a birthday or some other occasion and will have birthday cake and treats FREE for everyone.
166 locals recommend
Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon
5434 Burnet RdOne of the last cheap, low-light, badass places in Austin. They always have music. Chicken shit bingo on weekends. Frequently they're celebrating a birthday or some other occasion and will have birthday cake and treats FREE for everyone.
Huge selection of whiskeys poured in a million ways. Nice staff, cool atmosphere.
115 locals recommend
The Wheel
1902 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdHuge selection of whiskeys poured in a million ways. Nice staff, cool atmosphere.
Neighborhoods
We've lived all over the city, and have a few spots that really fill our hearts.
Coffee shops, record stores, vintage thrifting, awesome food trucks, walkable... a great area to spend the afternoon.
34 locals recommend
North Loop IBIZ District
Coffee shops, record stores, vintage thrifting, awesome food trucks, walkable... a great area to spend the afternoon.
Our neighborhood :) A magical place, sometimes cited as having the best trees in Austin. Open and welcoming for everyone. Easy to get lost (in a good way) amid the bungalows.
9 locals recommend
Cherrywood
Our neighborhood :) A magical place, sometimes cited as having the best trees in Austin. Open and welcoming for everyone. Easy to get lost (in a good way) amid the bungalows.
Super old-school strip of shops, sundry stores, music spots, etc. Easy to spend all day chilling. Start out at Bennu for coffee, spend an hour or two at South Congress Books, then grab some amazing pizza at Home Slice. From our house, take the 20 bus, then cruise around the area on a scooter or by foot.
650 locals recommend
South Congress
Super old-school strip of shops, sundry stores, music spots, etc. Easy to spend all day chilling. Start out at Bennu for coffee, spend an hour or two at South Congress Books, then grab some amazing pizza at Home Slice. From our house, take the 20 bus, then cruise around the area on a scooter or by foot.
A residential area with wonderful eats/play areas. Ramsey Park is just a delightful, no-frills city park. You've got Pacha for breakfast, Upper Crust for sweets, and the Draught House for drinks,
Rosedale
A residential area with wonderful eats/play areas. Ramsey Park is just a delightful, no-frills city park. You've got Pacha for breakfast, Upper Crust for sweets, and the Draught House for drinks,
Outdoors
Austin's true bread and butter. Awesomely tranquil and moving natural adventures.
A beautiful magical place. The water is spring fed - stays between 68 and 74 degrees all year, no matter the weather. The spiritual heart of Austin.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrA beautiful magical place. The water is spring fed - stays between 68 and 74 degrees all year, no matter the weather. The spiritual heart of Austin.
A nice stroll from our home. Surrounded by food and drinks and coffee. Farmer's market on Sunday morning, and events regularly on weeknights.
220 locals recommend
Mueller Lake Park
4550 Mueller BlvdA nice stroll from our home. Surrounded by food and drinks and coffee. Farmer's market on Sunday morning, and events regularly on weeknights.
Our neighborhood park. Just a great place to get away and chill. Free swimming pool during the summer months. Skate ramp. Community garden.
14 locals recommend
Patterson Neighborhood Park
4200 Brookview RdOur neighborhood park. Just a great place to get away and chill. Free swimming pool during the summer months. Skate ramp. Community garden.
A beautiful city park. White peacocks! Tranquil.
178 locals recommend
Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve
3505 W 35th StA beautiful city park. White peacocks! Tranquil.
This is a bit of a drive - but oh my god beautiful. It's the Hill Country version of a cenote. Reservations are required and can be made at the Travis County Parks website.
588 locals recommend
Hamilton Pool Preserve
24300 Hamilton Pool RdThis is a bit of a drive - but oh my god beautiful. It's the Hill Country version of a cenote. Reservations are required and can be made at the Travis County Parks website.
The closest state park to Austin proper. Just south of town. Really fun and kid/dog-friendly. There are inexpensive camping sites. The admission is $6/adult (free for kids 12 and under). Lots of leisurely hiking to be had.
376 locals recommend
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls PkwyThe closest state park to Austin proper. Just south of town. Really fun and kid/dog-friendly. There are inexpensive camping sites. The admission is $6/adult (free for kids 12 and under). Lots of leisurely hiking to be had.
Sightseeing
The spots that really make our city special.
This magical space is on the far end of East Austin. They host outdoor film showings, art exhibits, star parties, and many other events.
7 locals recommend
Sekrit Theater
1145 Perry RdThis magical space is on the far end of East Austin. They host outdoor film showings, art exhibits, star parties, and many other events.
Attached to the Harry Ransom Center - a world-class museum - this chapel is vacant and haunting and moving. Go in and sit and take a few breaths.
Ellsworth Kelly's Austin
200 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdAttached to the Harry Ransom Center - a world-class museum - this chapel is vacant and haunting and moving. Go in and sit and take a few breaths.
Our state capital building is really beautiful. Spend a few hours walking the grounds, checking out the museums inside, and relaxing amid 1.5 centuries of history. Free walking tours are offered frequently (https://tspb.texas.gov/plan/tours/tours.html).
1119 locals recommend
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveOur state capital building is really beautiful. Spend a few hours walking the grounds, checking out the museums inside, and relaxing amid 1.5 centuries of history. Free walking tours are offered frequently (https://tspb.texas.gov/plan/tours/tours.html).
This place is a bit non-traditional. It's a housing community for the formerly homeless. They're super open to visitors, conducting tours daily. There are also outdoor movie showings on the weekends. It's just really cool and inspiring to see a place like this, totally privately funded, tackling a big issue, helping people be happy.
Community First! Village
9301 Hog Eye RdThis place is a bit non-traditional. It's a housing community for the formerly homeless. They're super open to visitors, conducting tours daily. There are also outdoor movie showings on the weekends. It's just really cool and inspiring to see a place like this, totally privately funded, tackling a big issue, helping people be happy.
UT's own presidential library. A really exciting spot for history buffs. It's a great museum because it shows all aspects of LBJ - flaws and all. $10 for adults (less for seniors, veterans, and children). A 1-mile bike ride from our front door.
240 locals recommend
LBJ Presidential Library
2313 Red River StUT's own presidential library. A really exciting spot for history buffs. It's a great museum because it shows all aspects of LBJ - flaws and all. $10 for adults (less for seniors, veterans, and children). A 1-mile bike ride from our front door.
We love this gallery. Small, free, unique, centered in community. Always promoting local artists. It spills over into a sculpture park across the street.
7 locals recommend
Dimension Gallery
979 Springdale RdWe love this gallery. Small, free, unique, centered in community. Always promoting local artists. It spills over into a sculpture park across the street.