Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st StGreat tacos, on regular and "secret" menu!
Starbucks
6816 West Gate BlvdCoffee, baked goods, wifi...and can walk there in three minutes
VERTS Mediterranean Grill
1500 S Lamar BlvdAwesome kebap and the BEST fries!
Phil's Icehouse
2901 S Lamar BlvdGreat burger's, and share's space with Amy's Ice Cream
Chipotle Mexican Grill
3300 Bee Cave RdIt's Chipotle...enough said
Shake Shack
1100 S Lamar BlvdBurgers! Shakes!
Barlata
1500 S Lamar BlvdSpanish small bites
Odd Duck
1201 S Lamar BlvdAmazing dining
Red Lobster
3815 S Lamar BlvdSeafood
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
3940 S Lamar BlvdBasic pasta options and salads
Kerbey Lane Cafe
3003 S Lamar BlvdGood place for a burger, reuben, and most American classics
Planet Sub
4006 S Lamar BlvdAwesome sub shop a short walk away
Freebirds World Burrito
515 S Congress AveBurritos!
Souper Salad
12901 N Interstate Hwy 35Soup and salad buffet for $8 (plus dessert)!
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdSushi bar ($$ but worth it)
Lucky Robot
1303 S Congress AveMy favorite local sushi spot
Chi'Lantro
1509 S Lamar BlvdAwesome Asian-fusion
Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S 1st StMy favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurant
Crepe Crazy
3103 S Lamar BlvdCreperie across Lamar from my place
Michi Ramen
6519 N Lamar BlvdRamen!
Note: only delivery or carry-out
Pei Wei
4200 S Lamar BlvdPluckers Wing Bar
2222 Rio Grande StWings and drinks!
Voted best BBQ in the nation, so get here EARLY. The lines start hours before they open, especially on weekends!
919 locals recommend
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StVoted best BBQ in the nation, so get here EARLY. The lines start hours before they open, especially on weekends!
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 S Congress AveGourmet burgers and beer :)
Arguably the best NY-style pizza in town. Dine in or order out by the slice
791 locals recommend
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveArguably the best NY-style pizza in town. Dine in or order out by the slice
Favorite place for brunch HANDS DOWN! I'm not the only one, so come early or call ahead so they can knock 30 minutes off the wait time. Worth it for the carrot cake french toast alone.
279 locals recommend
South Congress Cafe
1600 S Congress AveFavorite place for brunch HANDS DOWN! I'm not the only one, so come early or call ahead so they can knock 30 minutes off the wait time. Worth it for the carrot cake french toast alone.
Blue Dahlia Bistro
1115 E 11th StEuropean bistro with fresh food and great for people watching
Elizabeth Street Cafe
1501 S 1st StFrench Vietnamese Boulangerie
Amazing European fusion! Tucked away right downtown, with amazing patio seating. Also has a late-night happy hour!
Prelog's
Amazing European fusion! Tucked away right downtown, with amazing patio seating. Also has a late-night happy hour!
Name says it all, if you like seafood! Great patio seating, perfect for brunch
398 locals recommend
Perla's
1400 S Congress AveName says it all, if you like seafood! Great patio seating, perfect for brunch
Fresh food sourced from local farms. Small plates discounted during happy hour!
354 locals recommend
Hillside Farmacy
1209 E 11th StFresh food sourced from local farms. Small plates discounted during happy hour!
Güero's Taco Bar
1412 S Congress AveTaco bar on South Congress. Margaritas, tacos and live music
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress Ave24 hr TexMex diner
Relaxed bar with good bar food (wings, burgers). Wide beer selection, darts plus TVs to watch the game
291 locals recommend
Black Sheep Lodge
2108 S Lamar BlvdRelaxed bar with good bar food (wings, burgers). Wide beer selection, darts plus TVs to watch the game
Lick Honest Ice Creams
1100 S Lamar BlvdAmazing ice cream from natural ingredients
Thai Fresh
909 W Mary StCoffee house and Thai restaurant
Coffee house/live music venue with some of the best acoustics in the area
91 locals recommend
Strange Brew
Coffee house/live music venue with some of the best acoustics in the area
Mr. Natural
1901 E Cesar Chavez StVegetarian and vegan food that's 'all natural"
Drinks & Nightlife
Short walk for great drinks, food, and tv's to watch the game
35 locals recommend
The Park on South Lamar
4024 S Lamar BlvdShort walk for great drinks, food, and tv's to watch the game
Great southern menu, awesome sunset views over the Greenbelt, bar, and televisions
90 locals recommend
Red's Porch
Great southern menu, awesome sunset views over the Greenbelt, bar, and televisions
Draught House Pub & Brewery
4112 Medical PkwyBrats and numerous beer taps!
VOX Table
1100 South Lamar BoulevardCocktail bar & brunch spot
Dive bar(-ish) with some amazing live music. Some days of the week there is no cover.
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveDive bar(-ish) with some amazing live music. Some days of the week there is no cover.
One-2-One Bar
1509 S Lamar BlvdBar and music venue
Dive bar with pool tables and live music every night. Free dance lessons on weekends.
672 locals recommend
The White Horse
500 Comal StDive bar with pool tables and live music every night. Free dance lessons on weekends.
Ah Sing Den
1100 E 6th StClassic coctails with a locally-sourced (albeit small) menu
Pizza parlor and brewpub. Large indoor brewery with communal seating and stage for local acts.
Huge outdoor beer garden
435 locals recommend
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf StPizza parlor and brewpub. Large indoor brewery with communal seating and stage for local acts.
Huge outdoor beer garden
Live music every night from multiple genres. Landmark venue, with lots of histsory
284 locals recommend
Saxon Pub
1320 S Lamar BlvdLive music every night from multiple genres. Landmark venue, with lots of histsory
Stubb's Bar-B-Q
801 Red River StMusic venue that happens to also sell popular BBQ :)
Bar with private karaoke rooms. Features live music and other events, and right next to Alamo Drafthouse.
152 locals recommend
The Highball
1120 S Lamar BlvdBar with private karaoke rooms. Features live music and other events, and right next to Alamo Drafthouse.
Winebelly
519 W Oltorf StWine bar and tapas restaurant
Live jazz and blues mostly. Cover is about $20 bucks, but you'll enjoy yourself.
242 locals recommend
C-Boys Heart and Soul
2008 S Congress AveLive jazz and blues mostly. Cover is about $20 bucks, but you'll enjoy yourself.
Video dance club, voted best place to dance in Austin. Tons of theme nights
153 locals recommend
Barbarella
611 Red River StVideo dance club, voted best place to dance in Austin. Tons of theme nights
Jazz club. A little hard to find, but worth it. Some amazing musicians have come through
224 locals recommend
Elephant Room
315 Congress AveJazz club. A little hard to find, but worth it. Some amazing musicians have come through
Crow Bar
3116 S Congress AveNeighborhood dive bar
British (themed) bar and grill. Craft on tap, live music and pub food
40 locals recommend
Baker Street Pub & Grill - South Austin
3003 S Lamar BlvdBritish (themed) bar and grill. Craft on tap, live music and pub food
Chris's Liquor Stores
2203 S Lamar Blvdname says it all
Essentials
Walking distance great grocery store with awesome prices for produce!
165 locals recommend
Sprouts Farmers Market
4006 S Lamar BlvdWalking distance great grocery store with awesome prices for produce!
Great specialty grocery store with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options
337 locals recommend
Wheatsville Food Co-Op
3101 Guadalupe StGreat specialty grocery store with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options
Shopping
Target
2300 W Ben White BlvdRight across Lamar, has most amenities
South Lamar Wine & Spirits
2418 S Lamar BlvdWine and spirit emporium
Walgreens
2501 S Lamar BlvdConvenience store
The mall. Most of the stores you find in a nice mall, plus it has a movie theater!
74 locals recommend
Barton Creek Square
2901 S Capital of Texas HwyThe mall. Most of the stores you find in a nice mall, plus it has a movie theater!
Neiman Marcus Last Call
4115 S Capital of Texas HwyNeiman Marcus outlet :)
Buffalo Exchange
2904 Guadalupe StVintage & consignment store
Half Price Books
2929 S Lamar BlvdBooks, comics, etc
Mueller Central Drive
Mueller Central DriveFarmer's market on weekend
Everything Else
Great hours to work out. Day passes and basketball and racquetball courts
20 locals recommend
LA Fitness
4001 S Lamar BlvdGreat hours to work out. Day passes and basketball and racquetball courts
Hunan Lion
4006 S Lamar BlvdDecent takeout, and very close
South ToddPilates & Barre
4032 S Lamar BlvdYoga studio
Zero Gravity Institute Float Spa
2919 Menchaca RdBEST massage in the area, can also try out their 'flotation' tanks
AMC Barton Creek Square 14
2901 S Capital of Texas Hwymovie theater!
Arts & Culture
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdGreat movies (and food)!!
My favorite gallery, and right down the street. They normally have some great exhibits, and a long-running Dr. Seuss exhibit
22 locals recommend
Ao5 Gallery
10000 S Lamar BlvdMy favorite gallery, and right down the street. They normally have some great exhibits, and a long-running Dr. Seuss exhibit
Zach Theatre
202 S Lamar BlvdMy favorite place to see plays locally
Museum explores the amazing history of the Lone Star State, and it has an IMAX theater with recent releases.
593 locals recommend
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveMuseum explores the amazing history of the Lone Star State, and it has an IMAX theater with recent releases.
One of the largest university art museums in the country. European paintings, modern and contemporary American and Latin American art.
644 locals recommend
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardOne of the largest university art museums in the country. European paintings, modern and contemporary American and Latin American art.
Thinkery
1830 Simond AveBest children's museum in the city
Amazing performances from ballet, symphony to touring Broadway shows
167 locals recommend
The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 W Riverside DrAmazing performances from ballet, symphony to touring Broadway shows
Museum and outdoor sculpture garden near Barton Springs and Zilker park
235 locals recommend
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton RdMuseum and outdoor sculpture garden near Barton Springs and Zilker park
Outdoor park with walls covered in graffiti. Artists come and paint over what is there, so its constantly changing
207 locals recommend
Graffiti Park at Castle Hill
1008 Baylor StOutdoor park with walls covered in graffiti. Artists come and paint over what is there, so its constantly changing
Perfect place for bibliophiles! 36 million literary manuscripts, 1 million rare books, 5 million photographs and a Gutenberg Bible are just a few of its attractions. Added bonus: it's free!
127 locals recommend
Harry Ransom Center
300 W 21st StPerfect place for bibliophiles! 36 million literary manuscripts, 1 million rare books, 5 million photographs and a Gutenberg Bible are just a few of its attractions. Added bonus: it's free!
One of only 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. A very interactive, multi-media presentation of 60s history.
240 locals recommend
LBJ Presidential Library
2313 Red River StOne of only 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. A very interactive, multi-media presentation of 60s history.
Primary space for Austin's local art association. Has some very original exhibits of contemporary art
173 locals recommend
The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center
700 Congress AvePrimary space for Austin's local art association. Has some very original exhibits of contemporary art
Small, well curated museum of Mexican Art. Plus a decades long Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration
83 locals recommend
Mexic-Arte Museum
419 Congress AvenueSmall, well curated museum of Mexican Art. Plus a decades long Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration
Amazing sculptures on the museum grounds, but primarily outdoors so bring appropriate shoes!
173 locals recommend
The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center
700 Congress AveAmazing sculptures on the museum grounds, but primarily outdoors so bring appropriate shoes!
Ballet Austin
501 W 3rd StThey have shows and classes
Cultural center and history museum dedicated to collection, preservation, research and exhibition of African-American cultural material. Check the calendar for activities going on at the center.
As a bonus, it is attached to the Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library
21 locals recommend
George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center
1165 Angelina StCultural center and history museum dedicated to collection, preservation, research and exhibition of African-American cultural material. Check the calendar for activities going on at the center.
As a bonus, it is attached to the Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library
Entertainment & Activities
Subway
560 500Sub sandwiches and basic salads
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar BlvdCountry Western dancing classes
Locally owned theater screening mainly international, documentary, and independent films. Cafe menu with full bar also
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StLocally owned theater screening mainly international, documentary, and independent films. Cafe menu with full bar also
Bass Concert Hall
510 E 23rd StGreat venue on UT campus to see musicals, concerts, etc
Austin Film Society's theater. My favorite place to go for independent screenings and film festivals.
15 locals recommend
AFS Cinema
6259 Middle Fiskville RdAustin Film Society's theater. My favorite place to go for independent screenings and film festivals.