As a realtor and almost 10-year Austin resident, I’ve seen the city go from being teeny to larger than life. When I first moved here, I constantly thought ‘does this even qualify as a city???’ and now I can’t believe how much has been uprooted and replaced as the city grows. So how do you explore a city with such a wide array of history and new stuff? Below is my longest running list to-date of where you’ll want to eat, drink, and play in the city!
DOWNTOWN & CLARKSVILLE
THINGS TO DO & SEE:
Texas State Capital
Retro Boat Tours
Duck Tours
Saturday Farmers’ Market | 422 Guadalupe Street
Waterloo Records
Butterfly Bridge & ATX Library | West Avenue & 2nd Street
The El Arroyo Sign | 1624 W 5th Street
COFFEE
Jo’s | ATX Icon, Try the Iced Turbo
Hideout Coffee House | Coffee & Comedy Club
Merit | Located in Seaholm - Check out Library, Butterfly Bridge, and Power Plant while there
Nate’s Baked Goods | Great Cold Brew & Gluten Free Eats
Jo’s | ATX Icon, Try the Iced Turbo
Hideout Coffee House | Coffee & Comedy Club
Merit | Located in Seaholm - Check out Library, Butterfly Bridge, and Power Plant as well
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
Taverna | Italian, DJ Music on Weekend
Walton’s Fancy & Staple | Sandra Bullock’s Restaurant, American Deli/Cafe
24 Diner | American, Open 24hrs, Walkable to shopping
LUNCH & DINNER
Ranch 616 | ATX Classic, Mexican Icehouse
Wax Myrtle’s | Southern, Good Drinks, Rooftop Patio
Red Ash | Italian, Award-Winning
Maiko Sushi | Asian, Try the Sake Mac n Cheese
Josephine House | Upscale American, IG Worthy
HAPPY HOUR
P6 | Rooftop, Downtown/Lake Views, Upscale
WuChow | Asian, Best HH Downtown
Clark’s | Best Oysters, Burgers, Martinis
Irene’s | Retro, Light Bites, Strong Drinks
Tiniest Bar in Texas | Mini Bar, Patio
Donn’s Depot | ATX Classic, Dive Bar
Mean Eyed Cat | Dive Bar
If You Wanna Be Lit…
Dirty Bill’s, Cat’s Pajamas, Bees Knees
Things to avoid…
Dirty Sixth
EAST
THINGS TO DO & SEE
Shop, eat, drink. There are always random pop-up events that you can go to. Check out When Where What ATX for happenings!
COFFEE
Brew and Brew | Coffee & Beers on Tap, Great for working remote
Flat Track | Coffee & Bike Shop, Patio
Cuvee | Great for working remote
Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors | Great for working Remote
Try Hard Coffee Roasters | New and Cool
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
Cenote | Healthy, Ecclectic
Rockstar Bagels | Bagels ‘till they run out
Paperboy | A food truck so good they turned it into a PLACE!
Gabriela’s | Authentic Mexican, Cute Vibes
Mr Natural | Vegan & Allergen Friendly
LUNCH & DINNER
Suerte | Upscale Mexican
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya | Japanese-Texan Fusion
Via313 | Deep Dish ‘Za
Granny’s Tacos | Authentic AF, Food Truck
Old Thousand | Asian
Salty Sow | Upscale American
Nasha | Contemporary Indian
Tamale House | ATX Classic, Mexican
Licha’s Cantina | Authentic Mexican
Central Machine Works Brewery | Pizza, Burgers, Snacks
Jacoby’s | Southern, Great Happy Hour
HAPPY HOUR
East Side happy hour prices kinda suck aside from The Liberty, so consider the following your failsafe drink circuit:
Lazarus | Beer, Wine, Tacos
Whisler’s | Best Cocktails, Mezcaleria Upstairs
The Liberty | Dive Bar, Cheap Shots, Billiards
Volstead | Lit AF Music/Dancing on Weekend Nights
Yellow Jacket Social Club | Old Biker Bar
Native Hostel | Bar, Art, Tattoo Shop (one of best in ATX - My skin’s opinion)
Kitty Cohen’s | Retro, Big Patio
Nickel City | Dive Bar
Things to avoid…
Plaza Saltillo’s new buildings. That shit isn’t part of the good ol’ East Side
78704
THINGS TO DO & SEE
Vic Mathias Shores @ The Long Center | Best Skyline View
Peter Pan Mini Golf | Website
Zilker & Barton Springs | Website
Congress Bridge & Bats at Sunset | Website
South Congress (Detailed in Section Below)
Greetings From Austin Mural | 1720 S 1st Street
Paddleboard/Kayak | Multiple Access Points
Town Lake Trail (Or Lady Bird Lake) | Multiple Access Points
Cidercade | Website
COFFEE
Opa | Coffee & Wine
Teal House Coffee & Bakery | Amazing Cinnamon Rolls & Brisket Kolaches, Closed Sundays
Summermoon | Chain, but this one is my fave
Bennu | Good for working remote, Gluten Free Options
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
Bouldin Creek Cafe | ATX Classic, Breakfast All Day
Gourdough’s Public House OR Food Truck | Ridiculously Large Donuts
Elizabeth Street Cafe | Vietnamese/French, Good for Lunch Also
Kerbey Lane | ATX Classic, Famous Queso
Biscuits & Groovy | Food Truck
LUNCH & DINNER
Matt’s El Rancho | ATX Classic, Mexican, Big Patio
Lucy’s Fried Chicken | ATX Classic, Fried Chicken
Loro | Asian/Texan Fusion, Big Patio
Uchi | Sushi, Award-Winning
Eberly | Upscale
Green Mesquite | ATX Classic, BBQ
Black’s BBQ | Multiple Locations
Sandy’s | ATX Classic, Burgers
HAPPY HOUR
Chuy’s | ATX Classic, Get the Boom Boom Enchiladas
El Alma | Rooftop Patio, Mexican
Aussie’s Grill & Beach Bar | Sand Volleyball
Barton Springs Saloon | Dive Bar, Big Patio
Bouldin Creek | Outdoor Bar & Pickleball Courts
Things to avoid…
Showing up late in the day to Barton Springs
SOCO
THINGS TO DO & SEE
I Love You So Much Wall | 1300 S Congress Avenue
Continental Club | 1315 S Congress
Just walk around and SHOP DUH!
Local Vendors | Usually set up on weekends
COFFEE
Jo’s | ATX Classic, Has the I Love You So Much wall
Mañana | Good place for remote work
TOMS Coffee | Coffee and…. TOMS products
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
Joann’s | Retro American/Mexican
Magnolia Cafe | ATX Classic, Huge Menu
ABA | Mediterranean, Book like yesterday
LUNCH & DINNER
Homeslice | ATX Classic Pizza (restaurant closed on Tuesdays, but other walk-up window next door is open)
June’s All Day | French Cafe, Best Fried Chicken Sandwich!
Lucky Robot | Creative Japanese
HAPPY HOUR
Perla’s | Seafood, Big Patio
Gueros | Mexican, Live Music
South Congress Hotel | Lobby Bar, Maie Day, or Cafe No Se
Things to avoid…
Spending too much money at the “new” South Congress, which includes big name brands and not much ATX
WEST CENTRAL & LAKE AUSTIN
THINGS TO DO & SEE
Mount Bonnell | 3800 Mount Bonnell Road | Sick Views
Laguna Gloria | 3809 W 35th Street
360 Overlook | 5000 N Capital of Texas Hwy | Sick Views
The University of Texas | 200 W 21st Street
Hike the Greenbelt | 3918 S Mopac
Deep Eddy Pool | 401 Deep Eddy Drive
COFFEE
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters | Overpriced but the patio and view are worth it, wifi sucks
Russel’s Bakery | Strong Cold Brew & Good Gluten Free Pastries
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
Kerbey Lane (Original) | ATX Classic, Famous Queso
Texas Honey Ham Company | ATX Classic
TacoDeli | Tacos, Multiple Locations
Bird Bird Biscuit | Food Truck
LUNCH & DINNER
Tiny Boxwoods | Upscale American
Food! Food! | Local Mom & Pop Food
Pool Burger | Voted Best Burger in ATX
Picnik | Allergen Friendly & Gluten-Free
Mandola’s Italian Kitchen | Italian
Halal Bros | Middle Eastern
Dirty Martin’s Place | ATX Classic, Burgers
County
HAPPY HOUR
Hula Hut | Tex Mex, On the Water
Deep Eddy Cabaret | ATX Classic Dive Bar
Austin Beer Plant | Vegan Food
Cane & Abel’s | True UT Classic
Things to avoid…
Westlake, it’s all residential
OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS
The Oasis | Multi-story complex with a restaurant, bar, shops, and the best sunset views of Lake Travis
Fredericksburg | Cute little town with tons of wine, food, and history
Wimberly | Ecclectic art town with wineries and restaurants, lots of galleries
San Marcos | Home to Texas State University, head to Donn’s Fish Camp to float the river