Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Cheap, quick TexMex with decent queso & margs.
They do takeout and have a solid happy hour.
The food is not amazing, but it's a'ight and is right own the road!
412 locals recommend
Chuy's
1728 Barton Springs RdCheap, quick TexMex with decent queso & margs.
They do takeout and have a solid happy hour.
The food is not amazing, but it's a'ight and is right own the road!
This is where to go for tacos.
Creative, fresh, so delish.
Get the Jess Special and the Space Cowboy and an agua fresca. Veg/pesc options and brunch is solid.
203 locals recommend
Tacodeli
1500 Spyglass DrThis is where to go for tacos.
Creative, fresh, so delish.
Get the Jess Special and the Space Cowboy and an agua fresca. Veg/pesc options and brunch is solid.
People really love Uchi for its creativity and radical flavor combos. The fish is very fresh.
688 locals recommend
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdPeople really love Uchi for its creativity and radical flavor combos. The fish is very fresh.
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StOh, meat.
The best pizza in the 'hood.
Perfect crust; gluten-free options, too.
9 locals recommend
Giovannis Pizza Stand
2900 S Lamar BlvdThe best pizza in the 'hood.
Perfect crust; gluten-free options, too.
Solid delivery pizza, esp if you like thin crust or pizza rolls.
19 locals recommend
Austin's Pizza South Lamar
1817 S Lamar BlvdSolid delivery pizza, esp if you like thin crust or pizza rolls.
South Congress Cafe
1600 S Congress AveAmazing brunch (get a bloody) and dinner is great, too.
Delicious and very cool spot. Grab a slice to-go or sit down, which can be a wait. Parking is pretty wild but doable. Open late.
791 locals recommend
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveDelicious and very cool spot. Grab a slice to-go or sit down, which can be a wait. Parking is pretty wild but doable. Open late.
Hole-in-the-plaza taqueria with a rockin cauliflower taco and killer pastor. Breakfast tacos are serious, too.
91 locals recommend
Papalote Taco House
3632 S Congress AveHole-in-the-plaza taqueria with a rockin cauliflower taco and killer pastor. Breakfast tacos are serious, too.
Veg fare and more. Super delicious sandwiches and great coffee.
565 locals recommend
Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S 1st StVeg fare and more. Super delicious sandwiches and great coffee.
A tiny spot with locally sourced ingredients and an awesome 3-course tasting menu for $45. Make a res if possible, or chill in the wine garden and order from the trailer.
179 locals recommend
LENOIR
1807 S 1st StA tiny spot with locally sourced ingredients and an awesome 3-course tasting menu for $45. Make a res if possible, or chill in the wine garden and order from the trailer.
Insanely delish taco food truck. Order the fish tacos, the mole tacos, or the migas tacos. Grab beers at Radio Coffee to work up an appetite.
314 locals recommend
Veracruz All Natural Food Truck
2505 Webberville RoadInsanely delish taco food truck. Order the fish tacos, the mole tacos, or the migas tacos. Grab beers at Radio Coffee to work up an appetite.
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S Lamar BlvdLegit ramen.
Creative Chinese in a very hip space. Yummy drinks. Get the green beans and the soup dumplings. Dim Sum on Sundays.
75 locals recommend
Wu Chow
500 W 5th StCreative Chinese in a very hip space. Yummy drinks. Get the green beans and the soup dumplings. Dim Sum on Sundays.
Matt's El Rancho
2613 S Lamar BlvdGet the queso!
Funky little spot for coffee and breakfast, where you order at the counter. Lots of seating and very friendly staff. Check your order; they aren't always correct, but are very nice about fixing it! We like the pecan coffee and the lox plate is divine.
85 locals recommend
Austin Java
1608 Barton Springs RoadFunky little spot for coffee and breakfast, where you order at the counter. Lots of seating and very friendly staff. Check your order; they aren't always correct, but are very nice about fixing it! We like the pecan coffee and the lox plate is divine.
Essentials
Excellent local beer selection and very good wines for a corner store. Great for quick snack foods and light grocery shopping, plus socks. Cool socks.
78 locals recommend
Thom's Market
1418 Barton Springs RdExcellent local beer selection and very good wines for a corner store. Great for quick snack foods and light grocery shopping, plus socks. Cool socks.
Some are better than others; this WF is a good one.
Huge section for grab + go; big beer section, too.
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdSome are better than others; this WF is a good one.
Huge section for grab + go; big beer section, too.
Half a mile from the house. Basic convenience store with groceries, beer/wine & a deli counter for sandwiches & breakfast tacos.
29 locals recommend
Barton Hills Market
1220 Barton Hills DrHalf a mile from the house. Basic convenience store with groceries, beer/wine & a deli counter for sandwiches & breakfast tacos.
Half a mile from the house. Dry cleaning, Alterations and same day service.
6 locals recommend
Star Brite Cleaners
1218 Barton Hills DrHalf a mile from the house. Dry cleaning, Alterations and same day service.
Fantastic local grocery with good selection of local and fresh products. A little more expensive than HEB.
765 locals recommend
Central Market
4477 S Lamar BlvdFantastic local grocery with good selection of local and fresh products. A little more expensive than HEB.
Entertainment & Activities
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdDrink, eat, watch.
Win, win, win.
Great spot for kids of all ages. Inside there are interactive exhibits like animal skeletons + magnifying glasses.
There are some animal exhibits outside, many of them rescues. Informative guides and staff. Fun, scenic hiking trail with educational signs.
52 locals recommend
Austin Nature & Science Center
2389 Stratford DrGreat spot for kids of all ages. Inside there are interactive exhibits like animal skeletons + magnifying glasses.
There are some animal exhibits outside, many of them rescues. Informative guides and staff. Fun, scenic hiking trail with educational signs.
A beautiful tower of trash. Wild, weird, wonderful. Make a reservation in advance. $5 donation.
110 locals recommend
Cathedral of Junk
4422 Lareina DrA beautiful tower of trash. Wild, weird, wonderful. Make a reservation in advance. $5 donation.
Dart Bowl
5700 Grover AveVery retro, very fun bowling alley.
Rent SUP's or kayaks. Sorta touristy, but so fun!
Paddle to downtown. Incredible views.
124 locals recommend
Zilker Park Boat Rentals
2101 Andrew Zilker RdRent SUP's or kayaks. Sorta touristy, but so fun!
Paddle to downtown. Incredible views.
Parks & Nature
Great place for a dip and people watching.
They don't let you bring in food or drink.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrGreat place for a dip and people watching.
They don't let you bring in food or drink.
Trail-run it, hike it, bike it.
Connects to other trails, like Town Lake trail, so you can get serious miles in.
531 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt
3755 South Capital of Texas HighwayTrail-run it, hike it, bike it.
Connects to other trails, like Town Lake trail, so you can get serious miles in.
Awesome park for kids or families or anyone into grass and open space. Ultimate Frisbee, etc...
Kids' train ride is cute and short, esp when there are holiday lights. You can also rent bikes here.
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdAwesome park for kids or families or anyone into grass and open space. Ultimate Frisbee, etc...
Kids' train ride is cute and short, esp when there are holiday lights. You can also rent bikes here.
Trailhead .3 miles from house to access beautiful Trails on Barton Creek
Barton Hills Access to Barton Creek Greenbelt
2010 Homedale DrTrailhead .3 miles from house to access beautiful Trails on Barton Creek
1.5 miles from house. Popular spot that boasts easy access to several climbing walls and a swimming hole!
41 locals recommend
Gus Fruh
2642 Barton Hills Dr1.5 miles from house. Popular spot that boasts easy access to several climbing walls and a swimming hole!
Cheap, fun, pretty. Don't miss the Japanese Garden and fish.
429 locals recommend
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs RdCheap, fun, pretty. Don't miss the Japanese Garden and fish.
Arts & Culture
A really gorgeous outdoor space you can stroll through. Peaceful, beautiful. Kid-friendly. There is (sometimes free) yoga in the garden~
235 locals recommend
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton RdA really gorgeous outdoor space you can stroll through. Peaceful, beautiful. Kid-friendly. There is (sometimes free) yoga in the garden~
HOPE Outdoor Gallery
741 Dalton LaneA paint park that's forever in progress.
Small. There are free days on Sundays.
Decent collection and curation of Mexican and Mexicanan-american art, and nice gift shop.
83 locals recommend
Mexic-Arte Museum
419 Congress AvenueSmall. There are free days on Sundays.
Decent collection and curation of Mexican and Mexicanan-american art, and nice gift shop.
Free on Thursdays. Pretty good modern art collection, and the temporary exhibits are usually interesting.
644 locals recommend
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardFree on Thursdays. Pretty good modern art collection, and the temporary exhibits are usually interesting.
Literary and cultural artifacts — like Houdini's cape!
On the UT campus.
127 locals recommend
Harry Ransom Center
300 W 21st StLiterary and cultural artifacts — like Houdini's cape!
On the UT campus.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveA cool spot to see a show.
Backbeat
1300 South Lamar BoulevardGreat patio, supercreative drinks.
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StExcellent drinks and curated films. Very cool vibe.
Hotel San Jose Lounge
1316 S Congress AveA cool spot to have a drink. Gorgeous pool.
Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Menchaca RdDrink a beer outside here. Then: food truck.
Container Bar
90 Rainey StIndustrial, cool, DJs, repurposed shipping containers, many levels.
House Wine
408 Josephine StVery chill and relaxed wine bar in a house. Snacks n cheese n patio!
Fun, weird dive bar made of old railroad cars joined together. It's run by an older man named Donn who plays in their house band.
133 locals recommend
Donn's Depot
1600 W 5th StFun, weird dive bar made of old railroad cars joined together. It's run by an older man named Donn who plays in their house band.
Seriously delicious cocktails, great vibes, great indoor and outdoor hang space.
178 locals recommend
Weather Up
1808 E Cesar Chavez StSeriously delicious cocktails, great vibes, great indoor and outdoor hang space.
South Congress Hotel
1603 S Congress AveBeautiful interior, fun space to hang out. Delish drinks.
Getting Around
Currently there are 50 B-cycle stations around downtown Austin, in all the places that you want to go!
Austin B-cycle Station Barton Springs
2201 Barton Springs RdCurrently there are 50 B-cycle stations around downtown Austin, in all the places that you want to go!