Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Uchiko
4200 N Lamar BlvdOne of the best restaurants in Austin.
Nothing fancy -- just straight up coffee/espresso with a hip and relaxed atmosphere.
186 locals recommend
Houndstooth Coffee
4200 N Lamar BlvdNothing fancy -- just straight up coffee/espresso with a hip and relaxed atmosphere.
Tacodeli
4200 N Lamar BlvdArguably the best breakfast tacos in Austin.
Great, great cocktails. Great, great food -- small plates, big tastes. Yum.
14 locals recommend
Fino Restaurant Patio & Bar
2905 San Gabriel StGreat, great cocktails. Great, great food -- small plates, big tastes. Yum.
Straight up Italian comfort food from some of Austin's best young chefs.
91 locals recommend
ASTI Trattoria
408 E 43rd StStraight up Italian comfort food from some of Austin's best young chefs.
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StTHE BEST BBQ IN AUSTIN. Srsly.
Tiny place with great, simple breakfast that happens to be all farm-to-table.
211 locals recommend
Counter Cafe
1914 E 6th StTiny place with great, simple breakfast that happens to be all farm-to-table.
Cisco's Restaurant
1511 E 6th StIf you have a hangover, go here.
East Side King
2000 E 6th StBest trailer food in Austin. Japanese(ish).
FoodHeads
616 W 34th StBad. Ass. Sammiches.
South Congress Cafe
1600 S Congress AveGo here for brunch only. Carrot cake french toast.
Polvo's Mexican Restaurant
2004 South 1st StreetLethal margaritas. GREAT mexican food.
Haddingtons
601 W 6th StIncredible drinks & gastro pub. Killer.
Chez Nous
510 Neches StBest French Bistro food in ATX.
Second Bar + Kitchen
200 Congress AveHoly duck fat truffle fries batman. Whoa.
Buenos Aires Café
1201 E 6th StArgentine food.
Perla's
1400 S Congress AveLike it says. Fabulous.
Vespaio
1610 S Congress AveTHE Italian restaurant in Austin.
Justine's
4710 E 5th StYummy yummy Brasserie food
Barley Swine
6555 Burnet RdSmall, incredible beer menu, WOW food.
Buy your seafood here. Stay and have some oysters and fried catfish with the locals.
65 locals recommend
Quality Seafood Market
5621 Airport BlvdBuy your seafood here. Stay and have some oysters and fried catfish with the locals.
Tam Deli & Cafe
8222 N Lamar BlvdBest Vietnamese food in Austin.
Takoba
1411 E 7th StMexican home cooking with a great patio.
Very possibly Austin's worst kept secret, Asia Cafe is a tiny Szechuan restaurant popular among chefs and civilians alike. Some of the best Chinese in the city
13 locals recommend
Asia Cafe
8650 Spicewood Springs RdVery possibly Austin's worst kept secret, Asia Cafe is a tiny Szechuan restaurant popular among chefs and civilians alike. Some of the best Chinese in the city
The husband and wife team behind Tomo serve amazing sushi at remarkably reasonable prices. Definitely worth the trip up north.
28 locals recommend
Tomodachi Sushi
4101 W Parmer LnThe husband and wife team behind Tomo serve amazing sushi at remarkably reasonable prices. Definitely worth the trip up north.
Chef Rene Ortiz's take on modern Mexican cuisine in the Second Street District. Not to be missed: the riffs on guacamole, the wild tacos, the cocktails, and pastry chef Laura Sawicki's ice creams.
191 locals recommend
La Condesa
400 W 2nd StChef Rene Ortiz's take on modern Mexican cuisine in the Second Street District. Not to be missed: the riffs on guacamole, the wild tacos, the cocktails, and pastry chef Laura Sawicki's ice creams.
A welcome addition to the North Austin dining scene, chef Ned Elliott's inventive seasonal cuisine and wife Jodi's stellar desserts make this neighborhood spot a winner. Also a great for brunch.
135 locals recommend
Foreign & Domestic
306 E 53rd StA welcome addition to the North Austin dining scene, chef Ned Elliott's inventive seasonal cuisine and wife Jodi's stellar desserts make this neighborhood spot a winner. Also a great for brunch.
Chef Shawn Cirkiel's convivial new Italian restaurant features small plates, Italian liqueur cocktails and a 300-year-old oak tree.
64 locals recommend
Olive & June
3411 Glenview AveChef Shawn Cirkiel's convivial new Italian restaurant features small plates, Italian liqueur cocktails and a 300-year-old oak tree.
Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher's tiny South First restaurant opened in mid-January and is already one of Austin's hardest-to-get reservations
179 locals recommend
LENOIR
1807 S 1st StTodd Duplechan and Jessica Maher's tiny South First restaurant opened in mid-January and is already one of Austin's hardest-to-get reservations
The new small plates restaurant--not "beholden to any one style"--from chefs Mat Clouser and Zack Northcutt promises a "unique and luxurious experience" without "pomp and circumstance."
85 locals recommend
Swift's Attic
315 Congress AveThe new small plates restaurant--not "beholden to any one style"--from chefs Mat Clouser and Zack Northcutt promises a "unique and luxurious experience" without "pomp and circumstance."
What will new chef Paul Hargrove do with Sonya Coté's strong local legacy at the East Side Show Room? Certainly his locavore training at TRACE makes him a smart pick for the job.
288 locals recommend
Ah Sing Den
1100 E 6th StWhat will new chef Paul Hargrove do with Sonya Coté's strong local legacy at the East Side Show Room? Certainly his locavore training at TRACE makes him a smart pick for the job.
The Backspace
507 San Jacinto BlvdSmall, well-curated wine list, wood-fired artisan pizza
Parkside
301 E 6th StDon't miss the bone marrow.
Bess Bistro
500 W 6th StGreat french place owned by Sandy Bullock.
Lamberts
401 W 2nd StFancy BBQ!
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveGreat place to hit while you're shopping SOCO.
Jo's Coffee
1300 S Congress AveGo here after a run on town lake!
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdTyson Cole's original spot.
Vino Vino
4119 Guadalupe StWine bar with excellent, excellent food.
Flip Happy Crepes
400 Jessie StNutella and bananas.
Hoover's Cooking
2002 Manor RdSoul food. Great breakfast.
I love this restaurant/wine bar. The steat tartare is my favorite in town!
12 locals recommend
Nueces Kitchen and Bar
360 W 3rd StI love this restaurant/wine bar. The steat tartare is my favorite in town!
Delicious coffee for bicycle saavy peeps in Austin. Great meetup!
12 locals recommend
Juan Pelota Cafe
400 Nueces StDelicious coffee for bicycle saavy peeps in Austin. Great meetup!
Recognized as one of the best local spots for patio dining, Paggi House is an iconic Austin restaurant, as well as a historic landmark dating back to the 1840s.
16 locals recommend
Paggi House
200 Lee Barton DrRecognized as one of the best local spots for patio dining, Paggi House is an iconic Austin restaurant, as well as a historic landmark dating back to the 1840s.
Dedicated to serving delicious traditional Mexican food. We create savory salsas and moles, well-seasoned food, with great concern for finding a pleasing balance of flavors.
18 locals recommend
El Naranjo
2717 South Lamar BoulevardDedicated to serving delicious traditional Mexican food. We create savory salsas and moles, well-seasoned food, with great concern for finding a pleasing balance of flavors.
Over 100 beers on tap and the largest selection of sausage in Austin! Great for large groups.
264 locals recommend
Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden
79 Rainey StOver 100 beers on tap and the largest selection of sausage in Austin! Great for large groups.
You need pizza delivered? Order from these guys. Hands down -- best delivered pizza in town.
321 locals recommend
East Side Pies
1401 Rosewood AveYou need pizza delivered? Order from these guys. Hands down -- best delivered pizza in town.
Essentials
If you're a foodie, go here. If you're not, go to Randall's down the street.
765 locals recommend
Central Market
4477 S Lamar BlvdIf you're a foodie, go here. If you're not, go to Randall's down the street.
This is the HQ of Whole Foods Market! It's a Whole Foods experience like none other in the country. Check it out!
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdThis is the HQ of Whole Foods Market! It's a Whole Foods experience like none other in the country. Check it out!
Drinks & Nightlife
Pub with an encyclopedic beer selection. Great atmosphere.
131 locals recommend
Draught House Pub & Brewery
4112 Medical PkwyPub with an encyclopedic beer selection. Great atmosphere.
Great trivia, REALLY GOOD sandwiches + homemade chips + soups and divvy hangout.
193 locals recommend
Gourmands
2316 Webberville RdGreat trivia, REALLY GOOD sandwiches + homemade chips + soups and divvy hangout.
Casino El Camino
517 E 6th StBest burger in Austin. Swears.
Burgers, fried pickles the size of your forearm — at this cooperatively owned brewpub is well above what it needs to be to accompany their increasingly tasty beer selection.
132 locals recommend
Black Star Co-op
7020 Easy Wind DrBurgers, fried pickles the size of your forearm — at this cooperatively owned brewpub is well above what it needs to be to accompany their increasingly tasty beer selection.
With a sprawling back patio alongside Waller Creek, legitimate bread-making cred and in-house charcuterie, Easy Tiger doesn't really need great beer to lure us in, but they've got it, anyway
358 locals recommend
Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th StWith a sprawling back patio alongside Waller Creek, legitimate bread-making cred and in-house charcuterie, Easy Tiger doesn't really need great beer to lure us in, but they've got it, anyway
Grackle
1700 E 6th StTrivia on Thursday nights!
Relying on pre-prohibition recipes of some of the best mixed drinks in US cocktail history, the bar staff executes well every time. The best absinthe selection in town.
32 locals recommend
Cedar Street Courtyard
208 W 4th StRelying on pre-prohibition recipes of some of the best mixed drinks in US cocktail history, the bar staff executes well every time. The best absinthe selection in town.
This neighborhood pub is almost the definition of off-the-map place. Not too many know about this cocktail gem, but many of our town's best bartenders drink (and guest bar tend) here.
74 locals recommend
The Tigress Pub
100 W N Loop BlvdThis neighborhood pub is almost the definition of off-the-map place. Not too many know about this cocktail gem, but many of our town's best bartenders drink (and guest bar tend) here.
Contigo
2027 Anchor LnIncredible patio, all food comes from their ranch not far away.
So many great restaurants and bars in the Rainey Street district -- make this place your first stop! There's also a secret bar in the back...Sazeracs!
47 locals recommend
Clive Bar
609 Davis StSo many great restaurants and bars in the Rainey Street district -- make this place your first stop! There's also a secret bar in the back...Sazeracs!
Red River is THE street for live indie music. Mohawk and next door Club De Ville is a great place to start! Move over to Beerland next.
166 locals recommend
Mohawk Austin
912 Red River StRed River is THE street for live indie music. Mohawk and next door Club De Ville is a great place to start! Move over to Beerland next.
Everything Else
Whip in
1950 S I-35 Frontage RdLiquor Store & GREAT Indian restaurant. No kidding.
Go here to see a movie. Go to the bar on its own. Art films with great food -- a good alternative to the Alamo Drafthouse.
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StGo here to see a movie. Go to the bar on its own. Art films with great food -- a good alternative to the Alamo Drafthouse.
Bowling alley/restaurant/dance club easily earns a spot on the Eater Cocktail Map. While this cocktail menu is simple, it is still a shining example of inspiration and balance.
152 locals recommend
The Highball
1120 S Lamar BlvdBowling alley/restaurant/dance club easily earns a spot on the Eater Cocktail Map. While this cocktail menu is simple, it is still a shining example of inspiration and balance.
This is a great running trail and place to rent kayaks & paddle boards!
267 locals recommend
Lady Bird Lake Trail
Lady Bird Lake TrailThis is a great running trail and place to rent kayaks & paddle boards!
I belong to this Gym -- it's great to head across the street to the Whole Foods HQ afterwards for a snack!
12 locals recommend
Life Time Athletic Austin - Downtown
907 W 5th StI belong to this Gym -- it's great to head across the street to the Whole Foods HQ afterwards for a snack!
Shopping
Mercury Design Studio
225 W 2nd StOne of my favorite places to shop for cool and unual gifts & home goods.
This is a great gift store...the jewlery, plants, purses, rugs, etc. -- they will blow your mind!
14 locals recommend
Spartan Shop
1210 SE Grand AveThis is a great gift store...the jewlery, plants, purses, rugs, etc. -- they will blow your mind!
BookPeople
603 N Lamar BlvdThe best bookstore in Austin, period. Huge.
Arts & Culture
The original wine-dine-movie theatre invented in Austin.
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdThe original wine-dine-movie theatre invented in Austin.
This is where Austin City Limits is taped! Definitely go see a show here if you have a chance.
326 locals recommend
ACL Live
310 W Willie Nelson BlvdThis is where Austin City Limits is taped! Definitely go see a show here if you have a chance.