Guidebook for Austin
Sightseeing
Best swimming hole in town. A half-concrete spring fed pool, and a plush lawn to lie on. The gem of Austin.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrBest swimming hole in town. A half-concrete spring fed pool, and a plush lawn to lie on. The gem of Austin.
Great hiking trails, a free native mammals exhibit (with live animals) and aviary (with live birds).
52 locals recommend
Austin Nature & Science Center
2389 Stratford DrGreat hiking trails, a free native mammals exhibit (with live animals) and aviary (with live birds).
Overlooks Town Lake, beautiful view. It's nice if you go at night, but there will definitely be teenagers making out up there.
83 locals recommend
Mount Bonnell Viewing Platform
Overlooks Town Lake, beautiful view. It's nice if you go at night, but there will definitely be teenagers making out up there.
I'm a nature lover, and I love walking the trails at the wildflower center. The Center has a very well curated collection of native plants.
252 locals recommend
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse AveI'm a nature lover, and I love walking the trails at the wildflower center. The Center has a very well curated collection of native plants.
Free. Really beautiful. Lots of calming spaces to perch for a moment of introspection.
429 locals recommend
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs RdFree. Really beautiful. Lots of calming spaces to perch for a moment of introspection.
Kayak rentals. Cheaper than some other places. About $25 for a 4-hour rental. They also have some stand-up paddle boards.
41 locals recommend
Congress Avenue Kayaks
74 Trinity StKayak rentals. Cheaper than some other places. About $25 for a 4-hour rental. They also have some stand-up paddle boards.
Food Scene
Pizza within walking distance. Farm to table. Cheap and delicious, by the slice.
321 locals recommend
East Side Pies
1401 Rosewood AvePizza within walking distance. Farm to table. Cheap and delicious, by the slice.
Decent food, sandwiches and such, walking distance from the house. Kombucha on tap, and lots of craft beers too.
352 locals recommend
Quickie Pickie
2027 E Cesar Chavez StDecent food, sandwiches and such, walking distance from the house. Kombucha on tap, and lots of craft beers too.
If you're looking for a nicer sit-down dinner, this place is fancy, yet casual as Austin. The food and cocktails are amazing, and most of it is made from local produce. Walking distance.
354 locals recommend
Hillside Farmacy
1209 E 11th StIf you're looking for a nicer sit-down dinner, this place is fancy, yet casual as Austin. The food and cocktails are amazing, and most of it is made from local produce. Walking distance.
Micklethwait Craft Meats
1309 Rosewood AveFantastic BBQ just steps from the house.
La Condesa
400 W 2nd StGourmet Tex-Mex. Excellent food and very beautiful interior design.
Maudie's Cafe
2608 W 7th StReally good, affordable tex-mex.
Authentic, cheap mexican food & huge bakery with lots of good pan dulce choices.
86 locals recommend
Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
2305 E 7th StAuthentic, cheap mexican food & huge bakery with lots of good pan dulce choices.
Famous BBQ. Every single day, you will find people standing in line for hours to taste this BBQ. They sell out every day.
919 locals recommend
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StFamous BBQ. Every single day, you will find people standing in line for hours to taste this BBQ. They sell out every day.
Eden East
211 Springdale RdFine dining on a farm.
Essentials
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdNearest grocery store to the house.
This is the biggest Whole Foods you will ever go into. It is amazing and delicious.
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdThis is the biggest Whole Foods you will ever go into. It is amazing and delicious.
Health and organic foods. One of our house members works there, so you can get a discount with her member card. Ask us where the card is.
337 locals recommend
Wheatsville Food Co-Op
3101 Guadalupe StHealth and organic foods. One of our house members works there, so you can get a discount with her member card. Ask us where the card is.
Nick's House.
This is the closest convenience store to the house and they have a great beer and wine selection. A guy named Nick used to work there, so we call it Nick's House.
11 locals recommend
R S Food Mart
1219 Rosewood AveNick's House.
This is the closest convenience store to the house and they have a great beer and wine selection. A guy named Nick used to work there, so we call it Nick's House.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar & country venue with dancing. Walking distance. Great patio, good deals on drinks, two-stepping, live music, diverse crowd, great taco truck out back.
672 locals recommend
The White Horse
500 Comal StBar & country venue with dancing. Walking distance. Great patio, good deals on drinks, two-stepping, live music, diverse crowd, great taco truck out back.
Yellow Jacket Social Club
1704 E 5th StGood brunch. Good drinks any time of night.
Good bar, cheap drinks, nice patio. The food truck outside makes the best fancy pizza you've ever had. It's called 313.
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StGood bar, cheap drinks, nice patio. The food truck outside makes the best fancy pizza you've ever had. It's called 313.
This is a bar attached to a small theater venue. The bar area has a garden patio that is really beautiful at night. There is a gourmet Italian food truck that is really excellent.
145 locals recommend
The Butterfly Bar Austin
2307 Manor RdThis is a bar attached to a small theater venue. The bar area has a garden patio that is really beautiful at night. There is a gourmet Italian food truck that is really excellent.
Arts & Culture
Bar & venue. Great venue when there's music. If there's not, it's just a great time all around. Usually fun dancing, too. LGBTQ friendly.
153 locals recommend
Cheer Up Charlies
900 Red River StBar & venue. Great venue when there's music. If there's not, it's just a great time all around. Usually fun dancing, too. LGBTQ friendly.
Mohawk Austin
912 Red River StBar & venue. Lots of great musicians play at the Mohawk.
Bar & Venue. If you're looking for something a little more low key...this is a classy bar with an intimate appeal. They often have live music -very good live music. And the cocktails are delicious.
288 locals recommend
Ah Sing Den
1100 E 6th StBar & Venue. If you're looking for something a little more low key...this is a classy bar with an intimate appeal. They often have live music -very good live music. And the cocktails are delicious.
Bar & Venue. If you're into punk, metal, or harder music, this is the place for you.
102 locals recommend
The Volstead Lounge
1500 E 6th StBar & Venue. If you're into punk, metal, or harder music, this is the place for you.
Sometimes free or at least very cheap. Beautiful landscaping and interesting sculptures.
235 locals recommend
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton RdSometimes free or at least very cheap. Beautiful landscaping and interesting sculptures.
Really beautiful landscaping. Great place to go for a walk to see interesting sculptures and other art installations.
173 locals recommend
The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center
700 Congress AveReally beautiful landscaping. Great place to go for a walk to see interesting sculptures and other art installations.
This is supposed to be one of the best museums in Austin.
644 locals recommend
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardThis is supposed to be one of the best museums in Austin.
Mexic-Arte Museum
419 Congress AvenueVery nice mexican art museum. About $10/person entrance fee.
If you're looking for some improv comedy, this is a good place to go.
18 locals recommend
The Off Center
2211 E HidalgoIf you're looking for some improv comedy, this is a good place to go.
Outdoor music venue, family-friendly, sometimes has shows on the weekends. Check their facebook page for updates.
11 locals recommend
Kenny Dorham's Backyard - Diverse Arts
1106 E 11th StOutdoor music venue, family-friendly, sometimes has shows on the weekends. Check their facebook page for updates.
Quirky dine-in movie theater with many locations around Austin. They often feature classics, independent, and foreign films -but also show the blockbusters. A true movie-lovers paradise.
228 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas
320 E 6th StQuirky dine-in movie theater with many locations around Austin. They often feature classics, independent, and foreign films -but also show the blockbusters. A true movie-lovers paradise.
Esther's Follies
525 E 6th StDowntown sketch comedy.
Slightly more upscale dine-in theater experience than Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Definitely get there early to order your food before you go in the theater. The armchairs are super comfy.
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StSlightly more upscale dine-in theater experience than Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Definitely get there early to order your food before you go in the theater. The armchairs are super comfy.
I've heard good things, but have never been. Blues, jazz, the good stuff.
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveI've heard good things, but have never been. Blues, jazz, the good stuff.
Good shows, connects to Barbarella via the patio. You can dance, drink, and see shows all in one swoop!
11 locals recommend
Swan Dive
615 Red River StGood shows, connects to Barbarella via the patio. You can dance, drink, and see shows all in one swoop!
Weird bar with karaoke and all kinds of other shit, connected to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
152 locals recommend
The Highball
1120 S Lamar BlvdWeird bar with karaoke and all kinds of other shit, connected to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar BlvdOldest two-step bar in Austin. REAL country, and really fun.
Everything Else
One of the closer places to get a bicycle fixed. They have bikes for rent, too.
30 locals recommend
Eastside Pedal Pushers
4607 Bolm RdOne of the closer places to get a bicycle fixed. They have bikes for rent, too.
Shopping
This is a wacky costume shop on south congress. If you're not in need of a costume, there are plenty of other places to shop for clothing and gifts along south congress.
87 locals recommend
Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds
1506 S Congress AveThis is a wacky costume shop on south congress. If you're not in need of a costume, there are plenty of other places to shop for clothing and gifts along south congress.
Book People is an Austin staple. Great bookstore with lots of cool gifts, too.
146 locals recommend
BookPeople
603 N Lamar BlvdBook People is an Austin staple. Great bookstore with lots of cool gifts, too.
Toy Joy
403 West 2nd StreetWeird toys that keep austin weird.
The Drag
453-401 W 23rd StShopping area near campus.
Barton Creek Square
Sometimes you have to go.
The Domain
11410 Century Oaks TerraceShopping mall. Tends to be upscale.