Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
A great spot in an old house right on Cesar Chavez, this cozy neighborhood coffee shop serves bagels, sandwiches, coffee, and beer and wine. Picnic tables with umbrellas on the front lawn.
379 locals recommend
Cenote
1010 E Cesar Chavez StA great spot in an old house right on Cesar Chavez, this cozy neighborhood coffee shop serves bagels, sandwiches, coffee, and beer and wine. Picnic tables with umbrellas on the front lawn.
Koriente
621 E 7th StQuick, yummy, and cheap Korean food. Parking in the back.
Spartan Pizza
1007 E 6th StGood pizza, and they sell by the slice. Great if you're in a hurry.
Great food for meat-lovers, and a really interesting space. Fantastic cocktails.
288 locals recommend
Ah Sing Den
1100 E 6th StGreat food for meat-lovers, and a really interesting space. Fantastic cocktails.
Counter Culture
2908 E Cesar Chavez StVegan restaurant with lots of gluten-free items as well.
Lovely French cafe/restaurant with a very cozy indoor feel and a lovely patio in the back.
351 locals recommend
Blue Dahlia Bistro
1115 E 11th StLovely French cafe/restaurant with a very cozy indoor feel and a lovely patio in the back.
I haven't been, but supposedly this place is amazing; people start lining up at 9am for lunch!
UPDATE: Closed for renovations.
919 locals recommend
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StI haven't been, but supposedly this place is amazing; people start lining up at 9am for lunch!
UPDATE: Closed for renovations.
One of my favorites. I have been going here for years, and the food and service never disappoint. Added bonus: many ingredients come from their own garden.
160 locals recommend
Eastside Café
2113 Manor RdOne of my favorites. I have been going here for years, and the food and service never disappoint. Added bonus: many ingredients come from their own garden.
Delicious, gourmet pizza baked in a wood-burning oven, lovely atmosphere.
180 locals recommend
Bufalina Pizza
2215 E Cesar Chavez StDelicious, gourmet pizza baked in a wood-burning oven, lovely atmosphere.
Kebabalicious
1311 E 7th StYummy falafel and kebabs.
Food truck open for breakfast and lunch. Try the migas taco!
314 locals recommend
Veracruz All Natural Food Truck
2505 Webberville RoadFood truck open for breakfast and lunch. Try the migas taco!
JuiceLand
1625 Barton Springs RdExcellent smoothies and juice.
Delicious food, beautiful ambience, great service. For a splurge, you won't want to miss it. Reservations required.
99 locals recommend
Juniper
2400 E Cesar Chavez StDelicious food, beautiful ambience, great service. For a splurge, you won't want to miss it. Reservations required.
Farm to table deliciousness. Beautiful ambience with outdoor seating as well. Might need a reservation, or could sit at the bar.
197 locals recommend
Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile
3235 E Cesar Chavez StFarm to table deliciousness. Beautiful ambience with outdoor seating as well. Might need a reservation, or could sit at the bar.
Saigon Le Vendeur
2601 E 7th StA delicious Vietnamese food truck.
Launderette
2115 Holly StDelicious food, outdoor seating, walking distance of our house.
Chinese restaurant that’s got a great vibe and yummy food and cocktails.
70 locals recommend
Old Thousand
1000 E 11th StChinese restaurant that’s got a great vibe and yummy food and cocktails.
Great brunch and dinner spot with seasonal, locally-sourced meals.
354 locals recommend
Hillside Farmacy
1209 E 11th St Great brunch and dinner spot with seasonal, locally-sourced meals.
Justine's
4710 E 5th StYummy food, beautiful patio
Buenos Aires Café
1201 E 6th StGreat Argentinian food. Delicious coffee and pastries.
Rockstar Bagels
1900 Rosewood AveDelicious bagels made fresh and available from a walk-up window.
Via 313 Pizza
10106 W 6th StDelicious pizza truck with gluten-free options, too!
East Side Pies
1401 Rosewood AveThin crust pizza, outdoor seating.
Fantastic spot to get food because there are several delicious and high-quality restaurants (ramen, tacos, cheese, burgers, bakery, etc.) in a beautiful environment with both indoor and outdoor seating options. Could walk or bike from our place (one mile).
25 locals recommend
Fareground
111 Congress AveFantastic spot to get food because there are several delicious and high-quality restaurants (ramen, tacos, cheese, burgers, bakery, etc.) in a beautiful environment with both indoor and outdoor seating options. Could walk or bike from our place (one mile).
Delicious, farm-to-table food. Pricey but worth it! Walkable or bikeable (1.3 miles).
31 locals recommend
Pitchfork Pretty
2708 E Cesar Chavez StDelicious, farm-to-table food. Pricey but worth it! Walkable or bikeable (1.3 miles).
DEElicious Thai food, made to order in a food truck. Lovely courtyard with wooden picnic tables in the backyard of a bar.
46 locals recommend
DEE DEE - Northern Thai Street Food
4204 Menchaca RdDEElicious Thai food, made to order in a food truck. Lovely courtyard with wooden picnic tables in the backyard of a bar.
Excellent barbecue, still a pretty long line but not as long as Franklin's. Arrive around 10:30 if you want to avoid waiting for hours.
421 locals recommend
La Barbecue
2401 E Cesar Chavez StExcellent barbecue, still a pretty long line but not as long as Franklin's. Arrive around 10:30 if you want to avoid waiting for hours.
Everything Else
About a six-minute walk from our house, you will find a 10-mile long hike and bike trail on Ladybird Lake. A beautiful place to walk, jog, or take the kids to run around.
959 locals recommend
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailAbout a six-minute walk from our house, you will find a 10-mile long hike and bike trail on Ladybird Lake. A beautiful place to walk, jog, or take the kids to run around.
This is a great farmers market within walking distance from the house. Sundays, 11-2.
52 locals recommend
HOPE Farmers Market
This is a great farmers market within walking distance from the house. Sundays, 11-2.
Beautiful coworking space close to the house. $25 per day. Also home to a number of holistic wellness providers.
9 locals recommend
Soma Vida
Beautiful coworking space close to the house. $25 per day. Also home to a number of holistic wellness providers.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fabulous bar serving up fancy and delicious cocktails. Cozy inside and a beautiful patio/deck outside. No sign.
178 locals recommend
Weather Up
1808 E Cesar Chavez StFabulous bar serving up fancy and delicious cocktails. Cozy inside and a beautiful patio/deck outside. No sign.
Gourmands
2316 Webberville RdA gastropub with gourmet sandwiches.
East 6th Street
East 6th StreetLots of bars and eateries within walking distance.
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StThe Volstead Lounge
1500 E 6th StGreat spot for dancing and specialty cocktails.
The White Horse
500 Comal StHonkey tonk bar, two stepping!
Rainey Street
Rainey StreetLots of bars and restaurants.
Parks & Nature
A cool 68 degrees all year round, this is a must-do if you're in Austin in the summertime. You could easily spend the whole day. Beautiful grounds, great people watching, and a fantastic pool.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrA cool 68 degrees all year round, this is a must-do if you're in Austin in the summertime. You could easily spend the whole day. Beautiful grounds, great people watching, and a fantastic pool.
Lovely park right in the city (near the airport) with lots of trails to explore and water for a refreshing dip if it's hot.
376 locals recommend
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls PkwyLovely park right in the city (near the airport) with lots of trails to explore and water for a refreshing dip if it's hot.
Beautiful hikes ~ you would never know you're in a city!
235 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trailhead
Barton Creek Greenbelt TrailBeautiful hikes ~ you would never know you're in a city!
Zilker Park has something for everyone -- huge playground and train, Barton Springs, Botanical gardens, and an enormous field for throwing the football or tossing the frisbee, or just exploring by foot.
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdZilker Park has something for everyone -- huge playground and train, Barton Springs, Botanical gardens, and an enormous field for throwing the football or tossing the frisbee, or just exploring by foot.
Gorgeous, spring-fed pool. Great for swimming laps or just floating around.
322 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Municipal Pool
401 Deep Eddy AveGorgeous, spring-fed pool. Great for swimming laps or just floating around.
Essentials
Convenience store close by, which stocks all the natural and organic provisions you could desire. Great hot food, too.
352 locals recommend
Quickie Pickie
2027 E Cesar Chavez StConvenience store close by, which stocks all the natural and organic provisions you could desire. Great hot food, too.
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdIf you need groceries, this is the closest large grocery store.
Trader Joe's
211 Walter Seaholm DrWhole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdCVS
1105 North Interstate 35 Frontage RoadPharmacy.
Sightseeing
Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. Check out the Congress bridge at sunset to watch them head out for the night. A sight to behold!
286 locals recommend
Congress Avenue Bridge
Congress AvenueAustin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. Check out the Congress bridge at sunset to watch them head out for the night. A sight to behold!
HOPE Outdoor Gallery
741 Dalton LaneAn amazing sight to see. Beautiful murals and graffiti art.
A nice climb and then beautiful views of the city and the Colorado River.
1082 locals recommend
Mount Bonnell
A nice climb and then beautiful views of the city and the Colorado River.
Cathedral of Junk
4422 Lareina DrAustin's brand new library (as of November 2017) is amazing! Centrally located, incredible views, beautiful architecture, technology petting zoo, cozy nooks for working in a peaceful environment. Not to be missed!
148 locals recommend
Austin Central Library, Austin Public Library
710 W Cesar Chavez StAustin's brand new library (as of November 2017) is amazing! Centrally located, incredible views, beautiful architecture, technology petting zoo, cozy nooks for working in a peaceful environment. Not to be missed!
Shopping
South Congress Avenue
South Congress AvenueGreat shopping, great food, great people watching.
Second Street District
Upscale shopping downtown.
The Domain
11410 Century Oaks Terrace