Austin tips & recs
Food scene
Phenomenal James Beard awarded Mexican spot a short walk from the airbnb. Solid vegetarian options but also do not sleep on the duck confit tacos! Has a soft spot in my heart for stepping up as an inpromptu food kitchen during the '21 Texas freeze.
78 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nixta Taqueria
2512 E 12th StPhenomenal James Beard awarded Mexican spot a short walk from the airbnb. Solid vegetarian options but also do not sleep on the duck confit tacos! Has a soft spot in my heart for stepping up as an inpromptu food kitchen during the '21 Texas freeze.
Famous (and infamous for it's line) brunch spot serving up a variety of brunch options. Phenomenal food but best visited during the week due to it's popularity.
132 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Paperboy
1203 E 11th StFamous (and infamous for it's line) brunch spot serving up a variety of brunch options. Phenomenal food but best visited during the week due to it's popularity.
An asian/bbq fusion restaurant brought to you by the head chefs (and both James Beard Winners of Uchi and Franklins bbq, Loro is an absolute must visit when in Austin. No reservations so the wait can be considerable, but in my experience the restaurants hosts are not opposed to taking $20 to speed things up. Head next door to Bouldin Acres afterwards for a beer or even a pickleball game (food coma willing).
276 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Loro
2115 S Lamar BlvdAn asian/bbq fusion restaurant brought to you by the head chefs (and both James Beard Winners of Uchi and Franklins bbq, Loro is an absolute must visit when in Austin. No reservations so the wait can be considerable, but in my experience the restaurants hosts are not opposed to taking $20 to speed things up. Head next door to Bouldin Acres afterwards for a beer or even a pickleball game (food coma willing).
Incredibly cute italian permanent food-truck serving up homemade pasta in a stringlit, garden patio next to the vortex theater. Truly the best pasta I've been served from the back of a truck.
182 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Patrizi's
2307 Manor RdIncredibly cute italian permanent food-truck serving up homemade pasta in a stringlit, garden patio next to the vortex theater. Truly the best pasta I've been served from the back of a truck.
Located in a food truck park halfway between the airbnb and downtown, Cuantos Tacos is a great option. Slinging bite sized tacos, I'd recommend trying the "One of Everything" approach to sample 6 delicious small tacos.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cuantos Tacos
1108 East 12th StreetLocated in a food truck park halfway between the airbnb and downtown, Cuantos Tacos is a great option. Slinging bite sized tacos, I'd recommend trying the "One of Everything" approach to sample 6 delicious small tacos.
Self claimed to have once been Yelp's #4 taco spot in all of Texas, it's not hard to see why. Located just off East 6th st, Granny's tacos is the perfect sustenance hit when day drinking along the east side of town.
31 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Granny's Tacos
1401 E 7th StSelf claimed to have once been Yelp's #4 taco spot in all of Texas, it's not hard to see why. Located just off East 6th st, Granny's tacos is the perfect sustenance hit when day drinking along the east side of town.
My favorite bbq option when considering the essential wait time vs quality of bbq ratio. All bbq in Austin is phenomenal, but Terry Blacks provides that amazing bbq without a 2 hour wait.
372 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs RdMy favorite bbq option when considering the essential wait time vs quality of bbq ratio. All bbq in Austin is phenomenal, but Terry Blacks provides that amazing bbq without a 2 hour wait.
If rattlesnake sausage and bison ribeyes sounds good to you then this is your spot! Aside from boasting a variety of 'wild game' this steakhosue will have all the classics. A great choice for any carnivores visiting Austin.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lonesome Dove Austin
123 West 6th StreetIf rattlesnake sausage and bison ribeyes sounds good to you then this is your spot! Aside from boasting a variety of 'wild game' this steakhosue will have all the classics. A great choice for any carnivores visiting Austin.
A true fine dining experience. Delicious food, great service and presentation in a sleek, modern interior. , a great date spot or for celebrating something special.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hestia
607 W 3rd StA true fine dining experience. Delicious food, great service and presentation in a sleek, modern interior. , a great date spot or for celebrating something special.
Arguably the best modern Mexican food in Austin, this sleek industrial restaurant serves up phenomenal cocktails and delicious sharing plates. Don't sleep on the bone marrow tacos!
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Comedor
501 Colorado StArguably the best modern Mexican food in Austin, this sleek industrial restaurant serves up phenomenal cocktails and delicious sharing plates. Don't sleep on the bone marrow tacos!
I know what you're thinking; "Sushi in the desert??". Well, get over this hesitation (and manage to make a reservation) and I promise you won't be disappointed. This Michelin starred sushi restaurant serves up dishes truly on par with anything you'd get at Nobu, without the Nobu crowd. Highly recommend the tasting menu.
688 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdI know what you're thinking; "Sushi in the desert??". Well, get over this hesitation (and manage to make a reservation) and I promise you won't be disappointed. This Michelin starred sushi restaurant serves up dishes truly on par with anything you'd get at Nobu, without the Nobu crowd. Highly recommend the tasting menu.
The Austin location of the trendy Chicago original, Aba serves up phenomenal mediterranean food and refreshing cocktails in a plant filled space with a trendy vibe. Great brunch or dinner option. While walk-ins are possible, suggest booking in advance where possible.
115 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Aba
1011 S Congress AveThe Austin location of the trendy Chicago original, Aba serves up phenomenal mediterranean food and refreshing cocktails in a plant filled space with a trendy vibe. Great brunch or dinner option. While walk-ins are possible, suggest booking in advance where possible.
A great spot to visit during the day for a beer and a feed in their outdoor garden, served from the local food trucks. Highly recommend the Pueblo Viejo (tacos) food truck!
205 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden
121 Pickle RdA great spot to visit during the day for a beer and a feed in their outdoor garden, served from the local food trucks. Highly recommend the Pueblo Viejo (tacos) food truck!
One of my favorite restaurants in Austin, this hip Mexican east-side restaurant books out WELL in advance. If you can get a reservation, you will not be disappointed though.
151 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fried and True Food Truck
1308 E 6th StOne of my favorite restaurants in Austin, this hip Mexican east-side restaurant books out WELL in advance. If you can get a reservation, you will not be disappointed though.
Drinking
An old machine works that's been converted into a huge brewery, art hall and live music venue. A great spot for groups, CMW is also the perfect choice for outdoor drinking on a nice day.
138 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Central Machine Works
4824 E Cesar Chavez StAn old machine works that's been converted into a huge brewery, art hall and live music venue. A great spot for groups, CMW is also the perfect choice for outdoor drinking on a nice day.
A sexy, low lit, reservation-only speakeasy, hidden just off Brazos st with menus that require black light flashlights to read. Seemingly staffed exclusively by attractive irish bartenders, learn from my mistake and take dates there at your own risk. Requires you to request a reservation using the 'Here nor There' app.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Here Nor There
612 Brazos StA sexy, low lit, reservation-only speakeasy, hidden just off Brazos st with menus that require black light flashlights to read. Seemingly staffed exclusively by attractive irish bartenders, learn from my mistake and take dates there at your own risk. Requires you to request a reservation using the 'Here nor There' app.
Neighborhoods
Full of breweries, distilleries, hikes and watering holes, Dripping Springs has it all. Regardless of if your ideal day outdoors is diving into a watering hole, or keeping nature at a respectful viewing distance while diving into a whiskey flight, you'll find options here. For options more aligned with the latter, checkout Treaty Oak, Jester King and Desert Door, three breweries / distilleries which are worth a visit!
81 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dripping Springs
Full of breweries, distilleries, hikes and watering holes, Dripping Springs has it all. Regardless of if your ideal day outdoors is diving into a watering hole, or keeping nature at a respectful viewing distance while diving into a whiskey flight, you'll find options here. For options more aligned with the latter, checkout Treaty Oak, Jester King and Desert Door, three breweries / distilleries which are worth a visit!
A local strip with an assortment of breweries, restaurants and cocktail bars. Highly recommend Ah Sing Den for cocktails (and their Thursday back garden DJ), Whislers for cocktails, Hotel Vegas for live music and Lazarus for beers & food.
395 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
East 6th Street
East 6th StreetA local strip with an assortment of breweries, restaurants and cocktail bars. Highly recommend Ah Sing Den for cocktails (and their Thursday back garden DJ), Whislers for cocktails, Hotel Vegas for live music and Lazarus for beers & food.
No doubt you've heard of Rainey st if you're coming to Austin. All I'll say here is regardless of the kind of bars / music you're into, you're bound to find it here. Highly recommend making a night of trying as many of these bars as you can.
793 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rainey Street
Rainey StreetNo doubt you've heard of Rainey st if you're coming to Austin. All I'll say here is regardless of the kind of bars / music you're into, you're bound to find it here. Highly recommend making a night of trying as many of these bars as you can.
Activities
An outdoor pool surrounded by grassy lawns and filled with a natural spring water that flows into Ladybird Lake, Barton Springs is a great option for a relaxing hot day. Just note that there's no dogs, so if you're bringing a pup "Barking Springs" directly downstream of Barton is where dog owners tend to go.
2454 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrAn outdoor pool surrounded by grassy lawns and filled with a natural spring water that flows into Ladybird Lake, Barton Springs is a great option for a relaxing hot day. Just note that there's no dogs, so if you're bringing a pup "Barking Springs" directly downstream of Barton is where dog owners tend to go.
There's few more enjoyable activities then renting a boat out on Lake Travis in the summer. Either grab a pontoon and head to Devils cove for a multi-boat tie-up, or grab a wake-boat and do some wake surfing out in the middle. Either way you're guaranteed a great day. Online you'll find plenty of boat rental companies.
151 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lake Travis
There's few more enjoyable activities then renting a boat out on Lake Travis in the summer. Either grab a pontoon and head to Devils cove for a multi-boat tie-up, or grab a wake-boat and do some wake surfing out in the middle. Either way you're guaranteed a great day. Online you'll find plenty of boat rental companies.
If you're here in the warmer months then it's never a bad time to grab a board and head out on the water. Whether you're interested in a simple relaxing paddleboard or taking out some drinks and joining the "Party Island" or "Brotilla" (where 100s of Austinites congregate in waste deep water to drink on weekends), Texas rowing center is a great place to start for a dropping off point, or to rent your board.
959 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailIf you're here in the warmer months then it's never a bad time to grab a board and head out on the water. Whether you're interested in a simple relaxing paddleboard or taking out some drinks and joining the "Party Island" or "Brotilla" (where 100s of Austinites congregate in waste deep water to drink on weekends), Texas rowing center is a great place to start for a dropping off point, or to rent your board.