Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Very casual, a little divey, but it's by far the restaurant we most frequent in East Austin. Open 5 am to 2 am Monday-Wednesday, and 24 hours Thursday-Sunday. The super-spicy house green salsa that comes with chips is my favorite anywhere, and they always have a selection of a half-dozen other fresh salsas at the serve-yourself salsa bar. Grab-and-go breakfast tacos mornings until 11 am or so, and great Tex-Mex/Mexican lunch and dinner options. My go-to is the crispy taco plate and a Negra Modela beer, and other favorites are the pastor torta, the mole enchiladas, and the caldo de pollo, but it's all good. Not fancy, but great local flavor.
38 lokale anbefaler
Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant
1701 E Cesar Chavez StVery casual, a little divey, but it's by far the restaurant we most frequent in East Austin. Open 5 am to 2 am Monday-Wednesday, and 24 hours Thursday-Sunday. The super-spicy house green salsa that comes with chips is my favorite anywhere, and they always have a selection of a half-dozen other fresh salsas at the serve-yourself salsa bar. Grab-and-go breakfast tacos mornings until 11 am or so, and great Tex-Mex/Mexican lunch and dinner options. My go-to is the crispy taco plate and a Negra Modela beer, and other favorites are the pastor torta, the mole enchiladas, and the caldo de pollo, but it's all good. Not fancy, but great local flavor.
Our favorite barbecue in Austin, and a fraction the waiting time you'd find at the famous Franklin Barbecue. If you've never liked grits, the jalapeño-cheese grits there may change your mind, and you've never had grits, you can't beat theirs as an introduction. I've never liked cole slaw, but I'm a huge fan of theirs. Everything is made in-house, down to the bread, sauce, desserts, and pickles.
It's all fantastic, but their specialty is sausage (different kinds every day), and the pork shoulder is my personal favorite. Those unfamiliar with Texas barbecue may want to give the beef ribs a try - most other regions of the US use pork. Food trailer with picnic tables and shade coverings.
215 lokale anbefaler
Micklethwait Craft Meats
1309 Rosewood AveOur favorite barbecue in Austin, and a fraction the waiting time you'd find at the famous Franklin Barbecue. If you've never liked grits, the jalapeño-cheese grits there may change your mind, and you've never had grits, you can't beat theirs as an introduction. I've never liked cole slaw, but I'm a huge fan of theirs. Everything is made in-house, down to the bread, sauce, desserts, and pickles.
It's all fantastic, but their specialty is sausage (different kinds every day), and the pork shoulder is my personal favorite. Those unfamiliar with Texas barbecue may want to give the beef ribs a try - most other regions of the US use pork. Food trailer with picnic tables and shade coverings.
Award-winning restaurant (Food & Wine, Texas Monthly, Eater Austin, James Beard Foundation finalist) in East Austin. Reservations recommended for dinner, or you may have a long wait, but we hear it's worth it. Good special occasion/date spot. Inventive menu. Also good for brunch.
397 lokale anbefaler
Launderette
2115 Holly StAward-winning restaurant (Food & Wine, Texas Monthly, Eater Austin, James Beard Foundation finalist) in East Austin. Reservations recommended for dinner, or you may have a long wait, but we hear it's worth it. Good special occasion/date spot. Inventive menu. Also good for brunch.
French. Great cocktails, and a lovely outdoor dining area. (Indoor seating available too.) Hip and a bit upscale.
522 lokale anbefaler
Justine's
4710 E 5th StFrench. Great cocktails, and a lovely outdoor dining area. (Indoor seating available too.) Hip and a bit upscale.
Cajun/Creole-influenced retro-styled diner with good food and reasonable prices. Great for breakfast/brunch.
140 lokale anbefaler
Sawyer & Co
4827 E Cesar Chavez StCajun/Creole-influenced retro-styled diner with good food and reasonable prices. Great for breakfast/brunch.
Coffee shop in a historic house with indoor/outdoor seating, breakfast/brunch, sandwiches and salads, and occasional live music.
379 lokale anbefaler
Cenote
1010 E Cesar Chavez StCoffee shop in a historic house with indoor/outdoor seating, breakfast/brunch, sandwiches and salads, and occasional live music.
Downtown on East 6th Street. Our favorite happy hour in town - Monday through Friday 5-6:30 pm, half off all cocktails, beer, and bar food (our happy hour go-to is the Caesar salad, bar steak, and an order of calamari). Outstanding desserts too!
74 lokale anbefaler
Parkside
301 E 6th StDowntown on East 6th Street. Our favorite happy hour in town - Monday through Friday 5-6:30 pm, half off all cocktails, beer, and bar food (our happy hour go-to is the Caesar salad, bar steak, and an order of calamari). Outstanding desserts too!
Drinks & Nightlife
Great bar, good prices, friendly staff, good beer selection and full bar including featured cocktails. East Side King food trailer in the backyard has excellent, Asian-fusion food including vegetarian options. Communal picnic table seating in the backyard, as well as indoor seating.
291 lokale anbefaler
The Liberty
1618 East 6th StreetGreat bar, good prices, friendly staff, good beer selection and full bar including featured cocktails. East Side King food trailer in the backyard has excellent, Asian-fusion food including vegetarian options. Communal picnic table seating in the backyard, as well as indoor seating.
Another great East Austin bar. Good beer selection and full bar, indoor and outdoor seating, darts, and occasional DJ nights.
70 lokale anbefaler
Grackle
1700 E 6th StAnother great East Austin bar. Good beer selection and full bar, indoor and outdoor seating, darts, and occasional DJ nights.
Bar with great outdoor picnic table seating amongst the crape myrtles. (Indoor seating too.) Kitchen serves salads, charcuterie and cheese plates, sandwiches (the roasted beet/chevre/arugula is my favorite), and brunch on weekends for both vegetarians and carnivores. Brunch-time mimosa buckets are a great way to start the weekend.
244 lokale anbefaler
Yellow Jacket Social Club
1704 E 5th StBar with great outdoor picnic table seating amongst the crape myrtles. (Indoor seating too.) Kitchen serves salads, charcuterie and cheese plates, sandwiches (the roasted beet/chevre/arugula is my favorite), and brunch on weekends for both vegetarians and carnivores. Brunch-time mimosa buckets are a great way to start the weekend.
Fantastic local brewery just a short walk from the apartment. Free brewery tours available Thursday-Friday at 5 pm and Saturday 1, 3, and 5 pm. Tap room open 7 days a week, 10 am-10 pm.
112 lokale anbefaler
Hops & Grain Brewing
507 Calles StFantastic local brewery just a short walk from the apartment. Free brewery tours available Thursday-Friday at 5 pm and Saturday 1, 3, and 5 pm. Tap room open 7 days a week, 10 am-10 pm.
Blue Owl Brewing
2400 E Cesar Chavez StBrewery specializing in sour beers.
This bar could only be closer to the apartment if it were inside the kitchen. New Orleans-themed dive bar, 249 feet away.
19 lokale anbefaler
St Roch's Bar
515 Pedernales StThis bar could only be closer to the apartment if it were inside the kitchen. New Orleans-themed dive bar, 249 feet away.
Cocktail bar. East Side King (Asian-fusion) food truck outside. Mezcal bar up at the top of the stairs.
561 lokale anbefaler
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StCocktail bar. East Side King (Asian-fusion) food truck outside. Mezcal bar up at the top of the stairs.
Bar and live music venue, tending toward country/alternative country. Swing and two-step dance lessons several nights a week.
672 lokale anbefaler
The White Horse
500 Comal StBar and live music venue, tending toward country/alternative country. Swing and two-step dance lessons several nights a week.
HOTEL VEGAS
1502 E 6th StBar and music venue tending toward punk, indie, and rock.
Bar specializing in beers brewed in Texas. Beer flights available. Some ciders available, no liquor. Nice backyard seating, indoor available too. Via 313 Pizza food truck out back, serving excellent (if a bit pricey) Detroit-style pizza.
74 lokale anbefaler
Craft Pride
61 Rainey StBar specializing in beers brewed in Texas. Beer flights available. Some ciders available, no liquor. Nice backyard seating, indoor available too. Via 313 Pizza food truck out back, serving excellent (if a bit pricey) Detroit-style pizza.
Live music, line dancing, cold Lone Star Beer, and chicken fried steak since 1964. It's just like the movies told you Texas would be.
478 lokale anbefaler
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar BlvdLive music, line dancing, cold Lone Star Beer, and chicken fried steak since 1964. It's just like the movies told you Texas would be.
Entertainment & Activities
One of the "crown jewels of Austin." Three acre spring-fed pool, year-round swimming with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Open 5 am-10 pm daily and free from 8 pm to 10 pm. (Closed for cleaning Thursdays 9 am to 7 pm.) $8 entry fee for non-Travis County residents, or $3 for residents. Least crowded times to go are usually weekday evenings around 7 pm, or weekend mornings before about 11 am.
2454 lokale anbefaler
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrOne of the "crown jewels of Austin." Three acre spring-fed pool, year-round swimming with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Open 5 am-10 pm daily and free from 8 pm to 10 pm. (Closed for cleaning Thursdays 9 am to 7 pm.) $8 entry fee for non-Travis County residents, or $3 for residents. Least crowded times to go are usually weekday evenings around 7 pm, or weekend mornings before about 11 am.
Small movie theater downtown with reservable seats, small screening rooms with stadium seating, mostly independent/art/foreign films but some mainstream too. Food and bar available too - enjoy in the lounge before the movie, or take them into the theater with you!
347 lokale anbefaler
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StSmall movie theater downtown with reservable seats, small screening rooms with stadium seating, mostly independent/art/foreign films but some mainstream too. Food and bar available too - enjoy in the lounge before the movie, or take them into the theater with you!
Rent a kayak or standup paddleboard by the hour, and enjoy downtown from the water!
41 lokale anbefaler
Congress Avenue Kayaks
74 Trinity St Rent a kayak or standup paddleboard by the hour, and enjoy downtown from the water!
Parks & Nature
Ten miles of jogging/biking/walking trails alongside Lady Bird Lake (the downtown section of the Colorado River). From the apartment, a great entry point is to head to the Mexican American Cultural Center (600 River Street), across Rainey Street from Craft Pride, walk through the center complex to the river, and follow the trail long the river. The trail continues in both directions along the river, but there's more to see towards downtown, to the north.
257 lokale anbefaler
Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail
Ten miles of jogging/biking/walking trails alongside Lady Bird Lake (the downtown section of the Colorado River). From the apartment, a great entry point is to head to the Mexican American Cultural Center (600 River Street), across Rainey Street from Craft Pride, walk through the center complex to the river, and follow the trail long the river. The trail continues in both directions along the river, but there's more to see towards downtown, to the north.
Arts & Culture
Mexic-Arte Museum
419 Congress AvenueContemporary Mexican, Latino/a art and culture museum.
Art museum on the University of Texas at Austin campus, with both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
644 lokale anbefaler
Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardArt museum on the University of Texas at Austin campus, with both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
Texas history museum across the street from the UT Austin campus Blanton Museum of Art. IMAX theatre attached too!
593 lokale anbefaler
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveTexas history museum across the street from the UT Austin campus Blanton Museum of Art. IMAX theatre attached too!
The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center
700 Congress AveContemporary art museum downtown.
Free museum on the UT Austin campus. On permanent display are the first photograph and the Gutenberg Bible, and temporary exhibits draw from the center's exhaustive archives including photography, paintings, costumes and textiles, personal effects of literary and artistic legends, etc.
127 lokale anbefaler
Harry Ransom Center
300 W 21st StFree museum on the UT Austin campus. On permanent display are the first photograph and the Gutenberg Bible, and temporary exhibits draw from the center's exhaustive archives including photography, paintings, costumes and textiles, personal effects of literary and artistic legends, etc.
Sightseeing
It's the sixth tallest state capitol building, but if you ask any Texan, they'll insist it's THE tallest. Just go with it. Beautiful grounds, including an impressive new African-American History Memorial unveiled in November 2016.
Bonus: Grab a drink in the ice-cold hidden basement bar The Cloak Room just west of the Capitol building, where you might be rubbing elbows with Senators, but you can't tell for sure in the pitch-dark. Good luck finding the entrance!
1119 lokale anbefaler
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveIt's the sixth tallest state capitol building, but if you ask any Texan, they'll insist it's THE tallest. Just go with it. Beautiful grounds, including an impressive new African-American History Memorial unveiled in November 2016.
Bonus: Grab a drink in the ice-cold hidden basement bar The Cloak Room just west of the Capitol building, where you might be rubbing elbows with Senators, but you can't tell for sure in the pitch-dark. Good luck finding the entrance!
Popular peak overlooking the city above the Colorado River. At 775 feet above sea level, it's probably the highest point in Austin.
1082 lokale anbefaler
Mount Bonnell
Popular peak overlooking the city above the Colorado River. At 775 feet above sea level, it's probably the highest point in Austin.
View (or create) street art at this constantly-changing multi-level graffiti park, launched in 2011 with the help of Shepard Fairey.
207 lokale anbefaler
Graffiti Park på Castle Hill
1008 Baylor StView (or create) street art at this constantly-changing multi-level graffiti park, launched in 2011 with the help of Shepard Fairey.
Shopping
Several-blocks long strip of unique shopping and restaurants just south of Ladybird Lake across the Congress Avenue Bridge. If it's your first time in Texas, the selection at Allen's Boots has to be seen to be believed. Our favorite restaurants are Botticelli's (Italian) and Home Slice (pizza), and other popular spots include Perla's (seafood) and South Congress Cafe.
447 lokale anbefaler
South Congress Avenue
South Congress AvenueSeveral-blocks long strip of unique shopping and restaurants just south of Ladybird Lake across the Congress Avenue Bridge. If it's your first time in Texas, the selection at Allen's Boots has to be seen to be believed. Our favorite restaurants are Botticelli's (Italian) and Home Slice (pizza), and other popular spots include Perla's (seafood) and South Congress Cafe.