Guidebook for Austin
Essentials
Pick up a 6 pack or a bottle of wine. Somewhat limited selection depending on your tastes. 1st Street Mart has better beer/wine.
19 locals recommend
David's Food
912 W Mary StPick up a 6 pack or a bottle of wine. Somewhat limited selection depending on your tastes. 1st Street Mart has better beer/wine.
1st Food Mart
1410 S 1st StGood beer selection.
Black Swan Yoga
403 Orchard StLove this yoga spot.
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdClosest HEB for groceries.
Drinks & Nightlife
My favorite place in Austin. Their back patio is a great place to have a few drinks before dinner on South Congress.
209 locals recommend
Hotel San Jose Lounge
1316 S Congress AveMy favorite place in Austin. Their back patio is a great place to have a few drinks before dinner on South Congress.
Gibson Street Bar
1109 S Lamar BlvdCool South Austin bar.
Great place to hang out and drink some beer. Delicious brunch.
244 locals recommend
Yellow Jacket Social Club
1704 E 5th StGreat place to hang out and drink some beer. Delicious brunch.
HOTEL VEGAS
1502 E 6th StGood place for live music.
Black Sheep Lodge
2108 S Lamar BlvdChill neighborhood sports bar.
El Alma
1025 Barton Springs RdSkip the food but check out the outdoor deck for happy hour drinks.
Amazing patio with a good happy hour--call to confirm times because I can never figure it out. Beautiful oak trees and peacocks at a historic mansion. Skip the food but check it out for a drink or more.
54 locals recommend
Mattie's
901 W Live Oak StAmazing patio with a good happy hour--call to confirm times because I can never figure it out. Beautiful oak trees and peacocks at a historic mansion. Skip the food but check it out for a drink or more.
Scene-y cocktail bar. Swanky but laid back vibe with good drinks. Lots of beautiful people.
73 locals recommend
The Cafe at Native Hostels
807 E 4th StScene-y cocktail bar. Swanky but laid back vibe with good drinks. Lots of beautiful people.
Restaurant with an upscale bar. Fashionable, beautiful crowd. Good happy hour.
92 locals recommend
Eberly
615 S Lamar BlvdRestaurant with an upscale bar. Fashionable, beautiful crowd. Good happy hour.
Best beer in Austin! Especially if you love sours. Well worth the trip. Stanley's pizza is good too.
298 locals recommend
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh RdBest beer in Austin! Especially if you love sours. Well worth the trip. Stanley's pizza is good too.
The Volstead Lounge
1500 E 6th StGo-to for later nights. Good dancing.
Austin's most popular nightclub. Hook up scene :) Stays open til 4am I think, cover after 11ish?
153 locals recommend
Barbarella
611 Red River StAustin's most popular nightclub. Hook up scene :) Stays open til 4am I think, cover after 11ish?
Mohawk Austin
912 Red River StAwesome music venue. Everything on Red River is great.
Amazing vibe, welcomes all types, try the kale ginger margarita and the other delicious cocktails. Fairly budget friendly. Lots of live music.
153 locals recommend
Cheer Up Charlies
900 Red River StAmazing vibe, welcomes all types, try the kale ginger margarita and the other delicious cocktails. Fairly budget friendly. Lots of live music.
Off-the-beaten path music venue with a variety of different types of live music and occasional African-food buffet.
132 locals recommend
Sahara Lounge
1413 Webberville RdOff-the-beaten path music venue with a variety of different types of live music and occasional African-food buffet.
2nd favorite brewery (well) behind Jester King. There are a lot of well-rated breweries in this area.
40 locals recommend
Adelbert's Brewery
2314 Rutland Dr2nd favorite brewery (well) behind Jester King. There are a lot of well-rated breweries in this area.
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StTotally unique, best cocktails in town, stunning space.
Interesting bar with a little pool in the middle for dipping your toes.
153 locals recommend
Kitty Cohen's
2211 Webberville RdInteresting bar with a little pool in the middle for dipping your toes.
Totally beautiful space on the East Side. They have food too (French) but I go for a martini and a burger.
522 locals recommend
Justine's
4710 E 5th StTotally beautiful space on the East Side. They have food too (French) but I go for a martini and a burger.
Unique, authentically Austin bar on Manor Road. Check out The Vortex for some unusual shows--I went to a seance!
145 locals recommend
The Butterfly Bar Austin
2307 Manor RdUnique, authentically Austin bar on Manor Road. Check out The Vortex for some unusual shows--I went to a seance!
Iconic Austin spot in cool historic building. Known for beer and pretzels.
358 locals recommend
Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th StIconic Austin spot in cool historic building. Known for beer and pretzels.
Very much a scene, especially the first Thursday of every month. The lobby bar is cool.
68 locals recommend
South Congress Hotel
1603 S Congress AveVery much a scene, especially the first Thursday of every month. The lobby bar is cool.
Decent beer and food but well worth it for the ambiance and live music.
435 locals recommend
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf StDecent beer and food but well worth it for the ambiance and live music.
Otoko has a secret whiskey/cocktail bar called Watertrade. Just walk upstairs to the restaurant and you'll be there. Cool, dark, sexy vibe. Lots of Japanese whiskey.
23 locals recommend
Otoko
1603 S Congress AveOtoko has a secret whiskey/cocktail bar called Watertrade. Just walk upstairs to the restaurant and you'll be there. Cool, dark, sexy vibe. Lots of Japanese whiskey.
Elephant Room
315 Congress AveAustin's most well-known jazz bar.
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveKnown for its live music. Older crowd.
Saxon Pub
1320 S Lamar BlvdOlder live music crowd.
High Noon
2000 E Cesar Chavez StLocal gem. Beautiful space. Low key.
Everything Else
The White Horse
500 Comal StHipster honky tonk.
Lady Bird Lake Trail
Lady Bird Lake TrailGood way to see the city and people watch.
Escape from the city and hike out to the creek for a picnic.
531 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt
3755 South Capital of Texas HighwayEscape from the city and hike out to the creek for a picnic.
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdACL.
Awesome hike and bike trail around Town Lake.
257 locals recommend
Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail
Awesome hike and bike trail around Town Lake.
Local Austin movie theatre that serves good burgers, pizza and shakes.
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdLocal Austin movie theatre that serves good burgers, pizza and shakes.
Parks & Nature
A must do. Bring a cheap inflatable if it is really hot.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrA must do. Bring a cheap inflatable if it is really hot.
Less frequented spring fed pool. Not as cool as Barton Springs, but more laid back.
322 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Municipal Pool
401 Deep Eddy AveLess frequented spring fed pool. Not as cool as Barton Springs, but more laid back.
Absolutely cannot miss this local swimming hole. Bring the floaties I left on the front porch.
42 locals recommend
Barton Springs Road
Barton Springs RoadAbsolutely cannot miss this local swimming hole. Bring the floaties I left on the front porch.
Nearby entrance to the greenbelt. It has been dry recently so check the water levels before you hike (or ask me!)
8 locals recommend
Gus Fruh Pool
Nearby entrance to the greenbelt. It has been dry recently so check the water levels before you hike (or ask me!)
Absolutely gorgeous. Need a reservation in advance. No walk ins.
588 locals recommend
Hamilton Pool Preserve
24300 Hamilton Pool RdAbsolutely gorgeous. Need a reservation in advance. No walk ins.
Beautiful hiking trail totally off the beaten path. Often enough water to swim. Almost never crowded. Don't tell anyone I told you about it.
41 locals recommend
St. Edwards Park
7301 Spicewood Springs RdBeautiful hiking trail totally off the beaten path. Often enough water to swim. Almost never crowded. Don't tell anyone I told you about it.
Greenbelt entrance that involves a strenuous hike in and out (hence "hill of life"). I love this entrance, local spot with less tourists. It gets crowded though, especially in the afternoon, and it can tend to be rowdy with music and potentially other things :)
19 locals recommend
Hill Of Life
1710 Camp Craft RdGreenbelt entrance that involves a strenuous hike in and out (hence "hill of life"). I love this entrance, local spot with less tourists. It gets crowded though, especially in the afternoon, and it can tend to be rowdy with music and potentially other things :)
Most popular part of greenbelt. Check water levels for greenbelt before you go because often it is dry. Beautiful but very frequented.
82 locals recommend
Sculpture Falls
Barton Creek Greenbelt TrailMost popular part of greenbelt. Check water levels for greenbelt before you go because often it is dry. Beautiful but very frequented.
Where the locals that can't afford a boat go to swim in Lake Austin!! Super beautiful, cold water, always flowing. Bring a floatie.
34 locals recommend
Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park
614 N Commons Ford RdWhere the locals that can't afford a boat go to swim in Lake Austin!! Super beautiful, cold water, always flowing. Bring a floatie.
Sightseeing
A group of lively bars popular with the young professional scene. Kind of pretentious version of Dirty 6th, still rowdy but not quite as dirty.
334 locals recommend
West 6th Street
West 6th StreetA group of lively bars popular with the young professional scene. Kind of pretentious version of Dirty 6th, still rowdy but not quite as dirty.
It used to be one of the best parts of Austin. It is still cool but has gotten wildly touristy and lots of the cool spots got torn down. I prefer the East Side. Known by locals for being full of bachelor and bachelorette parties. Used to be chill but it is not anymore, kind of like an extension of Dirty 6th.
793 locals recommend
Rainey Street
Rainey StreetIt used to be one of the best parts of Austin. It is still cool but has gotten wildly touristy and lots of the cool spots got torn down. I prefer the East Side. Known by locals for being full of bachelor and bachelorette parties. Used to be chill but it is not anymore, kind of like an extension of Dirty 6th.
East Side=Hipster, laid back bar scene with lots of live music. East of I35 on 6th street. My favorite area. Full of character, lots of fun, great bars, something for everyone. Gets rowdier later in the evening. Dirty 6th=West of I35. It is wild, tourist filled part of Austin that you've got to experience at least once but preferably after several drinks. The underpass between these two streets is sketchy.
395 locals recommend
East 6th Street
East 6th StreetEast Side=Hipster, laid back bar scene with lots of live music. East of I35 on 6th street. My favorite area. Full of character, lots of fun, great bars, something for everyone. Gets rowdier later in the evening. Dirty 6th=West of I35. It is wild, tourist filled part of Austin that you've got to experience at least once but preferably after several drinks. The underpass between these two streets is sketchy.
Great off-leash dog park with a beautiful view of downtown skyline.
246 locals recommend
Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park
900 W Riverside DrGreat off-leash dog park with a beautiful view of downtown skyline.
Congress Avenue Bridge
Congress AvenueCheck out the bats!
Rowing Dock
2418 Stratford DrYou can rent kayaks and check out the "lake."
People love to take their photo here but please be careful because the street is busy!
85 locals recommend
Greetings from Austin Mural
1720 S 1st StPeople love to take their photo here but please be careful because the street is busy!
Newest bar district. Less compact but some great, laid back bars. My go-to beside the East Side. All locals.
10 locals recommend
East Cesar Chavez Street
East Cesar Chavez StreetNewest bar district. Less compact but some great, laid back bars. My go-to beside the East Side. All locals.
Shopping
Designer consignment. Vintage sister store is also cool, it is next door.
19 locals recommend
Moss Designer Consignment
705 S Lamar BlvdDesigner consignment. Vintage sister store is also cool, it is next door.
Wildly overpriced store filled with antiques and oddities. Worth perusing.
194 locals recommend
Uncommon Objects
1602 Fort View RdWildly overpriced store filled with antiques and oddities. Worth perusing.
Arts & Culture
Art For The People Gallery
2801 S 1st StLocal artists at good prices. Good place to get gifts.
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardUmlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton Rd
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveGoes without saying...it is really pretty and worth checking out.