Guidebook for Austin
Drinks & Nightlife
Great big beer garden that brews its own (very good) beer and serves killer pizza. Live music most nights and lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Quick stroll from the bungalow.
435 locals recommend
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf StGreat big beer garden that brews its own (very good) beer and serves killer pizza. Live music most nights and lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Quick stroll from the bungalow.
Popular spot -- basically a loud sports bar with a huge beer selection and tons of TVs and decent pub food.
291 locals recommend
Black Sheep Lodge
2108 S Lamar BlvdPopular spot -- basically a loud sports bar with a huge beer selection and tons of TVs and decent pub food.
G & S Lounge
2420 S 1st StThis is a serious dive bar. Do not expect charm.
Super-hip boutique hotel from famous Austin tastemaker Liz Lambert. Get a drink by the pool.
209 locals recommend
Hotel San Jose Lounge
1316 S Congress AveSuper-hip boutique hotel from famous Austin tastemaker Liz Lambert. Get a drink by the pool.
Funky place from owner of the Continental Club. Great live music when they're not spinning classic soul records. On weekends there's an awesome semi-secret bar upstairs that's definitely worth checking out.
242 locals recommend
C-Boys Heart and Soul
2008 S Congress AveFunky place from owner of the Continental Club. Great live music when they're not spinning classic soul records. On weekends there's an awesome semi-secret bar upstairs that's definitely worth checking out.
Famous Austin venue for great Americana, country, blues, soul, etc.
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveFamous Austin venue for great Americana, country, blues, soul, etc.
Food Scene
El Tacorrido
2316 S 1st StGreat drive-through or walk-up taco joint
Arguably the most iconic Austin-style taco joint in town. It's a small local chain, and this location is a few minutes' walk from the bungalow. The other locations (see "Trailer Park" listing for one) are cooler places to hang out for a while, but this one is super convenient. Obama ate here a couple months ago while in town.
1075 locals recommend
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st StArguably the most iconic Austin-style taco joint in town. It's a small local chain, and this location is a few minutes' walk from the bungalow. The other locations (see "Trailer Park" listing for one) are cooler places to hang out for a while, but this one is super convenient. Obama ate here a couple months ago while in town.
Part coffee house, part serious Thai restaurant -- the combo somehow works. They don't skimp on the spice here -- this is not your typical Americanized Thai place. Walkable from our place.
189 locals recommend
Thai Fresh
909 W Mary StPart coffee house, part serious Thai restaurant -- the combo somehow works. They don't skimp on the spice here -- this is not your typical Americanized Thai place. Walkable from our place.
Great, unpretentious coffee shop with lots of room to open a laptop and work. 10-minute walk or very short bike ride from our house.
37 locals recommend
Fair Bean Coffee
2210 South 1st StreetGreat, unpretentious coffee shop with lots of room to open a laptop and work. 10-minute walk or very short bike ride from our house.
Hipster coffee bar with a great back deck and greater taco truck in the parking lot.
115 locals recommend
Once Over Coffee Bar
2009 S 1st StHipster coffee bar with a great back deck and greater taco truck in the parking lot.
Winebelly
519 W Oltorf StNice tapas-style American food and wine bar
No-frills, authentic Mexican joint. Nothing hipster about it -- this place is for real. The lunch specials are usually a great option.
70 locals recommend
Habanero Cafe
501 W Oltorf StNo-frills, authentic Mexican joint. Nothing hipster about it -- this place is for real. The lunch specials are usually a great option.
Beautiful, bright French-Vietnamese restaurant. This is probably our favorite restaurant in the area -- great for every meal of the day, and it's just a fun place with a ton of style.
426 locals recommend
Elizabeth Street Cafe
1501 S 1st StBeautiful, bright French-Vietnamese restaurant. This is probably our favorite restaurant in the area -- great for every meal of the day, and it's just a fun place with a ton of style.
The original Torchy's Tacos location, in a food trailer with a ton of seating nearby -- great place to eat outside.
20 locals recommend
South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery
1311 S 1st StThe original Torchy's Tacos location, in a food trailer with a ton of seating nearby -- great place to eat outside.
Very charming, romantic restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor wine bar in the backyard. Also, check out their kitchenwares store next door for vintage and modern cookbooks and anything else food-related.
179 locals recommend
LENOIR
1807 S 1st StVery charming, romantic restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor wine bar in the backyard. Also, check out their kitchenwares store next door for vintage and modern cookbooks and anything else food-related.
Famous Tex-Mex place with giant patio. Famous for its "Bob Armstrong" dip -- chili con queso with a bunch of meat and guacamole piled in the bowl too.
304 locals recommend
Matt's El Rancho
2613 S Lamar BlvdFamous Tex-Mex place with giant patio. Famous for its "Bob Armstrong" dip -- chili con queso with a bunch of meat and guacamole piled in the bowl too.
Innovative restaurant, nominated by Bon Appetit as one of America's top new restaurants in 2014
374 locals recommend
Odd Duck
1201 S Lamar BlvdInnovative restaurant, nominated by Bon Appetit as one of America's top new restaurants in 2014
Famous Japanese place, fun atmosphere and truly world-class food. It'll be packed, so expect a wait.
688 locals recommend
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdFamous Japanese place, fun atmosphere and truly world-class food. It'll be packed, so expect a wait.
Excellent barbecue close to the house, without the wait at more famous places like Franklin's. Owned by a member of one of the Texas barbecue world's royal families. Eat in or take out.
372 locals recommend
Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs RdExcellent barbecue close to the house, without the wait at more famous places like Franklin's. Owned by a member of one of the Texas barbecue world's royal families. Eat in or take out.
El Alma
1025 Barton Springs RdSit on the roof deck for drinks at happy hour
Dolce Neve Gelato
1713 S 1st StCute gelato place
Great people watching on SoCo -- this is an outdoor coffeeshop in the parking lot of the Hotel San Jose
495 locals recommend
Jo's Coffee
1300 S Congress AveGreat people watching on SoCo -- this is an outdoor coffeeshop in the parking lot of the Hotel San Jose
Lucky Robot
1303 S Congress AveHipster sushi
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveFamous New York-style pizza joint
South Austin outpost of a classic Austin diner. Come for the pancakes. Open 24 hours
224 locals recommend
Kerbey Lane Cafe
3003 S Lamar BlvdSouth Austin outpost of a classic Austin diner. Come for the pancakes. Open 24 hours
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress AveSouth Austin outpost of a classic hippie-Mex place. Open 24 hours.
Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S 1st StPopular vegetarian restaurant/cafe/bar
Auguste & Marcel Wine Bar
1716 S Congress AveUpscale but casual classic American fare on SoCo
Awesome outdoor space for excellent family-style Mexican food — think platters of grilled meats and veg served with tortillas etc. Owned by the filmmaker Robert Rodriguez.
79 locals recommend
Fresa's South First Dine-In
1703 S 1st StAwesome outdoor space for excellent family-style Mexican food — think platters of grilled meats and veg served with tortillas etc. Owned by the filmmaker Robert Rodriguez.
June's
1722 S Congress AveGorgeous little cafe/restaurant/wine bar on South Congress.
Big and scene-y restaurant in the South Congress Hotel. Great cocktails, too.
30 locals recommend
Central Standard
1603 S Congress AveBig and scene-y restaurant in the South Congress Hotel. Great cocktails, too.
Entertainment & Activities
This tennis center is the anchor of the big park across the street from our house. Very nicely maintained courts and cheap rates.
12 locals recommend
South Austin Tennis Center
1000 Cumberland RdThis tennis center is the anchor of the big park across the street from our house. Very nicely maintained courts and cheap rates.
Austin Shambhala Meditation Center
1702 S 5th StIn case meditation is your thing.
Shopping
Great men's clothing store -- they recently expanded to Venice Beach in LA. Awesome Willie Nelson mural outside.
67 locals recommend
STAG Provisions For Men
1423 S Congress AveGreat men's clothing store -- they recently expanded to Venice Beach in LA. Awesome Willie Nelson mural outside.
TOMS Austin
1401 S Congress AveShoes and coffee
Breezy women's styles, recently relocated to the ground floor of the South Congress Hotel.
11 locals recommend
Sunroom
1603 S Congress AveBreezy women's styles, recently relocated to the ground floor of the South Congress Hotel.
Clothing and lifestyle-goods shop opened by the guys who run a hand-built motorcycle company in town. Get a leather jacket and some goggles.
Revival Cycles
1603 S Congress AveClothing and lifestyle-goods shop opened by the guys who run a hand-built motorcycle company in town. Get a leather jacket and some goggles.
Huge, classic Austin bookstore just across from the big Whole Foods. This is one of the country's great book stores.
146 locals recommend
BookPeople
603 N Lamar BlvdHuge, classic Austin bookstore just across from the big Whole Foods. This is one of the country's great book stores.
Essentials
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdHuge grocery, everything you need
CVS
2101 S Lamar BlvdOpen 24 hours
Convenience store a couple minutes' stroll down the street, for quick beer runs or any other essentials. Laundromat next door.
9 locals recommend
SUNRISE MINI MART
915 W Oltorf StConvenience store a couple minutes' stroll down the street, for quick beer runs or any other essentials. Laundromat next door.
Warehouse Liquors
2424 S 1st StBasic liquor store, short walk from the house
SHED Barber and Supply
2210 S 1st StTruly great men's barbershop
WhichCraft Beer Store
2110 South Lamar BoulevardFor serious beer geeks -- huge selection
Sandwiches, sundries, beer, wine -- basically a tiny upscale grocery
45 locals recommend
RiverCity Market & Deli
2209 S Congress AveSandwiches, sundries, beer, wine -- basically a tiny upscale grocery
This is the Whole Foods mothership -- the company's headquarters is upstairs from this flagship store, which is more like a dining/drinking hangout around lunchtime and happy hour.
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdThis is the Whole Foods mothership -- the company's headquarters is upstairs from this flagship store, which is more like a dining/drinking hangout around lunchtime and happy hour.
Wonderful little grocery on SoCo with everything you need, minus the hassles of going to the supermarket.
87 locals recommend
FARM TO MARKET GROCERY
1718 S Congress AveWonderful little grocery on SoCo with everything you need, minus the hassles of going to the supermarket.
Everything Else
Austin Convention Center
500 E Cesar Chavez StSXSW, etc.
Parks & Nature
You can't visit without walking, jogging, or biking around the lake at least once, and maybe stopping to rent paddleboards or kayaks. NOTE: The map is displaying this much farther from the house than necessary. You can access the trail about a mile and a half directly north of our house.
257 locals recommend
Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail
You can't visit without walking, jogging, or biking around the lake at least once, and maybe stopping to rent paddleboards or kayaks. NOTE: The map is displaying this much farther from the house than necessary. You can access the trail about a mile and a half directly north of our house.
Austin's version of Central Park. Also the venue for Austin City Limits music festival. Easy bike ride from the house.
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdAustin's version of Central Park. Also the venue for Austin City Limits music festival. Easy bike ride from the house.
One of the country's best urban hiking trails. There are multiple trailheads, and a couple are within biking distance of the house.
531 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt
3755 South Capital of Texas HighwayOne of the country's best urban hiking trails. There are multiple trailheads, and a couple are within biking distance of the house.
Waterfront park directly across the lake from downtown -- great views. There's a huge field for throwing a frisbee, and you can access the hike and bike trail here.
246 locals recommend
Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park
900 W Riverside DrWaterfront park directly across the lake from downtown -- great views. There's a huge field for throwing a frisbee, and you can access the hike and bike trail here.
Iconic Austin spring-fed pool. Everyone goes here. Enter through Zilker Park.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrIconic Austin spring-fed pool. Everyone goes here. Enter through Zilker Park.