Matt’s guidebook
Food scene
Great ramen! A few locations around town, this is one of the newest and usually has the shortest lines.
502 locals recommend
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S Lamar BlvdGreat ramen! A few locations around town, this is one of the newest and usually has the shortest lines.
Authentic Vietnamese food. Our favorite bowl of Pho in the city!
12 locals recommend
Pho Saigon Noodle House
10901 N Lamar BlvdAuthentic Vietnamese food. Our favorite bowl of Pho in the city!
The perfect hole-in-the-wall cure for your late night cravings or next day hangover. Excellent tacos, caldos, tortas, and more.
16 locals recommend
Taco More - Austin
2015 E Riverside DrThe perfect hole-in-the-wall cure for your late night cravings or next day hangover. Excellent tacos, caldos, tortas, and more.
A bit of a drive from the house, but still our go-to weekend afternoon spot. Coffee, Beer/Wine, and food trucks. Dog friendly, and plenty of outdoor space.
435 locals recommend
Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Menchaca RdA bit of a drive from the house, but still our go-to weekend afternoon spot. Coffee, Beer/Wine, and food trucks. Dog friendly, and plenty of outdoor space.
Skip the line at Franklin's and go get some of the best BBQ in the city (which is saying a lot). Throw your diet out the window and load up on brisket (get the fatty cuts), homemade sausage, ribs, and great sides!
421 locals recommend
La Barbecue
2401 E Cesar Chavez StSkip the line at Franklin's and go get some of the best BBQ in the city (which is saying a lot). Throw your diet out the window and load up on brisket (get the fatty cuts), homemade sausage, ribs, and great sides!
1 of 2 EXCELLENT Japanese/Texas BBQ fusion restaurants in the city. It's a combo that sounds weird, but works out beautifully! Small-bites, tapas style, servings that can get pricey pretty quick, but you won't regret it!
151 locals recommend
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya
2713 E 2nd St1 of 2 EXCELLENT Japanese/Texas BBQ fusion restaurants in the city. It's a combo that sounds weird, but works out beautifully! Small-bites, tapas style, servings that can get pricey pretty quick, but you won't regret it!
2 of 2 Japanese/Texas BBQ fusion joints. Loro is the love child of Franklin BBQ and Uchi (if you haven't heard of them, just Google them). Great way to get Franklin's famous brisket without having to wait in the line at his namesake restaurant. Brisket gets served at 5pm.
276 locals recommend
Loro
2115 S Lamar Blvd2 of 2 Japanese/Texas BBQ fusion joints. Loro is the love child of Franklin BBQ and Uchi (if you haven't heard of them, just Google them). Great way to get Franklin's famous brisket without having to wait in the line at his namesake restaurant. Brisket gets served at 5pm.
Great eastside coffee shop. Good place to study, work, or sit down with a good book. A personal favorite!
223 locals recommend
Bennu Coffee
2001 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdGreat eastside coffee shop. Good place to study, work, or sit down with a good book. A personal favorite!
Great tacos! All day breakfast tacos and great vegetarian options too!
141 locals recommend
Tyson's Tacos
4905 Airport BlvdGreat tacos! All day breakfast tacos and great vegetarian options too!
Upscale fine dining. Go for the tasting menu. Arguably the best restaurant in Austin.
153 locals recommend
Barley Swine
6555 Burnet RdUpscale fine dining. Go for the tasting menu. Arguably the best restaurant in Austin.
The little brother of Barleyswine. Same chefs/owners. Just as good food with a little more accessible shared "bites" format. Can still get pricey quickly, but excellent food and craft cocktails!
374 locals recommend
Odd Duck
1201 S Lamar BlvdThe little brother of Barleyswine. Same chefs/owners. Just as good food with a little more accessible shared "bites" format. Can still get pricey quickly, but excellent food and craft cocktails!
Authentic Colombian fare. Great ceviche, arepas, and plenty of juicy grilled meats.
55 locals recommend
Casa Colombia
2409 E 7th StAuthentic Colombian fare. Great ceviche, arepas, and plenty of juicy grilled meats.
Neighborhoods
Cool street just south of downtown, full of bars and restaurants. Parking is tough, so certainly recommend Uber/Lyft for drop off and pickup. Check out Bangers, Craft Pride, Container Bar, and Clive Bar (where I met my lovely wife!).
793 locals recommend
Rainey Street
Rainey StreetCool street just south of downtown, full of bars and restaurants. Parking is tough, so certainly recommend Uber/Lyft for drop off and pickup. Check out Bangers, Craft Pride, Container Bar, and Clive Bar (where I met my lovely wife!).
One of the most popular areas of the city. Lots of cool shops, restaurants, bars, and live music. Our Favorites: Perlas (seafood, drinks), Continental Club (live music venue), Gueros Taco Bar (food, drinks, live music).
650 locals recommend
South Congress
One of the most popular areas of the city. Lots of cool shops, restaurants, bars, and live music. Our Favorites: Perlas (seafood, drinks), Continental Club (live music venue), Gueros Taco Bar (food, drinks, live music).
Dirty 6th...Austin's equivalent to Bourbon street. Enough bars to keep you bar hopping all afternoon and all night. Homage to all things, bachelor/bachelorette parties, 21st birthdays, binge drinking, shot taking, and walking around heels in hand at 2am. If that's what you came for, this is your place!
137 locals recommend
Sixth Street Historic District
Dirty 6th...Austin's equivalent to Bourbon street. Enough bars to keep you bar hopping all afternoon and all night. Homage to all things, bachelor/bachelorette parties, 21st birthdays, binge drinking, shot taking, and walking around heels in hand at 2am. If that's what you came for, this is your place!
Great park and shopping/dining area for the whole family. There's a movie theatre, children's museum (The Thinkery), large park with jungle gym, and off-leash area for dogs. A two mile walking trail wraps around the whole neighborhood.
106 locals recommend
Mueller
Great park and shopping/dining area for the whole family. There's a movie theatre, children's museum (The Thinkery), large park with jungle gym, and off-leash area for dogs. A two mile walking trail wraps around the whole neighborhood.
Sightseeing
Home to Austin City Limits Music Festival and also great open park for picnics and off-leash puppy play!
246 locals recommend
Zilker Park
Home to Austin City Limits Music Festival and also great open park for picnics and off-leash puppy play!
Absolute favorite place to get a drink in the city. A true Austin original (one of the few left). A no frills dive bar with a great jukebox, live music (Donn himself plays on Tuesdays and Fridays), and friendly bartenders. Get yourself a Lonestar beer and sit back and watch the dancefloor fill up!
133 locals recommend
Donn's Depot
1600 W 5th StAbsolute favorite place to get a drink in the city. A true Austin original (one of the few left). A no frills dive bar with a great jukebox, live music (Donn himself plays on Tuesdays and Fridays), and friendly bartenders. Get yourself a Lonestar beer and sit back and watch the dancefloor fill up!
Our fresh water oasis in the heart of the city! Great spot to escape the 100 deg summer weather. The water is nice and cold so I'd recommend working up a good sweat before jumping in!
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2131 William Barton DrOur fresh water oasis in the heart of the city! Great spot to escape the 100 deg summer weather. The water is nice and cold so I'd recommend working up a good sweat before jumping in!
Cool little east Austin bar off the beaten path. Not a big place and kind of tucked away behind and juice bar and a strip mall.
115 locals recommend
The Wheel
1902 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdCool little east Austin bar off the beaten path. Not a big place and kind of tucked away behind and juice bar and a strip mall.
Called Town Lake by those who live here. Excellent spot for paddle boarding and other water activities.
959 locals recommend
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailCalled Town Lake by those who live here. Excellent spot for paddle boarding and other water activities.