Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
They brew their own beer and their menu changes. Try an avocado club. If you're into meat, add bacon. Or just order the fries and add cheese, bacon, and jalepenos. Their salads are amazing too.
132 locals recommend
Black Star Co-op
7020 Easy Wind DrThey brew their own beer and their menu changes. Try an avocado club. If you're into meat, add bacon. Or just order the fries and add cheese, bacon, and jalepenos. Their salads are amazing too.
News Flash: currently ranked number one taco place in the US. There are other great places in town too, but this one is close, and one taco is a meal. We typically go for breakfast (the wrangler, the monk are favorites). They have great lunch and dinner. I'd seriously recommend trying the queso.
1075 locals recommend
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st StNews Flash: currently ranked number one taco place in the US. There are other great places in town too, but this one is close, and one taco is a meal. We typically go for breakfast (the wrangler, the monk are favorites). They have great lunch and dinner. I'd seriously recommend trying the queso.
In a classic building, a dedicated small business owner turns out amazing doughnuts. Go after 8:45pm. Fresh doughnut holes for super cheap. Happy snacking!
33 locals recommend
Mrs Johnson's Bakery
4909 Airport BlvdIn a classic building, a dedicated small business owner turns out amazing doughnuts. Go after 8:45pm. Fresh doughnut holes for super cheap. Happy snacking!
Kick Butt Coffee
5775 Airport BlvdIt's open late. There's music, and the coffee is decent.
VIVO
6406 N Interstate Hwy 35Elevated Tex-Mex. On the pricier side, but the margaritas are delicious
The bubble tea is amazing, and the tapioca pearls always taste fresh. Stay for delicious Taiwanese food. The ground pork noodle soup is a revelation.
19 locals recommend
CoCo's Cafe
1910 Guadalupe StThe bubble tea is amazing, and the tapioca pearls always taste fresh. Stay for delicious Taiwanese food. The ground pork noodle soup is a revelation.
This is some of the best Indian Food in Austin. Go ready to try new things. The dosas (stuffed lentil crepes) are amazing. The thali (several curries, chutneys, and different types of bread) is not only enough to feed two and less than $10, it is the best way to get a wide sample of the amazing offerings
8 locals recommend
Swad Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
1401 S I-35 Frontage RdThis is some of the best Indian Food in Austin. Go ready to try new things. The dosas (stuffed lentil crepes) are amazing. The thali (several curries, chutneys, and different types of bread) is not only enough to feed two and less than $10, it is the best way to get a wide sample of the amazing offerings
Sometimes you just want creamy American/British - Influenced Indian food. It's not the best in town, but it's close and open pretty late. It's also been around since I was a kiddo.
6 locals recommend
Taj Palace Indian Restaurant & Bar
6700 Middle Fiskville RdSometimes you just want creamy American/British - Influenced Indian food. It's not the best in town, but it's close and open pretty late. It's also been around since I was a kiddo.
One word: papusas -- delectable stuffed tortillas. Served with traditional cole slaw. One $2.25 makes a meal.
Costa Del Sol Restaurant
7901 Cameron RoadOne word: papusas -- delectable stuffed tortillas. Served with traditional cole slaw. One $2.25 makes a meal.
Drinks & Nightlife
Pinballz Arcade
8940 Research BlvdIt's an arcade, and it's amazing.
Butterfly Bar is attached to the Vortex. Show up early for a show, snag a themed cocktail and sit out on the best patio/garden space in town. If you haven't eaten, you have to try the food cart Patrizi's -- real Italian pasta in the heart of TX.
145 locals recommend
The Butterfly Bar Austin
2307 Manor RdButterfly Bar is attached to the Vortex. Show up early for a show, snag a themed cocktail and sit out on the best patio/garden space in town. If you haven't eaten, you have to try the food cart Patrizi's -- real Italian pasta in the heart of TX.
Sightseeing
The fountain and lawn are a great place to curl up, read a book, and enjoy a picnic. Inside, it's kept super, super cool, so it's a lovely mid-summer day stop. The exhibits are fascinating. My favorite as a kid was the gifts from foreign governments.
240 locals recommend
LBJ Presidential Library
2313 Red River StThe fountain and lawn are a great place to curl up, read a book, and enjoy a picnic. Inside, it's kept super, super cool, so it's a lovely mid-summer day stop. The exhibits are fascinating. My favorite as a kid was the gifts from foreign governments.
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the farm has a number of exhibits, old houses, outdoor kitchens. It also is home to probably the only longhorn you will see in Austin.
6 locals recommend
Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms
10621 Pioneer Farms DrOpen Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the farm has a number of exhibits, old houses, outdoor kitchens. It also is home to probably the only longhorn you will see in Austin.
In the summer, at dusk, go and check out one huge colony of Mexican Free Tail bats head out for their breakfast.
286 locals recommend
Congress Avenue Bridge
Congress AvenueIn the summer, at dusk, go and check out one huge colony of Mexican Free Tail bats head out for their breakfast.
Entertainment & Activities
When I was a kid, they shipped in sand to create this beach. Now there are water slides!
94 locals recommend
Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark
16107 FM2769When I was a kid, they shipped in sand to create this beach. Now there are water slides!
Dinner and a show. Go early and catch the entertaining pre-shows!
171 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Village
2700 W Anderson LnDinner and a show. Go early and catch the entertaining pre-shows!
Parks & Nature
Tons of biking and hiking trails. It's a little oasis in the city.
108 locals recommend
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 N Lamar BlvdTons of biking and hiking trails. It's a little oasis in the city.
at a cool 68 degrees, this spring-fed pool is a wonder during the summer. Show up from 5a-8a and 9p-10p and it's free.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton Drat a cool 68 degrees, this spring-fed pool is a wonder during the summer. Show up from 5a-8a and 9p-10p and it's free.
Arts & Culture
Fun, quirky, serious, and emotional, the performances that come through vortex are sure to delight you.
61 locals recommend
The Vortex
2307 Manor RdFun, quirky, serious, and emotional, the performances that come through vortex are sure to delight you.
Stroll the gardens in the shade, hop over to Barton Springs to cool off. The gardens are filled with bronze sculptures by a local artist.
235 locals recommend
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton RdStroll the gardens in the shade, hop over to Barton Springs to cool off. The gardens are filled with bronze sculptures by a local artist.
Shopping
It's more like an outdoor shopping city. There's an amazing Whole Foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy the shops, including a Tiffany's, HM, Nordstrom's, and others.
768 locals recommend
The Domain
11410 Century Oaks TerraceIt's more like an outdoor shopping city. There's an amazing Whole Foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy the shops, including a Tiffany's, HM, Nordstrom's, and others.
A toy wonderland with ample parking. All the toys are grouped by type, not by gender.
15 locals recommend
Terra Toys
2438 W Anderson LnA toy wonderland with ample parking. All the toys are grouped by type, not by gender.
Comics, board games, open late, What's not to love.
8 locals recommend
Dragon's Lair Comics and Fantasy
2438 W Anderson LnComics, board games, open late, What's not to love.