Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Beautiful space and great coffee, gear up for the serious hipster vibe.
201 locals recommend
Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
1111 Chicon StBeautiful space and great coffee, gear up for the serious hipster vibe.
Nice outdoor area with trees and picnic benches. Not just great coffee, but this place has some serious beer and wine options, too. Live music in the evenings and food trucks on site. Check their online calendar to see what's coming up.
435 locals recommend
Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Menchaca RdNice outdoor area with trees and picnic benches. Not just great coffee, but this place has some serious beer and wine options, too. Live music in the evenings and food trucks on site. Check their online calendar to see what's coming up.
Cool space. Small outdoor seating and located right next door to one of my all time favorite breakfast places, Counter Cafe (East). No wifi though.
160 locals recommend
Cuvee Coffee Bar
2000 E 6th StCool space. Small outdoor seating and located right next door to one of my all time favorite breakfast places, Counter Cafe (East). No wifi though.
Coffee, pastries, beer and people-watching. Jo's House Band is pretty sweet and they have special guests each week. It's a blast!
495 locals recommend
Jo's Coffee
1300 S Congress AveCoffee, pastries, beer and people-watching. Jo's House Band is pretty sweet and they have special guests each week. It's a blast!
Vegan, dairy-free ice cream with flavors like coconut, almond, and even avocado. Definitely worth the trip.
47 locals recommend
Sweet Ritual
4631 Airport BlvdVegan, dairy-free ice cream with flavors like coconut, almond, and even avocado. Definitely worth the trip.
An Austin original, this ice cream shop is famous for its Mexican Vanilla, funky flavors and variety of mix-ins.
397 locals recommend
Amys Ice Creams
1301 S Congress AveAn Austin original, this ice cream shop is famous for its Mexican Vanilla, funky flavors and variety of mix-ins.
Josephine House
1601 Waterston AveIt's beautiful and delicious. The end.
Delicious Indian food and Austin's "beer and wine mecca" don't let the exterior scare you away. Trust me - it's incredible.
267 locals recommend
Whip in
1950 S I-35 Frontage RdDelicious Indian food and Austin's "beer and wine mecca" don't let the exterior scare you away. Trust me - it's incredible.
Japanese sushi and yakitori. It's like placing pillows of deliciousness on your tongue.
46 locals recommend
Fukumoto Sushi & Yakitori Izakaya
514 Medina StJapanese sushi and yakitori. It's like placing pillows of deliciousness on your tongue.
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdAmazing sushi. Pricey, so try it during happy hour.
All foods Asian. This place has won loads of "best of" awards, has a ton of great reviews, serves up large portions...and only has a Facebook page for a website. Don't hold that against them.
136 locals recommend
888 Pan Asian Restaurant
2400 E Oltorf StAll foods Asian. This place has won loads of "best of" awards, has a ton of great reviews, serves up large portions...and only has a Facebook page for a website. Don't hold that against them.
G'Raj Mahal
73 Rainey StDelicious Indian food served up with Southern hospitality.
Drinks & Nightlife
There's a reason it's called the grandaddy of local music venues. Check out their website for the crazy-packed schedule of live shows.
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveThere's a reason it's called the grandaddy of local music venues. Check out their website for the crazy-packed schedule of live shows.
The Highball
1120 S Lamar BlvdKaraoke, Austin-level weird events, great drinks and just fun.
Loud and fun with crowd pleasing music and an always packed dance floor.
153 locals recommend
Barbarella
611 Red River StLoud and fun with crowd pleasing music and an always packed dance floor.
Hot live music venue with crazy awesome lights and sound quality. It's got a rich punk history and is an ATX modern legend.
135 locals recommend
Emo's Austin
2015 E Riverside DrHot live music venue with crazy awesome lights and sound quality. It's got a rich punk history and is an ATX modern legend.
I LOVE this place. East side honky tonk that brags it's the "champagne of bars." Great for country dancing any night of the week.
672 locals recommend
The White Horse
500 Comal StI LOVE this place. East side honky tonk that brags it's the "champagne of bars." Great for country dancing any night of the week.
A true Texas dance call. Live music, food, beer, and even two-step lessons. Check the online calendar for events.
478 locals recommend
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar BlvdA true Texas dance call. Live music, food, beer, and even two-step lessons. Check the online calendar for events.
With live music, cold beer, and a laid-back vibe, Saxon is a classic. Hint: Free live music during happy hour. Check out the site for $5 shows during the week.
284 locals recommend
Saxon Pub
1320 S Lamar BlvdWith live music, cold beer, and a laid-back vibe, Saxon is a classic. Hint: Free live music during happy hour. Check out the site for $5 shows during the week.
Live soul and R&B seven nights a week. It's swanky and approachable.
242 locals recommend
C-Boys Heart and Soul
2008 S Congress AveLive soul and R&B seven nights a week. It's swanky and approachable.
It's a fun bar that doesn't take itself too seriously. I mean, a cornhole garden and weekly skee-ball tournaments.
43 locals recommend
Full Circle Bar
1810 E 12th StIt's a fun bar that doesn't take itself too seriously. I mean, a cornhole garden and weekly skee-ball tournaments.
HOTEL VEGAS
1502 E 6th StEast Austin bar with live music and DJs every night of the week.
Part of Hotel Vegas, this club is a neat little throwback to old New Orleans. Caution: strong hipster presence.
102 locals recommend
The Volstead Lounge
1500 E 6th StPart of Hotel Vegas, this club is a neat little throwback to old New Orleans. Caution: strong hipster presence.
Called a "Playground for artists, musicians, and performers," this very hip, very funky venue with fantastical light displays, live music and quirky events has an overall circus-like feel. Definitely something to check out at least once.
176 locals recommend
Spider House Ballroom
2906 Fruth StCalled a "Playground for artists, musicians, and performers," this very hip, very funky venue with fantastical light displays, live music and quirky events has an overall circus-like feel. Definitely something to check out at least once.
Elephant Room
315 Congress AveThe place to go for jazz.
It's directly across the street from the Omni. There is a bookshelf in the lobby with a hidden door behind it leading to a bar. The bar isn't anything special really, but the secret factor makes it kind of fun, at least for a drink or two.
81 locals recommend
Firehouse Lounge
605 Brazos StIt's directly across the street from the Omni. There is a bookshelf in the lobby with a hidden door behind it leading to a bar. The bar isn't anything special really, but the secret factor makes it kind of fun, at least for a drink or two.
Entertainment & Activities
It's magic, comedy, improv, insanely talented stage performers - without being hokey or cheesy. Call ahead or go online for tickets. Shows Thursday through Saturday only.
153 locals recommend
Esther's Follies
525 E 6th StIt's magic, comedy, improv, insanely talented stage performers - without being hokey or cheesy. Call ahead or go online for tickets. Shows Thursday through Saturday only.
Urban Axes Austin
812 Airport BlvdYou throw axes. It's even more fun than you think.
20 minutes from downtown Austin, has waves for novices, travel surfers and the pros. Closed in fall/winter, so check the site before you head out.
26 locals recommend
Surf Ranch Austin - (Park Currently Closed)
East Highway 7120 minutes from downtown Austin, has waves for novices, travel surfers and the pros. Closed in fall/winter, so check the site before you head out.
Parks & Nature
famous natural swimming hole located in Zilker Park. Water remains a constant 68 all year long. Tip: early birds swim for free before 8am daily. Free admission after 6pm as well.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton Drfamous natural swimming hole located in Zilker Park. Water remains a constant 68 all year long. Tip: early birds swim for free before 8am daily. Free admission after 6pm as well.
Leave it to Austin to register a swimming pool as a historic landmark!! It's the oldest man-made swimming pool in Texas, maintained by the City of Austin and open to the public year-round.
322 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Municipal Pool
401 Deep Eddy AveLeave it to Austin to register a swimming pool as a historic landmark!! It's the oldest man-made swimming pool in Texas, maintained by the City of Austin and open to the public year-round.
Used to be called Town Lake, now called Lady Bird Lake. Actually not a lake at all but a segment of the Colorado River. It's gorgeous and is encircled by a perfect walking/biking trail, and is a great place for kayaking or paddle boarding. Check out www.zilkerboats.com for boat rental options (non-motorized watercraft only).
959 locals recommend
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailUsed to be called Town Lake, now called Lady Bird Lake. Actually not a lake at all but a segment of the Colorado River. It's gorgeous and is encircled by a perfect walking/biking trail, and is a great place for kayaking or paddle boarding. Check out www.zilkerboats.com for boat rental options (non-motorized watercraft only).
Shopping
take heart
1211 E 11th StDelightful, thoughtful and simple. Handmade gifts and decor.
Bohemian treasures plus apothecary plus indie jewelry designs plus trunk shows plus wig shop plus music = love.
39 locals recommend
Charm School Vintage
1111 E 11th StBohemian treasures plus apothecary plus indie jewelry designs plus trunk shows plus wig shop plus music = love.