Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
BBQ and drinks -- this place is delicious with a great rooftop patio area for hanging out. They also serve Sunday brunch!
Check this out on weekdays too for drink specials. Our favorite things are the brisket patty melt, and the Sunday all-you-can-eat BBQ special, and frose.
48 locals recommend
EastSide Tavern
1510 E Cesar Chavez StBBQ and drinks -- this place is delicious with a great rooftop patio area for hanging out. They also serve Sunday brunch!
Check this out on weekdays too for drink specials. Our favorite things are the brisket patty melt, and the Sunday all-you-can-eat BBQ special, and frose.
Amazing Detroit-style pizza, beer and wine. Located near E. 6th St. and Chicon St!
372 locals recommend
Via 313 Pizza
10106 W 6th StAmazing Detroit-style pizza, beer and wine. Located near E. 6th St. and Chicon St!
Fast-food chicken sandwhiches that rival Chick-Fil-A. They make their own pickles and dipping sauces, and serve beer! This is one of our favorite budget-friendly food stops in the 'hood.
30 locals recommend
Flyrite Chicken Sandwiches
2129 E 7th StFast-food chicken sandwhiches that rival Chick-Fil-A. They make their own pickles and dipping sauces, and serve beer! This is one of our favorite budget-friendly food stops in the 'hood.
Excellent chefs prepare delicious meals and cocktails! This is one of the top fine dining experiences in the neighborhood. Best for groups of 9 or less. Reservations are recommended for dinner. Get the Plancha burger!
397 locals recommend
Launderette
2115 Holly StExcellent chefs prepare delicious meals and cocktails! This is one of the top fine dining experiences in the neighborhood. Best for groups of 9 or less. Reservations are recommended for dinner. Get the Plancha burger!
Delicious cold brew with rotating monthly coffee specials and pastries/breakfast tacos. Note, there is no wifi here!
160 locals recommend
Cuvee Coffee Bar
2000 E 6th StDelicious cold brew with rotating monthly coffee specials and pastries/breakfast tacos. Note, there is no wifi here!
Breakfast/lunch/brunch spot. They are not open for dinner, but brunch is like a religion in Austin, so you can expect lines and waits on Saturday and Sunday mornings!
211 locals recommend
Counter Cafe
1914 E 6th StBreakfast/lunch/brunch spot. They are not open for dinner, but brunch is like a religion in Austin, so you can expect lines and waits on Saturday and Sunday mornings!
Coffee stop in an old warehouse with Japanese-inspired eats. A hidden gem!
112 locals recommend
Sa-Tén
916 Springdale RdCoffee stop in an old warehouse with Japanese-inspired eats. A hidden gem!
An Austin staple. This is the best BBQ in the city, and perhaps the great state of Texas! They sell bbq by the pound until they run out everyday, so arrive EARLY (we're talking 8am or earlier) and be prepared to wait until they open their doors at 11am. We assure you, you will not be the only one waiting there that early, but it is well worth it. Everyone should experience the magic of Franklin's at least once!
919 locals recommend
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StAn Austin staple. This is the best BBQ in the city, and perhaps the great state of Texas! They sell bbq by the pound until they run out everyday, so arrive EARLY (we're talking 8am or earlier) and be prepared to wait until they open their doors at 11am. We assure you, you will not be the only one waiting there that early, but it is well worth it. Everyone should experience the magic of Franklin's at least once!
This BBQ place is situated inside the Quickie Pickie on E. Cesar Chavez. Expect lines similar to Franklins, but perhaps not quite as long. Some say it's better than Franklin's, but we challenge you to try both and give us your ratings :)
421 locals recommend
La Barbecue
2401 E Cesar Chavez StThis BBQ place is situated inside the Quickie Pickie on E. Cesar Chavez. Expect lines similar to Franklins, but perhaps not quite as long. Some say it's better than Franklin's, but we challenge you to try both and give us your ratings :)
Amazing brunch with a fun, 1960's decor! This spot is tucked away on E. Cesar Chavez and is still known mostly to locals, so check this out before the rest of the city finds out about it!
140 locals recommend
Sawyer & Co
4827 E Cesar Chavez StAmazing brunch with a fun, 1960's decor! This spot is tucked away on E. Cesar Chavez and is still known mostly to locals, so check this out before the rest of the city finds out about it!
Pick-up or delivery pizza place -- local pies with so many different topping combinations! Its astounding what they've thought of to put on a pizza, but their pizzas are tasty and that's why we keep going back.
321 locals recommend
East Side Pies
1401 Rosewood AvePick-up or delivery pizza place -- local pies with so many different topping combinations! Its astounding what they've thought of to put on a pizza, but their pizzas are tasty and that's why we keep going back.
Some say it's the best pizza in Austin -- New York slice pizza joint is delicious and is in the heart of the South Congress shopping and entertainment district.
791 locals recommend
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveSome say it's the best pizza in Austin -- New York slice pizza joint is delicious and is in the heart of the South Congress shopping and entertainment district.
Our favorite burgers! There is a brand new location in Plaza Saltillo (E. 5th and San Marcos St.). During COVID times, lines have been manageable. As everything opens up again, long lines may be expected.
780 locals recommend
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 S Congress AveOur favorite burgers! There is a brand new location in Plaza Saltillo (E. 5th and San Marcos St.). During COVID times, lines have been manageable. As everything opens up again, long lines may be expected.
Classic Austin diner with typically breakfast options, with an Austin twist. This is the original location, so also checkout the few others around town. Get the Kerbey queso!!
144 locals recommend
Kerbey Lane Cafe - Central
3704 Kerbey LnClassic Austin diner with typically breakfast options, with an Austin twist. This is the original location, so also checkout the few others around town. Get the Kerbey queso!!
Chicken wings!!! This is the best place to watch the game and get some chicken wings with various sauce choices, and of course, beer beer beer.
72 locals recommend
Pluckers Wing Bar
2222 Rio Grande StChicken wings!!! This is the best place to watch the game and get some chicken wings with various sauce choices, and of course, beer beer beer.
The best fast-food burger place in the whole world ever! Open 24-hours, get bacon and jalapenos, and get the spicy ketchup.
97 locals recommend
Whataburger
601 Barton Springs RdThe best fast-food burger place in the whole world ever! Open 24-hours, get bacon and jalapenos, and get the spicy ketchup.
Our favorite restaurant for some classic Tex-Mex eats. Get a margarita or Mexican martini, and get the creamy jalapeno salsa for the chips.
412 locals recommend
Chuy's
1728 Barton Springs RdOur favorite restaurant for some classic Tex-Mex eats. Get a margarita or Mexican martini, and get the creamy jalapeno salsa for the chips.
The best, secret breakfast tacos in the neighborhood -- this is a hole-in-the-wall esque restaurant where the servers may only speak Spanish, but the homemade tortillas and classic Mexican taco offerings are WELL worth the language-barrier (most of the servers speak English as well so it's never an issue). This is also the most budget-friendly meal you could possibly get! Our breakfast taco recommendations: bean and cheese, carne guisada, migas, and barbacoa.
13 locals recommend
Beto's Restaurants
3518 E 7th StThe best, secret breakfast tacos in the neighborhood -- this is a hole-in-the-wall esque restaurant where the servers may only speak Spanish, but the homemade tortillas and classic Mexican taco offerings are WELL worth the language-barrier (most of the servers speak English as well so it's never an issue). This is also the most budget-friendly meal you could possibly get! Our breakfast taco recommendations: bean and cheese, carne guisada, migas, and barbacoa.
Prohibition Creamery
1407 E 7th StBoozy ice cream! Need we say more?
Drinks & Nightlife
A dive-bar in the heart of East 6th Street with excellent drink prices and a cool outdoor patio area for hanging out. There's also usually a food truck out front for snacks.
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StA dive-bar in the heart of East 6th Street with excellent drink prices and a cool outdoor patio area for hanging out. There's also usually a food truck out front for snacks.
Craft cocktails and stunning pre-WWII style decor. They also have food trucks for snacks and a great outdoor patio area to enjoy their delicious drinks.
561 locals recommend
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StCraft cocktails and stunning pre-WWII style decor. They also have food trucks for snacks and a great outdoor patio area to enjoy their delicious drinks.
This is a relatively new brewery with great beer selection, as well as coffee in the day time.
227 locals recommend
Lazarus Brewing Co.
1902 E 6th StThis is a relatively new brewery with great beer selection, as well as coffee in the day time.
Austin staple bar and live music venue, just north of UT-Austin. Expect a large student crowd, and it has a fun eclectic atmosphere and good drinks.
176 locals recommend
Spider House Ballroom
2906 Fruth StAustin staple bar and live music venue, just north of UT-Austin. Expect a large student crowd, and it has a fun eclectic atmosphere and good drinks.
Essentials
HEB will have all grocery store needs -- food, drinks, toiletries, beer/wine, drug store/cosmetics, pharmacy, deli, etc.
1667 locals recommend
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdHEB will have all grocery store needs -- food, drinks, toiletries, beer/wine, drug store/cosmetics, pharmacy, deli, etc.
Shopping
Convenience store with ample craft beers and local wine selection. They also serve great sandwiches/salad/pastas for a quick lunch.
352 locals recommend
Quickie Pickie
2027 E Cesar Chavez StConvenience store with ample craft beers and local wine selection. They also serve great sandwiches/salad/pastas for a quick lunch.
Entertainment & Activities
NOTE: This location has been closed during COVID and may still be closed.
The best movie theater in Austin. All Alamos are great, but this one offers reclining chairs, and full service meals and full bar options. Not kid friendly, and the strict and famous no-talking rule is the best thing about it.
220 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Mueller
1911 Aldrich StNOTE: This location has been closed during COVID and may still be closed.
The best movie theater in Austin. All Alamos are great, but this one offers reclining chairs, and full service meals and full bar options. Not kid friendly, and the strict and famous no-talking rule is the best thing about it.
The best movie theater in Austin. Full service meals and full bar options. Not kid friendly, and the strict and famous no-talking rule is the best thing about it.
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdThe best movie theater in Austin. Full service meals and full bar options. Not kid friendly, and the strict and famous no-talking rule is the best thing about it.
Parks & Nature
Local festivals like ACL are here, is also a great place for hiking, biking, and picnics!
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdLocal festivals like ACL are here, is also a great place for hiking, biking, and picnics!
Mueller Lake Park is an urban sanctuary, and they have a great farmer's market on Sundays. Check it out if you're in the area!
220 locals recommend
Mueller Lake Park
4550 Mueller BlvdMueller Lake Park is an urban sanctuary, and they have a great farmer's market on Sundays. Check it out if you're in the area!
Arts & Culture
Texas state history museum, as well as an IMAX theater! This is also located across the street from the University of Texas at Austin campus.
593 locals recommend
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveTexas state history museum, as well as an IMAX theater! This is also located across the street from the University of Texas at Austin campus.