Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Zocalo Cafe
1110 W Lynn StGreat fresh, healthy light Mexican food.
Austin Java
1206 Parkwaycoffee and breakfast
Southern cooking and their patio overlooking Shoal Creek. Shuffleboard! Great catfish. Grilled tuna salad.
41 locals recommend
Shoal Creek Saloon
909 N Lamar BlvdSouthern cooking and their patio overlooking Shoal Creek. Shuffleboard! Great catfish. Grilled tuna salad.
Nice french inspired intimate restaurant with its own little wine bar next door.
60 locals recommend
Wink
1014 N Lamar BlvdNice french inspired intimate restaurant with its own little wine bar next door.
Very Austin, been there forever, open mostly for lunch, good and reasonable.
8 locals recommend
House Park Bar-B-Que
900 W 12th StVery Austin, been there forever, open mostly for lunch, good and reasonable.
Some of the best fried chicken in Austin. Large portions and salads. Chicken and Waffles, and bacon in almost every dish.
23 locals recommend
Bacon Restaurant
900 West 10th StreetSome of the best fried chicken in Austin. Large portions and salads. Chicken and Waffles, and bacon in almost every dish.
West Lynn Street is the mini downtown of the Castle Hill/Clarksville neighborhoods and its a great little area. A grocery, half a dozen cafes and restaurants at various price ranges, best coffee spot.
West Lynn Street
West Lynn StreetWest Lynn Street is the mini downtown of the Castle Hill/Clarksville neighborhoods and its a great little area. A grocery, half a dozen cafes and restaurants at various price ranges, best coffee spot.
Sweetish Hill
1128 W 6th StGreat local bakery! Their lunch menu is very good as well.
Good food and good pints, very casual. Shaded patio, university area.
12 locals recommend
The Posse East
2900 Duval StGood food and good pints, very casual. Shaded patio, university area.
Let your freak flag fly! This quirky spot is all Austin. Great pint selection full bar and a juice bar to boot. Decent menu, too. People watching and a giant patio. Dog friendly.
176 locals recommend
Spider House Ballroom
2906 Fruth StLet your freak flag fly! This quirky spot is all Austin. Great pint selection full bar and a juice bar to boot. Decent menu, too. People watching and a giant patio. Dog friendly.
Austin's other great local bakery lunch spot coffee spot and now dinner (bring your own wine!). Sour cream coffee cake is made daily by satan, yum.
54 locals recommend
Texas French Bread
2900 Rio Grande StAustin's other great local bakery lunch spot coffee spot and now dinner (bring your own wine!). Sour cream coffee cake is made daily by satan, yum.
Get the whole wheat deep dish crust with pepperoni and roasted garlic. Try not to eat the whole thing. Admire the 1970's wall decor of Conan the Barbarian, it grows on you.
8 locals recommend
Conans Pizza Central
603 W 29th StGet the whole wheat deep dish crust with pepperoni and roasted garlic. Try not to eat the whole thing. Admire the 1970's wall decor of Conan the Barbarian, it grows on you.
All around good texmex and drinks, desserts are unusually good, too. Nice South 1st Street area location has much to offer.
61 locals recommend
Alcomar
1816 South 1st StreetAll around good texmex and drinks, desserts are unusually good, too. Nice South 1st Street area location has much to offer.
Good old school mexican food, spicy and authentic and a little bit shabby. Nice staff.
70 locals recommend
Habanero Cafe
501 W Oltorf StGood old school mexican food, spicy and authentic and a little bit shabby. Nice staff.
Amazing pizza. Go early like 5:30 or make a reservation ideally as it is pretty cozy in there.
36 locals recommend
The Backspace
507 San Jacinto BlvdAmazing pizza. Go early like 5:30 or make a reservation ideally as it is pretty cozy in there.
Halcyon
218 W 4th StCoffee and desserts, full bar, sidewalk cafe tables.
Great quality traditional Japanese cooking at a very reasonable price, especially their weekday lunch specials, the best of which is the Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, add brown rice add broccoli, trust me.
7 locals recommend
Banzai
3914 N Lamar BlvdGreat quality traditional Japanese cooking at a very reasonable price, especially their weekday lunch specials, the best of which is the Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, add brown rice add broccoli, trust me.
Everything Else
Still has its original 1940s sandwich counter in the back, cheap breakfast tacos and burgers, great malts.
87 locals recommend
Nau's Enfield Drug
1115 W Lynn StStill has its original 1940s sandwich counter in the back, cheap breakfast tacos and burgers, great malts.
Take the trail 10 blocks to Lady Bird Lake and its miles of hiking and jogging trails. Or north a few blocks to Pease Park.
38 locals recommend
Shoal Creek Trail
Shoal Creek TrailTake the trail 10 blocks to Lady Bird Lake and its miles of hiking and jogging trails. Or north a few blocks to Pease Park.
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdFrisbee golf and the start of the Greenbelt....
Duncan Neighborhood Park
900 W 9th Stgreat spot for a picnic
Margaritas and the tejas trio (chips, salsa and queso). The food is ok, not nearly as good as it used to be, but they have a great deck and a well hidden side bar with live jazz, blues etc evenings
79 locals recommend
Z Tejas | 6th Street
1110 West 6th StreetMargaritas and the tejas trio (chips, salsa and queso). The food is ok, not nearly as good as it used to be, but they have a great deck and a well hidden side bar with live jazz, blues etc evenings
Black Swan Yoga
403 Orchard Stconvenient, well liked and reasonable
LBJ Presidential Library
2313 Red River StIf you like museums....
Elisabet Ney Museum
304 E 44th StArchitecture and grounds are quite cool.
The highest point in Austin, a nice little hike and an impressive view. Picnic spot, too.
36 locals recommend
Covert Park at Mount Bonnell
3800 Mt Bonnell RdThe highest point in Austin, a nice little hike and an impressive view. Picnic spot, too.
Beautiful scenery and cool breezes from the nearby dam make this an excellent spot to read or picnic.
50 locals recommend
Red Bud Isle Park
3401 Redbud TrailBeautiful scenery and cool breezes from the nearby dam make this an excellent spot to read or picnic.
Wild Basin Preserve
805 N Capital of Texas HwyA great little 2 hour day hike.
Excellent hiking and people watching begins a few hundred feet from Barton Springs Pool and extends for miles.
235 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trailhead
Barton Creek Greenbelt TrailExcellent hiking and people watching begins a few hundred feet from Barton Springs Pool and extends for miles.
Beautiful Italianate mansion and grounds on Lake Austin, houses Austin's art museum.
98 locals recommend
The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria
3809 W 35th StBeautiful Italianate mansion and grounds on Lake Austin, houses Austin's art museum.
The Ginger Man Austin
301 Lavaca Street100 beers on draft.
Sightseeing
Nature in the middle of the city. Hiking trails. People and dog watching.
100 locals recommend
Pease District Park
1100 Kingsbury StNature in the middle of the city. Hiking trails. People and dog watching.
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailGreat people watching!
Zilker Park Hike and Bike Trail
Its amazing and soo lucky to be so close to it.
Arts & Culture
Its a fantastic time machine to the 1970s, complete with its famous owner/singer/pianist and his 4 piece back up band. Old school country to Neil Diamond. Complete with red candles on every table.
133 locals recommend
Donn's Depot
1600 W 5th StIts a fantastic time machine to the 1970s, complete with its famous owner/singer/pianist and his 4 piece back up band. Old school country to Neil Diamond. Complete with red candles on every table.
Waterloo Records
600 N Lamar BlvdAustin music scene and live in store performances.
Many people seem to like it, or at least want to come and stare at it, or add their art.
207 locals recommend
Graffiti Park at Castle Hill
1008 Baylor StMany people seem to like it, or at least want to come and stare at it, or add their art.
Organic, vegetarian, fresh healthy produce and DAMN GOOD BBQ!
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdOrganic, vegetarian, fresh healthy produce and DAMN GOOD BBQ!
Package Menswear
2008 W 5th StNice little gay owned shop for travel necessities, bathing suits, gay gifts etc.
Drinks & Nightlife
24 Diner
600 N Lamar BlvdCoffee and espresso, breakfast or a great pint selection.
Super Casual university area pub. You can bring your dog, cheap eats, lots of outdoor seating, pool tables.
37 locals recommend
Crown & Anchor Pub
2911 San Jacinto BlvdSuper Casual university area pub. You can bring your dog, cheap eats, lots of outdoor seating, pool tables.
A great little place, Johhny Cash themed dive bar, pool table, Austin old school feel, with a patio that also serves a little BBQ. Live music.
131 locals recommend
Mean-Eyed Cat
1621 W 5th StA great little place, Johhny Cash themed dive bar, pool table, Austin old school feel, with a patio that also serves a little BBQ. Live music.
Great old style pub with a huge selection and a beer garden. Even prefer it over the Ginger Man, another good one.
131 locals recommend
Draught House Pub & Brewery
4112 Medical PkwyGreat old style pub with a huge selection and a beer garden. Even prefer it over the Ginger Man, another good one.
Another very good pizza place but with a slightly upscale full menu and good wine selection.
56 locals recommend
Winflo Osteria
1315 West 6th StreetAnother very good pizza place but with a slightly upscale full menu and good wine selection.
Cheer Up Charlies
900 Red River StFun nightspot caters to a hipster gay and gay friendly crowd.
Interesting alternative crowd, mixed gay and straight. Tuezgays is cool in particular.
153 locals recommend
Barbarella
611 Red River StInteresting alternative crowd, mixed gay and straight. Tuezgays is cool in particular.
Great beer selection, full bar, but also the large beer garden has excellent asian cuisine served from an East Side Kings food trailer, vietnamese. very casual.
291 locals recommend
The Liberty
1618 East 6th StreetGreat beer selection, full bar, but also the large beer garden has excellent asian cuisine served from an East Side Kings food trailer, vietnamese. very casual.
Very old Austin real texmex and inexpensive too. For breakfast, order the migas with fajita and a mixed basket of giant biscuits and tortillas.
90 locals recommend
Cisco's Restaurant
1511 E 6th StVery old Austin real texmex and inexpensive too. For breakfast, order the migas with fajita and a mixed basket of giant biscuits and tortillas.
Shopping
If you are looking for a nice kind of upscale dinner without going too crazy on cost, I love this place. Their Santa Rita restaurant a few blocks away is also a great Tex Mex spot.
17 locals recommend
34th Street Cafe
1005 W 34th StIf you are looking for a nice kind of upscale dinner without going too crazy on cost, I love this place. Their Santa Rita restaurant a few blocks away is also a great Tex Mex spot.