Melita's Colorful Guide to Austin
Food Scene
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress Ave24 hour Austin favorite. Best carrot cake ever.
Homemade tortillas make this a gem for breakfast tacos in South Austin. Try the machacado and migas tacos on flour tortillas. Delicious!
25 locals recommend
Casa Maria
4327 S 1st StHomemade tortillas make this a gem for breakfast tacos in South Austin. Try the machacado and migas tacos on flour tortillas. Delicious!
Eat their fantastic BBQ outside - BYOB, or check our their wine bar. Yum!
480 locals recommend
Salt Lick BBQ
18300 Farm to Market Rd 1826Eat their fantastic BBQ outside - BYOB, or check our their wine bar. Yum!
One of my all-time favorite Austin restaurants - especially for amazing beef dishes and desserts! Reina, the owner, is wonderful!
143 locals recommend
Buenos Aires Café
1201 E 6th StOne of my all-time favorite Austin restaurants - especially for amazing beef dishes and desserts! Reina, the owner, is wonderful!
Great spot for breakfast or lunch meetings. Free wifi, and kid friendly. Also, lots of gourmet groceries and pre-made meals to go.
765 locals recommend
Central Market
4477 S Lamar BlvdGreat spot for breakfast or lunch meetings. Free wifi, and kid friendly. Also, lots of gourmet groceries and pre-made meals to go.
Funky Brit-inspired tea shop with breakfast, lunch, and fish & chips on Fridays. Check their hours as they are closed on random days.
33 locals recommend
Full English
2000 Southern Oaks DrFunky Brit-inspired tea shop with breakfast, lunch, and fish & chips on Fridays. Check their hours as they are closed on random days.
Great BBQ and live music venue right downtown. I love the fried okra!
282 locals recommend
Stubb's Bar-B-Q
801 Red River StGreat BBQ and live music venue right downtown. I love the fried okra!
15-20 minute drive to our family's favorite Italian eatery where you can dine outside on their lovely patio close to a playscape. This is the best affordable Italian food outside of Italy. We love the bocce ball court, too!
13 locals recommend
Mandola's Italian
4301 W William Cannon Dr15-20 minute drive to our family's favorite Italian eatery where you can dine outside on their lovely patio close to a playscape. This is the best affordable Italian food outside of Italy. We love the bocce ball court, too!
South Park Meadows Food
5 minute drive from Casa de Colores. Some places have outdoor dining and access to the awesome playscape. Most have delivery and take-out as well.
Delivery, take-out, or dine in/outside! Only a 5-minute drive to SouthPark Meadows for this vegetarian-friendly yummy, healthy Asian food. Plus easy access to the playscape and Amy's Ice Cream.
7 locals recommend
Mama Fu's Asian House
9600 S I-35 Frontage RdDelivery, take-out, or dine in/outside! Only a 5-minute drive to SouthPark Meadows for this vegetarian-friendly yummy, healthy Asian food. Plus easy access to the playscape and Amy's Ice Cream.
Amy's Ice Creams
1012 W 6th StAwesome ice cream - an Austin favorite.
Good burger & sports bar. Easy access to the playscape for the kids.
12 locals recommend
Waterloo Ice House Southpark Meadows
9600 S I-35 Frontage RdGood burger & sports bar. Easy access to the playscape for the kids.
H-E-B: The Oaks Slaughter and South Congress
Best grocery store in or out of Texas! They have a bakery/totilleria, wine/beer, flowers/balloons, pharmacy, and a great kitchen aisle.
183 locals recommend
H-E-B
5800 W Slaughter LnH-E-B: The Oaks Slaughter and South Congress
Best grocery store in or out of Texas! They have a bakery/totilleria, wine/beer, flowers/balloons, pharmacy, and a great kitchen aisle.
Delicious coffee in the area - on South Congress north of Slaughter.
Vision Coffee Trailer (512) 554-6810
https://goo.gl/maps/rQmHa1CrozV3XBuv9
Vision Coffee Trailer
1601 Barton Springs RoadDelicious coffee in the area - on South Congress north of Slaughter.
Vision Coffee Trailer (512) 554-6810
https://goo.gl/maps/rQmHa1CrozV3XBuv9
stellar coffee co. ate
7800 South 1st StreetCoffee truck - 10 minute drive from Casa de Colores.
Local Austin business that is now in 11 states! (Obama visited the original Torchy's and had the Democrat, Independent, and Republican tacos.)
We have a new location in our neighborhood north of the H-E-B!
Buzzy chain serving Mexican street-food-style tacos and drinks in inventive varieties, including for breakfast.
Torchy's Tacos
8601 South Congress AvenueLocal Austin business that is now in 11 states! (Obama visited the original Torchy's and had the Democrat, Independent, and Republican tacos.)
We have a new location in our neighborhood north of the H-E-B!
Buzzy chain serving Mexican street-food-style tacos and drinks in inventive varieties, including for breakfast.
This is hands-down some of the best Indian food I've eaten in North America or Europe.
Jaipur Palace - Austin
9900 I-35This is hands-down some of the best Indian food I've eaten in North America or Europe.
Everything Else
Closet urgent care facility. This is where our family goes after hours.
Austin Regional Clinic: ARC Southwest
1807 W Slaughter LnCloset urgent care facility. This is where our family goes after hours.
Great chiropractor at a very reasonable price ($19/visit, or $49 for 4 visits) - walk-ins welcome.
They have saved my back and hips many times!
The Joint Chiropractic
9500 S I-35 Frontage RdGreat chiropractor at a very reasonable price ($19/visit, or $49 for 4 visits) - walk-ins welcome.
They have saved my back and hips many times!
Essentials
CVS and Walgreen's are both close by. There is also a CVS in the Target at South Park Meadows.
11 locals recommend
CVS Pharmacy
9500 S I-35 Frontage RdCVS and Walgreen's are both close by. There is also a CVS in the Target at South Park Meadows.
Arts & Culture
Closest movie theater with lots of options - especially new releases.
12 locals recommend
Cinemark Southpark Meadows
Closest movie theater with lots of options - especially new releases.
The Alamo is an Austin favorite, and certainly a house favorite. Eat, drink, and be merry (silently) while watching a whole range of movie options.
Book seats in advance & arrive 30 minutes early!
107 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Slaughter Lane
5701 W Slaughter LnThe Alamo is an Austin favorite, and certainly a house favorite. Eat, drink, and be merry (silently) while watching a whole range of movie options.
Book seats in advance & arrive 30 minutes early!
A fantastic art museum - kid and adult friendly.
Check out the hopping B Scene events they host once a month.
644 locals recommend
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardA fantastic art museum - kid and adult friendly.
Check out the hopping B Scene events they host once a month.
Drinks & Nightlife
An intimate cocktail lounge in the heart of downtown, Austin.3 unique bar experiences. Live music every night, you’ll get the real Austin experience.
Tellers Austin
607 Trinity StAn intimate cocktail lounge in the heart of downtown, Austin.3 unique bar experiences. Live music every night, you’ll get the real Austin experience.
Local brewery nearby. Stay safe and take a ride share.
20 locals recommend
Thirsty Planet Brewing Company
8201 South Congress AvenueLocal brewery nearby. Stay safe and take a ride share.
Local brewery nearby. Stay safe and take a ride share.
6 locals recommend
Last Stand Brewing SoCo [NOT YET OPEN]
7601 South Congress AvenueLocal brewery nearby. Stay safe and take a ride share.
Jazz, jazz and more jazz. A hole-in-the-wall jazz spot in downtown Austin.
224 locals recommend
Elephant Room
315 Congress AveJazz, jazz and more jazz. A hole-in-the-wall jazz spot in downtown Austin.
AKA The Far Out Lounge & Stage
8504 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78745
Buzzy alfresco venue offering food trucks, 2 bars & picnic tables, plus a stage for live music.
18 locals recommend
Nicolaza's
8504 S Congress AveAKA The Far Out Lounge & Stage
8504 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78745
Buzzy alfresco venue offering food trucks, 2 bars & picnic tables, plus a stage for live music.
Great outdoor venue for music with and bar, food truck, and fire pits.
215 locals recommend
Moontower Saloon
10212 Menchaca RdGreat outdoor venue for music with and bar, food truck, and fire pits.
Food and drink all outdoors with a creek running through it and fire pits!
52 locals recommend
Armadillo Den
10106 Menchaca RoadFood and drink all outdoors with a creek running through it and fire pits!
Outdoor fun
10 minutes drive if you need a break from the city noise, take a walk or enjoy a picnic at the Onion Creek Greenbelt.
555-acre regional park with an off-leash dog policy, pond & recreation trails for hiking & walks.
Onion Creek Greenbelt Trail
Onion Creek Greenbelt Trail10 minutes drive if you need a break from the city noise, take a walk or enjoy a picnic at the Onion Creek Greenbelt.
555-acre regional park with an off-leash dog policy, pond & recreation trails for hiking & walks.
Swimming hole and waterfall - need we say more? Sometimes it is busy, so go online to book a ticket for entry.
376 locals recommend
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls PkwySwimming hole and waterfall - need we say more? Sometimes it is busy, so go online to book a ticket for entry.