Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Its got a super chill vibe, a gorgeous back patio and delicious cheese and meat plates. Great for lunch or a little romantic dinner.
351 moradores locais recomendam
Blue Dahlia Bistro
1115 E 11th StIts got a super chill vibe, a gorgeous back patio and delicious cheese and meat plates. Great for lunch or a little romantic dinner.
One of the best indian food spots in town. Amazing amazing drinks (get their curried or cardamom margarita). Its a brilliant fusion of indian and dare i say, Mexican food (goat tacos are unreal). Usually not that crowded too so great for last minute decision makers. Plus its open late!
35 moradores locais recomendam
Nasha
1614 E 7th StOne of the best indian food spots in town. Amazing amazing drinks (get their curried or cardamom margarita). Its a brilliant fusion of indian and dare i say, Mexican food (goat tacos are unreal). Usually not that crowded too so great for last minute decision makers. Plus its open late!
They have a bit of a wait, but that is for very good reason. This new Chinese super fab restaurant has impressed everyone i have ever taken there. Its hip, delicious and totally worth the wait. If you plan on going with a large group i recommend heading over earlier or later as I'm not sure they take reservations. However, they do deliver!
70 moradores locais recomendam
Old Thousand
1000 E 11th StThey have a bit of a wait, but that is for very good reason. This new Chinese super fab restaurant has impressed everyone i have ever taken there. Its hip, delicious and totally worth the wait. If you plan on going with a large group i recommend heading over earlier or later as I'm not sure they take reservations. However, they do deliver!
If you can only have one pizza in your life... this might be the one you should try. If that sounds like blowing smoke, it is AT LEAST the one pizza in AUSTIN you should try. Detroit style pizza where the cheese is baked all the way to the end of the crust, its just divine. The cheese heavens blessed us with this gift and you can walk from the house and partake of this bovine mana of which you will never ever forget. Best of all you can grab a drink inside Violet Crown while you wait and they will bring your pizza to you!
372 moradores locais recomendam
Via 313 Pizza
10106 W 6th StIf you can only have one pizza in your life... this might be the one you should try. If that sounds like blowing smoke, it is AT LEAST the one pizza in AUSTIN you should try. Detroit style pizza where the cheese is baked all the way to the end of the crust, its just divine. The cheese heavens blessed us with this gift and you can walk from the house and partake of this bovine mana of which you will never ever forget. Best of all you can grab a drink inside Violet Crown while you wait and they will bring your pizza to you!
My personal favorite of a long long list of fantastic mexican spots around town. This quasi tex mex spot always has fantastic drinks (try the prickly pear margarita) and delicious high quality food (shrimp enchiladas are a must try). They aren't usually that crowded either so its an excellent option for brunch when you have a large group and you realized you forgot to make reservations elsewhere. Also incredible salsa. Two kinds, one made from habanero. So good they sell one of them at Whole Foods now. Must try.
142 moradores locais recomendam
El Chile Cafe y Cantina
1900 Manor RdMy personal favorite of a long long list of fantastic mexican spots around town. This quasi tex mex spot always has fantastic drinks (try the prickly pear margarita) and delicious high quality food (shrimp enchiladas are a must try). They aren't usually that crowded either so its an excellent option for brunch when you have a large group and you realized you forgot to make reservations elsewhere. Also incredible salsa. Two kinds, one made from habanero. So good they sell one of them at Whole Foods now. Must try.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great local spot. Cheap drinks, interesting crowd, excellent back patio, you can't go wrong starting or ending your night at Shangri-la. Its one of the reasons the east side bar scene is so fantastic.
149 moradores locais recomendam
Shangri-La
1016 E 6th StGreat local spot. Cheap drinks, interesting crowd, excellent back patio, you can't go wrong starting or ending your night at Shangri-la. Its one of the reasons the east side bar scene is so fantastic.
Do you like Jazz? If the answer is yes you absolutely must go here while you are in town. If the answer is ehhh or maybe, you should still stop in. Located in the basement of a building on congress this spot always has live music, always has delicious beers on tap (including my favorite Chimay) and feels like its from another era. Spots like this don't last forever but you will always remember a night that involves the Elephant Room.
224 moradores locais recomendam
Elephant Room
315 Congress AveDo you like Jazz? If the answer is yes you absolutely must go here while you are in town. If the answer is ehhh or maybe, you should still stop in. Located in the basement of a building on congress this spot always has live music, always has delicious beers on tap (including my favorite Chimay) and feels like its from another era. Spots like this don't last forever but you will always remember a night that involves the Elephant Room.
If you've ever been to the alamo and wished you could take a piece of it with you to make into your own personal bar, then you are in luck because Whislers captures the feel of being in an ancient historical space while merging it perfectly with a speak easy feel and fantastic cocktails. Best of all they have a mezcal bar that is open certain nights of the week that sits above it. Walkable from the house, and worth every step!
561 moradores locais recomendam
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StIf you've ever been to the alamo and wished you could take a piece of it with you to make into your own personal bar, then you are in luck because Whislers captures the feel of being in an ancient historical space while merging it perfectly with a speak easy feel and fantastic cocktails. Best of all they have a mezcal bar that is open certain nights of the week that sits above it. Walkable from the house, and worth every step!
Parks & Nature
Very close to downtown to feel so secluded. Great shorter hiking trails and both the upper and lower falls are excellent spots to spent a few hours chatting with friends and enjoying a nice day. You can camp here too but it makes a fantastic little voyage into nature where you're just minutes away from civilization.
376 moradores locais recomendam
Parque Estadual das Cachoeiras McKinney
5808 McKinney Falls PkwyVery close to downtown to feel so secluded. Great shorter hiking trails and both the upper and lower falls are excellent spots to spent a few hours chatting with friends and enjoying a nice day. You can camp here too but it makes a fantastic little voyage into nature where you're just minutes away from civilization.
Go for the peacocks -- TONS OF FREE ROAMING PEACOCKS, scattered throughout a super charming grounds filled with plants, walking trails and koi ponds. You will always leave with a smile on your face, especially during mating season where the males will wrap their tail displays around the females and shake their feathers like their life depended on it. Best of all, its 100% free!
178 moradores locais recomendam
Parque e Reserva Natural de Mayfield
3505 W 35th StGo for the peacocks -- TONS OF FREE ROAMING PEACOCKS, scattered throughout a super charming grounds filled with plants, walking trails and koi ponds. You will always leave with a smile on your face, especially during mating season where the males will wrap their tail displays around the females and shake their feathers like their life depended on it. Best of all, its 100% free!
Shopping
One of the true gems of the east side, The Fox Den has by far the best selection of plants in town and thats saying something. The owner Candice has a singular vision that she uses to curate all the plants you could ever dream of wanting. Every time you stop by she has another incredible plant you've never seen before but that you must have. She also has fantastic candles, home decor, and beautiful vintage clothing (mostly for the ladies, sorry lads) Trust me you will fall in love the second you walk into the Fox Den. All the gorgeous plants throughout the house? All from the Fox Den!
7 moradores locais recomendam
THE FOX DEN
One of the true gems of the east side, The Fox Den has by far the best selection of plants in town and thats saying something. The owner Candice has a singular vision that she uses to curate all the plants you could ever dream of wanting. Every time you stop by she has another incredible plant you've never seen before but that you must have. She also has fantastic candles, home decor, and beautiful vintage clothing (mostly for the ladies, sorry lads) Trust me you will fall in love the second you walk into the Fox Den. All the gorgeous plants throughout the house? All from the Fox Den!
Essentials
Not to be confused with the Quickie Mart from the Simpsons, Quickie Pickie has a phenomenal selection of Beer and Wine, excellent food (get their breakfast tacos), coffee and great basics like ice cream, fruit, sandwiches and more. Tons of great local products, and a nice rotation of new goods. You'll never walk out regretting what you bought. Plus its easy walking distance from the house!
354 moradores locais recomendam
Quickie Pickie
2027 E Cesar Chavez StNot to be confused with the Quickie Mart from the Simpsons, Quickie Pickie has a phenomenal selection of Beer and Wine, excellent food (get their breakfast tacos), coffee and great basics like ice cream, fruit, sandwiches and more. Tons of great local products, and a nice rotation of new goods. You'll never walk out regretting what you bought. Plus its easy walking distance from the house!
Arts & Culture
A truly "Austin" spot, castle hill is where all the best graffiti artists in town go to make their mark. Old school pros mingle with aspiring graffiti artists and the result is an outdoor art gallery for the people sprayed out on the footprint of what i believe is an old school foundation. Its a tourist destination for a reason but its also a blast to go and snap some pictures at.
7 moradores locais recomendam
Castle Hill
1111 W 11th StA truly "Austin" spot, castle hill is where all the best graffiti artists in town go to make their mark. Old school pros mingle with aspiring graffiti artists and the result is an outdoor art gallery for the people sprayed out on the footprint of what i believe is an old school foundation. Its a tourist destination for a reason but its also a blast to go and snap some pictures at.
Sightseeing
You gotta go at least one time. Its a short hike up some steep stairs but the view from the top is about as good as you'll get here in "hill country" (I'm from a mountainous western state so i still laugh at "hill country) Its a charming view and still so close to the rest of austin you can hit it along with 10 other things on your to do list in a single day without breaking a sweat.
1083 moradores locais recomendam
Monte Bonnell
You gotta go at least one time. Its a short hike up some steep stairs but the view from the top is about as good as you'll get here in "hill country" (I'm from a mountainous western state so i still laugh at "hill country) Its a charming view and still so close to the rest of austin you can hit it along with 10 other things on your to do list in a single day without breaking a sweat.