Guidebook for Austin
Drinks & Nightlife
This was the first bar that opened in "Rainey Street District". There are ping pong tables, hula hoops and a great Tex-Mex taco stand (the tacos are huge, FYI). It has a sporty crowd.
118 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lustre Pearl East
114 Linden StThis was the first bar that opened in "Rainey Street District". There are ping pong tables, hula hoops and a great Tex-Mex taco stand (the tacos are huge, FYI). It has a sporty crowd.
This one has a little brick cabin in the patio which is actually mezcal bar. It's called "Bar Ilegal". It's very interesting. It's only open Fri-Sat. Clive is always open. It's the closest bar.
47 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Clive Bar
609 Davis StThis one has a little brick cabin in the patio which is actually mezcal bar. It's called "Bar Ilegal". It's very interesting. It's only open Fri-Sat. Clive is always open. It's the closest bar.
This is the only place that closes after 2 am. Thursdays are oldies night, Fridays are 80s night and Saturdays they have contemporary hipster music. It's super fun to end the night. Cover is $3.
62 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q
3914 N Lamar BlvdThis is the only place that closes after 2 am. Thursdays are oldies night, Fridays are 80s night and Saturdays they have contemporary hipster music. It's super fun to end the night. Cover is $3.
Awesome bar/bakery/restaurant. They have ping pong tables, a great selection of beers, delicious German bar food and a great atmosphere. It's a gem in the "Dirty 6th District."
358 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th StAwesome bar/bakery/restaurant. They have ping pong tables, a great selection of beers, delicious German bar food and a great atmosphere. It's a gem in the "Dirty 6th District."
Amazing vintage-inspired bar. The cocktails are great and so is the food. They always have live music that ranges from gypsy to folk. It's a must!
288 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ah Sing Den
1100 E 6th StAmazing vintage-inspired bar. The cocktails are great and so is the food. They always have live music that ranges from gypsy to folk. It's a must!
Really nice bar. They usually have live music that ranges from gypsy to folk. Same owners as East Side Showroom. Cover is usually $5.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Swan Dive
615 Red River StReally nice bar. They usually have live music that ranges from gypsy to folk. Same owners as East Side Showroom. Cover is usually $5.
Icenhauer's
83 Rainey StNice looking chill bar.
Very unpretentious place. The food is great and everybody is friendly. You'll see a lot of guys with long beards there. Order the Frito Pie and the cheese plate. Totally unexpectedly great for a bar.
244 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Yellow Jacket Social Club
1704 E 5th StVery unpretentious place. The food is great and everybody is friendly. You'll see a lot of guys with long beards there. Order the Frito Pie and the cheese plate. Totally unexpectedly great for a bar.
Food Scene
This is my favorite BBQ joint. It has a lot of personality. You should go here for your Texas BBQ fix. http://www.rudysbbq.com/
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bar 96
96 Rainey StreetThis is my favorite BBQ joint. It has a lot of personality. You should go here for your Texas BBQ fix. http://www.rudysbbq.com/
Only brick-and-mortar restaurant in the area. Amazing Mexican food. It started out as a food trailer. You have to go!
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Naranjo
2717 South Lamar BoulevardOnly brick-and-mortar restaurant in the area. Amazing Mexican food. It started out as a food trailer. You have to go!
If you like Indian food, you'll like this place. It's a food trailer but that has a huge tent with tables. Sometimes they have live music. They also have a "Snake Bike" that you can ride.
121 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
G'Raj Mahal
73 Rainey StIf you like Indian food, you'll like this place. It's a food trailer but that has a huge tent with tables. Sometimes they have live music. They also have a "Snake Bike" that you can ride.
Great American comfort food with a Texan twist. Go for Brunch. Expect a wait.
150 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Moonshine Grill
303 Red River StGreat American comfort food with a Texan twist. Go for Brunch. Expect a wait.
This is one of the most visited BBQ joints in Austin, but it's not my favorite. I've tried them all. My favorite is actually about 20 minutes by car and it's so worth it. Check out www.rudysbbq.com.
48 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Iron Works Barbecue
100 Red River StThis is one of the most visited BBQ joints in Austin, but it's not my favorite. I've tried them all. My favorite is actually about 20 minutes by car and it's so worth it. Check out www.rudysbbq.com.
You have to stand in line for 1.5 hours to eat here. It's delicious, but you will have to wait in line outside. They open at 11 and they close when they run out of food. Get there by 10:30 or earlier.
919 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StYou have to stand in line for 1.5 hours to eat here. It's delicious, but you will have to wait in line outside. They open at 11 and they close when they run out of food. Get there by 10:30 or earlier.
Super nice restaurant/bakery/bar/grocery. They have delicious pastries and food and it has a look and feel of an old pharmacy. Go! hillsidefarmacy.com
354 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hillside Farmacy
1209 E 11th StSuper nice restaurant/bakery/bar/grocery. They have delicious pastries and food and it has a look and feel of an old pharmacy. Go! hillsidefarmacy.com
Great Argentinean restaurant. buenosairescafe.com
143 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Buenos Aires Café
1201 E 6th StGreat Argentinean restaurant. buenosairescafe.com
Great counter comfort food restaurant. One of my favorite places to eat stuff like steak & eggs. It's open from 7:30am-4pm every day.
211 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Counter Cafe
1914 E 6th StGreat counter comfort food restaurant. One of my favorite places to eat stuff like steak & eggs. It's open from 7:30am-4pm every day.
This place is an institution! It's been around for decades and the steak is amazing. It comes in a pool of butter sauce, served with potatoes, and bread. Scrumptious! Meat and fat lovers only, though.
The Hoffbrau
613 W 6th StThis place is an institution! It's been around for decades and the steak is amazing. It comes in a pool of butter sauce, served with potatoes, and bread. Scrumptious! Meat and fat lovers only, though.
This place is owned by Sandra Bullock. Very good selection of pastries, flowers and coffee.
46 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Walton's Fancy & Staple
609 W 6th StThis place is owned by Sandra Bullock. Very good selection of pastries, flowers and coffee.
Best seafood restaurant in Austin! I don't know how they do it, but everything is always so fresh and delicious. It's on the pricey side, but it's worth it. Plus you can walk around SoCo after.
398 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Perla's
1400 S Congress AveBest seafood restaurant in Austin! I don't know how they do it, but everything is always so fresh and delicious. It's on the pricey side, but it's worth it. Plus you can walk around SoCo after.
You gotta go to Amy's when you're in Austin. Great ice cream!
397 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Amys Ice Creams
1301 S Congress AveYou gotta go to Amy's when you're in Austin. Great ice cream!
Amazing Vietnamese/French restaurant. Must go! It's so nice and delicious. Save room for their amazing desserts and pastries. They're open every day for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner!
426 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Elizabeth Street Cafe
1501 S 1st StAmazing Vietnamese/French restaurant. Must go! It's so nice and delicious. Save room for their amazing desserts and pastries. They're open every day for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner!
Very unique café. They're always having events, such as movie screenings, etc. It's very cool. It's by the university.
176 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Spider House Ballroom
2906 Fruth StVery unique café. They're always having events, such as movie screenings, etc. It's very cool. It's by the university.
Upscale Mexican restaurant. It's great, but on the pricey side. There's a cool bar upstairs called Malverde.
191 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Condesa
400 W 2nd StUpscale Mexican restaurant. It's great, but on the pricey side. There's a cool bar upstairs called Malverde.
Great place to have a "seasonal" meal. They have their own vegetable garden in the back and change the menu every so often. If you see mussels in the menu, try them!
59 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Olivia
2043 South Lamar BoulevardGreat place to have a "seasonal" meal. They have their own vegetable garden in the back and change the menu every so often. If you see mussels in the menu, try them!
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Austin. The décor is OK, but I go there for the food. It's really exquisite.
135 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Foreign & Domestic
306 E 53rd StThis is probably my favorite restaurant in Austin. The décor is OK, but I go there for the food. It's really exquisite.
Very nice place! Try the mussels, the trout and the edemame with pop rocks!
85 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Swift's Attic
315 Congress AveVery nice place! Try the mussels, the trout and the edemame with pop rocks!
This is by far the best sushi I've ever tried. It's far, but amazing. Order from the board and ask your waitress what she recommends. They're all super nice and knowledgeable. TOTALLY worth the trip.
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tomodachi Sushi
4101 W Parmer LnThis is by far the best sushi I've ever tried. It's far, but amazing. Order from the board and ask your waitress what she recommends. They're all super nice and knowledgeable. TOTALLY worth the trip.
Top Chef Paul Qui is the executive chef at this amazing sushi restaurant. It's very pricey, but very delicious. You gotta try the sweet corn sorbet for dessert.
309 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Uchiko
4200 N Lamar BlvdTop Chef Paul Qui is the executive chef at this amazing sushi restaurant. It's very pricey, but very delicious. You gotta try the sweet corn sorbet for dessert.
Cool place to enjoy some Mexican food. The patio is great. I actually used to live here when it was a little house.
176 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Takoba
1411 E 7th StCool place to enjoy some Mexican food. The patio is great. I actually used to live here when it was a little house.
Cool, relaxed place to have some Mexican food and cocktails.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Papi Tino's
1306 East 6th StreetCool, relaxed place to have some Mexican food and cocktails.
This café and bakery located at the foot of the historic Driskill Hotel, an Austin landmark, has one of the most scrumptious burgers I've ever tried... the "Hangover Burger". Check out the bar too.
104 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Driskill In The Unbound Collection By Hyatt
604 Brazos StThis café and bakery located at the foot of the historic Driskill Hotel, an Austin landmark, has one of the most scrumptious burgers I've ever tried... the "Hangover Burger". Check out the bar too.
Very friendly beer garden. They have 100+ beers on tap and a delicious selection of homemade sausages. It´s a must! http://bangersaustin.com/
264 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden
79 Rainey StVery friendly beer garden. They have 100+ beers on tap and a delicious selection of homemade sausages. It´s a must! http://bangersaustin.com/
Everything Else
For your yoga fix, there's a place a couple of blocks south on Rainey Street. They work by donation. http://www.behappybeyoga.com/
Be Yoga
43 Rainey StreetFor your yoga fix, there's a place a couple of blocks south on Rainey Street. They work by donation. http://www.behappybeyoga.com/
If you want to take some Capoeira lessons while you're in town, my friend Erick teaches classes at the Mexican American Cultural Center, next the building. facebook.com/capoeiramaculeleaustin
Aluaie Capoeira Austin TX
4544 S Lamar BlvdIf you want to take some Capoeira lessons while you're in town, my friend Erick teaches classes at the Mexican American Cultural Center, next the building. facebook.com/capoeiramaculeleaustin
Sightseeing
Capital Building Inspections
It's a must-go place for tourists.
Get on their hybrid "duck truck" that will take you around Austin and then into Lake Austin. It could actually be really fun. I went on a company outing and we were making mojitos. Maybe that helped.
46 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Austin Duck Adventures
602 E 4th StGet on their hybrid "duck truck" that will take you around Austin and then into Lake Austin. It could actually be really fun. I went on a company outing and we were making mojitos. Maybe that helped.
A visit to Austin is not complete unless you go to Barton Springs Pool. It's especially great when the weather is hot, as the water is super cold. http://www.yelp.com/biz/barton-springs-pool-austin
2454 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrA visit to Austin is not complete unless you go to Barton Springs Pool. It's especially great when the weather is hot, as the water is super cold. http://www.yelp.com/biz/barton-springs-pool-austin
You gotta rent a canoe or kayak here and go on lady Bird Lake. The view of downtown is indescribable from the lake. Plus you get a little bit of cardio going and a cool leave with a cool story to tell
1533 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Metropolitano Zilker
2207 Barton Springs RdYou gotta rent a canoe or kayak here and go on lady Bird Lake. The view of downtown is indescribable from the lake. Plus you get a little bit of cardio going and a cool leave with a cool story to tell
This campus is a city in itself. It's really worth a visit and you can tour the Tower. The view must be incredible from there (I haven't been yet).
238 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The University of Texas at Austin
2515 SpeedwayThis campus is a city in itself. It's really worth a visit and you can tour the Tower. The view must be incredible from there (I haven't been yet).
If you want to learn about Texas History, this is the place to go. There's also an IMAX there.
593 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo de Historia del Estado de Texas Bullock
1800 Congress AveIf you want to learn about Texas History, this is the place to go. There's also an IMAX there.
One of the biggest attractions of Austin during the summer is watching the bats emerge from the Congress Bridge. You can stand on the bridge, under the bridge (careful with bat poop) or on a boat.
41 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Capital Cruises
208 Barton Springs RdOne of the biggest attractions of Austin during the summer is watching the bats emerge from the Congress Bridge. You can stand on the bridge, under the bridge (careful with bat poop) or on a boat.
Arts & Culture
If you're in for some comedy, then Esther's Follies is the place to go. I think prices start at $20.
153 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Esther's Follies
525 E 6th StIf you're in for some comedy, then Esther's Follies is the place to go. I think prices start at $20.
Big Art Museum, part of the university. Check out their schedule... they always have amazing exhibits. http://blantonmuseum.org/
644 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Museo de Arte Blanton
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardBig Art Museum, part of the university. Check out their schedule... they always have amazing exhibits. http://blantonmuseum.org/
You can't come to Austin without a visit to one of the most talked about cinemas ever. Really, go!
770 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdYou can't come to Austin without a visit to one of the most talked about cinemas ever. Really, go!
State-of-the-art theater located at the foot of the W Hotel. Check out their calendar. http://acl-live.com/
326 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
ACL Live
310 W Willie Nelson BlvdState-of-the-art theater located at the foot of the W Hotel. Check out their calendar. http://acl-live.com/
This is the epitome of honky tonk. This place is an institution and you gotta go if you want a get a full Texan experience.
478 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar BlvdThis is the epitome of honky tonk. This place is an institution and you gotta go if you want a get a full Texan experience.
This is one of the most popular live music venues. Check their calendar. It's not really a place to go have a drink unless there's a band playing there that you want to see. http://mohawkaustin.com/
166 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mohawk Austin
912 Red River StThis is one of the most popular live music venues. Check their calendar. It's not really a place to go have a drink unless there's a band playing there that you want to see. http://mohawkaustin.com/
You can get BBQ here but it's not the best. The best part about this place is that they have really good concerts. Check their calendar to see if there's a good show. http://stubbsaustin.com/
282 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Stubb's Bar-B-Q
801 Red River StYou can get BBQ here but it's not the best. The best part about this place is that they have really good concerts. Check their calendar to see if there's a good show. http://stubbsaustin.com/
Essentials
Open Sundays 11-3. It's awesome because it not only has produce, there's yoga, art, and other things. Can't miss it! It's very Austin. www.hopefarmersmarket.org
52 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
HOPE Farmers Market
Open Sundays 11-3. It's awesome because it not only has produce, there's yoga, art, and other things. Can't miss it! It's very Austin. www.hopefarmersmarket.org
This Farmers' Market is there only on Saturdays from 9 to 1. There's produce and arts & crafts. On Sundays, there's the HOPE one on Waller Street. http://sfcfarmersmarket.org/
81 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
SFC Farmers' Market Downtown
422 Guadalupe StThis Farmers' Market is there only on Saturdays from 9 to 1. There's produce and arts & crafts. On Sundays, there's the HOPE one on Waller Street. http://sfcfarmersmarket.org/
This is Whole Foods' headquarters and a must-go place, not just for groceries. There's cool shopping around, too.
1332 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdThis is Whole Foods' headquarters and a must-go place, not just for groceries. There's cool shopping around, too.
If you like cheese, then you gotta go to this place. They have everything you need for a nice picnic. Many restaurants in Austin feature an Antonelli's cheese plate.
91 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Antonelli's Cheese Shop
4220 Duval StIf you like cheese, then you gotta go to this place. They have everything you need for a nice picnic. Many restaurants in Austin feature an Antonelli's cheese plate.
Shopping
Must-go store for music fans and visitors in general. They have a lot of Austin stuff there.
135 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Waterloo Records
600 N Lamar BlvdMust-go store for music fans and visitors in general. They have a lot of Austin stuff there.
Bike store owned by Lance Armstrong. Great selection of bikes and bike accessories and it also features a mini "museum" of Lance's Tour de France achievements. Right next door is Juan Pelota (coffee).
29 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mellow Johnny's
115 Nueces StBike store owned by Lance Armstrong. Great selection of bikes and bike accessories and it also features a mini "museum" of Lance's Tour de France achievements. Right next door is Juan Pelota (coffee).
Must-see store! They have all the costumes you can imagine, but also have a great selection of vintage accessories and jewelry.
87 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds
1506 S Congress AveMust-see store! They have all the costumes you can imagine, but also have a great selection of vintage accessories and jewelry.
This whole street, known as "2nd Street District" and more recently, "Willie Nelson Boulevard" is filled with stores, bars and restaurants. It's a nice place to walk around.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
West 2nd Street
West 2nd StreetThis whole street, known as "2nd Street District" and more recently, "Willie Nelson Boulevard" is filled with stores, bars and restaurants. It's a nice place to walk around.
Great store for men. Must go if you're a man or are looking for something for a man.
67 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
STAG Provisions For Men
1423 S Congress AveGreat store for men. Must go if you're a man or are looking for something for a man.
Want cowboy boots? Then you gotta stop here. They have a wide selection and have been around forever.
136 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Botas Allens
1522 S Congress AveWant cowboy boots? Then you gotta stop here. They have a wide selection and have been around forever.