Featured image: Samantha Labrecque Semle
From BBQ and live music to ample ways to get outdoors, Austin, Texas has it all! We’re sharing everything you need to know about where to stay, places to eat, and fun things to do in the Texas state capital.
Where to Stay
The Wayback
If you’re looking to escape the hustle of the city limits, book a stay at The Wayback. Owned by mother-daughter duo, Vicky Bly and Sydney Sue, this casual boutique hotel is surrounded by Texas Hill Country views while still just being only fifteen minutes from downtown. Tucked off Bee Cave Road, The Wayback feels like stepping into a Tuscan countryside retreat—it’s a secluded oasis where a grove of oak trees provide shade on a warm summer day and eight board-and-batten cottages dot the property.
Each of the cottages are charming—fresh and feminine, yet natural with a touch of vintage—providing the perfect place for some respite after a long day under the Texas sun. Also on property is their farm-to-table café featuring a seasonal menu using fresh, local ingredients, plus their private pool where you can lounge and get lost in a good book under the big Texas sky. The Wayback is a dreamy little escape where time moves a little slower, you can linger a little longer, and life gets just a little bit sweeter.
Things to Do
Horseback Riding
There’s really no better way to explore Texas Hill Country than on horseback! Saddle up with Southern Trails for a guided scenic horseback ride around one of Central Texas’ most beautiful ranches. Just fifteen minutes from downtown, both expert riders and novices alike can meander through open green pastures and beautiful oak trees, plus wade with their horses through creeks and past herds of cattle. After your ride, meet Southern Trails’ mini highland cow, Leo!
Barton Creek Greenbelt
The Greenbelt’s 12 miles of trails travel through South Austin, and is the go-to ATX destination for nature lovers. Visitors can hike the scenic trails, bike the rugged terrain, wade in the swimming holes, and go rock climbing, all while soaking in the Greenbelt’s natural beauty and its urban convenience.
Barton Springs Pool
Within Zilker Park is one of the coolest pools in all of Texas. Fed from underground springs, Barton Springs Pool is Austin’s ultimate hangout spot. With an average temperature of 68 to 70 degrees, the three-acre pool is ideal for year-round swimming and features crystal clear water that reaches up to 18 feet in depth in certain areas. Adjacent to the pool bathhouse is Splash!, an educational exhibit where visitors can learn about the history and biology of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer which feeds it.
Float the River
Join a group or book a solo excursion to float down the San Marcos River. Relatively close to Austin, the all-day activity is a popular summertime venture for locals and tourists alike. Pack a lunch, some sunscreen, and maybe a change of clothes, hop on your tube and get floating! Note: there are several companies that provide transportation to and from downtown, as well as tubes and other equipment you might need.
Broken Spoke
Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World and a trip to the city wouldn’t be complete without listening to some live tunes. While there are venues all around the city to catch a show, one of our favorite spots to spend an evening is at Broken Spoke, a Texas dancehall where famed musicians (think: George Strait, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton) have stopped by a time or two. While there’s line dancing lessons and no shortage of cold beer, Broken Spoke also has a solid lineup of live music: Wednesday night is 90s country night, and if you’re lucky, they might just play “Amarillo by Morning” to set a true Texas tone.
Where to Eat & Drink
la barbecue
Get your grub on at this Michelin-starred BBQ joint. Female-owned by Texas native and chef Ali Clem, la barbecue is a Texas BBQ staple with smashing smoked brisket that’s cooked low and slow over Texas post oak for eight hours. Here you’ll find arguably some of the best brisket and ribs in town (we can confirm!), with special blends of salty and savory rubs and throwback dishes inspired by the chef’s travels around the world. Along with the smoked meat, you’ll want to order a side of their potato salad, chipotle slaw, and shells and cheese, and don’t forget the pickles! There will be a line when you arrive, but it’s worth the wait. Insider tip: pre-order on their site and skip the line.
Birdie’s
If there is one restaurant you dine at in Austin, let it be Birdie’s. This East Austin spot provides what we consider one of the best and most unique culinary experiences the city has to offer. You will place your prix-fixe order at the counter upon arrival, choose a seat inside or on their outdoor patio, and then experience a traditional, table service-style meal perfectly coursed out from one dish to the next. While the prix-fixe menu changes, offerings we indulged in included a Casarecce-style pasta dish with Sungold tomatoes, parmesan, chili, and basil, the wagyu minute steak with calabaza squash and green tomatoes, and the honey soft serve with peach jam and honeycomb for dessert. Dinner costs $68 per person with upgraded supplemental options available, too.
Suerte
Inspired by the people, cooking techniques, and flavors of Mexico, Suerte is an East Austin jaunt led by Mexico native and chef, Fermin Nunez. The restaurant is—by our account—one of the best places to pull up a chair in the city. The flavors are fresh and the dishes are divine. From the Suadero tacos made with confit wagyu brisket, the seasonal peaches and feta, and the ceviche de tomate, you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
Cosmic
This coffee-by-day and beer/cocktail-garden-by-night is the perfect spot to kick back with friends, sip some drinks, work remotely, and listen to live music. An expansive outdoor area, Cosmic has food trucks onsite, plus a variety of beverages to choose from ranging from coffee and beer to cocktails, boozy coffee, frozen drinks, and more. Our menu favorites include the frozen boozy coffee (think: a Wendy’s Frosty with a touch of coffee), the frozen matcha painkiller, and the THC-infused stellar seltzer.
Tiki Tatsu-Ya
If you think Texas doesn’t have any good tiki bars, think again. Step into Tiki Tatsu-Ya, an underground tiki-themed bar for delicious cocktails and a fun atmosphere. All drinks on the menu are rum-forward, but our favorites include the pearl diver and mai tai. If you’re visiting with a group, go for the large-format cocktails that come in a fun vessel, like the aku aku, which is served in a pineapple with a smoke affect, or the rum barrel which comes out flaming.
Sammataro
Self-proclaimed as a New York-style pizza joint in Austin, Sammataro is a laid-back pit stop slinging out just that: solid New York-style pies. Cooked in a brick oven with minimal flop and chewy crust, Sammataro’s pizza is 16 inches in size and can be paired with Calabrian chilis or housemade ranch dressing for dipping.
Sour Duck Market
You certainly won’t leave this Austin Eastside hang hungry. A neighborhood bakery, cafe, bar, and beer garden, Sour Duck is the perfect place to park yourself all day for brekkie bites, a working lunch, and dinner with a side of live music. Fuel your morning with fresh baked pastries or the XXL breakfast burrito (only five are served per day!), then enjoy a sandwich and bev for a mid-day pick-me-up. The market also sells snacks that are made from locally-sourced ingredients, plus sustainable coffee, craft cocktails, and a killer selection of wine and beer.
Radio Coffee & Beer
A hip spot for locals and tourists alike, Radio Coffee & Beer is everything you could want in an outdoor beer garden. The expansive outdoor space is tree-covered with plenty of seating, an ideal setup for all-day lounging—from coffee to cocktails—and live music on select evenings. If you’re eyeing a caffeinated bev, try the blood orange espresso tonic. Or, go the booze route with the lion’s mane cocktail or a local craft beer. When it comes to bites, there’s some food trucks stationed out back, including Veracruz All Natural, which is widely considered an Austin foodie favorite.
Canje
Traditional meets modern at this East Austin Caribbean restaurant. Named after the Canje Pheasant, the national bird of Guyana, Canje pulls inspiration for their menu from the islands in the region. The restaurant is led by pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, so no matter what you choose for your main course—we suggest the smoked avocado escabeche, beef patties, sweet potato, and Guyanese-style roti— you must order some dessert, too.
Franklin Barbecue
If you know Texas, than you know that BBQ (specifically brisket) is the state’s staple. And as BBQ lovers, it was a no brainer on trying the famed Franklin Barbecue for ourselves—their reputation is widely known and for good reason: the brisket and ribs are both incredibly juicy and tender with a good bark. And while these two meats are the star of the show at this East Austin joint, do yourself a favor and order a little bit of everything from the menu. There’s no reservations and know before you go that there will be a wait… but don’t let that deter you. Queue up a few hours before opening (doors open at 11 a.m.) with other BBQ pilgrims and grab a provided folding chair while you wait.
Bufalina
An East Side institution, Bufalina is a pizza and wine bar serving up handcrafted Neapolitan pies with a killer happy hour. Select pizzas and bottles of wine are half off, which is a pretty dang good deal if you ask us. While you might be tempted to fill up on their bread and butter or stracciatella to start, make sure you leave room for a personal-sized pizza and ice cream for dessert.
Paperboy
Start your day off strong with breakfast bites at Paperboy. There’s shareables like the blueberry lemon toll and tasso ham & Gruyère empanadas, plus full-on brunch bites like the migas or the Texas hash, and bowls featuring legendary Paperboy staples like the zesty kale salad. Everything on the menu is great, but as they say…early bird gets the strawberry and pecan pop tarts.
Jester King Brewery
This isn’t your average brewery. Located on a 41-acre ranch, Jester King is a family-friendly spot that offers up a variety of brews, a nature trail, and goat walks with their Nigerian dwarf goats. The brewery specializes in farmhouse ales that utilize local ingredients, and on a hot day, you can enjoy your drink under their covered pavilion and much-needed misting fans.
Cuantos Tacos
Bite for bite, Cuantos Tacos is up there with Austin’s best restaurants… and as a food truck, that’s really saying something. Serving Mexico City-style tacos, this East Austin staple was even recognized with a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide. They offer six different proteins to choose from—our favorite being the Suadero—but we suggest ordering one of each, especially since the tacos are two to three bites in size. To amplify your tacos even more, order them costra style, which is a crispy cheese coating on the inside of the tortilla shell.
Nickel City
This is a dive bar we can get behind and for good reason: the retro-style watering hole is unassuming from the outside but really, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Sure, there’s cold beer on draft, but Nickel City is known for their whiskey selection and cocktail program. Their frozen Irish coffee is one of the best Irish coffees—frozen or not— that we’ve had, and their tropical drinks, like the “whip it good,” we will gladly add to our growing list of must-order cocktails. If you’re feeling hungry, there’s a Detroit-style coney dog food truck on site that hits the spot after a few cold ones.
Zed’s
When you’re internet sleuthing on where to find the best ice cream in Austin, Zed’s appears at the top of every list. The New Zealand-style ice cream is a combination of traditional vanilla soft serve with freshly sliced, all-natural fruit that results in a refreshing and not-too-sweet treat. First pick your serving size and type of fruit, followed by your ice cream base, drizzles, and toppings.
Daydreamer
This cocktail and Champagne bar has all the right vibes: the front patio feels like a private garden, the interior is serene, and the back patio houses AllDay Pizza’s outpost. A slice of pizza and a frozen strawberry Aperol spritz? We couldn’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon.
Kitty Cohen’s
Cocktail lounge meets retro patio bar at Kitty Cohen’s. Lounge poolside with a frozen cocktail in hand and soak in the bar’s Palm Springs, 1970s aesthetic. While the bar itself doesn’t serve food, many local spots pop-up to provide culinary offerings.
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