Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Fabi + Rosi
509 Hearn StWalkable, lovely outdoor seating, delicious European menu.
Local favorite TexMex. Great breakfast tacos (Pete's Special if you like spicy). Margaritas just 2 blocks away, outdoor seating, local sports & kids.
92 locals recommend
Maudie's Cafe
2608 W 7th StLocal favorite TexMex. Great breakfast tacos (Pete's Special if you like spicy). Margaritas just 2 blocks away, outdoor seating, local sports & kids.
Post-run breakfast, dinner or anytime. Brunch is crowded. Friendly, cheap, family friendly.
478 locals recommend
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress AvePost-run breakfast, dinner or anytime. Brunch is crowded. Friendly, cheap, family friendly.
It is the lake scene. Lots of boats pull up and grab a drink while waiting for a table. Great place to drink, eat and people watch....if you can wait.
269 locals recommend
Hula Hut
3825 Lake Austin BlvdIt is the lake scene. Lots of boats pull up and grab a drink while waiting for a table. Great place to drink, eat and people watch....if you can wait.
Lakeside coffee and pastries. Christmas lights here are awesome.
371 locals recommend
Mozart's Coffee Roasters
3825 Lake Austin BlvdLakeside coffee and pastries. Christmas lights here are awesome.
One of my favorites in Clarksville, so don't tell everyone. Delicious, reasonable.
99 locals recommend
Cipollina
1213 W Lynn StOne of my favorites in Clarksville, so don't tell everyone. Delicious, reasonable.
One of the best forever. Great Happy Hour, not a budget find. Elegant, delicious, Austin.
183 locals recommend
Jeffrey's
1204 W Lynn StOne of the best forever. Great Happy Hour, not a budget find. Elegant, delicious, Austin.
Definitely in the competition for best Thai, but also local, south Austin, gem. They pay a good wage and do not want you to tip.
189 locals recommend
Thai Fresh
909 W Mary StDefinitely in the competition for best Thai, but also local, south Austin, gem. They pay a good wage and do not want you to tip.
Just because it is Thundercloud and they do have great sandwiches, and they are from Austin, and their employees rock.
124 locals recommend
ThunderCloud Subs
2308 Lake Austin BlvdJust because it is Thundercloud and they do have great sandwiches, and they are from Austin, and their employees rock.
Kerbey Lane Cafe - Central
3704 Kerbey LnGood food, 24 hours. Best pumpkin pancakes ever.
24 Diner
600 N Lamar Blvd24 hours. Chicken & Waffles. Hip (too).
Great Indian Food, funky atmosphere, Rainey Street district (a scene).
121 locals recommend
G'Raj Mahal
73 Rainey StGreat Indian Food, funky atmosphere, Rainey Street district (a scene).
Well, kind of a dive bar restaurant that wins best huge hamburgers most years. The decor is, um red & black, devil-themed. We love it. Lunch & dinner (more bar at dinner).
74 locals recommend
Casino El Camino
517 E 6th StWell, kind of a dive bar restaurant that wins best huge hamburgers most years. The decor is, um red & black, devil-themed. We love it. Lunch & dinner (more bar at dinner).
French restaurant with fixed price menu. In the heart of downtown, but away from the main Sixth Street crowd. Lovely French food, small menu. Special Austin place.
20 locals recommend
Chez Nous
510 Neches StFrench restaurant with fixed price menu. In the heart of downtown, but away from the main Sixth Street crowd. Lovely French food, small menu. Special Austin place.
For breakfast, for dinner, for lunch, for pastries. One of my FAVORITE places. Small menu, delicious food (lunch mainly just sandwiches), but dinner is delightful (small menu), and if you catch the right night the Tango club might be dancing. Nice patio for dining as well. University clientele (not so much the students).
54 locals recommend
Texas French Bread
2900 Rio Grande StFor breakfast, for dinner, for lunch, for pastries. One of my FAVORITE places. Small menu, delicious food (lunch mainly just sandwiches), but dinner is delightful (small menu), and if you catch the right night the Tango club might be dancing. Nice patio for dining as well. University clientele (not so much the students).
Entertainment & Activities
Swimming year round in deep well water with lakeside park for the kids. In the summer, the large shallow end is great for kids and summer movie nights are fantastic. Great for a dip after a run.
322 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Municipal Pool
401 Deep Eddy AveSwimming year round in deep well water with lakeside park for the kids. In the summer, the large shallow end is great for kids and summer movie nights are fantastic. Great for a dip after a run.
Artsy/Downtown movie theater. Long/brisk walk from 10th Street on the Ladybird trail, but well worth it. Great movie seats, alcohol & food. Grown-up movie theater - and next to ACL music hall.
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StArtsy/Downtown movie theater. Long/brisk walk from 10th Street on the Ladybird trail, but well worth it. Great movie seats, alcohol & food. Grown-up movie theater - and next to ACL music hall.
Rent a Stand-up Paddleboard, Kayak, or just about any water conveyance and enjoy Ladybird Lake
171 locals recommend
Texas Rowing Center
1541 W Cesar Chavez StRent a Stand-up Paddleboard, Kayak, or just about any water conveyance and enjoy Ladybird Lake
All of the Alamo Drafthouses (they each have their own character). Food, drink, movies, anime, sing-alongs, dance parties, great kid shows. Buy reserved seats online.
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdAll of the Alamo Drafthouses (they each have their own character). Food, drink, movies, anime, sing-alongs, dance parties, great kid shows. Buy reserved seats online.
Great underutilized swimming pool and water park for kids.
14 locals recommend
East Communities Branch YMCA
5315 Ed Bluestein BlvdGreat underutilized swimming pool and water park for kids.
Essentials
Randalls
1500 W 35th StConvenient, walkable, best pharmacist in town.
So happy to have this Trader Joe's right here! Get the Soup Dumplings and pop them in the microwave for a cheap, fast, fantastic snack/meal.
289 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
211 Walter Seaholm DrSo happy to have this Trader Joe's right here! Get the Soup Dumplings and pop them in the microwave for a cheap, fast, fantastic snack/meal.
Drinks & Nightlife
Local dive. Just is, your real neighborhood bar, and just up the hill from Deep Eddy Pool.
75 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Cabaret
2315 Lake Austin BoulevardLocal dive. Just is, your real neighborhood bar, and just up the hill from Deep Eddy Pool.
The Driskill
217 Congress AvePiano bar-ish. Comfortable chairs, lounge atmostphere.
Craft beer, ping-pong, sandwiches on homemade bread on the banks of Waller Creek.
358 locals recommend
Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th StCraft beer, ping-pong, sandwiches on homemade bread on the banks of Waller Creek.
Well read this Esther's Follies and East 6th (which scene now continues east of IH35). Bars, nightclubs, restaurants, music, lots of people walking. Esther's has a great comedy show.
153 locals recommend
Esther's Follies
525 E 6th StWell read this Esther's Follies and East 6th (which scene now continues east of IH35). Bars, nightclubs, restaurants, music, lots of people walking. Esther's has a great comedy show.
Parks & Nature
Take the pedestrian bridge under Mopac to cross the river and there you are at whatever music festival, sports event, or just nature outing you want to attend.
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs RdTake the pedestrian bridge under Mopac to cross the river and there you are at whatever music festival, sports event, or just nature outing you want to attend.
The perfect kid outing, had to drag mine away. Also just across the pedestrian bridge under Mopac. Rescue animals, large pond for fish feeding, bee hives, many exhibits.
52 locals recommend
Austin Nature & Science Center
2389 Stratford DrThe perfect kid outing, had to drag mine away. Also just across the pedestrian bridge under Mopac. Rescue animals, large pond for fish feeding, bee hives, many exhibits.
Red Bud Isle Park
3401 Redbud TrailDog Park. Bring FIDO and let him run with the big dogs.
Short steep hike to the highest point in Austin above Lake Austin.
1082 locals recommend
Mount Bonnell
Short steep hike to the highest point in Austin above Lake Austin.
Walter E. Long Lake
Fishing.
Beautiful Bull Creek, guaranteed to have water. There are several locations for access, but the water is gorgeous, beautiful rocks to hang out on and lovely hiking trails.
59 locals recommend
Bull Creek District Park
Bull Creek District Park: Pedestrian Walkway 2Beautiful Bull Creek, guaranteed to have water. There are several locations for access, but the water is gorgeous, beautiful rocks to hang out on and lovely hiking trails.
More of a walk than a hike. The boardwalk takes you out over the lake along the south side of Ladybird Lake in an area filled with condos and still hanging on, the HI Austin Hostel. Standup paddleboard rentals, etc.
71 locals recommend
Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk
Lady Bird Lake BoardwalkMore of a walk than a hike. The boardwalk takes you out over the lake along the south side of Ladybird Lake in an area filled with condos and still hanging on, the HI Austin Hostel. Standup paddleboard rentals, etc.
Large sinkhole, picturesque spring-fed swimming spot. Call, check, don't go on a holiday or even in perfect weather, you may not get in.
588 locals recommend
Hamilton Pool Preserve
24300 Hamilton Pool RdLarge sinkhole, picturesque spring-fed swimming spot. Call, check, don't go on a holiday or even in perfect weather, you may not get in.
Sightseeing
Iconic Austin spring-fed pool. 70 degrees open year-round. Small fee to get in, EXCEPT early morning and late evening when it is free. Come on a full-moon to howl, or on January 1st for the Polar Bear plunge. Parking charge on weekends, but you can walk from my place, use pedestrian bridge under Mopac Highway.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrIconic Austin spring-fed pool. 70 degrees open year-round. Small fee to get in, EXCEPT early morning and late evening when it is free. Come on a full-moon to howl, or on January 1st for the Polar Bear plunge. Parking charge on weekends, but you can walk from my place, use pedestrian bridge under Mopac Highway.
Just wander around (hold some signs up). Texas center of government, lovely grounds. Most buses stop right in front.
1119 locals recommend
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveJust wander around (hold some signs up). Texas center of government, lovely grounds. Most buses stop right in front.
See the largest urban bat colony depart from under Congress bridge to feed at dusk (Mar - Nov).
131 locals recommend
Statesman Bat Observation Center
305 S Congress AveSee the largest urban bat colony depart from under Congress bridge to feed at dusk (Mar - Nov).
Interest here would be for someone interested in the university (lots of tall buildings), the funky shops and eateries all along Guadalupe across the street from campus, a tour of the infamous tower, glow bowl in the Union Underground. All things campus.
159 locals recommend
University of Texas at Austin
Interest here would be for someone interested in the university (lots of tall buildings), the funky shops and eateries all along Guadalupe across the street from campus, a tour of the infamous tower, glow bowl in the Union Underground. All things campus.
Beautiful view of Lake Travis, particularly at Sunset from the gazillion decks. Edible food, fancy drinks. Everyone goes at one time or another.
506 locals recommend
The Oasis On Lake Travis
6550 Comanche TrailBeautiful view of Lake Travis, particularly at Sunset from the gazillion decks. Edible food, fancy drinks. Everyone goes at one time or another.
Arts & Culture
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardArt and many other events, including yoga some days.
IMAX theatre, texas theatre with a little drama, oil rigs, etc.
593 locals recommend
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveIMAX theatre, texas theatre with a little drama, oil rigs, etc.
Not only get some culture, but parking for the great eats in the hip Rainey Street District.
33 locals recommend
Mexican American Cultural Center
600 River StNot only get some culture, but parking for the great eats in the hip Rainey Street District.