Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Jo's Coffee
1300 S Congress AveGood coffee and people watching.
Caffe Medici
1101 W Lynn StProbably the best coffee I've had in the States.
Contemporary Mexican - the Guacamole Tasting has very interesting sauces/salsas, the yellowtail HAMACHI is out of this world, and the selection of Taquitos/small tacos is awesome!
191 locals recommend
La Condesa
400 W 2nd StContemporary Mexican - the Guacamole Tasting has very interesting sauces/salsas, the yellowtail HAMACHI is out of this world, and the selection of Taquitos/small tacos is awesome!
This is the most recent new establishment by Paul Qui, Top Chef's winner. Innovative menu that gets updated every months. Beautiful space on the east side. Expect a wait unless you arrive at 5pm.
79 locals recommend
Kuneho
1600 East 6th StreetThis is the most recent new establishment by Paul Qui, Top Chef's winner. Innovative menu that gets updated every months. Beautiful space on the east side. Expect a wait unless you arrive at 5pm.
Best interior Mexican food in Texas. Beautiful colonial style building full of owner's collection of arts. My faves are HUARACHES, CORDERO (baby lamb chop), and RELLENO DE PICADILLO.
162 locals recommend
Fonda San Miguel Restaurant
2330 W N Loop BlvdBest interior Mexican food in Texas. Beautiful colonial style building full of owner's collection of arts. My faves are HUARACHES, CORDERO (baby lamb chop), and RELLENO DE PICADILLO.
One of the best Texan barbecue places - better than Franklin's imo. The brisket is so good and you can ask them to get the right "moisture" level you want.
372 locals recommend
Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs RdOne of the best Texan barbecue places - better than Franklin's imo. The brisket is so good and you can ask them to get the right "moisture" level you want.
Lovely Spanish tapas place with many interesting small plates (hot and cold). My faves are Mussels "en escabeche", ox tail, Paella Vegetarian, and noodle paella Fideua Negre.
91 locals recommend
Barlata
1500 S Lamar BlvdLovely Spanish tapas place with many interesting small plates (hot and cold). My faves are Mussels "en escabeche", ox tail, Paella Vegetarian, and noodle paella Fideua Negre.
Dolce Neve Gelato
1713 S 1st StBest gelato in Texas!
Boutique ice cream, made with local, seasonal ingredients.
270 locals recommend
Lick Honest Ice Creams
1100 S Lamar BlvdBoutique ice cream, made with local, seasonal ingredients.
Contemporary Thai - I love everything there, especially the deserts! It's a popular place but weekend brunch/lunch is less crowded.
349 locals recommend
Sway
1417 S 1st StContemporary Thai - I love everything there, especially the deserts! It's a popular place but weekend brunch/lunch is less crowded.
It's a bakery shop + beer garden. I go there for the best baguette in town for breakfast as well as beer+some of the best sausages. The outdoor seating is quite pleasant on a nice day.
358 locals recommend
Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th StIt's a bakery shop + beer garden. I go there for the best baguette in town for breakfast as well as beer+some of the best sausages. The outdoor seating is quite pleasant on a nice day.
Southern classics with fresh ingredients from Texas ranch - the place has cool indoor seatings and a lush garden next to the river. One of the Austin uniques.
197 locals recommend
Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile
3235 E Cesar Chavez StSouthern classics with fresh ingredients from Texas ranch - the place has cool indoor seatings and a lush garden next to the river. One of the Austin uniques.
Top Chef winner Paul Qui's food truck chain - Asian inspired. My faves are the Poor Qui's Bum (if you like pork) and Brussels Sprouts.
291 locals recommend
The Liberty
1618 East 6th StreetTop Chef winner Paul Qui's food truck chain - Asian inspired. My faves are the Poor Qui's Bum (if you like pork) and Brussels Sprouts.
My favorite pizza place - amazing crust. There is always a wait though.
180 locals recommend
Bufalina Pizza
2215 E Cesar Chavez StMy favorite pizza place - amazing crust. There is always a wait though.
Best healthy brunch place - fresh and light. Vegetarian's heaven.
351 locals recommend
Blue Dahlia Bistro
1115 E 11th StBest healthy brunch place - fresh and light. Vegetarian's heaven.
Great Italian place - lot of antipasti to choose from. My fave mains are the quail and bass. They have an amazing outdoor setting shaded by a giant live oak tree - suits both romance and family.
64 locals recommend
Olive & June
3411 Glenview AveGreat Italian place - lot of antipasti to choose from. My fave mains are the quail and bass. They have an amazing outdoor setting shaded by a giant live oak tree - suits both romance and family.
Another great contemporary restaurant, casual, happening, walking distance from the apartment.
82 locals recommend
Second Bar + Kitchen
200 Congress AveAnother great contemporary restaurant, casual, happening, walking distance from the apartment.
Benji's
716 W 6th StUpscale Mexican - great margaritas and fajitas.
This is one of my fave walking distance downtown restaurants - retro-chic hot spot in a historic space for inventive small plates, craft beer & cocktails.
85 locals recommend
Swift's Attic
315 Congress AveThis is one of my fave walking distance downtown restaurants - retro-chic hot spot in a historic space for inventive small plates, craft beer & cocktails.
Wu Chow
500 W 5th StGreat contemporary Chinese food. Sunday dim sum is the best!
COUNTER 3. FIVE. VII
315 Congress AveAustin's best fine dining!
Shopping
The closest bike shop near my place. They have decent selection of bikes for rent, $40-50/day.
29 locals recommend
Mellow Johnny's
115 Nueces StThe closest bike shop near my place. They have decent selection of bikes for rent, $40-50/day.
Trendy men's boutique stocking designer labels in classic & modern styles, plus books & accessories. My favorite is Filson's bag.
67 locals recommend
STAG Provisions For Men
1423 S Congress AveTrendy men's boutique stocking designer labels in classic & modern styles, plus books & accessories. My favorite is Filson's bag.
ByGeorge
524 N Lamar BlvdDesigner clothing shop - they have good stuff for both men and women.
Moss Designer Consignment
705 S Lamar BlvdDesigner consignment store - good pieces nicely sorted.
Arts & Culture
Boutique cinema that shows both big Hollywood hits and independent productions. Make sure you get the front-row sofa seat, buy some beer and food, put your feet up and enjoy the movies!
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StBoutique cinema that shows both big Hollywood hits and independent productions. Make sure you get the front-row sofa seat, buy some beer and food, put your feet up and enjoy the movies!
It has a small permanent collection of European/American arts. Sometimes it has good temp shows - check their website for updates.
644 locals recommend
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardIt has a small permanent collection of European/American arts. Sometimes it has good temp shows - check their website for updates.
An Austin icon - one block walking from the apartment building. Always has great concert/shows.
326 locals recommend
ACL Live
310 W Willie Nelson BlvdAn Austin icon - one block walking from the apartment building. Always has great concert/shows.
Essentials
There are 2 grocery stores within 2 blocks walk - this is one of them.
141 locals recommend
Royal Blue Grocery
609 Congress AveThere are 2 grocery stores within 2 blocks walk - this is one of them.
There are 2 grocery stores within 2 blocks walk - this is one of them.
141 locals recommend
Royal Blue Grocery
609 Congress AveThere are 2 grocery stores within 2 blocks walk - this is one of them.
CVS
2101 S Lamar BlvdClosest CVS to get small supplies, photo, etc.
Do you know Whole Foods Market is not from California but from Austin TX? Here is their headquarter store. The beer/wine bar is amazing!
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdDo you know Whole Foods Market is not from California but from Austin TX? Here is their headquarter store. The beer/wine bar is amazing!
Walking distance from the apartment building - cheaper than Whole Foods.
289 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
211 Walter Seaholm DrWalking distance from the apartment building - cheaper than Whole Foods.
Everything Else
Farmer's market right in front of the building - every Saturday 9am-1pm.
81 locals recommend
SFC Farmers' Market Downtown
422 Guadalupe StFarmer's market right in front of the building - every Saturday 9am-1pm.
Entertainment & Activities
Indoor skydive - quite fun to experience once if you haven't done so.
71 locals recommend
iFLY - Austin
13265 US-183Indoor skydive - quite fun to experience once if you haven't done so.
A natural spring built into a 200-meter long swimming pool. a popular venue for year-round swimming, as its temperature maintains as stable 68 °F (20 °C) in the winter and summer
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrA natural spring built into a 200-meter long swimming pool. a popular venue for year-round swimming, as its temperature maintains as stable 68 °F (20 °C) in the winter and summer
Drinks & Nightlife
It's one of the popular places to try Texas barbecue but I go here for happy hours - good small plates plus a cocktail at the bar.
154 locals recommend
Lamberts
401 W 2nd StIt's one of the popular places to try Texas barbecue but I go here for happy hours - good small plates plus a cocktail at the bar.
Underground jazz bar with nightly live music - I love this place - so much better than the bars on 6th Street!
224 locals recommend
Elephant Room
315 Congress AveUnderground jazz bar with nightly live music - I love this place - so much better than the bars on 6th Street!