Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
The best gelato in town made by real Italians. You won't get better flavor anywhere else (we've tried).
120 locals recommend
Dolce Neve Gelato
1713 S 1st StThe best gelato in town made by real Italians. You won't get better flavor anywhere else (we've tried).
Great pastries. Go for the "crobrio" which is a croissant/brioche creation filled with pastry cream. Unreal!
55 locals recommend
La Pâtisserie
602 W Annie StGreat pastries. Go for the "crobrio" which is a croissant/brioche creation filled with pastry cream. Unreal!
Unique fusion tacos. Not authentic mexican but very delicious. Queso is bomb. Pro tip: you can order half orders of queso. 4 locations in town, but only 3 have indoor seating. The one on South Congress is in the middle of a fun area to walk and shop around.
1075 locals recommend
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st StUnique fusion tacos. Not authentic mexican but very delicious. Queso is bomb. Pro tip: you can order half orders of queso. 4 locations in town, but only 3 have indoor seating. The one on South Congress is in the middle of a fun area to walk and shop around.
Best affordable sushi with a sexy loungey vibe and a full bar and dj! Open late.
41 locals recommend
BarChi Sushi
206 Colorado StBest affordable sushi with a sexy loungey vibe and a full bar and dj! Open late.
Best (expensive) sushi in town. Authentic and way better than Uchi.
47 locals recommend
Musashino Sushi Dokoro
2905 San Gabriel StBest (expensive) sushi in town. Authentic and way better than Uchi.
Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs RdAlmost as good as Franklin's, but without the 6 hr wait.
Amazing salads, sandwiches and juices. Light airy space and outdoor seating.
66 locals recommend
Vinaigrette
2201 College AveAmazing salads, sandwiches and juices. Light airy space and outdoor seating.
Amazing authentic mexican food truck. Check hours before going. Outdoor seating available. Close to apartment.
41 locals recommend
Con Madre Kitchen
628 E Oltorf StAmazing authentic mexican food truck. Check hours before going. Outdoor seating available. Close to apartment.
Mexican food truck outside serving "migas taco" highly rated by food network's Guy Fieri. Cafe indoors with great beer, coffee and pastries. Live music most nights, check their website.
435 locals recommend
Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Menchaca RdMexican food truck outside serving "migas taco" highly rated by food network's Guy Fieri. Cafe indoors with great beer, coffee and pastries. Live music most nights, check their website.
Best burgers in town, leagues above all others. Like a steak in a bun. Try the milkshakes.
63 locals recommend
Shake Shack
1100 S Lamar BlvdBest burgers in town, leagues above all others. Like a steak in a bun. Try the milkshakes.
Poke-Poke
3100 S Congress AveBasically chopped seasoned sashimi on rice. Delicious.
Great mexican sit down restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Fun hipster area of town in walking distance to lots of bars and restaurants.
198 locals recommend
Licha's Cantina
1306 E 6th StGreat mexican sit down restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Fun hipster area of town in walking distance to lots of bars and restaurants.
Revolving sushi bar. Super cool and unique and surprisingly they serve great quality fish at a really affordable price. A little further north but worth it for the unique experience.
40 locals recommend
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
6929 Airport BlvdRevolving sushi bar. Super cool and unique and surprisingly they serve great quality fish at a really affordable price. A little further north but worth it for the unique experience.
Adorable and tasty cafe best for brunch and lunch. Great AM cocktails, rose and champagne. And you can walk along South Congress afterwards and enjoy the shopping and view of the city and Capitol.
120 locals recommend
Café No Sé
1603 S Congress AveAdorable and tasty cafe best for brunch and lunch. Great AM cocktails, rose and champagne. And you can walk along South Congress afterwards and enjoy the shopping and view of the city and Capitol.
Cute unique donuts. Use this place to start a bar crawl in "dirty 6th st"
79 locals recommend
Voodoo Doughnut - 6th Street
212 E 6th StCute unique donuts. Use this place to start a bar crawl in "dirty 6th st"
Fun mexican restaurant in a festive atmosphere. Good for large parties.
304 locals recommend
Matt's El Rancho
2613 S Lamar BlvdFun mexican restaurant in a festive atmosphere. Good for large parties.
Shopping
Amazing discounts on high end designers. Only a few locations nationwide noted in NYTimes.
15 locals recommend
United Apparel Liquidators
249 W 2nd StAmazing discounts on high end designers. Only a few locations nationwide noted in NYTimes.
Large shopping mall with all your high end shopping needs. Filled with restaurants and some nightlife like the Roseroom. Classier upscale area.
768 locals recommend
The Domain
11410 Century Oaks TerraceLarge shopping mall with all your high end shopping needs. Filled with restaurants and some nightlife like the Roseroom. Classier upscale area.
Parks & Nature
50 acre park with gorgeous views of downtown. Great for a picnic, suntanning, or to pet other people's puppies. Sunset is amazing here.
1533 locals recommend
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs Rd50 acre park with gorgeous views of downtown. Great for a picnic, suntanning, or to pet other people's puppies. Sunset is amazing here.
20 minute hike to a waterfall! River/waterfall evaporates from July-September. Bring beer! Call (512)477-1566 to check if there is flowing water.
82 locals recommend
Sculpture Falls
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail20 minute hike to a waterfall! River/waterfall evaporates from July-September. Bring beer! Call (512)477-1566 to check if there is flowing water.
Austin built a gigantic pool fed by an underground river. Water is cool/clear but chilly all year round. Dog friendly zone next door. Many people go sit on the riverbank poolside to tan and socialize. If you've never seen a half mile long pool check this out!
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrAustin built a gigantic pool fed by an underground river. Water is cool/clear but chilly all year round. Dog friendly zone next door. Many people go sit on the riverbank poolside to tan and socialize. If you've never seen a half mile long pool check this out!
Drinks & Nightlife
Antone's
305 E 5th StGreat live music. Indoors.
Fun bar with indoor and outdoor areas. Spazmatics live 80's show every wednesday is a must see!
32 locals recommend
Cedar Street Courtyard
208 W 4th StFun bar with indoor and outdoor areas. Spazmatics live 80's show every wednesday is a must see!
Fun brewery with cheap great beers. Alternating food trucks. Outdoor tables and seating.
87 locals recommend
Austin Beerworks
3001 Industrial TerraceFun brewery with cheap great beers. Alternating food trucks. Outdoor tables and seating.
Fun brewery with outdoor and indoor seating. Great food truck on site named Sour Sop.
95 locals recommend
St Elmo Brewing Company
440 E St Elmo RdFun brewery with outdoor and indoor seating. Great food truck on site named Sour Sop.
Large brewery with ample indoor and outdoor seating and full kitchen. Live music indoors.
435 locals recommend
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf StLarge brewery with ample indoor and outdoor seating and full kitchen. Live music indoors.
Outdoor music. Free "unplugged concert" every Thursday during the summer. Full kitchen and bar.
171 locals recommend
Shady Grove
1624 Barton Springs RdOutdoor music. Free "unplugged concert" every Thursday during the summer. Full kitchen and bar.
An entire street that was rezoned into bars that are all essentially built into houses with backyards. Live music at almost everyone. Walk from one to the next. Fun both at night and weekend day times.
793 locals recommend
Rainey Street
Rainey StreetAn entire street that was rezoned into bars that are all essentially built into houses with backyards. Live music at almost everyone. Walk from one to the next. Fun both at night and weekend day times.
Most popular in the west 6th district which is a little less rowdy than east 6th. This place has three levels each with its own music. It's so big the line never excedes 10 min. Many other restaurants and bars to walk to in this neighborhood.
45 locals recommend
The Ranch
710 W 6th StMost popular in the west 6th district which is a little less rowdy than east 6th. This place has three levels each with its own music. It's so big the line never excedes 10 min. Many other restaurants and bars to walk to in this neighborhood.
Entertainment & Activities
Rent kayaks and paddle boards here right on Lady Bird Lake. Check groupon for specials.
171 locals recommend
Texas Rowing Center
1541 W Cesar Chavez StRent kayaks and paddle boards here right on Lady Bird Lake. Check groupon for specials.