Monica's Austin Guidebook
Food Scene
Quack's 43rd Street Bakery
411 E 43rd StGreat bakery; open for lunch as well
Decadent breakfast! Order online to avoid waiting in the long line on weekends. One block away.
64 locals recommend
Biscuits and Groovy
5015 Duval StDecadent breakfast! Order online to avoid waiting in the long line on weekends. One block away.
Good coffee and free wifi. Lots of comfortable sitting areas. One block away.
99 locals recommend
Flightpath Coffeehouse
5011 Duval StGood coffee and free wifi. Lots of comfortable sitting areas. One block away.
Friendly neighborhood bar and restaurant. Try the famous fries!
141 locals recommend
Hyde Park Bar & Grill
4206 Duval StFriendly neighborhood bar and restaurant. Try the famous fries!
JuiceLand
1625 Barton Springs RdVegan and raw foods. Great smoothies!
Komé
5301 Airport BlvdVery popular sushi and Vietnamese.
East Side Pies
1401 Rosewood AveGREAT pizza delivery or pick-up.
ASTI Trattoria
408 E 43rd StHIgh-end Italian food. Open for lunch and dinner.
Good breakfast tacos; quaint atmosphere; known for their rotisserie chicken.
96 locals recommend
Julio's Cafe
4230 Duval StGood breakfast tacos; quaint atmosphere; known for their rotisserie chicken.
The BEST brisket you will ever eat. No kidding. Instead of queuing up at 7:00 am and waiting 4 hours, try your luck at 2:00 pm and wait one hour.
919 locals recommend
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StThe BEST brisket you will ever eat. No kidding. Instead of queuing up at 7:00 am and waiting 4 hours, try your luck at 2:00 pm and wait one hour.
Drive-through donuts. What more can I say? Oh yeah,
they are hot at 9:30 pm and 6:30 am.
33 locals recommend
Mrs Johnson's Bakery
4909 Airport BlvdDrive-through donuts. What more can I say? Oh yeah,
they are hot at 9:30 pm and 6:30 am.
Farm to table TO GO! Nice to stay as well. A little pricey, but excellent.
33 locals recommend
Sala and Betty
5201 Airport BlvdFarm to table TO GO! Nice to stay as well. A little pricey, but excellent.
The Omelettry
4631 Airport BlvdLegendary Austin breakfast in a new location close to us!
Uchiko
4200 N Lamar BlvdOne of the best restaurants in Austin.
There is always a line, but they bring you drinks while you wait for these amazing burgers. Get the truffle fries!
780 locals recommend
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 S Congress AveThere is always a line, but they bring you drinks while you wait for these amazing burgers. Get the truffle fries!
Huge beef ribs. Good all-around BBQ in an old hunting lodge with a nice patio overlooking the water.
111 locals recommend
County Line
5204 Ranch Rd 2222Huge beef ribs. Good all-around BBQ in an old hunting lodge with a nice patio overlooking the water.
Three blocks from our house and the best pizza in town! New York style thin crust. This place gets super busy, but you can call ahead for a pick-up or just stop by for a slice. Indoor and outdoor bar and playscape for the kiddos.
791 locals recommend
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveThree blocks from our house and the best pizza in town! New York style thin crust. This place gets super busy, but you can call ahead for a pick-up or just stop by for a slice. Indoor and outdoor bar and playscape for the kiddos.
This is a brewery and a bakery with a great outdoor patio.
Good brunch on the weekends. Ping pong tables!
53 locals recommend
Easy Tiger Linc
6406 N Interstate 35 Frontage RdThis is a brewery and a bakery with a great outdoor patio.
Good brunch on the weekends. Ping pong tables!
Italian specialties including gelato, cocktails, salads and sandwiches. Nice little outdoor patio.
13 locals recommend
Uncle Nicky's Italian Specialties
4222 Duval StItalian specialties including gelato, cocktails, salads and sandwiches. Nice little outdoor patio.
Tyson's Tacos
4905 Airport BlvdEclectic selection of tacos. Consider calling ahead.
Some of the best tacos in town, and a bar. Great outdoor deck. Our favorite tacos are the Matador and the Missionary from the secret menu. One is plenty, especially if you get the queso, and you should. Tip-sit at the indoor or outdoor bar to avoid the line and get served directly!
1075 locals recommend
Torchy's Tacos
2809 S 1st StSome of the best tacos in town, and a bar. Great outdoor deck. Our favorite tacos are the Matador and the Missionary from the secret menu. One is plenty, especially if you get the queso, and you should. Tip-sit at the indoor or outdoor bar to avoid the line and get served directly!
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 S Congress AveGreat burgers, and the truffle fries are a must.
Great burgers and margaritas. Great beer selection. Very little seating but there is a small patio out back. Cheap and close by!
105 locals recommend
Workhorse Bar
100 N Loop Blvd EGreat burgers and margaritas. Great beer selection. Very little seating but there is a small patio out back. Cheap and close by!
Stiles Switch BBQ
6610 N Lamar BlvdGreat BBQ, open for lunch and dinner.
Curra's Hyde Park
4215 Duval StreetGreat Mexican Food. Famous for their avocado margarita!
Drinks & Nightlife
Great neighborhood bar known for its craft cocktails and beer. Highly recommend the Kobe burger. 10 min. walk away.
155 locals recommend
drink.well.
207 E 53rd StGreat neighborhood bar known for its craft cocktails and beer. Highly recommend the Kobe burger. 10 min. walk away.
Popular neighborhood bar with award-winning cocktails. 15 min. walk.
74 locals recommend
The Tigress Pub
100 W N Loop BlvdPopular neighborhood bar with award-winning cocktails. 15 min. walk.
One of our favorite bars. Great live music every night. Free or cheap cover. Always an interesting mix of people.
672 locals recommend
The White Horse
500 Comal StOne of our favorite bars. Great live music every night. Free or cheap cover. Always an interesting mix of people.
One of our favorite places for Live music. Small cover on weekend; low or no cover. Outdoor patio. Always fun!
672 locals recommend
The White Horse
500 Comal StOne of our favorite places for Live music. Small cover on weekend; low or no cover. Outdoor patio. Always fun!
Famous for it's Saturday night: Africa Night. Several great bands, outdoor patio, and a free food buffet. Not a tourist spot.
132 locals recommend
Sahara Lounge
1413 Webberville RdFamous for it's Saturday night: Africa Night. Several great bands, outdoor patio, and a free food buffet. Not a tourist spot.
Essentials
Fresh Plus Grocery
1221 W Lynn StClosest grocery store.
Incredible gourmet grocery store. Grab some great eats for a picnic. Live music on the patio Thurs.-Sun.
765 locals recommend
Central Market
4477 S Lamar BlvdIncredible gourmet grocery store. Grab some great eats for a picnic. Live music on the patio Thurs.-Sun.
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdWhere I shop for EVERYTHING.
Arts & Culture
Honky-tonk dive bar. MUST DO Chicken-shit Bingo if you are here on a Sunday, especially if Dale Watson is playing. Live music most nights. Ice cold beer.
166 locals recommend
Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon
5434 Burnet RdHonky-tonk dive bar. MUST DO Chicken-shit Bingo if you are here on a Sunday, especially if Dale Watson is playing. Live music most nights. Ice cold beer.
Skylark Lounge
2039 Airport BlvdDive bar with decent live blues. Cheap and not too far away.
One of our favorite live music venues. Check out the happy hours while you are enjoying South Congress Ave.
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveOne of our favorite live music venues. Check out the happy hours while you are enjoying South Congress Ave.
Everything Else
This is a MUST. A true Austin treasure. Sure the water is cold (68 F) but it is so refreshing when it is 100 degrees.
Fun people watching too.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrThis is a MUST. A true Austin treasure. Sure the water is cold (68 F) but it is so refreshing when it is 100 degrees.
Fun people watching too.
Free neighborhood swimming pool open 12:00-8:00 in the summer.
Tennis and basketball courts and a nice playground.
38 locals recommend
Shipe Neighborhood Park
4400 Avenue GFree neighborhood swimming pool open 12:00-8:00 in the summer.
Tennis and basketball courts and a nice playground.
Sightseeing
One of the best libraries in the country. Includes a restaurant/bar, Cookbook, numerous patios and cool architecture. Check it out!
148 locals recommend
Austin Central Library, Austin Public Library
710 W Cesar Chavez StOne of the best libraries in the country. Includes a restaurant/bar, Cookbook, numerous patios and cool architecture. Check it out!
Parks & Nature
If the weather is nice, this is a MUST do. You can hike, bike, or kayak. Ten-mile loop through the heart of the city with great views of downtown. Numerous parks along the shores. Different access points allow you to hike for as short or long as you like. We love the boardwalk on the southshore.
959 locals recommend
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailIf the weather is nice, this is a MUST do. You can hike, bike, or kayak. Ten-mile loop through the heart of the city with great views of downtown. Numerous parks along the shores. Different access points allow you to hike for as short or long as you like. We love the boardwalk on the southshore.
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trailhead
Barton Creek Greenbelt TrailBeautiful hiking trail along the creek.
Austin's summer oasis and crown jewel. This is a MUST do if the weather is warm and sunny (and it usually is). Water is cold, but oh so refreshing. Jump in!
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrAustin's summer oasis and crown jewel. This is a MUST do if the weather is warm and sunny (and it usually is). Water is cold, but oh so refreshing. Jump in!
Sunset spot. One of the highest points in Austin. Views of Lake Austin.
1082 locals recommend
Mount Bonnell
Sunset spot. One of the highest points in Austin. Views of Lake Austin.