Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Bennu Coffee
2001 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvdgood close coffee and tea
Great sandwiches and salads. Very fresh and inventive. A great quick meal when you want to eat a little more healthy.
111 locals recommend
Austin Daily Press
1900 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdGreat sandwiches and salads. Very fresh and inventive. A great quick meal when you want to eat a little more healthy.
Dai Due
2406 Manor Rdfantastic locally sourced food
best breakfast in the world - get the migas or ranchero plates - cafe olla or horchata. Best chips and salsa even!
180 locals recommend
Mi Madre's Restaurant
2201 Manor Rdbest breakfast in the world - get the migas or ranchero plates - cafe olla or horchata. Best chips and salsa even!
Great homemade, locavore diner food. Hangover recovery and hearty breakfast. Right next to Cuve Coffee too!
211 locals recommend
Counter Cafe
1914 E 6th StGreat homemade, locavore diner food. Hangover recovery and hearty breakfast. Right next to Cuve Coffee too!
Casa de Luz is one of those special places in Austin. It’s vegan and made with love. A special vibe. Come alone and sit at the community tables and meet some new friends.
163 locals recommend
Casa de Luz Village
1701 Toomey RdCasa de Luz is one of those special places in Austin. It’s vegan and made with love. A special vibe. Come alone and sit at the community tables and meet some new friends.
The BEST Tex-Mex in Austin. The creative foodies behind this establishment make everything from scratch. The margaritas are the best. The food is delightful and fresh. Say hi to Joel the owner and tell him Kerthy sent you. I am not a huge Tex-mex person, but I always make a stop at El Dorado.
32 locals recommend
Eldorado Cafe
3300 W Anderson LnThe BEST Tex-Mex in Austin. The creative foodies behind this establishment make everything from scratch. The margaritas are the best. The food is delightful and fresh. Say hi to Joel the owner and tell him Kerthy sent you. I am not a huge Tex-mex person, but I always make a stop at El Dorado.
This is an Austin favorite - a small local chain that serves great inventive juices, smoothies and salads.
519 locals recommend
JuiceLand
1625 Barton Springs RdThis is an Austin favorite - a small local chain that serves great inventive juices, smoothies and salads.
Sam's BBQ
2000 E 12th StStevie Ray's fave BBQ
Fantastic old school Mexican vegetarian food and gluten-free, vegetarian bakery.
145 locals recommend
Mr. Natural
1901 E Cesar Chavez StFantastic old school Mexican vegetarian food and gluten-free, vegetarian bakery.
Hillside Farmacy
1209 E 11th StFine dining and great cocktails
Quickie Pickie
2027 E Cesar Chavez StCasual food and grocery
Great casual food and beer/booze. Sit outside, bring a group, get a quick bite. The menu changes with the seasons but not fussy. Yummy, fresh bar food and bakery.
152 locals recommend
Sour Duck Market
1814 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdGreat casual food and beer/booze. Sit outside, bring a group, get a quick bite. The menu changes with the seasons but not fussy. Yummy, fresh bar food and bakery.
When you want a truly Austin fine dining experience, come to the breezy, modern Mexican vibe of Comedor. The food is exquisite, the service friendly, and much of the food is Texas-sourced.
28 locals recommend
Comedor
501 Colorado StWhen you want a truly Austin fine dining experience, come to the breezy, modern Mexican vibe of Comedor. The food is exquisite, the service friendly, and much of the food is Texas-sourced.
Scholz Garten
1607 San Jacinto BlvdCasual brats, beer and football.
When you just want to get an amazing burger (with onion marmalade) and onion rings at a neighborhood bar, this is the spot. Nice folks, great draft beer selection and wonderful cocktails.
153 locals recommend
School House Pub
2207 Manor RdWhen you just want to get an amazing burger (with onion marmalade) and onion rings at a neighborhood bar, this is the spot. Nice folks, great draft beer selection and wonderful cocktails.
Dolce Neve Gelato
1713 S 1st StA fancy meal with elegance, localvore flair and great cocktails. When you want a high-end treat Austin-style.
149 locals recommend
Suerte
1800 E 6th StA fancy meal with elegance, localvore flair and great cocktails. When you want a high-end treat Austin-style.
Hip young chef with a James Beard Award already under his belt. Order at the counter. Relaxed outside seating.
78 locals recommend
Nixta Taqueria
2512 E 12th StHip young chef with a James Beard Award already under his belt. Order at the counter. Relaxed outside seating.
Fresh, locally sourced food. Order at the counter, sit outside with your dog. Have a glass of wine.
Birdie's
Fresh, locally sourced food. Order at the counter, sit outside with your dog. Have a glass of wine.
Lovely cacao drinks. Nice patio seating in the peaceful but social atmosphere of Casa de Luz.
3rd Eye Meditation Lounge & Elixir Bar
Lovely cacao drinks. Nice patio seating in the peaceful but social atmosphere of Casa de Luz.
Cork & Screw
Super cute garden with firepits. Bottles of wine and great New York style pizza.
I love the unique combination of Indian and Tex-Mex. The cocktails are delicious and unusual as well. This is a fun place for a food adventure, but I find myself craving the tikka maslal and ionion fritters.
35 locals recommend
Nasha
1614 E 7th StI love the unique combination of Indian and Tex-Mex. The cocktails are delicious and unusual as well. This is a fun place for a food adventure, but I find myself craving the tikka maslal and ionion fritters.
Sure, its a corner store, a deli, a quickmart, but as anyone knows who has ever had delicious Pakistani or Mexican or Chinese food from the back of a store made by an ambitious mama bear, this is a great spot to pick up Nepalese momos or samosas to go.
Cedar Corner Store
Sure, its a corner store, a deli, a quickmart, but as anyone knows who has ever had delicious Pakistani or Mexican or Chinese food from the back of a store made by an ambitious mama bear, this is a great spot to pick up Nepalese momos or samosas to go.
Drinks & Nightlife
Carousel Lounge
1110 E 52nd StGreat old bar with carousel theme
Ah Sing Den
1100 E 6th StFun busy bar
Great, funky bar - gay-friendly, amazing older African American performers. See the real deal like Blues Boy Hubbard and Miss Lavelle White - Texas musicians of great talent and character.
188 locals recommend
Skylark Lounge
2039 Airport BlvdGreat, funky bar - gay-friendly, amazing older African American performers. See the real deal like Blues Boy Hubbard and Miss Lavelle White - Texas musicians of great talent and character.
Cool, friendly neighborhood bar with outdoor seating. You can order from ADP next door - delicious!
115 locals recommend
The Wheel
1902 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdCool, friendly neighborhood bar with outdoor seating. You can order from ADP next door - delicious!
The Hole In the Wall
2538 Guadalupe StCheer Up Charlies
900 Red River StHOTEL VEGAS
1502 E 6th StTecho Mezcaleria and Agave Bar
2201 Manor RdGreat dive bar vibe but the fancy mescal and tequila cocktails do not disappoint. If you're starting out your night or winding down, the taco truck in back has great queso too.
50 locals recommend
La Holly
2500 E 6th StGreat dive bar vibe but the fancy mescal and tequila cocktails do not disappoint. If you're starting out your night or winding down, the taco truck in back has great queso too.
Sightseeing
Tootsie is an incredible pitmistress. Go early, get in line and have fun. Watch the Netflix doc before you go, and you’ll have a deep sense of why this woman is so special and her BBQ SO GOOD.
24 locals recommend
Snow's BBQ
516 Main StTootsie is an incredible pitmistress. Go early, get in line and have fun. Watch the Netflix doc before you go, and you’ll have a deep sense of why this woman is so special and her BBQ SO GOOD.
Waterloo Records
600 N Lamar BlvdBats Across Texas
900 Congress AveThrift Town
5700 Menchaca RdPractice Yoga Austin
1103 E 6th StParks & Nature
Beautiful hiking trails, an incredible spring-fed pool. This is the little piece of heaven that kept the native Americans here, fed the Texas philosophers and invigorated the cosmic cowboys.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrBeautiful hiking trails, an incredible spring-fed pool. This is the little piece of heaven that kept the native Americans here, fed the Texas philosophers and invigorated the cosmic cowboys.
Beautiful spring-fed pool to lounge by. Have Burgers and beer and pool at Depp Eddie Cabaret after.
Deep Eddy Spring
Beautiful spring-fed pool to lounge by. Have Burgers and beer and pool at Depp Eddie Cabaret after.
This is a quick drive from the house and an easy walk. Go in the evening and let the sun set around you at the falls as the birds chirp.
376 locals recommend
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls PkwyThis is a quick drive from the house and an easy walk. Go in the evening and let the sun set around you at the falls as the birds chirp.
Boggy Creek Greenbelt Trail
Boggy Creek Greenbelt TrailThis is a lovely spot that is walkable from the house.
East Boggy Creek Greenbelt Trail
East Boggy Creek Greenbelt TrailAnother nice trail that is a short drive away.
Rosewood Pool
1182 N Pleasant Valley RdLive Love Paddle
1610 E Riverside DrEastside Pedal Pushers
4607 Bolm RdBarton Creek Greenbelt
3755 South Capital of Texas HighwayHealth and Wellness
Nice sauna and float rooms. Cacao bar and restful lobby for meeting friends.
Kuya
Traveler advice
Don't miss
This is a guide to East Side birding sites.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_br_w7000_0328/east/