Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
WALKABLE. At Canopy Art Studios and walking distance. Great japanese toast snacks, too.
112 locals recommend
Sa-Tén
916 Springdale RdWALKABLE. At Canopy Art Studios and walking distance. Great japanese toast snacks, too.
WALKABLE. This coffee food truck is within walking distance and is so charming! Very Austin. Great morning stop that also has breakfast tacos.
83 locals recommend
Flitch Coffee
641 Tillery StWALKABLE. This coffee food truck is within walking distance and is so charming! Very Austin. Great morning stop that also has breakfast tacos.
WALKABLE. Vietnamese food truck with the best vegetarian bahn mi sandwiches. Please try this place!
60 locals recommend
Saigon Le Vendeur
2601 E 7th StWALKABLE. Vietnamese food truck with the best vegetarian bahn mi sandwiches. Please try this place!
WALKABLE. This is a true French bistro in an old house with bartenders who spin vinyl and serve huge Side Cars. They have this funky courtyard with a mirrored funhouse and occasionally host DJs like Omar Souleyman from Syria. Sunday and Monday nights are chill and fabulous, but the weekends are packed with the bridge and tunnel crowd.
522 locals recommend
Justine's
4710 E 5th StWALKABLE. This is a true French bistro in an old house with bartenders who spin vinyl and serve huge Side Cars. They have this funky courtyard with a mirrored funhouse and occasionally host DJs like Omar Souleyman from Syria. Sunday and Monday nights are chill and fabulous, but the weekends are packed with the bridge and tunnel crowd.
Dinner here before going to the Continental Club is loud and raucous but it has great Tex-Mex and is a see and be-seen mainstay. It often has live music under the oak tree outside. Excellent margaritas and breakfast is served all day.
398 locals recommend
Güero's Taco Bar
1412 S Congress AveDinner here before going to the Continental Club is loud and raucous but it has great Tex-Mex and is a see and be-seen mainstay. It often has live music under the oak tree outside. Excellent margaritas and breakfast is served all day.
BIKE-RIDE. Great inexpensive Mexican food, and an institution that has been in Austin for decades. Highly recommend! Hipster friendly ;)
169 locals recommend
Tamale House East
1707 E 6th StBIKE-RIDE. Great inexpensive Mexican food, and an institution that has been in Austin for decades. Highly recommend! Hipster friendly ;)
Fleet Coffee Co
2427 Webberville RdWALKABLE. Excellent coffee, tacos, and superb pastries.
Sawyer and Co is a is a diner throw-back whose food has a distinct Louisiana influence. GREAT FOR BREAKFAST. It's a little over a mile from our house and definitely convenient to dining on your way to or from the airport.
140 locals recommend
Sawyer & Co
4827 E Cesar Chavez StSawyer and Co is a is a diner throw-back whose food has a distinct Louisiana influence. GREAT FOR BREAKFAST. It's a little over a mile from our house and definitely convenient to dining on your way to or from the airport.
This food truck features amazing fare from Austin's own award winning chef Paul Qui. In the lots of both Liberty Bar and The Grackle, you can get some amazing eats at either location. At Liberty Bar, the truck is in their beer garden out back, so it's a great place to be able to sit down with a beer and enjoy.
77 locals recommend
East Side King
2000 E 6th StThis food truck features amazing fare from Austin's own award winning chef Paul Qui. In the lots of both Liberty Bar and The Grackle, you can get some amazing eats at either location. At Liberty Bar, the truck is in their beer garden out back, so it's a great place to be able to sit down with a beer and enjoy.
Excellent, CHEAP, super-fresh Korean fusion food. This little hole in the wall, just on the other side of I35 on 7th, is a gem for vegetarians or health conscious eaters. We do take-out here a couple times a month. I recommend the Mix Mix Bibimbap with salmon and avocado added.
75 locals recommend
Koriente
621 E 7th StExcellent, CHEAP, super-fresh Korean fusion food. This little hole in the wall, just on the other side of I35 on 7th, is a gem for vegetarians or health conscious eaters. We do take-out here a couple times a month. I recommend the Mix Mix Bibimbap with salmon and avocado added.
Mexican Vegetarian! It opened in the late 80s and has been thriving ever since. I have been eating here since 1990. Yum.
145 locals recommend
Mr. Natural
1901 E Cesar Chavez StMexican Vegetarian! It opened in the late 80s and has been thriving ever since. I have been eating here since 1990. Yum.
Only 1.5 miles from the house. Delicious sandwiches, beer and wine in an eclectic setting amongst artist studios and warehouses.
111 locals recommend
Austin Daily Press
1900 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdOnly 1.5 miles from the house. Delicious sandwiches, beer and wine in an eclectic setting amongst artist studios and warehouses.
The absolute best pastries in town! All made onsite. Charming outdoor seating, a full bar, and a small dining menu. Bring a lot of homemade bread back with you for breakfasts staying in. Open late also.
152 locals recommend
Sour Duck Market
1814 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdThe absolute best pastries in town! All made onsite. Charming outdoor seating, a full bar, and a small dining menu. Bring a lot of homemade bread back with you for breakfasts staying in. Open late also.
Via 313 Pizza
10106 W 6th StGreat coffee shop, bar, and restaurants all in this one complex of art studios and shops. You can walk or bike here easily. We love The Front Page bar for lovely cocktails and delicious freshly made food.
13 locals recommend
Springdale General
1023 Springdale RdGreat coffee shop, bar, and restaurants all in this one complex of art studios and shops. You can walk or bike here easily. We love The Front Page bar for lovely cocktails and delicious freshly made food.
Suerte Taqueria is a casual and fun concept inspired by the taquerias of Mexico. Our taqueria menu features tacos, quesadillas and rotating daily specials.
151 locals recommend
Fried and True Food Truck
1308 E 6th StSuerte Taqueria is a casual and fun concept inspired by the taquerias of Mexico. Our taqueria menu features tacos, quesadillas and rotating daily specials.
Innovative American cuisine in an old launderette. Outdoor and indoor seating, charming neighborhood.
397 locals recommend
Launderette
2115 Holly StInnovative American cuisine in an old launderette. Outdoor and indoor seating, charming neighborhood.
Our personal favorite for Italian food that now offers outdoor patio seating, too. The owner is always on site to greet you, the food is delicious and unpretentious, and the prices are just right.
91 locals recommend
ASTI Trattoria
408 E 43rd StOur personal favorite for Italian food that now offers outdoor patio seating, too. The owner is always on site to greet you, the food is delicious and unpretentious, and the prices are just right.
Essentials
The Mothership. This is Whole Foods Headquarters and is so big and crazy that you can get stuck in a traffic jam - in their parking garage.
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdThe Mothership. This is Whole Foods Headquarters and is so big and crazy that you can get stuck in a traffic jam - in their parking garage.
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdWALKABLE. Closest grocery with everything you need.
Walgreens
4501 Guadalupe StWALKABLE or bike to closest pharmacy.
Trader Joe's
211 Walter Seaholm DrJ & J Spirits
1131 E 11th StSmall liquor and wine shop. Great selection.
Parks & Nature
This pool may be THE reason Austin exists, literally. It's a constant 64 degrees and will give you a heart attack when you jump in, but it is a life saver for locals during the sweltering days of summer. I think it's about $6-8 to get in.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrThis pool may be THE reason Austin exists, literally. It's a constant 64 degrees and will give you a heart attack when you jump in, but it is a life saver for locals during the sweltering days of summer. I think it's about $6-8 to get in.
This spring fed natural swimming pool is one of the best kept "secrets" in Austin and is drained and refilled daily. Not nearly as crowded as Barton Springs (usually), and a little farther away, it takes a little more determinatin to go there. One side for lap swimmers, one side for little kiddos. $8.
322 locals recommend
Deep Eddy Municipal Pool
401 Deep Eddy AveThis spring fed natural swimming pool is one of the best kept "secrets" in Austin and is drained and refilled daily. Not nearly as crowded as Barton Springs (usually), and a little farther away, it takes a little more determinatin to go there. One side for lap swimmers, one side for little kiddos. $8.
Southern Walnut Creek Trail is a nature lover’s delight. Located in East Austin, this beautiful twisting and turning maze of trees and foliage is the city’s newest recreation resource for hikers, joggers and bicyclists.
Encompassing more than 7.3 miles of multi-use trail running by trees, flatland, soft hills and water, Southern Walnut Creek Trail consists of 10-foot wide concrete paths designed to accommodate a variety of users.
24 locals recommend
Govalle Neighborhood Park
5200 Bolm RdSouthern Walnut Creek Trail is a nature lover’s delight. Located in East Austin, this beautiful twisting and turning maze of trees and foliage is the city’s newest recreation resource for hikers, joggers and bicyclists.
Encompassing more than 7.3 miles of multi-use trail running by trees, flatland, soft hills and water, Southern Walnut Creek Trail consists of 10-foot wide concrete paths designed to accommodate a variety of users.
Sightseeing
Bats, bats, bats!
Come at dusk May-Oct. to see the largest North American bat colony go out for feasting. This is an Austin must-do.
286 locals recommend
Congress Avenue Bridge
Congress AvenueBats, bats, bats!
Come at dusk May-Oct. to see the largest North American bat colony go out for feasting. This is an Austin must-do.
Our Capitol building really is truly beautiful. It was modeled after the U.S. Capitol but done with pink granite. You can wander around or take a guided tour.
1119 locals recommend
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveOur Capitol building really is truly beautiful. It was modeled after the U.S. Capitol but done with pink granite. You can wander around or take a guided tour.
Entertainment & Activities
East Austin Yoga studio that is donation based -- pay what you can afford. The instructors here are TOP notch, some of the best in Austin! They provide mats and blankets and everything you need.
61 locals recommend
Practice Yoga Austin
1103 E 6th StEast Austin Yoga studio that is donation based -- pay what you can afford. The instructors here are TOP notch, some of the best in Austin! They provide mats and blankets and everything you need.
Bars
Cool bar that also has a mescal specialty side, as well as one of the best Thai food trucks in town outside.
561 locals recommend
Whisler's
1816 E 6th StCool bar that also has a mescal specialty side, as well as one of the best Thai food trucks in town outside.
Austin Eastciders
979 Springdale RdThe most excellent dry cider. Outdoor seating is available.
Friends & Allies Brewing
979 Springdale RdWalk or bike here.
Outdoor and indoor seating and great cocktails and beer selection make this a favorite secret spot.
6 locals recommend
The Front Page
1023 Springdale RoadOutdoor and indoor seating and great cocktails and beer selection make this a favorite secret spot.
Art Scene
WALK to this Goodwill-refurbshed-as-gallery space to see world class art (painting, sculpture, and photography) and fine crafts including Lisa Crowder Jewelry and Son of a Sailor Crafts. Sa-Ten Cafe is also housed here. We hit this place about once a week.
84 locals recommend
Canopy Austin
916 Springdale RdWALK to this Goodwill-refurbshed-as-gallery space to see world class art (painting, sculpture, and photography) and fine crafts including Lisa Crowder Jewelry and Son of a Sailor Crafts. Sa-Ten Cafe is also housed here. We hit this place about once a week.