Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
El Taquito
1713 E Riverside DrSuper delicious Mex-Mex. Not suitable for vegetarians.
Good margaritas, okay Mexican food for meat eaters, GREAT Mexican food for vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free and other special diets.
398 locals recommend
Güero's Taco Bar
1412 S Congress AveGood margaritas, okay Mexican food for meat eaters, GREAT Mexican food for vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free and other special diets.
Whip in
1950 S I-35 Frontage RdBrewpub, craft beer, Indian fusion food, great music.
Mai Thai Restaurant
207 San Jacinto BlvdIt is the best khao soi and whole fried tilapia in Austin.
Home of super-fiery chili in a dank space filled with cool vintage photos. Featured in Deathproof.
38 locals recommend
Texas Chili Parlor
1409 Lavaca StHome of super-fiery chili in a dank space filled with cool vintage photos. Featured in Deathproof.
Best pho in Austin. It's a bit out of the way, but it's in Austin's multi-purpose "Asian town."
12 locals recommend
Pho Saigon Noodle House
10901 N Lamar BlvdBest pho in Austin. It's a bit out of the way, but it's in Austin's multi-purpose "Asian town."
Lovely Korean food tucked away among gazebos in the interior of a strip mall.
19 locals recommend
Korea House Restaurant
2700 W Anderson LnLovely Korean food tucked away among gazebos in the interior of a strip mall.
It's in the Hole in the Wall bar and it serves some pretty damn good food by Top Chef winner Paul Qui.
77 locals recommend
East Side King
2000 E 6th StIt's in the Hole in the Wall bar and it serves some pretty damn good food by Top Chef winner Paul Qui.
Don't be fooled by the strip mall location, Dominican Joe's is an independently-run coffee shop with a partnership with Makarios International. Good coffee, too.
69 locals recommend
Dominican Joe
Don't be fooled by the strip mall location, Dominican Joe's is an independently-run coffee shop with a partnership with Makarios International. Good coffee, too.
A restaurant with good appetizers and drinks, and entrees that are a little pricy. Go for happy hour!
38 locals recommend
Zax Restaurant & Bar
312 Barton Springs RdA restaurant with good appetizers and drinks, and entrees that are a little pricy. Go for happy hour!
Southern cooking with live music. Love the cheesy grits. Janis Joplin used to sing at the original location up North.
64 locals recommend
Threadgill's World Headquarters
301 W Riverside DrSouthern cooking with live music. Love the cheesy grits. Janis Joplin used to sing at the original location up North.
Burgers, fries, shakes, the usual. It's like a homegrown In-and-Out.
302 locals recommend
P. Terry's Burger Stand
404 S Lamar BlvdBurgers, fries, shakes, the usual. It's like a homegrown In-and-Out.
Fancy, award-winning sushi. Self-styled "farmhouse Japanese" food. This is worth a reservation and a splurge.
688 locals recommend
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdFancy, award-winning sushi. Self-styled "farmhouse Japanese" food. This is worth a reservation and a splurge.
Get up early, get in lone (by 9 am), stand for 2 hours, eat amazing bbq. Go any later and you won't get any at all.
919 locals recommend
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StGet up early, get in lone (by 9 am), stand for 2 hours, eat amazing bbq. Go any later and you won't get any at all.
Drinks & Nightlife
Austin Beer Garden Brewery. Good pizza, great beer brewed on premises.
435 locals recommend
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf StAustin Beer Garden Brewery. Good pizza, great beer brewed on premises.
It's a co-operatively owned brewpub where the staff earns a living wage and tips aren't accepted.
132 locals recommend
Black Star Co-op
7020 Easy Wind DrIt's a co-operatively owned brewpub where the staff earns a living wage and tips aren't accepted.
Make a reservation, well in advance, here: http://www.midnightcowboymodeling.com. This is a dark little bar in a former brothel with a bevy of rules, $12 cocktails, and a two drink minimum.
107 locals recommend
Midnight Cowboy Modeling
313 E 6th StMake a reservation, well in advance, here: http://www.midnightcowboymodeling.com. This is a dark little bar in a former brothel with a bevy of rules, $12 cocktails, and a two drink minimum.
Karaoke dive bar. You may have to tip the Karaoke Jockey to get your song bumped to the top of the queue.
98 locals recommend
Ego's Bar
510 S Congress AveKaraoke dive bar. You may have to tip the Karaoke Jockey to get your song bumped to the top of the queue.
Come to the bar, 2nd on Congress, and order a few apps. It's expensive, but very good quality.
82 locals recommend
Second Bar + Kitchen
200 Congress AveCome to the bar, 2nd on Congress, and order a few apps. It's expensive, but very good quality.
Go country western dancing in a less racist atmosphere than the Broken Spoke,
672 locals recommend
The White Horse
500 Comal StGo country western dancing in a less racist atmosphere than the Broken Spoke,
Arts & Culture
Buy tickets ahead of time on drafthouse.com. It's especially good to check out Master Pancake theater or some other unique programming. I love the (512) Pecan Porter milkshake.
228 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas
320 E 6th StBuy tickets ahead of time on drafthouse.com. It's especially good to check out Master Pancake theater or some other unique programming. I love the (512) Pecan Porter milkshake.
Essentials
It's a grocery store, but it's so much more. Whole Foods flagship store has restaurants and bars inside. Great place to spend $75 on next to nothing.
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdIt's a grocery store, but it's so much more. Whole Foods flagship store has restaurants and bars inside. Great place to spend $75 on next to nothing.
Shopping
My Dad calls this store "Borgin and Burkes" after the Dark Magic shop in Harry Potter. It's a pricy antique store. Love the jewelry.
194 locals recommend
Uncommon Objects
1602 Fort View RdMy Dad calls this store "Borgin and Burkes" after the Dark Magic shop in Harry Potter. It's a pricy antique store. Love the jewelry.
Luxe Apothetique
201 W 2nd StStore and salon. You can try on the fancy nail polishes.
Everything Else
Go for a stroll in the park surrounded by a mish-mash of old homes that you might not believe cost close to a million dollars.
47 locals recommend
Little Stacy Neighborhood Park
1500 Alameda DrGo for a stroll in the park surrounded by a mish-mash of old homes that you might not believe cost close to a million dollars.
Sightseeing
You can watch the bats from the dock at our apartment or take the trail to the Statesman Observation Center.
131 locals recommend
Statesman Bat Observation Center
305 S Congress AveYou can watch the bats from the dock at our apartment or take the trail to the Statesman Observation Center.
The work of one of Austin's treasured sculptures in a beautiful garden. The entry fee is next to nothing.
235 locals recommend
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton RdThe work of one of Austin's treasured sculptures in a beautiful garden. The entry fee is next to nothing.