Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Real Mexican food - affordable, no frills, traditional. Don't skip the fresh tortillas made on site. Delicious salsa bar. Great spot for a margarita.
277 locals recommend
Polvo's Mexican Restaurant
2004 South 1st StreetReal Mexican food - affordable, no frills, traditional. Don't skip the fresh tortillas made on site. Delicious salsa bar. Great spot for a margarita.
Phenomenal Thai restaurant. Has won multiple awards. A little pricier. They serve family-style, so it's a good place for groups & sharing dishes. Upscale/trendy ambiance.
349 locals recommend
Sway
1417 S 1st StPhenomenal Thai restaurant. Has won multiple awards. A little pricier. They serve family-style, so it's a good place for groups & sharing dishes. Upscale/trendy ambiance.
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdAward-winning, famous sushi restaurant. $$$
French-Vietnamese fusion. Go here for a bowl of pho, bahn-mi or french pastries.
426 locals recommend
Elizabeth Street Cafe
1501 S 1st StFrench-Vietnamese fusion. Go here for a bowl of pho, bahn-mi or french pastries.
French and New American cuisine, featuring a carefully curated wine list. Good ambiance.
151 locals recommend
June's
1722 S Congress AveFrench and New American cuisine, featuring a carefully curated wine list. Good ambiance.
My favorite brunch in Austin! Japanese restaurant with whimsical decor, featuring Sake punches and Sustainable Seafood Certification from Monterey Bay Aquarium. Try the nomnomiyake for brunch or as an appetizer.
112 locals recommend
Lucky Robot
1303 S Congress AveMy favorite brunch in Austin! Japanese restaurant with whimsical decor, featuring Sake punches and Sustainable Seafood Certification from Monterey Bay Aquarium. Try the nomnomiyake for brunch or as an appetizer.
Decadent sandwiches and burgers made with savory donuts. Try The Petunia, offered only on the brunch menu: savory donut topped with a potato pancake, pulled pork, and a fried egg, doused in gravy.
226 locals recommend
Gourdough's Public House
209 W 5th StDecadent sandwiches and burgers made with savory donuts. Try The Petunia, offered only on the brunch menu: savory donut topped with a potato pancake, pulled pork, and a fried egg, doused in gravy.
24 hours. Local, inexpensive, hearty cafe food. Usually some creative ingredients on the menu. Nice patio in the back, where they serve mimosas for brunch on the weekends.
478 locals recommend
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress Ave24 hours. Local, inexpensive, hearty cafe food. Usually some creative ingredients on the menu. Nice patio in the back, where they serve mimosas for brunch on the weekends.
Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S 1st StDelicious and inexpensive vegetarian food. Homey vibes.
Mr. Natural
1901 E Cesar Chavez StLocal, yummy vegetarian featuring many Mexican-style dishes.
Casa de Luz Village
1701 Toomey RdVegan, macrobiotic. Spiritual, healthy vibes.
Perla's
1400 S Congress AveIncredible seafood. Pricey, but worth it. Wonderful patio.
Drinks & Nightlife
Dive bar with live blues, soul, and country depending on the night. On the same block. They also do Chicken Shit Bingo on certain days of the week. Check their website for details.
242 locals recommend
C-Boys Heart and Soul
2008 S Congress AveDive bar with live blues, soul, and country depending on the night. On the same block. They also do Chicken Shit Bingo on certain days of the week. Check their website for details.
An Austin institution, The Continental Club has been around for the best of times and the worst of times. Live blues, soul, country, and all of the above. Check their website for details.
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveAn Austin institution, The Continental Club has been around for the best of times and the worst of times. Live blues, soul, country, and all of the above. Check their website for details.
Live country music every night. Free two-stepping lessons offered Thursday and Friday nights at 7 PM. Vibrant dancing scene with a mixed crowd of old-timers, locals, and hipsters. Dive bar with a great patio and a Mexican food truck.
672 locals recommend
The White Horse
500 Comal StLive country music every night. Free two-stepping lessons offered Thursday and Friday nights at 7 PM. Vibrant dancing scene with a mixed crowd of old-timers, locals, and hipsters. Dive bar with a great patio and a Mexican food truck.
Iconic old dance hall featuring live country music. Two-step your feet off!
478 locals recommend
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar BlvdIconic old dance hall featuring live country music. Two-step your feet off!
Parks & Nature
Barton Springs Pool is THE PLACE TO GO in Austin -especially if it's hot outside. The pool is spring-fed, and remains a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. There's a beautiful plush lawn to sun in, and a diving board. It costs about $5 to get in.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrBarton Springs Pool is THE PLACE TO GO in Austin -especially if it's hot outside. The pool is spring-fed, and remains a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. There's a beautiful plush lawn to sun in, and a diving board. It costs about $5 to get in.
Sculpture garden with hiking trails. Very beautiful. Features contemporary and abstract sculptures and art installations, sometimes featuring sound or interactive components.
98 locals recommend
The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria
3809 W 35th StSculpture garden with hiking trails. Very beautiful. Features contemporary and abstract sculptures and art installations, sometimes featuring sound or interactive components.
Entertainment & Activities
The Highball is attached to Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar movie theater. The Highball has live music and a bar. Featuring unique and interesting acts. Sometimes a queen cover band plays there, other times you'll find swing music and dancing. Check the schedule for more info.
152 locals recommend
The Highball
1120 S Lamar BlvdThe Highball is attached to Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar movie theater. The Highball has live music and a bar. Featuring unique and interesting acts. Sometimes a queen cover band plays there, other times you'll find swing music and dancing. Check the schedule for more info.
Essentials
H-E-B is the most popular grocery store in Texas. Some are nicer than others. This one is in-between. Prices are generally low, and they also carry organic foods, bulk items, and health foods. Has a pharmacy.
1667 locals recommend
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdH-E-B is the most popular grocery store in Texas. Some are nicer than others. This one is in-between. Prices are generally low, and they also carry organic foods, bulk items, and health foods. Has a pharmacy.
Small local grocery store offering local produce, organic frozen foods and non-perishables, and natural bath products and home goods.
87 locals recommend
FARM TO MARKET GROCERY
1718 S Congress AveSmall local grocery store offering local produce, organic frozen foods and non-perishables, and natural bath products and home goods.
Arts & Culture
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveTours are offered at certain times. Check website for details.
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveLearn about cowboys and stuff.