Tori & Shea's Texas Hill Country Guidebook
City/town information
Let's be honest, you most likely booked our place because you wanted to escape this ever growing city, but if you must venture back into the city of "weird" here are a few of the iconic spots we recommend:
For Live Music:
1. The Continental Club - "Rock, country, jazz & blues acts, national & local, are found at this legendary South Congress club"
2. Saxon Pub - "No judgments here. EVERYONE is welcome. This is a home for music. People that play it and people that like to listen"
For Texas Two-Stepping:
1. The Broken Spoke - "Live music & boot-scootin', plus beer & chicken-fried steak since 1964"
2. The White Horse - "Live country music is served up in this hip, upbeat, sprawling honky-tonk with a taco truck outside"
For Food:
1. Terry Blacks BBQ - "Legendary Central Texas BBQ from famous 4th-generation pitmasters" (order the beef rib)
2. Juan in a Million - "Serving Mexican breakfast and lunch in East Austin since 1980" (order the Don Juan)
3. Crown & Anchor Pub - "Best cheeseburger in town" (order the cheeseburger, duh)
4. Texas Chili Parlor - "Tex-Mex and chili in a kitschy setting" (order the venison chili)
For Fun:
1. The bats - yes, you can watch over 1 million bats fly out from beneath the Congress Street bridge at dusk. Pretty cool actually.
2. Barton Springs Pool - "A 3-acre entirely spring-fed swimming pool!" Yes it is as magical as it sounds. *No food or drink allowed
3. Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake - Tons of locations to choose from. I like Texas Rowing Center, they always have plenty of inventory.
357 locals recommend
Austin
Let's be honest, you most likely booked our place because you wanted to escape this ever growing city, but if you must venture back into the city of "weird" here are a few of the iconic spots we recommend:
For Live Music:
1. The Continental Club - "Rock, country, jazz & blues acts, national & local, are found at this legendary South Congress club"
2. Saxon Pub - "No judgments here. EVERYONE is welcome. This is a home for music. People that play it and people that like to listen"
For Texas Two-Stepping:
1. The Broken Spoke - "Live music & boot-scootin', plus beer & chicken-fried steak since 1964"
2. The White Horse - "Live country music is served up in this hip, upbeat, sprawling honky-tonk with a taco truck outside"
For Food:
1. Terry Blacks BBQ - "Legendary Central Texas BBQ from famous 4th-generation pitmasters" (order the beef rib)
2. Juan in a Million - "Serving Mexican breakfast and lunch in East Austin since 1980" (order the Don Juan)
3. Crown & Anchor Pub - "Best cheeseburger in town" (order the cheeseburger, duh)
4. Texas Chili Parlor - "Tex-Mex and chili in a kitschy setting" (order the venison chili)
For Fun:
1. The bats - yes, you can watch over 1 million bats fly out from beneath the Congress Street bridge at dusk. Pretty cool actually.
2. Barton Springs Pool - "A 3-acre entirely spring-fed swimming pool!" Yes it is as magical as it sounds. *No food or drink allowed
3. Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake - Tons of locations to choose from. I like Texas Rowing Center, they always have plenty of inventory.
The new hill country hot spot! Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries, Wedding Venues, Ranches - a true escape from the city.
81 locals recommend
Dripping Springs
The new hill country hot spot! Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries, Wedding Venues, Ranches - a true escape from the city.
Sightseeing
Nature preserve, and swimming hole with gorgeous blue/green spring-fed water
*Reservations required*
588 locals recommend
Hamilton Pool Preserve
24300 Hamilton Pool RdNature preserve, and swimming hole with gorgeous blue/green spring-fed water
*Reservations required*
A canyon & forest preserve along the Pedernales River. Trails, beach front, and world-class rock climbing.
*Daily fee around $5 per person - Cash only*
96 locals recommend
Milton Reimers Ranch Park
23610 Hamilton Pool RdA canyon & forest preserve along the Pedernales River. Trails, beach front, and world-class rock climbing.
*Daily fee around $5 per person - Cash only*
Non-alcoholic tastings? YES! try out the local olive oil instead.
81 locals recommend
Texas Hill Country Olive Company
2530 W Fitzhugh RdNon-alcoholic tastings? YES! try out the local olive oil instead.
Distilleries
Bourbon distillery with live music, excellent BBQ, and breath-taking sunsets.
171 locals recommend
Treaty Oak Distilling
16604 Fitzhugh RdBourbon distillery with live music, excellent BBQ, and breath-taking sunsets.
Texas' version of tequila called "Sotol" - a very trendy spot and unique spirits
65 locals recommend
Desert Door Distillery
211 Darden Hill RdTexas' version of tequila called "Sotol" - a very trendy spot and unique spirits
A little further off the beaten path - but their orange vodka is tasty.
36 locals recommend
Dripping Springs Distilling
5330 Bell Springs RdA little further off the beaten path - but their orange vodka is tasty.
Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room
2250 US-290Home of the best flavored vodkas! great for groups
Go for the reserve gin - try their other fun spirits like: cafecito coffee liqueuer, chocolate cafecito, and amico amaro.
24 locals recommend
Revolution Spirits Distilling
12345 Pauls Valley RdGo for the reserve gin - try their other fun spirits like: cafecito coffee liqueuer, chocolate cafecito, and amico amaro.
Breweries
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh RdBeer, Pizza & Goats
Beerburg Brewing
13476 Fitzhugh RdCraft beer and farm-to-table scratch kitchen. With dog park!
Elegant brewery with full food menu. Very kid friendly with a fenced in playscape.
43 locals recommend
Fitzhugh Brewing
15435 Fitzhugh RdElegant brewery with full food menu. Very kid friendly with a fenced in playscape.
Perfect stop for a cold one after visiting Hamilton Pool or Reimer's Ranch.
51 locals recommend
Family Business Beer Company
19510 Hamilton Pool RdPerfect stop for a cold one after visiting Hamilton Pool or Reimer's Ranch.
Wineries
Sustainable wines, in a laid back atmosphere - they do private group tastings too!
52 locals recommend
Solaro Estate Winery
13111 Silver Creek RdSustainable wines, in a laid back atmosphere - they do private group tastings too!
Open nearly everyday of the week, with a full food menu! They also own "Sidecar Tasting Room" in downtown Dripping Springs - a prohibition style wine bar.
89 locals recommend
Bell Springs Winery
3700 Bell Springs RdOpen nearly everyday of the week, with a full food menu! They also own "Sidecar Tasting Room" in downtown Dripping Springs - a prohibition style wine bar.
Driftwood Estate Winery
4001 Elder Hill Rd"Million Dollar View" while you sip award winning wines.
Multiple wine brands under one roof! By Sommelier Rae Wilson - she learned winemaking in Napa Valley and Portugal.
6 locals recommend
Wine For the People
1601 Pauls Valley RdMultiple wine brands under one roof! By Sommelier Rae Wilson - she learned winemaking in Napa Valley and Portugal.
Love, Love, Love this place! I am a member here, and the owners Randy and Brooke are the sweetest. They were in the wine business in the Napa Valley area for years before moving back home to Texas to start CL Butaud and lead the Texas wine movement!
C.L. Butaud Wines
Love, Love, Love this place! I am a member here, and the owners Randy and Brooke are the sweetest. They were in the wine business in the Napa Valley area for years before moving back home to Texas to start CL Butaud and lead the Texas wine movement!
BBQ
The O.G. Hill country BBQ - atmosphere is everything here, with their open pit. Oh and its BYOB so bring a cooler!
480 locals recommend
Salt Lick BBQ
18300 Farm to Market Rd 1826The O.G. Hill country BBQ - atmosphere is everything here, with their open pit. Oh and its BYOB so bring a cooler!
The revered Austin barbecue restaurant Stiles Switch opened this Hill Country restaurant combining barbecue and Cajun fare.
13 locals recommend
The Switch BBQ
166 Hargraves DrThe revered Austin barbecue restaurant Stiles Switch opened this Hill Country restaurant combining barbecue and Cajun fare.
I wasn't lying about Treaty Oak distillery having delicious BBQ - see for yourself!
12 locals recommend
Alice's Restaurant at Treaty Oak Distilling
16604 Fitzhugh RdI wasn't lying about Treaty Oak distillery having delicious BBQ - see for yourself!
Food scene
Tillie's
3509 Creek RdElegant brunch and dinner spot located at Camp Lucy
The absolute cutest cafe/bakery/lunch spot in dripping springs! and the staff are the nicest people.
127 locals recommend
Rolling In Thyme & Dough
333 E Hwy 290The absolute cutest cafe/bakery/lunch spot in dripping springs! and the staff are the nicest people.
Adorable bakery! Great spot for breakfast, coffee and kombucha. They even milk their own flour.
26 locals recommend
Abby Jane Bakeshop
16604 Fitzhugh RdAdorable bakery! Great spot for breakfast, coffee and kombucha. They even milk their own flour.