Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Chuy’s-good Mexican food and the Barton Springs Rd. location is where it all started. Their portions are large and the food is consistently good. I’ve never had a bad meal at Chuy’s. Ask for a margarita made with jalapeño infused tequila and raspberry purée. If you like spicy food, you’ll love their Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom enchiladas.
412 locals recommend
Chuy's
1728 Barton Springs RdChuy’s-good Mexican food and the Barton Springs Rd. location is where it all started. Their portions are large and the food is consistently good. I’ve never had a bad meal at Chuy’s. Ask for a margarita made with jalapeño infused tequila and raspberry purée. If you like spicy food, you’ll love their Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom enchiladas.
El Alma’s food is unique and really tasty. Their ceviche is delicious as are their mojitos de melon. You’ll love the view of downtown from the upstairs patio at night.
170 locals recommend
El Alma
1025 Barton Springs RdEl Alma’s food is unique and really tasty. Their ceviche is delicious as are their mojitos de melon. You’ll love the view of downtown from the upstairs patio at night.
Star’s Cafe aka Star Seeds Cafe has been open for about 40 years. It has an artsy vibe and is legendary for post-clubbing as it’s open 24 hours. They have a huge breakfast menu along with other options.
29 locals recommend
Star Seeds Cafe
3101 N Interstate 35 Frontage RdStar’s Cafe aka Star Seeds Cafe has been open for about 40 years. It has an artsy vibe and is legendary for post-clubbing as it’s open 24 hours. They have a huge breakfast menu along with other options.
Quack’s was originally located on “The Drag” i.e. Guadalupe St. and called Captain Quackenbush’s Intergalactic Dessert Company. It was Austin’s first coffee shop and has been open for about 30 years.
197 locals recommend
Quack's 43rd Street Bakery
411 E 43rd StQuack’s was originally located on “The Drag” i.e. Guadalupe St. and called Captain Quackenbush’s Intergalactic Dessert Company. It was Austin’s first coffee shop and has been open for about 30 years.
It’s within walking distance from my house. It’s open late and has a drive through window. It’s been around since 1948! Open Thursday - Sunday 7pm - 9am.
33 locals recommend
Mrs Johnson's Bakery
4909 Airport Blvd It’s within walking distance from my house. It’s open late and has a drive through window. It’s been around since 1948! Open Thursday - Sunday 7pm - 9am.
Lamme’s Candies is an Austin icon and it’s within walking distance from my house. It’s family owned and operated and famous for their Texas Chewie Pecan Praline. Try their dark chocolate almond bark or my personal favorite, their habanero chewie pecan praline. Deliciously sweet and chewy with a spicy kick. It’s also a great place to buy gifts.
7 locals recommend
Lammes Candies
5330 Airport BlvdLamme’s Candies is an Austin icon and it’s within walking distance from my house. It’s family owned and operated and famous for their Texas Chewie Pecan Praline. Try their dark chocolate almond bark or my personal favorite, their habanero chewie pecan praline. Deliciously sweet and chewy with a spicy kick. It’s also a great place to buy gifts.
Quality Seafood has been open for over 80 years. It’s within walking distance from my house and is both a restaurant with an oyster bar and a retail fish shop.
65 locals recommend
Quality Seafood Market
5621 Airport BlvdQuality Seafood has been open for over 80 years. It’s within walking distance from my house and is both a restaurant with an oyster bar and a retail fish shop.
The Omelettry has been open since 1978 and is known for their gingerbread pancakes. They recently relocated to Airport Blvd. They are open for breakfast and lunch and close at 5:00 pm.
59 locals recommend
The Omelettry
4631 Airport BlvdThe Omelettry has been open since 1978 and is known for their gingerbread pancakes. They recently relocated to Airport Blvd. They are open for breakfast and lunch and close at 5:00 pm.
Matt’s El Rancho is an Austin icon. It’s been serving Tex-Mex and margaritas since 1952. Their Bob Armstrong chili con queso dip is legendary. And they have a nice patio if you feel like eating outside.
304 locals recommend
Matt's El Rancho
2613 S Lamar BlvdMatt’s El Rancho is an Austin icon. It’s been serving Tex-Mex and margaritas since 1952. Their Bob Armstrong chili con queso dip is legendary. And they have a nice patio if you feel like eating outside.
Kome is a 4-star Japanese restaurant serving contemporary home-style meals and sushi in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. It’s within walking distance from my house.
197 locals recommend
Komé
5301 Airport BlvdKome is a 4-star Japanese restaurant serving contemporary home-style meals and sushi in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. It’s within walking distance from my house.
Casey’s is only a short walk (5 blocks) from my house. It’s open from March until Halloween every year and serves just what you need to cool off when it’s hot outside.
18 locals recommend
Casey's New Orleans Snowballs
808 E 51st StCasey’s is only a short walk (5 blocks) from my house. It’s open from March until Halloween every year and serves just what you need to cool off when it’s hot outside.
Excellent BBQ. Two locations, County Line on the Hill (open since 1975) and County Line on the Lake,with a huge redwood deck overlooking Lake Travis. Definitely delicious.
111 locals recommend
County Line
5204 Ranch Rd 2222Excellent BBQ. Two locations, County Line on the Hill (open since 1975) and County Line on the Lake,with a huge redwood deck overlooking Lake Travis. Definitely delicious.
The best hamburger in Austin. Hands down! Ask for spicy mayo and sweet potato fries.
105 locals recommend
Workhorse Bar
100 N Loop Blvd EThe best hamburger in Austin. Hands down! Ask for spicy mayo and sweet potato fries.
Curra’s Hyde Park location is less than a mile from my house. The food is good and piping hot. If you’re not sure what to order, their mole and ceviche are good choices.
Curra's Hyde Park
Curra’s Hyde Park location is less than a mile from my house. The food is good and piping hot. If you’re not sure what to order, their mole and ceviche are good choices.
Parks & Nature
Mueller Park is a beautiful 30 acre park with a 6.5 acre lake (not for swimming), 5 mile hike and bike trail loop, lots of open space, a picnic peninsula, an open air amphitheater
and a farmers market on Sundays. And it’s only 2 miles from my home.
http://www.muelleraustinonline.com/parks.php
http://texasfarmersmarket.org/mueller
220 locals recommend
Mueller Lake Park
4550 Mueller BlvdMueller Park is a beautiful 30 acre park with a 6.5 acre lake (not for swimming), 5 mile hike and bike trail loop, lots of open space, a picnic peninsula, an open air amphitheater
and a farmers market on Sundays. And it’s only 2 miles from my home.
http://www.muelleraustinonline.com/parks.php
http://texasfarmersmarket.org/mueller
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs RdDeep Eddy Municipal Pool
401 Deep Eddy AveIt’s spring fed and pretty cold!
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton RdIt’s beautiful and a great place to take a long walk and feel like you’re miles away from city life.
531 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt
3755 South Capital of Texas HighwayIt’s beautiful and a great place to take a long walk and feel like you’re miles away from city life.
Drinks & Nightlife
If you like dive bars, you might enjoy Barfly’s. It’s within walking distance of my house. They have a jute box, pool and foosball tables, an outdoor area, really friendly bartenders and some really treacherous stairs. Proceed with caution. :)
47 locals recommend
Barflys Austin
5420 Airport BlvdIf you like dive bars, you might enjoy Barfly’s. It’s within walking distance of my house. They have a jute box, pool and foosball tables, an outdoor area, really friendly bartenders and some really treacherous stairs. Proceed with caution. :)
The Workhorse Bar is a rustic neighborhood bar in my neighborhood, the North Loop neighborhood. It has what I think are the best, grass-fed hamburgers in Austin. I recommend you ask for their spicy mayonnaise and get their sweet potato fries. They have a juke box, full bar and a great selection of local draft beers.
105 locals recommend
Workhorse Bar
100 N Loop Blvd EThe Workhorse Bar is a rustic neighborhood bar in my neighborhood, the North Loop neighborhood. It has what I think are the best, grass-fed hamburgers in Austin. I recommend you ask for their spicy mayonnaise and get their sweet potato fries. They have a juke box, full bar and a great selection of local draft beers.
Great funky dive bar with live blues music, no cover charge on certain nights, dancing, outdoor patio and billiards. Both the staff and the patrons tend to be very friendly. Try the chicken. It’s great. The ambiance is amazing. You’re sure to have a great time. Must see Soul Man Sam and Brian Scartocci!
188 locals recommend
Skylark Lounge
2039 Airport BlvdGreat funky dive bar with live blues music, no cover charge on certain nights, dancing, outdoor patio and billiards. Both the staff and the patrons tend to be very friendly. Try the chicken. It’s great. The ambiance is amazing. You’re sure to have a great time. Must see Soul Man Sam and Brian Scartocci!
Open since 1990, the Saxon Pub is a live music venue. Their weekday happy hour shows are typically free. It’s an intimate atmosphere where W.C. Clark, Rusty Wier, Los Lonely Boys and other well known acts have played.
284 locals recommend
Saxon Pub
1320 S Lamar BlvdOpen since 1990, the Saxon Pub is a live music venue. Their weekday happy hour shows are typically free. It’s an intimate atmosphere where W.C. Clark, Rusty Wier, Los Lonely Boys and other well known acts have played.
The Little Longhorn Saloon is a 40-year old honky took with live music six nights a week. You’ll enjoy music, dancing and the famous Chicken Shit Bingo. There’s never a cover and draft Lonestar beer is only $1.50 during happy hour. You’ve gotta check it out. M
166 locals recommend
Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon
5434 Burnet RdThe Little Longhorn Saloon is a 40-year old honky took with live music six nights a week. You’ll enjoy music, dancing and the famous Chicken Shit Bingo. There’s never a cover and draft Lonestar beer is only $1.50 during happy hour. You’ve gotta check it out. M
Antone’s Nightclub is an iconic blues venue where Austinites have enjoyed blues for nearly forty years.
145 locals recommend
Antone's
305 E 5th StAntone’s Nightclub is an iconic blues venue where Austinites have enjoyed blues for nearly forty years.
The Continental Club is a legendary live music venue that’s been in south Austin since 1955.
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveThe Continental Club is a legendary live music venue that’s been in south Austin since 1955.
Austin City Limits (ACL) Live at The Moody Theater is a live music venue. It’s the home for the taping of KLRU-TV’S PBS television series, Austin City Limits.
326 locals recommend
ACL Live
310 W Willie Nelson BlvdAustin City Limits (ACL) Live at The Moody Theater is a live music venue. It’s the home for the taping of KLRU-TV’S PBS television series, Austin City Limits.
A great place to listen to live music. Named after a man who brought the Blues Scene to Austin in the late 70’s.
242 locals recommend
C-Boys Heart and Soul
2008 S Congress AveA great place to listen to live music. Named after a man who brought the Blues Scene to Austin in the late 70’s.
Arts & Culture
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveIt’s all about Texas!
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardEssentials
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdIt’s convenient.
Shopping
Buffalo Exchange
2904 Guadalupe StIf you like thrift store shopping, check out Buffalo Exchange.
Room Service Vintage
117 N Loop Blvd EGreat vintage shopping and close to my house.