Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
This is one of our favorite restaurants. It's mostly vegetarian/vegan, kid-friendly, and they have great coffee. Stop in here to experience the quintessential Austin vibe.
165 locals recommend
Sprouts Farmers Market
4006 S Lamar BlvdThis is one of our favorite restaurants. It's mostly vegetarian/vegan, kid-friendly, and they have great coffee. Stop in here to experience the quintessential Austin vibe.
Locally owned and operated, and also open 24/7. Closest coffee shop to the house, but there are many more along South Lamar and in downtown.
91 locals recommend
Strange Brew
Locally owned and operated, and also open 24/7. Closest coffee shop to the house, but there are many more along South Lamar and in downtown.
Super cheap but crazy tasty Mexican food. We go here at least once a week. Also, kid friendly :)
11 locals recommend
Taquerias Arandinas
700 W William Cannon DrSuper cheap but crazy tasty Mexican food. We go here at least once a week. Also, kid friendly :)
Tiny restaurant with huge flavors. Easily one of the best restaurants in Austin.
153 locals recommend
Barley Swine
6555 Burnet RdTiny restaurant with huge flavors. Easily one of the best restaurants in Austin.
Perhaps the best-known restaurant on South Congress, this place has a killer brunch and a bustling dinner scene. Stop in and say hi to your hosts- this is where they work :)
279 locals recommend
South Congress Cafe
1600 S Congress AvePerhaps the best-known restaurant on South Congress, this place has a killer brunch and a bustling dinner scene. Stop in and say hi to your hosts- this is where they work :)
Local dogs, local beer, amazing coffee, all here. Stop in while you're in the area checking out the F1 festivities.
45 locals recommend
Frank
407 Colorado StLocal dogs, local beer, amazing coffee, all here. Stop in while you're in the area checking out the F1 festivities.
Austin's favorite 24 hour diner. This location is the closest to the house, but there are multiple Kerbey Lanes around town. All offer delicious, organic grub at affordable prices.
224 locals recommend
Kerbey Lane Cafe
3003 S Lamar BlvdAustin's favorite 24 hour diner. This location is the closest to the house, but there are multiple Kerbey Lanes around town. All offer delicious, organic grub at affordable prices.
Our 2nd favorite 24-hour joint in town. Perfect place to go after a night on the town, as long as you don't mind emptying your wallet. Get a milkshake. You won't regret it.
238 locals recommend
24 Diner
600 N Lamar BlvdOur 2nd favorite 24-hour joint in town. Perfect place to go after a night on the town, as long as you don't mind emptying your wallet. Get a milkshake. You won't regret it.
Kid-friendly cafe on the hip, edgy, east side of town. Go for happy hour.
351 locals recommend
Blue Dahlia Bistro
1115 E 11th StKid-friendly cafe on the hip, edgy, east side of town. Go for happy hour.
Amazing French comfort food, wonderful atmosphere, and great service. Go here for a romantic night out and enjoy the bartender's record collection. Decidedly not kid-friendly.
522 locals recommend
Justine's
4710 E 5th StAmazing French comfort food, wonderful atmosphere, and great service. Go here for a romantic night out and enjoy the bartender's record collection. Decidedly not kid-friendly.
Perfect entry-level eastside experience. Good French bistro food, impressive handmade cocktails, and wonderful live music (think Django Reinhardt reincarnate).
288 locals recommend
Ah Sing Den
1100 E 6th StPerfect entry-level eastside experience. Good French bistro food, impressive handmade cocktails, and wonderful live music (think Django Reinhardt reincarnate).
Entertainment & Activities
Great place to enjoy the sunshine and Austin's natural swimming hole. There's a shallow area and playground for the kiddos, and lifeguards in the pool. A must-do when visiting our town.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrGreat place to enjoy the sunshine and Austin's natural swimming hole. There's a shallow area and playground for the kiddos, and lifeguards in the pool. A must-do when visiting our town.
Phil's Icehouse
2901 S Lamar BlvdGood burgers + great ice cream + cow playground = happy kiddo
Fun, interactive museum in the revitalized 2nd Street District. This place is also in a very family-friendly neighborhood, chock full of kid-friendly restaurants and interesting boutiques.
272 locals recommend
Thinkery
1830 Simond AveFun, interactive museum in the revitalized 2nd Street District. This place is also in a very family-friendly neighborhood, chock full of kid-friendly restaurants and interesting boutiques.
Sightseeing
This is most likely one of Austin's best-known streets. It's riddled with locally owned stores, vintage boutiques, and amazing eateries.
447 locals recommend
South Congress Avenue
South Congress AvenueThis is most likely one of Austin's best-known streets. It's riddled with locally owned stores, vintage boutiques, and amazing eateries.
Drinks & Nightlife
85+ beers on tap, 100+ in the bottle. If you want to try a local Austin brew, or maybe an obscure Belgian delicacy, this is your bar. Beer and wine only, pub food available.
39 locals recommend
The Ginger Man Austin
301 Lavaca Street85+ beers on tap, 100+ in the bottle. If you want to try a local Austin brew, or maybe an obscure Belgian delicacy, this is your bar. Beer and wine only, pub food available.
One of the only bars in town for which you need a reservation, but make one. It's worth it. Sister to the original Brooklyn locale, expect $10 handmade cocktails in a secretive, intimate setting.
178 locals recommend
Weather Up
1808 E Cesar Chavez StOne of the only bars in town for which you need a reservation, but make one. It's worth it. Sister to the original Brooklyn locale, expect $10 handmade cocktails in a secretive, intimate setting.
Arts & Culture
The Alamo has expanded its reach beyond the Austin city limits, but this is where it all started. Watch movies, drink good beer, and eat good food, all at the same time. Multiple locations in Austin.
770 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdThe Alamo has expanded its reach beyond the Austin city limits, but this is where it all started. Watch movies, drink good beer, and eat good food, all at the same time. Multiple locations in Austin.
Another local eat-drink-watch film cinema, but with a more upscale, art house vibe. Go to the Alamo Drafthouse for an action flick, go here to appreciate the art that is film.
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StAnother local eat-drink-watch film cinema, but with a more upscale, art house vibe. Go to the Alamo Drafthouse for an action flick, go here to appreciate the art that is film.
Hands down the best bookstore in Austin. Local, huge, and supplemented by a supremely knowledgeable staff. BookPeople also has a great kids section, complete with tunnels and story times every week.
146 locals recommend
BookPeople
603 N Lamar BlvdHands down the best bookstore in Austin. Local, huge, and supplemented by a supremely knowledgeable staff. BookPeople also has a great kids section, complete with tunnels and story times every week.
Essentials
The very first Whole Foods location was originally across the street from where this flagship store is today. This Whole Foods headquarters offers the mother-lode for the organic enthusiast.
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdThe very first Whole Foods location was originally across the street from where this flagship store is today. This Whole Foods headquarters offers the mother-lode for the organic enthusiast.
Our local competition with Whole Foods (both are Austin originals). This store is much closer to home than Whole Foods, so we frequent this place more often.
765 locals recommend
Central Market
4477 S Lamar BlvdOur local competition with Whole Foods (both are Austin originals). This store is much closer to home than Whole Foods, so we frequent this place more often.
Everything Else
Need your yoga fix? This studio is nearby and entirely donation based ($10 is the expected amount per class). Mats available for rental.
93 locals recommend
Black Swan Yoga
403 Orchard StNeed your yoga fix? This studio is nearby and entirely donation based ($10 is the expected amount per class). Mats available for rental.