AUSTIN GUIDE
This guide has been a long time coming and includes my favorite “must-see,” “must-do,” and (of course) “must-eat” places in Austin, TX!
Kyle and I moved to Austin in April 2022 and we feel like we finally found our home.
After meeting in San Diego and moving to my hometown of Eugene, Oregon for a brief stint when we got married, we wanted to find a city where we could put down roots and ultimately settled in Austin after “interviewing” different cities across the U.S.
Austin has become such a popular travel destination that I receive frequent DMs asking where to eat, where to stay, and what activities to partake in. This guide has been a long time coming and includes my favorite “must-see,” “must-do,” and (of course) “must-eat” places in the city!
Below are my top recommendations—a handbook that I’d share with my very closest friends and family members if they were coming to stay with me.
I hope you find this guide helpful next time you travel to Austin!
Activities
Barton Springs Pool – A natural spring-fed pool in Zilker Park, perfect for the extremely hot summer months.
Walk or Bike the Lady Bird Lake Trail – A beautiful urban trail with waterfront views, bridges, and kayak/paddle board rentals.
Hike Mount Bonnell – A short but scenic hike offering panoramic views of Lake Austin and the city skyline.
Rent a Boat on Lake Austin – Rent a ski boat or pontoon on Lake Austin! And don’t forget to stop in at Ski Shores!!
Eat and Shop on South Congress – A lively strip filled with boutiques, coffee shops, great restaurants, and iconic murals.
Shopping at The Domain – Find 100 upscale and mainstream retail stores and restaurants at Austin’s nicest outdoor mall.
Live Music – There are so many places to see live music in the city. I use the app Bandsintown to find artists, large and small, that are coming to town.
See a Comedy Show — Austin has become a hotspot for comedy. Checkout Joe Rogan’s comedy club, The Mothership.
Coffee Shops
A note before we dive into coffee that I highly recommend ordering your lattes with “Fronks Milk” if you ever see it on an Austin menu (most of the spots below serve it)! It’s a locally made almond cashew milk that is sweetened with dates. 10/10 experience!
Proud Mary (South Lamar) – Originally founded in my home state of Oregon, there’s now a cafe in Austin on South Lamar! This spot caters to true coffee connoisseurs and casual coffee drinkers alike.
Swedish Hill (multiple) – If you’re looking for some pastries with your coffee, this is your spot! They have some of the best in town and the vibes are always high at Swedish Hill. It’s a hotspot for locals and tourists alike.
Desnudo (multiple) – They have two food truck locations—one downtown and one in East Austin. Delicious coffee with some fun specialty drinks. Their owners are super sweet and they are very mission-driven with a dedication to sourcing from small coffee farmers.
The Meteor Cafe (South Congress) – A cute place with quality coffee to stop in on South Congress. It has a very “locals-only” feel. At some points, I was getting their matcha weekly.
Mañana (multiple) – I like to stop into their South Congress location when I’m doing some shopping. They clearly care about the quality of their product and I like to check out the local food on their shelves and in their refrigerated section.
Noble Joe (Riverside) – Located in a cute food truck park just off of the Lady Bird Lake trail, this spot became a viral sensation on TikTok. Stop in while you’re on a walk around Lady Bird.
Breakfast / Brunch Spots
Swedish Hill (multiple) – This is honestly a great stop any time of day, so though you’re seeing it under “Coffee” and “Breakfast/Brunch,” you really can’t go wrong. It’s casual but classy and is such a crowd-pleaser. Warning that the wait can be long! Our favorites: Clarksville Crunch Salad, Lox Bagel, Breakfast Tacos, and their seasonal sides.
Proud Mary (South Lamar) – A laid back but stylish Australian café with fantastic coffee, unique breakfast plates, and great brunch cocktails. Our favorites: Soft Scrambled Eggs on Toast, Scrambled Egg Roti. This is another place where we have never been disappointed by anything we ordered.
Carpenter’s Hall (Zilker) – Usually I stay away from a hotel restaurant but not in this case. Carpenter’s Hall serves up delicious, fresh, locally-sourced food that they clearly take pride in. It’s one of few brunch spots that typically doesn’t require a reservation.
The Meteor Cafe (South Congress) – Again, this is one of my favorite places to get a matcha, a quick bite, and do some work. Our favorites: Chicken Shawarma Platter, Market Salad.
Paperboy (East Austin) – Modern breakfast with delicious toast options and brunch cocktails. Get a reservation or plan for a wait.
Josephine House (Clarksville) – Sister restaurant to Jeffery’s (one of Austin’s best steakhouses), their brunch is amazing with a charming ambiance.
Two Hands (South Congress) – An Australian cafe with fresh, delicious food, great coffee, and lively ambiance. This place is very instagrammable if that’s something you care about.
Tacodeli (multiple) – It wouldn’t be a complete list without dropping a breakfast taco spot ;) Delicious tacos made with local, organic ingredients.
Lunch Spots (consider all of the Brunch spots applicable to this list as well)
Clarks (Clarksville) – Upscale, yet casual seafood spot with amazing oysters. We like to go here for a celebratory lunch! Our favorites: Lobster Roll, Crab Cake, Black Angus Burger.
Ski Shores (Lake Austin) – Lunch with a view! This is another hotspot for locals and tourists alike. It’s my favorite place to stop in after a long day on the lake. Our favorites: Stand Up Paddle Bowl, Frozen Margarita, Lake House Salad, Ski Burger.
Franklin Barbecue (East Austin) – If you’re willing to wait in line (or order ahead), this Texas BBQ hotspot doesn’t disappoint. (We exclusively order out from here because we are not wait-in-line types.)
Honest Mary’s (multiple) – Fast-casual food with yummy signature bowls or build your own.
Dinner Spots
A note before we jump into dinner spots that I would recommend getting a reservation at *all* of these restaurants ahead of time unless you plan on arriving when they open!
Suerte (East 6th) – Our FAVORITE restaurant in Austin. Elevated Mexican food with house-made tortillas and creative cocktails. Our favorites: Suadero Tacos (an absolute must must must), Carnitas, Tuna Tiradito, Don Dario cocktail.
Canje (East 6th) – Caribbean flavors with a lively atmosphere and fantastic drinks. Our favorites: Pink Pineapple, Smoked Avocado Escabeche, Wild Boar Pepperpot, Rum Punch Sorbet.
Lutie’s (Hyde Park) – A gorgeous, plant and floral-forward ambiance, with delicious, upscale food located at The Commodore Perry. Our favorites: their menu changes often but two things that we can always expect are the Estate Bread—my favorite bread in Austin—and the rice dish with trout (it has changed names before so I don’t want to steer you wrong but it’s one of my favorite dishes in Austin!).
Hestia (Downtown) – A wood-fired, upscale dining experience with beautifully plated dishes. Our favorites: Scallops, Halibut.
Jeffrey’s (Clarksville) – One of Austin’s finest steakhouses, offering dry-aged beef, elegant ambiance, and an impressive wine list. Perfect for a special occasion! Our favorites: Beef Tartare, Bibb Lettuce Salad, any of the steaks (you can’t go wrong).
Yuki Handrolls (West Lake) – Premium seafood with high-quality, made-to-order handrolls. They serve their inventive nigiri with HUGE slices of fish. This has quickly become one of our favorite no-reservation-needed dinner spots. Our favorites: Toro Handroll, Crab Handroll, Toro Nigiri.
Este (Manor) – Upscale Mexican-inspired seafood dishes and incredible cocktails. This space is lively and unpretentious. Our favorites: Tropical Margarita, Guacamole Del Jardin, Fish Tacos, Cochinita Pibil.
Bulevar (Arboretum) – One of our favorite spots to venture for upscale Mexican food. Their menu is entirely gluten-free!
LeRoy and Lewis (South Manchaca) – Our personal favorite place to get BBQ. They just earned themselves a well-deserved Michelin star!
Odd Duck (South Lamar) – Delicious, unique small plates. A great place to try (almost) the full menu with a group of friends!
Neighborhood Sushi (South Congress) – Upscale sushi with a great location on South Congress. I’ve always gotten the vibe here that you might see someone famous who doesn’t want to be seen. It has an unpretentious luxury to it. Our favorites: Shrimp-Stuffed Basil Leaf (I usually avoid tempura options but this is a must), Snow Crab Handroll, pretty much all of the nigiri.
Uchi/Uchiba/Uchiko (multiple) – Innovative sushi, delicious cocktails, and fun ambiance. Uchi is one of the oldest sushi restaurants in Austin. Is it our favorite sushi spot? No, but it’s a fun environment that’s great for date night. We like Uchiba the best.
Aba (South Congress) – I’m including this because everyone seems to love it but us :) The ambiance is great. I wish I could say the same about literally anything else.
Cocktail Bars (I got a lot of help from my cool, young assistant on this list because I am not as wild and free as I once was)
Retail Therapy (Downtown) – This offers a speakeasy-style experience with a hidden entrance - super chic and upscale ambiance!
Powder Room (Downtown) – A beautifully decorated speakeasy with a no cellphone policy and a refined but fun cocktail menu.
DrinkWell (Hyde Park) – A stylish neighborhood bar with creative cocktails.
Here Nor There (Downtown) – A hidden, reservation-only speakeasy with an intimate ambiance and innovative, seasonal cocktails. A must-visit for cocktail connoisseurs!
Small Victory (Downtown) – A cozy, hidden gem known for its expertly crafted classic cocktails, especially martinis. Great for a quiet, high-quality drink experience.
The Roosevelt Room (Downtown) – A classy lounge with an extensive cocktail menu featuring both classic and creative drinks, plus a fantastic happy hour.
The Proper Hotel Bar (Downtown) – Cute, vintage-style cocktail bar. People go here to be seen, making it a really fun place to people-watch! For a hotel bar, it’s impressive how many locals frequent this spot.
Watertrade (South Congress) – A Japanese-style speakeasy cocktail bar with a thoughtful design and lots of unique cocktails. They also have some delicious small bites.
More Foodie Faves (these didn’t fit squarely into one of the categories above, but they deserve a mention!)
Cuantos Tacos (East Austin) – The best street tacos in Austin are served at this little food truck. They are also seed-oil free!
Ensenada Food Truck (East Austin) – The best baja-style fish tacos we’ve found in Austin. And pick up a jar of their salsa matcha.
Gati (Holly) – My favorite spot for dairy-free ice cream and gluten-free pastries!
Alchemy Juice (Zilker) – Our favorite place to pick up cold-pressed juices and wellness shots. Their matcha latte with house-made nut milk is also fabulous.
Soup Peddler (multiple) – Our go-to when we’re craving nourishing soups and juices. They make their bone broths in-house and are also seed oil-free.
Not a Damn Chance (East 5th) – Find the best smash burger in the city at this hole-in-the-wall eatery masterminded by Michelin starred chef Phillip Frankland Lee.
Matt’s El Rancho (South Lamar) – I thought this would be overhyped but the experience is very fun and the food is surprisingly good. The wait is long and the margaritas are strong so be prepared.
Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum (Clarksville) – When we’re in the mood for soup dumplings, this is our spot!
Best Neighborhoods to Stay In (Pros & Cons)
1. Downtown (would recommend staying west of Congress)
Pros: Walkable, close to nightlife, restaurants, and Lady Bird Lake. Great for first-time visitors.
Cons: Expensive hotels and parking; can get noisy at night.
2. South Congress/South 1st
Pros: Trendy areas with great shopping, food, and nightlife. Feels more authentically "Austin."
Cons: Prices are rising, and it can get touristy and busy.
3. East Austin (ideally south of 11th and west of Pleasant Valley)
Pros: Hip and artsy with fantastic food, breweries, and a laid-back vibe. Close to the airport.
Cons: Can be hit-or-miss in terms of walkability, and some areas are still developing.
4. Zilker/Barton Hills
Pros: Close to Zilker Park and Barton Springs, great for outdoor lovers. Still close to downtown.
Cons: Limited hotel options—mostly Airbnb stays.
5. The Domain (North Austin)
Pros: High-end shopping, new restaurants, and quieter than downtown. Good if you prefer a more suburban feel.
Cons: Far from Austin’s core attractions (about a 20-minute drive to downtown).
6. Lake Austin
Pros: Proximity to the lake for lake activities. (Important note that there are not many spots with public lake access on Lake Austin, so this would only apply if you have Lake Austin activities lined up.) Closer to downtown if you are on the south side, which I would recommend. Neighborhood feel while still having access to the city.
Cons: Still a bit of a drive to Austin’s main attractions. Not many notable restaurants in the area.
7. Lake Travis
Pros: Larger vacation rentals for bigger groups. Proximity to the lake if you are doing lake activities. Likely more affordable because it’s 35-45 min from the city.
Cons: Distance from downtown. Few good restaurant options.
I hope you find this guide useful on your next trip to Austin! If you know someone coming to the city, share this guide with them by tapping “Share Extra Scoop” below!
Thank you for this thoughtful and awesome guide! Just how I love to travel; booking a trip asap!
Can't wait to try some of these!