Austin
DISCLAIMER: I LOVE AUSTIN. WE LIVED THERE FROM 1999-2001. HOWEVER, I’M BOYCOTTING ALL OF TEXAS DUE TO THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE BUT KEEPING THE INFO BELOW IN SUPPORT OF THESE BUSINESSES.
WHERE TO EAT
BUT FIRST, COFFEE…
TOMS
1401 S Congress Ave
Not only can you buy your TOMS shoes and sunglasses, you can get a great cup of coffee and hang out in the funky lounge area.
https://www.toms.com
Once Over Coffee Bar
2009 S 1st Street
https://www.onceovercoffeebar.com/
DINING
Chuy’s (Barton Springs location) – Order the queso (compuesto) and a Texas martinis… this is always our first stop when we arrive in Austin
La Barbeque (or Franklin’s) – best places for BBQ (brisket is DIVINE). Prepare for 2-3 hour waits
Loro
Brainchild of Roy Choi and Aaron Franklin, described as “Asian smokehouse meets Texas barbeque
2115 S Lamar Blvd
https://www.loroeats.com/
Guerro’s (South Congress) – an Austin institution for Tex-Mex
Juiceland (Barton Springs location) – best fresh juices and smoothies
Elizabeth Street Cafe
French breakfasts, Vietnamese noodles and Bánh mì for lunch
1501 S 1st Street
https://elizabethstreetcafe.com/
SHOPPING
Central Market (if Whole Foods and Costco had a baby, it would be this fabulous market – best one is in South Austin on Lamar Blvd.
Whole Earth Provision Company (next to Central Market on Lamar)
Allen’s Boots (South Congress) – best place for the real Texas boot experience
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel San Jose
1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Cute boutique hotel in trendy South Congress neighborhood. Walking distance to everything.
SEE AND DO
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – gorgeous, must see gardens in Southwest Austin
Zilker Arboretum – not as lovely as the Wildflower Center but really close to Barton Springs in Zilker Park
Barton Springs Reservoir – chilly water year round but it’s awesome in the heat!
Congress Avenue Bridge (over the river/Lake Austin) – hundreds of thousands of Mexican fruit bats exit every evening at dusk (walk around the lake if you can, it’s gorgeous)
6th Street – go from bar to bar listening to live music
The Driskill Hotel (Brazos Street, off 6th) – supposedly haunted, it’s a gorgeous old hotel with a grand downstairs area
Rainey Street – really cool bars, including one made entirely from shipping containers!
Original Whole Foods is on 6th/Lamar
Book People – great bookshop next to original Whole Foods
Amy’s Ice Cream – Austinites are fanatical about it. Our favorite is Cop Stop: Coffee ice cream with donut holes in it.