There are few places quite like Austin, Texas. A city of where hipsters, hippies, young families, old families, native Texans, converted Texans, and college students all coexist happily. One of the fastest growing cities in the nation. What’s all the hype about?
Find out how to travel better here.
EATS
Veracruz All Natural
If you’re not careful in Texas, you might end up having tacos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And while you can’t go wrong with six tacos a day, why not strive to have the best at least once? While Torchy’s Tacos has had lot of commercial success (they are in 14 cities), you get a different taco at Veracruz: a more authentic one in which you can taste the love and generosity they put into each individual taco. With two food trucks (Eastside and South Austin) and one brick-and-mortar (Round Rock), there’s no excuse not to drop by and experience, truly, the best of the best.
Peached Tortilla
The culture is in the clash. It doesn’t get any more fun than Southern comfort with Asian flair: banh mi tacos, hanger steak with kimchi, brisket with rice noodles. With their sleek, bright yet cozy interior, it’s a surprise to some that the Peached Tortilla was once just a humble food truck. A cheaper, Chipotle-style Asian fusion option is Chi’lantro, a Mexican-Korean favorite with three brick and mortars and one truck.
la Barbecue
So you come to Texas for barbecue. Woke up late after a rough night on 6th Street. Judging by the line at world-renowned Franklin Barbecue, you’ll have to wait at least three hours. And what if they run out of pulled pork? You decide it’s not worth the meaty, mighty risk. la Barbecue comes to the rescue. Depending on who you ask, this Eastside food truck might even be better than Franklin’s.
Bouldin Creek Cafe
It wouldn’t be honest to talk about Austin without including a tidbit about vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants. This city is a haven for vegetarians, and Bouldin Creek Cafe has one of the most extensive menus. Even those inclined to meat-eating will find something tasty here. If you’re north of the 40 Acres (aka the University of Texas of Austin campus), Mother’s Cafe in Hyde Park is another classic vegetarian spot — you might catch some live acoustic guitar or even harp music, too!
DRINKS
Hotel Vegas
You enter. It’s dark and crowded. You’re intrigued. You fight your way to the bar and get a G&T. You move your limbs and dance. You start to get sweaty and the lack of lighting fixtures upset you. So you move toward the light in the back of the room. . . There’s a back patio! With food trucks! If you get really lucky, there’s a Veracruz All Natural taco truck. After replenishing the six tacos per day nutritional requirement you’ve recently developed, you wander around the backyard and find, lo and behold, a connected venue: The Volstead. This place is an adventure.
Lucille
If you’re going to Rainey Street, you’re probably too tired to rally on the infamous Dirty 6th, unimpressed with the hipster dive bars of East 6th (where Hotel Vegas is), and don’t understand West 6th. Rainey Street is for lively day drinking in renovated bungalows, with corn hole and jenga, which turns into night drinking with backyard fairy lights and comfy lawn furniture. Lucille’s has hammocks — that’s all I need to say. Or check out Bungalow or Container Bar, where there’s usually some people breaking out into dance.
Hops & Grain Craft Brewery
Craft beers. Board games. Benches. Ten dollar souvenir glass with plenty of tasting tokens. This is a great place to take a group and maybe even some dogs, to enjoy the Texas sunshine on their outdoor patio. Always a lively, low-key time in this East Austin establishment. Farther out is Jester King Brewery for some beer tasting on a 200-acre ranch.
PLAY
SWIM / Barton Springs Pool
Within the eastern section of of Zilker Park is a much cherished spring water-filled pool, mere minutes from downtown. Cold enough during the summer, and pleasantly not-too-cold in the winter, this is a city gem. And to keep it just weird enough for Austin, hundreds of people gather here to howl at every full moon.
SHOP / South Congress
If you’re looking for modern, upscale boutiques, head over to 2nd Street District. But, one visit to South Congress (SoCo), and you’ll get it: the essence of the weird, funky, and cool in Austin. Thrift shops, toy stores, costume shops, and more. Sure, there are tourists, but locals enjoy it as well.
LISTEN / Firehouse Lounge
Behind the bookshelf, underneath a hostel on Brazos Street, between 6th Street and 7th Street, is one of the best kept secrets of the city. Don’t tell too many people. The beauty of live music in Austin is that you don’t need an advanced ticket. Walk around downtown and stumble across gems like Firehouse Lounge, or head over to Cedar Street Courtyard for live music every. Single. Night. Honestly, it’s always a party at Cedar Street.
EXPERIENCE / South by Southwest
If there’s any event that encapsulate the Austin experience, it’s South by Southwest, or just South-by as local might call it. Held every March, SXSW is 9 days of emerging tech startups, live music, film screenings, and plenty of booze to go around. From indie darlings to Kanye and Jay Z, this festival attracts over 32,000 festival registrants a year.
Where else can you go food truck hopping on South 1st, kayaking at Lady Bird Johnson lake, coffee sipping at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, and then catch a show on 6th Street all in one day? Welcome to Austin, Texas.
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