Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Social, casual vegan and vegetarian cafe and coffee shop. Free wi-fi, great people watching and one of the social hubs of our neighborhood.
565 locals recommend
Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S 1st StSocial, casual vegan and vegetarian cafe and coffee shop. Free wi-fi, great people watching and one of the social hubs of our neighborhood.
Jam, the owner, is a community resource who sources most of her ingredients locally. Try the coconut milk based vegan ice creams, especially good: Lavender & Earl Grey.
189 locals recommend
Thai Fresh
909 W Mary StJam, the owner, is a community resource who sources most of her ingredients locally. Try the coconut milk based vegan ice creams, especially good: Lavender & Earl Grey.
Locally-sourced ingredient fine-dining prix-fixe menu restaurant, with a nice, more casual wine and beer bar out back. I recommend a nice glass of red wine in their back patio area.
179 locals recommend
LENOIR
1807 S 1st StLocally-sourced ingredient fine-dining prix-fixe menu restaurant, with a nice, more casual wine and beer bar out back. I recommend a nice glass of red wine in their back patio area.
James Beard-winning chef's local ingredients fine dining restaurant. Very tasty.
153 locals recommend
Barley Swine
6555 Burnet RdJames Beard-winning chef's local ingredients fine dining restaurant. Very tasty.
Elizabeth Street Cafe
1501 S 1st StDelicious bahn-mi. Upscale French and Vietnamese cafe.
Relaxed coffee spot great for long hangouts. Good beet and goat cheese sandwich too. Good working spot.
379 locals recommend
Cenote
1010 E Cesar Chavez StRelaxed coffee spot great for long hangouts. Good beet and goat cheese sandwich too. Good working spot.
Chef-owned (James Beard award winner) sushi place not far from the house. Great for a very special dinner. Pricey but amazing. Extremely long wait on weekends.
688 locals recommend
Uchi
801 S Lamar BlvdChef-owned (James Beard award winner) sushi place not far from the house. Great for a very special dinner. Pricey but amazing. Extremely long wait on weekends.
One of the top coffee shops in the city- and an easy five min walk from our house. Exceptionally good lattes and cappuccinos.
115 locals recommend
Once Over Coffee Bar
2009 S 1st StOne of the top coffee shops in the city- and an easy five min walk from our house. Exceptionally good lattes and cappuccinos.
Raw food, vegan and juice bar. Delicious! Really energizing, delicious food and drinks.
519 locals recommend
JuiceLand
1625 Barton Springs RdRaw food, vegan and juice bar. Delicious! Really energizing, delicious food and drinks.
Juice bar run by the Juiceland folks and a soup restaurant, all packed into a fun little tiny place on the corner with an outdoor eating area.
133 locals recommend
Soup Peddler Real Food & Juice Bar
501 W Mary StJuice bar run by the Juiceland folks and a soup restaurant, all packed into a fun little tiny place on the corner with an outdoor eating area.
Casa de Luz Village
1701 Toomey RdDelicious macrobiotic, nearly sacred food.
Everything Else
The soul of Austin- a spring fed pool that cools swimmers all year round. $3 cash admission. -Closed for renovation until March 2013-
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrThe soul of Austin- a spring fed pool that cools swimmers all year round. $3 cash admission. -Closed for renovation until March 2013-
The greenbelt is a beautiful hiking, mountain biking, swimming and rock climbing destination just a 15 minute drive from our house.
We will give you better directions than this map provides.
235 locals recommend
Barton Creek Greenbelt Trailhead
Barton Creek Greenbelt TrailThe greenbelt is a beautiful hiking, mountain biking, swimming and rock climbing destination just a 15 minute drive from our house.
We will give you better directions than this map provides.
Drinks & Nightlife
Wednesdays and Saturdays until midnight this hotel lounge bar is a casual, glamorous spot to hang out. Try the champassion or the micheladas.
209 locals recommend
Hotel San Jose Lounge
1316 S Congress AveWednesdays and Saturdays until midnight this hotel lounge bar is a casual, glamorous spot to hang out. Try the champassion or the micheladas.
Very well crafted, elegant cocktails- try the El Diablo! Cozy inside and nice patio outside. Spanish tapas food trailer outside (Tapa Braza)- try the fried artichoke!
178 locals recommend
Weather Up
1808 E Cesar Chavez StVery well crafted, elegant cocktails- try the El Diablo! Cozy inside and nice patio outside. Spanish tapas food trailer outside (Tapa Braza)- try the fried artichoke!
Awesome, family-owned spot that serves Indian food, and beer and carries hundreds of varieties of rare beers and wine. Small, fun and funky. Down to earth Austin. Outdoor seating.
267 locals recommend
Whip in
1950 S I-35 Frontage RdAwesome, family-owned spot that serves Indian food, and beer and carries hundreds of varieties of rare beers and wine. Small, fun and funky. Down to earth Austin. Outdoor seating.
Essentials
Our neighborhood bodega owned by the Lee brothers. Check out the Bob Marley shirt by the door; it's a local relic. Great spot to pick up wine, beer or Topo Chicos. Open until midnight.
19 locals recommend
David's Food
912 W Mary StOur neighborhood bodega owned by the Lee brothers. Check out the Bob Marley shirt by the door; it's a local relic. Great spot to pick up wine, beer or Topo Chicos. Open until midnight.
Amazing local (that is now multinational) grocery store. You can get dinner/drinks and enjoy them on the roof. Kombucha on tap. Every type of prepared food or grocery you could need is available.
1332 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar BlvdAmazing local (that is now multinational) grocery store. You can get dinner/drinks and enjoy them on the roof. Kombucha on tap. Every type of prepared food or grocery you could need is available.
Closest grocery store to our house. Not super fun to go to but convenient when you need things.
1667 locals recommend
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdClosest grocery store to our house. Not super fun to go to but convenient when you need things.
Awesome locally owned small grocery that isn't far from our house. Great vibe and good supplies for making dinner!
87 locals recommend
FARM TO MARKET GROCERY
1718 S Congress AveAwesome locally owned small grocery that isn't far from our house. Great vibe and good supplies for making dinner!
Arts & Culture
Art museum, art classes and gorgeous grounds for walking. Check out the peacocks from nearby Mayfield Park, and stroll along the path by the river.
98 locals recommend
The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria
3809 W 35th StArt museum, art classes and gorgeous grounds for walking. Check out the peacocks from nearby Mayfield Park, and stroll along the path by the river.
Great movie theater on 2nd Street that shows independent films and serves beer/wine/food during movie. Assigned seats.
347 locals recommend
Violet Crown Social Club
1111 E 6th StGreat movie theater on 2nd Street that shows independent films and serves beer/wine/food during movie. Assigned seats.
Best museum in Austin. Contemporary art. They have movies on the roof often- check their website for listings.
173 locals recommend
The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center
700 Congress AveBest museum in Austin. Contemporary art. They have movies on the roof often- check their website for listings.
Sightseeing
The tallest point in Austin. 360 degree views of downtown Austin, the river, Westlake Hills and UT. If you need a perspective shift, this is the spot to get it.
1082 locals recommend
Mount Bonnell
The tallest point in Austin. 360 degree views of downtown Austin, the river, Westlake Hills and UT. If you need a perspective shift, this is the spot to get it.