Guidebook for Austin

James
Guidebook for Austin

Arts & Culture

If you're here for ACL, this is the location it happens. Even though we're about 1.5 miles, it's going to be worth walking or pedi-cabbing. Also be aware, your phones may not work or be jammed.
1533 recommandé par les habitants
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2207 Barton Springs Rd
1533 recommandé par les habitants
If you're here for ACL, this is the location it happens. Even though we're about 1.5 miles, it's going to be worth walking or pedi-cabbing. Also be aware, your phones may not work or be jammed.
Ranked #1 Movie Theatre in the USA. Great pre-shows, special events and more. Look for Masterpancake shows where they take a movie and pause and comment throughout it; really funny.
770 recommandé par les habitants
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar Blvd
770 recommandé par les habitants
Ranked #1 Movie Theatre in the USA. Great pre-shows, special events and more. Look for Masterpancake shows where they take a movie and pause and comment throughout it; really funny.
BYOB Mini-gold (no glass). Great place to go play a few holes of golf. Challenging courses and walking distance. It's cash only though!
201 recommandé par les habitants
Peter Pan Mini Golf
1207 Barton Springs Rd
201 recommandé par les habitants
BYOB Mini-gold (no glass). Great place to go play a few holes of golf. Challenging courses and walking distance. It's cash only though!

Sightseeing

Year round natural swimming pool. It's normally $3 per person to get in, although during the evenings it's free. Topless sunbathing is allowed, just remember that the water is 68 degrees..brrr.
2454 recommandé par les habitants
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2131 William Barton Dr
2454 recommandé par les habitants
Year round natural swimming pool. It's normally $3 per person to get in, although during the evenings it's free. Topless sunbathing is allowed, just remember that the water is 68 degrees..brrr.
Awesome hill to look over downtown at night and located next to the long center. There is a large fountain here as well that's lit with colorful LED's. Austin has a beautiful skyline at night!
Liz Carpenter Fountain
Awesome hill to look over downtown at night and located next to the long center. There is a large fountain here as well that's lit with colorful LED's. Austin has a beautiful skyline at night!
Beautiful view of Austin from here. Great park, if you're looking for a challenging bike ride; this would be the place to go to. It's up a steep hill, but it can be done!
19 recommandé par les habitants
Mount Bonnell Terrace
19 recommandé par les habitants
Beautiful view of Austin from here. Great park, if you're looking for a challenging bike ride; this would be the place to go to. It's up a steep hill, but it can be done!
Fun to walk around, beautiful grounds. Tours daily.
1121 recommandé par les habitants
Texas Senate
1200 Congress Ave
1121 recommandé par les habitants
Fun to walk around, beautiful grounds. Tours daily.

Drinks & Nightlife

Excellent cocktails, great ambiance. You don't have to be a hotel guests to stop in for a Jalapeño Lemonade; just be warned that drinks here are $10 a piece.
78 recommandé par les habitants
W Austin
200 Lavaca St
78 recommandé par les habitants
Excellent cocktails, great ambiance. You don't have to be a hotel guests to stop in for a Jalapeño Lemonade; just be warned that drinks here are $10 a piece.
Remarkable Sunday Brunch from 11-3. They serve bottomless mimosas (just aren't allowed to advertise it) and they are super good. Might get even better treatment if you mention you know me!
18 recommandé par les habitants
CRÚ Food & Wine Bar (2nd Street - Austin)
238 W 2nd St
18 recommandé par les habitants
Remarkable Sunday Brunch from 11-3. They serve bottomless mimosas (just aren't allowed to advertise it) and they are super good. Might get even better treatment if you mention you know me!
Austin's best gay dance club/lounge, you'll find it here. Thursdays are student strip off and the rest of the nights are just a good time. Friendly staff, great drinks. Moderate dress code enforced.
24 recommandé par les habitants
Rain
217 W 4th St
24 recommandé par les habitants
Austin's best gay dance club/lounge, you'll find it here. Thursdays are student strip off and the rest of the nights are just a good time. Friendly staff, great drinks. Moderate dress code enforced.
Great neighborhood gay bar, typically an older scene, big dance floor. Free burgers on Sunday starting around 5 or 6. $1 mimosas and great drink specials throughout the week. Also, has a pool table.
28 recommandé par les habitants
Oilcan Harry's
211 W 4th St
28 recommandé par les habitants
Great neighborhood gay bar, typically an older scene, big dance floor. Free burgers on Sunday starting around 5 or 6. $1 mimosas and great drink specials throughout the week. Also, has a pool table.
Awesome bar, best on Thursday nights and known for it's $5 liquor pitchers. Awesome rooftop patio too; great for people watching down sixth street.
27 recommandé par les habitants
Shakespeare's
314 E 6th St
27 recommandé par les habitants
Awesome bar, best on Thursday nights and known for it's $5 liquor pitchers. Awesome rooftop patio too; great for people watching down sixth street.
Pseudo-dive bar. Great waffle fries and other food for that matter. Reasonable prices, another sixth street must.
55 recommandé par les habitants
The Jackalope
404 E 6th St
55 recommandé par les habitants
Pseudo-dive bar. Great waffle fries and other food for that matter. Reasonable prices, another sixth street must.
Turns into a gay bar on Tuesdays (Tuezgayz). Fun hipster bar, good music, seemingly cheap drinks that tend to add up quickly. Large patio, "hidden" dance floor on the second level.
153 recommandé par les habitants
Barbarella
611 Red River St
153 recommandé par les habitants
Turns into a gay bar on Tuesdays (Tuezgayz). Fun hipster bar, good music, seemingly cheap drinks that tend to add up quickly. Large patio, "hidden" dance floor on the second level.
Happy hour that goes until 9pm, great tapas and specialty drinks. Awesome rooftop.
16 recommandé par les habitants
219 West
612 W 6th St
16 recommandé par les habitants
Happy hour that goes until 9pm, great tapas and specialty drinks. Awesome rooftop.
Great happy hour/soco bar. Lots of outdoor space.
76 recommandé par les habitants
Doc's Motorworks
1123 South Congress Avenue
76 recommandé par les habitants
Great happy hour/soco bar. Lots of outdoor space.
Excellent seafood oyster bar, more excellent for brunch on the patio. Kindof pricy but well worth it.
399 recommandé par les habitants
Perla's
1400 S Congress Ave
399 recommandé par les habitants
Excellent seafood oyster bar, more excellent for brunch on the patio. Kindof pricy but well worth it.
Very divey, but reasonably priced and super nice staff. Also - if you want to karaoke...
98 recommandé par les habitants
Ego's Bar
510 S Congress Ave
98 recommandé par les habitants
Very divey, but reasonably priced and super nice staff. Also - if you want to karaoke...

Food Scene

Hands down my favorite coffee/work bar. Great vibe, good music, plushy couches and big doors and windows that are kept open on nice days. Lunch specials, full bar, and s'mores when it's cold out!
136 recommandé par les habitants
Halcyon
218 W 4th St
136 recommandé par les habitants
Hands down my favorite coffee/work bar. Great vibe, good music, plushy couches and big doors and windows that are kept open on nice days. Lunch specials, full bar, and s'mores when it's cold out!
Futball games year-round and an authentic Irish pub. They have an excellent beer selection and awesome food too. Look out during St. Patty's day, they close down 4th street with their festival!
17 recommandé par les habitants
Fado Irish Pub Austin
214 W 4th St
17 recommandé par les habitants
Futball games year-round and an authentic Irish pub. They have an excellent beer selection and awesome food too. Look out during St. Patty's day, they close down 4th street with their festival!
The food is amazing and you'll find vodka cocktails on the menu, but none of them are made with vodka. Gin and whisky is all that is served here. 12/5 is prohibition day, and you can a fun party here.
93 recommandé par les habitants
Péché
208 W 4th St
93 recommandé par les habitants
The food is amazing and you'll find vodka cocktails on the menu, but none of them are made with vodka. Gin and whisky is all that is served here. 12/5 is prohibition day, and you can a fun party here.
Great mexican food, don't be fooled by the map (it's on third street). The patio is shaded and overlooks Shoal Creek and is always a great place to sit and enjoy a margarita.
7 recommandé par les habitants
Garrido's
360 Nueces St
7 recommandé par les habitants
Great mexican food, don't be fooled by the map (it's on third street). The patio is shaded and overlooks Shoal Creek and is always a great place to sit and enjoy a margarita.
By far my favorite late night eatery. One of the only places that serves chicken and waffles the right way (and oh so good). Perfect spot to swing by after a long night; you won't be the only ones.
238 recommandé par les habitants
24 Diner
600 N Lamar Blvd
238 recommandé par les habitants
By far my favorite late night eatery. One of the only places that serves chicken and waffles the right way (and oh so good). Perfect spot to swing by after a long night; you won't be the only ones.
Very expensive, the menu is hand selected every day from the freshest meat and seafood locally and nationally. A ridiculous wine list/bar, great service and food that is probably unparalleled here.
60 recommandé par les habitants
Wink
1014 N Lamar Blvd
60 recommandé par les habitants
Very expensive, the menu is hand selected every day from the freshest meat and seafood locally and nationally. A ridiculous wine list/bar, great service and food that is probably unparalleled here.
Favorite mexican food in town, right by campus with a great atmosphere. Make sure to try the Mexican Martini's - comes in a shaker. Also, avocado salsa is great!
72 recommandé par les habitants
Trudy's Texas Star
409 W 30th St
72 recommandé par les habitants
Favorite mexican food in town, right by campus with a great atmosphere. Make sure to try the Mexican Martini's - comes in a shaker. Also, avocado salsa is great!
The coffee shop has a fun vibe and some cool events that go on. Be warned, the WiFi is slow, the service is crap and the drinks are overpriced..but people seem to love how eclectic it is.
176 recommandé par les habitants
Spider House Ballroom
2906 Fruth St
176 recommandé par les habitants
The coffee shop has a fun vibe and some cool events that go on. Be warned, the WiFi is slow, the service is crap and the drinks are overpriced..but people seem to love how eclectic it is.
Setup in a cute older house that's been modernly redone. If you include a bottle of wine you can expect to spend $100 for 2 people. Food is fantastic, staff is great; you will need a reservation.
51 recommandé par les habitants
Fabi + Rosi
509 Hearn St
51 recommandé par les habitants
Setup in a cute older house that's been modernly redone. If you include a bottle of wine you can expect to spend $100 for 2 people. Food is fantastic, staff is great; you will need a reservation.
Formerly owned by Chuy's Mexican Food; they have almost the same menu. It is located on the water, with one dining room over the water. A hot spot in the summer since boats can pull up and order.
270 recommandé par les habitants
Hula Hut
3825 Lake Austin Blvd
270 recommandé par les habitants
Formerly owned by Chuy's Mexican Food; they have almost the same menu. It is located on the water, with one dining room over the water. A hot spot in the summer since boats can pull up and order.
Another great coffee shop, good WiFi and a great view of the lake. If it's a nice day, you can sit on the deck and work. They have a shaded deck, an open deck and two large rooms inside (with views).
371 recommandé par les habitants
Mozart's Coffee Roasters
3825 Lake Austin Blvd
371 recommandé par les habitants
Another great coffee shop, good WiFi and a great view of the lake. If it's a nice day, you can sit on the deck and work. They have a shaded deck, an open deck and two large rooms inside (with views).
If you have to be near campus, this is a great coffee shop. There is typically parking out front (if not there's street parking). Great happy hour too! They will open the garage door on nice days too.
6 recommandé par les habitants
JP's Java
2803 San Jacinto Blvd
6 recommandé par les habitants
If you have to be near campus, this is a great coffee shop. There is typically parking out front (if not there's street parking). Great happy hour too! They will open the garage door on nice days too.
Another student hot spot/after party spot. Open 24 hours, and serves standard diner food. Nothing special, but if you're near campus you'll find it busy.
59 recommandé par les habitants
Kerbey Lane Cafe - University
2606 Guadalupe St
59 recommandé par les habitants
Another student hot spot/after party spot. Open 24 hours, and serves standard diner food. Nothing special, but if you're near campus you'll find it busy.
Great concert venue, good BBQ. Check their concert calendar to see if anybody good is playing!
282 recommandé par les habitants
Stubb's Bar-B-Q
801 Red River St
282 recommandé par les habitants
Great concert venue, good BBQ. Check their concert calendar to see if anybody good is playing!
FANTASTIC BRUNCH! Fresh squeezed everything, OJ that's actually orange. Interior mexican food with great outdoor seating and a house that is creatively redone to host this great restaurant.
10 recommandé par les habitants
Papi Tino's
1306 East 6th Street
10 recommandé par les habitants
FANTASTIC BRUNCH! Fresh squeezed everything, OJ that's actually orange. Interior mexican food with great outdoor seating and a house that is creatively redone to host this great restaurant.
Great happy hour and a really cool (enclosed) back patio that puts it in a green house looking building. Also the front deck patio is great too - overlooks the Lady Bird Lake trail.
16 recommandé par les habitants
Paggi House
200 Lee Barton Dr
16 recommandé par les habitants
Great happy hour and a really cool (enclosed) back patio that puts it in a green house looking building. Also the front deck patio is great too - overlooks the Lady Bird Lake trail.
Another must see in Austin. Huge patio restaurant, typically very popular and hosts Unplugged at the Grove on Thursdays during the summer where a band plays starting at 7.
171 recommandé par les habitants
Shady Grove
1624 Barton Springs Rd
171 recommandé par les habitants
Another must see in Austin. Huge patio restaurant, typically very popular and hosts Unplugged at the Grove on Thursdays during the summer where a band plays starting at 7.
Excellent sushi happy hour. Wouldn't go during full price time, but the happy hour is fantastic.
Kenichi
419 Colorado St
Excellent sushi happy hour. Wouldn't go during full price time, but the happy hour is fantastic.
Ridiculously good pizza; by the slice or by the pie.
791 recommandé par les habitants
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress Ave
791 recommandé par les habitants
Ridiculously good pizza; by the slice or by the pie.
Best burgers in town, must try. If it's a weekend there will be a line (don't worry it goes quick).
780 recommandé par les habitants
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 S Congress Ave
780 recommandé par les habitants
Best burgers in town, must try. If it's a weekend there will be a line (don't worry it goes quick).
Another must try if you're staying on Congress.
279 recommandé par les habitants
South Congress Cafe
1600 S Congress Ave
279 recommandé par les habitants
Another must try if you're staying on Congress.
Great for a 24 hour diner in the Soco area, a great alternative to 24 Diner.
478 recommandé par les habitants
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress Ave
478 recommandé par les habitants
Great for a 24 hour diner in the Soco area, a great alternative to 24 Diner.
Awesome nearby coffee shop, they donate to a cause for every cup you buy. Quite friendly, decent WiFi and easy walking distance if it's summer.
69 recommandé par les habitants
Dominican Joe
515 South Congress Avenue
69 recommandé par les habitants
Awesome nearby coffee shop, they donate to a cause for every cup you buy. Quite friendly, decent WiFi and easy walking distance if it's summer.
The original Chipotle concept (supposedly) was Freebirds, crazy burritos, crazier atmosphere, but all in all made better by queso on the burritos. =)
44 recommandé par les habitants
Freebirds World Burrito
515 S Congress Ave
44 recommandé par les habitants
The original Chipotle concept (supposedly) was Freebirds, crazy burritos, crazier atmosphere, but all in all made better by queso on the burritos. =)
Suggestive name...great chicken.
9 recommandé par les habitants
Ms P's Electric Cock
9 recommandé par les habitants
Suggestive name...great chicken.

Essentials

The flagship Whole Foods is a great store to run through. They have a huge restaurant area, lots of fresh food, cooking classes and an ice rink on the roof during December.
1332 recommandé par les habitants
Whole Foods Market
525 N Lamar Blvd
1332 recommandé par les habitants
The flagship Whole Foods is a great store to run through. They have a huge restaurant area, lots of fresh food, cooking classes and an ice rink on the roof during December.

Shopping

This is probably the most convenient place from the Congress apartments (if you're looking for a good deal). Other liquor stores are closer but smaller selection. Case prices after 2 bottles.
53 recommandé par les habitants
Twin Liquors
1801 E 51st St
53 recommandé par les habitants
This is probably the most convenient place from the Congress apartments (if you're looking for a good deal). Other liquor stores are closer but smaller selection. Case prices after 2 bottles.

Everything Else

If you need to run - this 8 mile trail will do it for you. You can hop underneath the Congress bridge by the apartment and take it around the lake. Follow the other runners!
267 recommandé par les habitants
Lady Bird Lake Trail
Lady Bird Lake Trail
267 recommandé par les habitants
If you need to run - this 8 mile trail will do it for you. You can hop underneath the Congress bridge by the apartment and take it around the lake. Follow the other runners!
If you need a good haircut, they've got reasonably priced ones. Plus you get free beer! It's a very Austin place to go =)
53 recommandé par les habitants
Birds Barbershop
2110 S Lamar Blvd
53 recommandé par les habitants
If you need a good haircut, they've got reasonably priced ones. Plus you get free beer! It's a very Austin place to go =)