Every great Austin day starts with one question: where should we go? This is the answer. Real venues, real vibes, organized by mood.
East Austin. Ranch-style outdoor dining under the oaks. Farm-to-table food, craft cocktails. The patio that makes you forget you're in a city. Reservations recommended.
Rainey Street. 100+ beers on tap, house-made sausages, giant biergarten patio. Dog-friendly. Live music weekends. The quintessential Rainey Street experience.
South Lamar. Asian smokehouse by the teams behind Franklin BBQ and Uchi. Stunning patio. Brisket Thai green curry. One of the best outdoor dining experiences in Texas.
Southeast Austin. Huge outdoor brewery with food trucks, games, and a chill vibe. Off the beaten path but worth the drive. Great for groups.
South Austin. Massive covered patio, house-brewed beers, excellent pizza. The best combination of beer and pizza in Austin. Casual, loud, fun.
South Austin. A sprawling outdoor space with multiple food trucks, a coffee bar, a beer garden, a plant nursery, and chickens. Yes, chickens. Austin at its most Austin.
Multiple locations. The gold standard of Austin specialty coffee. Clean, minimal aesthetic. Excellent espresso. The North Lamar location is the flagship.
Lake Austin Blvd. On the water. Massive outdoor deck overlooking the lake. Famous holiday light show. The most scenic coffee experience in Austin.
South Congress. Home of the "I love you so much" wall. Great people-watching. Iced turbo (their signature). The most photographed coffee shop in Austin.
East Austin. A converted house with a huge shaded patio. Breakfast tacos, pastries, and excellent coffee. Perfect for a lazy Saturday morning. Cash or card.
East Austin. Tiny. Perfect espresso. No frills, no pretension, just really good coffee from people who care about the craft. A local favorite.
South Congress. Since 1957. The heart of Austin live music. No cover most nights. Blues, country, rockabilly, soul. Dale Watson on Sundays. The real deal.
South Lamar. The last true Texas honky-tonk. Two-stepping since 1964. Chicken fried steak. Willie, Dolly, and George Strait all played here. Go on a Tuesday for the dance lesson.
East Austin. Country dancing, cheap beer, a fantastic jukebox, and live music every night. No cover. The late-night spot for Austin's country music scene.
Red River. Indoor stage and outdoor amphitheater. National touring acts. The gospel brunch on Sundays is legendary. Get the brisket.
East 5th. Austin's home of the blues since 1975. Stevie Ray Vaughan played here. Still the best blues club in Texas.
Red River. Indoor/outdoor venue in the Red River Cultural District. Indie, punk, hip-hop. The outdoor stage under the stars is magic.
Zilker Park. 68°F year-round, spring-fed, 3 acres. $5 entry. Austin's most beloved institution. Arrive early on weekends. The soul of the city.
Lake Austin Blvd. The oldest swimming pool in Texas (1915). Spring-fed, lap lanes, a wading area. $5. Less crowded than Barton Springs. A gem.
45 minutes west. A collapsed grotto with a 50-foot waterfall. Reservation required. Surreal natural beauty. Get your permit online weeks in advance.
Barton Creek Greenbelt. A 1.5-mile hike to a series of natural limestone pools and small falls. Free. Bring water. Best after rain when the creek is flowing.
Spicewood, 30 min west. 32 springs feeding natural and man-made pools. Camping available. $9 entry. A Hill Country classic. Butterfly garden on-site.
Multiple locations. Open 24/7. Pancakes at 2 AM. Queso. Breakfast tacos. The diner that's seen every version of Austin since 1980.
North Loop. Open 24 hours. The laptop crowd, the late-night studiers, the insomniacs. Austin's living room. Good coffee, good vibes, always open.
6th Street. Dive bar. Frozen drinks. People-watching from the balcony. Free pool. The bar that doesn't pretend to be anything other than a good time.
Multiple locations. Open 24/7. The Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit (breakfast menu starts at 11 PM). Spicy ketchup. The Texas late-night institution.
South Congress and Lake Austin. "Sorry, we're open." Austin's other 24-hour classic. Gingerbread pancakes. Love Migas. The menu is enormous.
351 acres in the heart of Austin. Barton Springs, botanical garden, Zilker train, disc golf, kite festival. Free parking on weekdays. The park that defines Austin.
10-mile hike and bike trail around Town Lake. Kayaking, paddleboarding, running, walking. The most popular outdoor activity in Austin. Beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
102 steps to the highest point in Austin. Stunning views of Lake Austin and the Hill Country. Free. Best at sunset. A rite of passage for every Austinite.
12+ miles of trails through limestone canyons. Swimming holes, rock climbing, mountain biking. The best urban hiking in Texas. Multiple trailheads.
Southeast Austin. Two waterfalls, swimming, hiking, camping. $6 entry. A state park inside the city limits. Onion Creek swimming hole is perfect in summer.