All 246 winners of the Austin Chronicle's 36th annual Best of Austin® — every Readers Poll and Critics Pick — with our take on each one.
The votes are in. More than 40,000 Austinites weighed in on the Austin Chronicle's 36th annual Best of Austin® Readers Poll — the oldest "best of" in town — and the Chronicle staff added their own Critics Picks. We read through all 246 winners so you don't have to — here's every one, by section, with the runners-up and our two cents on each pick: the no-brainers, the upsets, and what it all says about where Austin's headed in 2026. The results are the Chronicle's; the opinions are ours. Tap a section to jump:
Or dig into one thing — our deep-dive guides:
The readers voted, and as usual Austin's eating-and-drinking ballots read like a love letter to the places we never stopped going to — Veracruz, P. Terry's, Home Slice, Uchiko. We're here for the comfort of it, but we're also here to argue: a few of these crowns belong on different heads, and the Critics Picks are where the real discoveries hide. Pull up a chair; we've got opinions and we've eaten our homework.
Rocco's takes the new-spot crown by leaning hard into red-sauce comfort instead of trend-chasing — sometimes the city just wants a plate of pasta and zero pretense.
Finalists: Cousin Louie’s, Ēma, Kiin Di, Roya
Eldorado Cafe wins on the strength of feeling like somebody's actual kitchen — the kind of neighborhood Tex-Mex that earns loyalty one warm welcome at a time.
Finalists: Artipasta, Bartlett’s, Chez Zee, Phoebe’s Diner
Bryce Gilmore (Barley Swine, Odd Duck)
Crowning Bryce Gilmore is the safe, correct call — Barley Swine and Odd Duck have quietly shaped how a generation of Austin cooks think about local plates.
Finalists: Jorge Cavazos (de Nada Cantina), Amir Hajimaleki (Roya), Peter Klein (Holiday), Sarah Koslosky (Ovenbird)
Odd Duck taking Service tracks: the floor team treats a Tuesday two-top like a special occasion, and the kitchen's invention gives them plenty to talk about.
Finalists: Eldorado Cafe, Ēma, Este, Lil’ Easy
Quack’s Multiple Locations
Quack's is the cozy counter-service institution that's been feeding the neighborhood for decades — unglamorous, reliable, and exactly what a hometown bakery should be.
Finalists: Comadre Panadería, Rockman, Upper Crust, Zucchini Kill
Radio Coffee & Beer Multiple Locations
Radio wins because it's two great hangs in one — serious coffee by day, beer and live music by night, all under one delightfully unhurried South Austin roof.
Finalists: Desnudo, Epoch Coffee, Spokesman, Texas Coffee Traders
Paperboy Multiple Locations
Paperboy turns a humble trailer into a brunch destination, proof that you don't need white tablecloths to do morning food the right way.
Finalists: Chez Zee, Ovenbird, Phoebe’s Diner, Toasty Badger
Kerbey Lane Cafe Multiple Locations
Kerbey Lane is the answer to the 1am question every Austinite eventually asks, and the queso-and-pancakes combo has never once let us down.
Finalists: 24 Diner, Justine’s, Magnolia Cafe, Yellow Ranger
Veracruz All Natural Multiple Locations
Veracruz running away with Food Truck is the least surprising result on the ballot — and we'd still wait in that line tomorrow.
Finalists: Artipasta, Shoyu Sugar, Spicy Boys, Vecinos Tacos
Uchiko remains the special-occasion gold standard, where the omakase mindset and that famous precision justify every dollar on the check.
Finalists: Barley Swine, Fabrik, Jeffrey’s, Red Ash
Bouldin Creek is the meat-free clubhouse Austin keeps coming back to — proudly weird, plant-forward, and so very South Austin.
Finalists: Casa de Luz, Fabrik, Mr. Natural, Nori
Veracruz All Natural Multiple Locations
The breakfast-taco crown to Veracruz is the morning ritual made official; their migas taco is the one you bring out-of-towners to.
Finalists: Granny’s Tacos, Pueblo Viejo, Taco Joint, Tacodeli
Home Slice Pizza Multiple Locations
A pizza joint winning Sandwich sounds like a typo until you've had Home Slice's Italian sub — then it just sounds like good taste.
Finalists: Bird Bird Biscuit, Foodheads, Little Deli, Thundercloud Subs
P. Terry’s Multiple Locations
P. Terry's wins Burger by being honest: a fresh, fast, fairly priced patty that's woven into Austin's muscle memory.
Finalists: Casino el Camino, Hopdoddy, Jewboy Burgers, Mighty Fine
P. Terry’s Multiple Locations
P. Terry's pulling the veggie-burger double says they sweat the meatless option as hard as the beef — a rarity at any price point.
Finalists: Arlo’s, Bouldin Creek Cafe, Crown & Anchor, Mission Burger Co.
Jeffrey's takes Steak the way it does everything: with old-Clarksville polish and a kitchen that simply doesn't miss the temperature.
Finalists: Alc Steaks, Bartlett’s, J. Carver’s Oyster Bar & Chop House, Justine’s, Vanhorn’s
LeRoy and Lewis beating Franklin is the boldest readers' call of the bunch, and the beef-cheek-and-new-school-cuts gospel earns it.
Finalists: Franklin Barbecue, Kg BBQ, La Barbecue, Stiles Switch
Veracruz All Natural Multiple Locations
Veracruz completes the taco hat trick, which says less about competition and more about how thoroughly they own the conversation.
Finalists: Cuantos Tacos, De Nada Cantina, Eldorado Cafe, Paprika, Taquería de Diez
Torchy’s Tacos Multiple Locations
Torchy's winning Queso is the populist pick — that little green drizzle is divisive, but the masses have spoken and they like it spicy.
Finalists: de Nada Cantina, Kerbey Lane Cafe, Matt’s el Rancho, Maudie’s
Komé takes Sushi by letting the fish do the talking over the flash — a neighborhood spot punching well above its strip-mall address.
Finalists: Neighborhood Sushi, Nori, Uchi, Uchiko
Ramen Tatsu-ya Multiple Locations
Tatsu-ya wins Ramen on sheer consistency — that rich, creamy tonkotsu hits the same satisfying note every single visit.
Finalists: Marufuku, Michi Ramen, Phó Phong Luu, Ramen Del Barrio, Sazan Ramen
Home Slice Pizza Multiple Locations
Home Slice grabs Pizza on the back of those wide, foldable New York slices and a cult following that frankly checks out.
Finalists: Allday Pizza, Bufalina, Pinthouse, Via 313
Amy’s Ice Creams Multiple Locations
Amy's wins Dessert because Mexican vanilla and a little crush-it counter theater have been Austin's sweet default for decades.
Finalists: Chez Zee, Gati, Lick Honest Ice Creams, Omg Squee
De Nada Cantina Multiple Locations
De Nada's margarita crown rides as much on the vibe and the Monday happy hour as the pour — though the pour is plenty good.
Finalists: Curra’s, Eldorado Cafe, Fonda San Miguel, Matt’s el Rancho
Odd Duck taking Mocktail proves the no-proof category deserves real craft, not an afterthought lemonade — they treat the N/A menu seriously.
Finalists: Drinkwell, Holiday, Nori, The Roosevelt Room
Meanwhile wins Brewery as much for the sprawling Southeast hang as the beer — a giant yard, food trucks, and room to breathe.
Finalists: Pinthouse, St. Elmo Brewing Co., Vacancy Brewing, Zilker Brewing Co.
Still Austin takes Distillery for grain-to-glass bourbon made in the city limits — a genuine point of local pride in your glass.
Finalists: Deep Eddy Vodka, Desert Door, Dripping Springs Distilling
LoLo wins the wine crown by being an actual neighborhood wine bar — natural-leaning, low-key, and built for lingering, not posturing.
Finalists: the Austin Winery, House Wine, Strangelove, Wanderlust Wine Co.
ThoroughFare (Mueller combination bakery, cafe, deli, and grocery)
ThoroughFare wins Wild Card by being four good ideas under one Mueller roof — bakery, cafe, deli, and grocer in a tidy package.
Finalists: Konbini (Sushi Bar Inside Papercut), Senza Maeso Tasting Room (San Marcos Distillery)
As old East Austin keeps getting sanded down into sameness, Twin Isle is a jolt of color and heat right by the Carver Museum. The fast-casual Trini menu leans into the good stuff — oxtail, doubles, jerk — and that house pepper sauce is the real dividing line. Order it, brace yourself, and thank us later.
Lynny's earned its following one buttery biscuit at a time, and the new East 12th storefront finally gives the operation the room it deserves. The sixties-diner styling is charming without trying too hard, and the coffee is genuinely drinkable — no small thing. Come for a slow brunch, leave with crumbs on your shirt and no regrets.
Paprika graduated from food truck to a North Lamar brick-and-mortar without losing the plot — the menu stays short and the prices stay sane even as the praise piles up. The room runs industrial and loud, but the staff somehow still thanks every single person heading out the door. Get a taco, get the torta, and bring a napkin for the salsa.
Leona is what happens when the Veracruz and DEE DEE crews decide your remote-work day deserves a garden. The grounds are genuinely lovely — trees, a stream, the works — and the food spans the Mexican and Thai favorites you already trust from both teams. It's a rare spot that's productive and restorative at once, and a burger bar is reportedly on the way.
Plenty of Austin pop-ups never make it to a permanent address, which makes Matok's South Lamar storefront a small civic victory. The Middle Eastern and Mediterranean baking is the draw — flaky, savory, deeply craveable — and the za'atar buns have a way of disappearing before you reach the car. This is a comeback story you can taste.
Tucked into the Webberville Food Truck Park, Brown Sugar is the dessert you reward yourself with after eating something sensible. The rotating drops keep the case interesting, but the sea-salt chocolate chip is the dependable hero and the hot-honey cornbread cookie is worth the detour. We've yet to meet one we didn't finish.
Most prix fixe menus ask you to pay more for less, which is exactly what makes Le Calamar a standout. This South First French-Texan bistro packs four genuinely filling courses into one set price, pulling from its greatest hits without the usual tiny-plate stinginess. For a value-minded splurge, it's one of the smartest reservations in town.
Kriya stands out in a crowded matcha moment because there's real heart behind the counter — a founder who rebuilt her path after a health scare and poured it into this West Campus truck. The ceremonial-grade pours rotate through flavors like pistachio and rose, and the welcome is as warm as the drinks are vivid. Proof that the best small ventures usually start with a leap.
Open since early 2025 in Northwest Hills, Old Jerusalem wasted no time becoming a neighborhood regular. The halal lineup is deep and reliable — hummus, falafel, shawarma every which way, wood-fired skewers and even gooey pizza pies — and it shows up across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With a big patio, reservations, and weekend soccer crowds, it's clearly building something that outlasts the buzz.
Don't let the West Campus Shell-station address fool you: Armando's is one of the better quiet bargains in town. The menu sprawls from Mexican plates to stacked deli sandwiches to plain old hot dogs, yet the quality and the portions never get thin. The Armando's Club on sourdough, layered with Boar's Head and that house chipotle mayo, is the one to beat.
LeRoy and Lewis for Barbecue
For once we're with the readers over the obvious answer — Franklin is a pilgrimage, but LeRoy and Lewis is where Austin barbecue is actually moving, with beef cheeks and inventive cuts you can't get anywhere else and no four-hour line to earn them.
Austin's 2026 nightlife winners read like a city finally admitting what it actually wants: fewer mega-clubs, more rooms with personality. The readers handed trophies to a women's sports pub, a sober garden, and a bar that programs its drink menu around art on the walls — which tells you the scene has matured past bottle service and bro-bars. We love the spread, even where we'd argue the order. Here's where the crowd nailed it and where we'd grab the mic.
Independently run and built by people who actually love dance music — that ownership shows in a room that keeps reinventing the night instead of coasting.
Finalists: Barbarella, Coconut Club, Elysium, Kingdom
Strong pours, pool tables, and a photo booth for the receipts — a date here is fun by the time you've finished the first round.
Finalists: Fallout Theater, King Bee, We Luv Video, Workhorse Bar
A grown-up's cocktail bar where you can hear your date talk — rare and worth defending in a city that loves to crank the volume.
Finalists: Honey Moon Spirit Lounge, Powder Room, Revenge, Small Victory
The dive that refuses to die, and Austin would be poorer if it ever did — still the gold standard for cheap beer and live noise on the Drag.
Finalists: Back Lot, Barfly’s, Buddy’s Place, The Silver Medal
Finally a bar that puts women's games on the big screen on purpose — a long-overdue idea executed with real heart.
Finalists: the Cavalier, Chalmers, Nunya, Haymaker
Two-step lessons, live bands, and an easy crowd make it a place where talking to a stranger feels natural, not desperate.
Finalists: Carousel Lounge, Cheer Up Charlies, Deep Eddy Cabaret, Kinda Tropical, The Little Darlin’
Quenton As-Salaam (Cheer Up Charlies)
A bartender people show up for by name — the kind of pour-and-personality combo that turns a bar into a regular spot.
Finalists: Bonnie Scott (the Treasury), Brynnan Whaley (Alc Steaks), Diego Ramirez (Powder Room), Kellie Rose (Ego’s), Ziah Grace (Nunya)
De Nada Cantina Multiple Locations
Margs that punch above the price and tables built for a crew — exactly what a happy hour should deliver.
Finalists: Carousel Lounge, Holiday, Industry Eastside, The Lost Well
A garden full of coffee and mocktails that proves a great night out doesn't require a hangover.
Finalists: Epoch Coffee, First Light Books, Tiny Minotaur Tavern, West China Tea
The patron saint of belting it out badly in the best possible way — Austin's most beloved underground singalong.
Finalists: Calamity at Hole in the Wall, Canary Roost, Karaoke with Maryblu at King Bee, Starling Karaoke
The Little Gay Shop’s Queer Trivia With Aira Juliet at Cheer Up Charlies
A trivia night with a host who treats every theme like a runway — equal parts brain workout and floor show.
Finalists: Braincell Battle Trivia at Tweedy’s, Full Sass Trivia at Hold Out Brewing, Roof Snake Trivia at Radio/East, Tuesday Trivia at St. Elmo Springdale and South
A reliably good night on the dance floor that keeps earning its place in the rotation.
Finalists: Cheer Up Charlies, Oilcan Harry’s, Rain on 4Th, Tiny Minotaur Tavern
The midweek party people genuinely love — proof a Tuesday can out-dance a Saturday.
Finalists: Neon Rainbows, Noche Latina at Oilcan Harry’s, Scissor Sisters, Tribrelations
Top-tier tables and a staff that's actually friendly — the rare pool hall that feels like a hangout, not a hustle.
Finalists: Betsy’s Billiards, Coppertank Pool Hall, Slick Willie’s, Warehouse Billiard Bar
An Austin institution that's been part of the city's late-night lore for decades.
Finalists: Colette Austin, Palazio Men’s Club, Red Rose
Glitter, sweat, and flawless harmonies — an ABBA night that turns a room into one giant, sequined sing-along.
Finalists: Cigar Vault East (Cigar Lounge)
This East Fifth lounge does the thing every concept bar promises and almost none pull off: the gimmick is actually good. The drink list shifts with the art on the walls, so the menu reads differently every visit, and the back room's Mexican-Japanese sushi means you don't have to leave to eat. Browse, sip, repeat — it's the rare spot where the idea and the execution match.
When the old Webberville spot ran out of road, this beloved rock dive picked up and moved to Airport rather than fold — and somehow came back bigger and meaner. The new room feels like nothing changed except the address, which is exactly the trick a punk institution needed to pull. Lost in name, found in every way that counts.
Named for Puerto Rico's holiday drink and decked out in chic Kelly green, this East Seventh spot pulls a clean double shift. Daytime is tortas and a coquito-spiked cold brew; after dark the patio turns into a dance floor with house and Latin beats. It's a café and a party wearing the same little neon sign, and both halves earn their keep.
Two Irish founders set out to prove a neighborhood bar can be both stylish and reliable, and on East Cesar Chavez they mostly win the argument. The screens swing from the big game to an arthouse film, the pool table draws a mixed crowd of stilettos and sneakers, and the drinks stay strong and steady. Add globally-tinged comfort bites and you've got a third place that actually feels like one.
Tuesdays are where Austin's entertainment calendar usually goes to die, which makes this Knomad lineup a small miracle. You get half a dozen local stand-ups and a shot at a lotto scratcher just for showing up. Laughs plus a long-shot jackpot is a smart hook, and on a dead weeknight it's the most fun you can have for the price of a beer.
Jazmyne Moreno’s Lates Series at AFS Cinema
The real draw here isn't just the cult and creepy titles — it's the intros. This AFS programmer has a knack for the off-the-wall pick and an even better one for framing it without spoiling the ride, giving you exactly enough context to lean in. It's late-night cinema curated by someone who clearly loves the deep cuts, and you leave smarter than you came.
This Mueller mezcal-and-tequila 'speakeasy' from the Veracruz All Natural crew threads a tricky needle: serious enough for the agave obsessives, welcoming enough for the merely curious. Dive into a guided tasting or just order a beautifully balanced mezcal marg — either way the bar meets you where you are. And because it's a Veracruz project, the taquitos are good enough to make a night of it.
For a modest cover this long-running Saturday residency hands you a buffet, live bands, a free pool, and what's genuinely one of the most diverse dance floors in Austin. The food is house-made, the Afro-jazz and rotating local acts keep the room moving, and the whole thing feels like a neighborhood that just happens to throw a party every week. This is the kind of institution a city has to actively protect.
The premise is gloriously dumb in the best way: bring a slide deck and 'pitch' your single friend to a room of strangers. This monthly East Austin pop-up keeps the stakes low and the tone self-aware, which is exactly why it works — nobody's taking it too seriously, and that's when people actually connect. Meet-cutes really do happen here, corporate clip-art and all.
1972 Women’s Sports Pub for Sports Bar
The readers got this one exactly right, so our overrule is a louder co-sign: a bar built specifically to put women's sports on the marquee isn't just a fun gimmick, it's the most genuinely new idea on the whole nightlife ballot and the one we'd send out-of-towners to first.
Every year Austin insists it's not a culture town and every year the Best of Austin arts ballot proves otherwise. 2026 reads like a city that finally trusts its weirdos: drag artists with chandeliers in their hair, a memorial library for a guy who's very much alive, and Linklater quietly dropping two films like it's nothing. Here's how we'd score the room.
The Blanton wins because it earned it — that Ellsworth Kelly chapel alone is worth the trip, and free Tuesdays keep it honest and full.
Finalists: Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria, The Museum of Human Achievement, Harry Ransom Center
Forty-plus years of putting Texas women artists first, with a fresh show every couple months — proof a mission gallery can outlast every trend-chaser in town.
Finalists: Art for the People Gallery, Artus Co, Richesart Gallery, Sage Studio
Villegas takes Artist on the strength of work that doubles as community-building — the rare talent voters describe as a scene-maker, not just a maker.
Finalists: Elissa Marie, Zuzu Perkal, Curtis Ramstedt, Cody Schibi
Congress Avenue's grand old room still hugs you on the way in — touring acts one night, local kids the next, and a renovation on the horizon.
Finalists: Ground Floor Theatre, Hyde Park Theatre, The Vortex, Zach Theater
Scheps wins by widening the door — Austin theatre feels more local and more open because of the rooms she insists on building.
Finalists: Julie Fiore, Dave Steakley, Trace Turner, Ken Webster
Garza's plays carry an unguarded sincerity that's gone rare on American stages, and Austin clearly noticed who's writing with a heart.
Finalists: Jenny Connell Davis, Anikka Lekven, Sarah Saltwick, Lisa B. Thompson
Fletcher can wreck you or floor you with a single arched eyebrow — the kind of range that wins an Actor crown without breaking a sweat.
Finalists: John Gholson, Aira Juliet, Beau Paul, Marc A. Pouhé
TEMP makes centuries-old music feel like the most alive thing in the room — early-music devotion that's anything but dusty.
Finalists: Austin Unconducted, Brent Baldwin, Henna Chou, Invoke, Graham Reynolds
Mills choreographs the kind of work that lodges in your head for months — Ballet Austin's long-running guiding hand still swinging for the fences.
Finalists: Country Fried Dance, Toni Bravo, Ty Graynor, Vertarias
Four-plus decades on Sixth Street and Esther's still sets the bar — Austin's vaudeville-with-a-news-cycle institution remains untouchable.
Finalists: All Night All Night All Night, Garage, Girls Girls Girls, Master Pancake
Castillo grabs the mic and the room exhales — voters know they're in for a good night the second she's up.
Finalists: Avery Anne, Vanessa Gonzalez, Angelina Martin, Kat Ellison Williams
Cap City keeps booking the lineups and keeping the staff friendly — the reliable backbone of Austin stand-up, comeback and all.
Finalists: Coldtowne Theater, The Creek and the Cave, Esther’s Follies, Fallout Theater
Moontower's pile-it-high format lets the truly committed catch ten shows in four days — a comedy festival built for gluttons, in the best way.
Finalists: Dressed to Kill, Hyde Park Storytelling, Mortified Austin, Powerpints
Bird wins because her novels feel like Texas talking back to itself — sharp, warm, and impossible to put down once you start.
Finalists: Michelle C. Harris, Ali Hazelwood, Megan Okonsky, James Wade
A Pulitzer winner who can lay out the whole tangled world and still make you laugh — Wright is Austin's heaviest-hitting nonfiction name, easy.
Finalists: Bryan Burrough, Robert Dean, R.a. Dyer, Stephen Harrigan
Sargent's pen has been drawing blood at the Texas Capitol for decades, and the Pulitzer-winning aim hasn't dulled a bit.
Finalists: Rory Blank, Sam Hurt, Jeremy the Artist, Nick Stout
Ukazu pairs gorgeous panels with genuine heart — the Check, Please! creator turns sincerity into a superpower on the page.
Finalists: Drew Edwards, Kat Fajardo, Ashley Robin Franklin, Austin Hambrick, Evan Narcisse
Texas Dive Bar Encyclopedia by Raf Miastkowski
A road-trip bible for anyone who'd take a Lone Star and a sketchy jukebox over a cocktail menu — the most useful book Austin published all year.
Finalists: the Barefoot Followers of Sweet Potato Grace by Megan Okonsky, Defending a Big-dicked Elven Wizard by Dana T. Mcknight, A Latte Like Love by Michelle C. Harris, Wethersfield Road by Anna Binder Reardon
LeFevre wins on talent and kindness in equal measure — the rare headliner whose name comes up for how she treats the room, not just the routine.
Finalists: Heaven Starr, Mandy Mezcal, Sherry Bomb, Violet Sky, Zenyth
Size-inclusive, spicy, and unapologetically fun — Fat Bottom proves the most radical thing in burlesque is letting everybody onstage.
Finalists: Bat City Bombshells, Erotiqueer Burlesque, The Jigglewatts Burlesque Revue, Frisky Business Burlesque, Malum Malus
Bandit serves icon and means it — a performer who turned Austin drag into a statement the whole state had to reckon with.
Finalists: Karabiner, Louisianna Purchase, Munster Mash, Travis Randy Travis
The launchpad showcase where new queens get their first real stage — Austin drag wins by making room for the next class.
Finalists: Drag Me to the Tavern, Futch Fetish, Shock Therapy, Vixens of Volstead
AFS edges the field because the movie's only half of it — the lobby arguments afterward are the real second feature.
Finalists: Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, Galaxy Highland, Hyperreal Film Club, Violet Crown Cinema
Two films in one year and both worth the ticket — Linklater remains Austin cinema's patron saint, still curious after all this time.
Finalists: Macon Blair, Ryan Darbonne, Paul Gandersman & Peter Hall, Sheilava
AFF wins by loving the page — the writers' festival that treats screenwriters like the stars they actually are.
Finalists: Austin Asian American Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, Indie Meme, SXSW Film & Tv Festival
ATX Theatre (theatregoing hub)
A connective-tissue hub that makes the whole local theatre scene easier to find and join — the kind of unglamorous win that lifts everyone.
Finalists: Mahjong Mafia (Chinese Mahjong Club), Puppet Bucket (Puppet Improv)
Almost Real Things’ Touch the Art
We've all wanted to run a finger across a brushstroke, and Touch the Art finally lets you — but the no-touching rebellion isn't the point. Building the show in collaboration with students from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired turns a gimmick into something genuinely inclusive. It's the rare immersive exhibit that earns the word.
Hair chandeliers, mannequin looks, sculpted foam, wigs the size of small furniture — Gothess Jasmine treats drag like world-building and the audience as travelers. The special-effects company behind the costumes does fantastical event work, but the live transformations are the real magic. Nobody in town is making drag art on this scale or with this nerve.
Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project
Shakespeare on TikTok, in the wasteland, half in Spanish — WSSP keeps finding new doors into the Bard without sanding off the poetry. They respect the language and update the meaning, which is the only honest way to do it. If high-school English ruined Shakespeare for you, this is the cure.
Itzigsohn paints unflappable cowgirls who feel pulled out of time — guitars in the desert, tigers at the cafe table, a knowing smirk on every face. A bassist with punk and blues in her blood, she works warm pastels against moody blues and nods to every corner of Western myth. You don't need the captions to get it.
A lone mic on a stage is the start of a thousand things, and every.Word treats Monday nights at the Vortex like the sacred format they are. Blending curated sets with night-of sign-ups keeps the spontaneity alive without letting it sag into so-so sonnets. Spanish-language and queer-centric showcases keep the lineup from ever repeating itself.
Rod Gator Memorial Library at Sagebrush
It takes a singular character to get memorialized while still very much alive, and the self-styled 'rock-and-roll Mr. Rogers' qualifies. Working the Sagebrush door with a paperback, singing in a metal band, Gator stocked his bartop shelf with horror, memoir, sci-fi and classics — each one stamped with his own face. Only in Austin, and we mean that as the highest praise.
Central Texas Bluegrass Association's Sunday Bluegrass Jam at Batch
Running since 1978, the Sunday jam finally found a room that fits — Batch's big backyard holds three fiddle circles at once. Watch them form and dissolve all afternoon as players drift between them, roughly one to four. Come to play, come to listen, or play bocce while the kids run loose and the music carries.
Kintsugi finds the beauty in the break, mending broken ceramics with gold-flecked lacquer until the cracks become the point. Lauren Luscombe is the only Austin practitioner trained and certified in Japan, and her workshops run as much on philosophy as on pottery. Putting the pieces back into something new — who among us can't relate to that.
A worship space gets a second life as one of the city's best DIY rooms, hosting intimate indie shows in genuinely reverberant halls. There's something right about a building that predates the surrounding condos getting re-energized by a younger crowd. The sounds changed; the sense of congregation didn't.
Richard Linklater for Filmmaker
Releasing two films worth seeing in a single year while staying rooted in Austin is a flex nobody else on this ballot can match. He's the rare hometown legend who never stopped being curious.
Austin's retail soul has always lived in its independents, and the 2026 Best of Austin shopping results prove the city still votes with its heart. From decades-old icons to vintage racks that turn over weekly, this is a town that would rather drive across town for a funky bottle shop than settle for a big box. Here's our read on where Austinites are actually spending their dollars and our two cents on who earned it.
STAG nails the Austin-guy uniform without trying too hard, which is exactly why it keeps winning this category year after year.
Finalists: Howler Brothers, Hutson Clothing Co., Kennimer, Bloody Rose Boutique
A boutique that treats you well without emptying your wallet is rarer than it should be, and Blue Gardenia keeps that balance.
Finalists: Adelante, Daughters, Dylan Wylde, Mixd Fashion
Austin Pets Alive! Thrift Multiple Locations
Thrifting that funds animal rescue is the most Austin win on this list, and the racks somehow always have your size.
Finalists: American Drifter, Heartening, Uptown Cheapskate, Whiskey River Vintage
These markets put vendors and shoppers first, and that warmth is exactly why they keep drawing a crowd.
Finalists: Austin Artisan Market, Moss Market, Vibe City Markets, Subculture Swap
Handmade chainmail and pieces with real attitude give Desired Objects an edge over the dainty-and-delicate crowd.
Finalists: Angel Spit, Bee Mary Jewelry, Cosmic Chaos Jewelry, Not Bad Hot Stuff
Packed wall to wall yet somehow easy to browse, Room Service is where you go to find the thing you didn't know you needed.
Finalists: Potluck Vintage, Show & Tell Vintage, Take Heart, Uptown Modern, World Interiors
An Austin institution that still delivers the best plants, the best prices, and staff who actually know their soil.
Finalists: the Great Outdoors, The Plant Society, Shoal Creek Nursery, Tillery Street Plant Company
Trusted with whole weddings and still coming through, Austin Flower Co. earns its repeat reputation petal by petal.
Finalists: Ben White Florist, Burlap & Twine, Freytag’s Florist, Wild Vine Floral
Wheatsville Co-op Multiple Locations
Co-op grocery with a conscience and a deli that locals quote like scripture, Wheatsville is a neighborhood institution.
Finalists: Asahi Imports, Dia’s Market, Fresh Plus, Tiny Grocer
Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller
Fresh bread, sharpened knives, and a good walk in one stop make Mueller the all-in-one Saturday ritual.
Finalists: Arboretum Food & Artisan Market, Barton Creek Farmers Market, Boggy Creek Farm, Sfc Farmers’ Market Sunset Valley
Born in Austin and now in fridges everywhere, Yellowbird turned hot sauce into a hometown export worth bragging about.
Finalists: Diablo Huma BBQ Sauce, El Patio Foods, Pickle Envy, Siete Foods
Austin's answer to the fizzy-water wars, Waterloo keeps the flavors bold and the local pride bubbly.
Finalists: Bawi Agua Fresca, Rambler Sparkling Water, Soco Ginger Beer, Weird Teas
The hometown vodka that conquered the country still shows up for Austin, and Austin clearly shows up right back.
Finalists: Austin Beerworks, Deep Eddy Vodka, Still Austin, Zilker Brewing Co.
Sex-positive, welcoming, and genuinely helpful, Forbidden Fruit has been doing this right far longer than most.
Finalists: Adult Megaplex, Dreamers, Sir Rat Leather & Gear
The Austin Shaker Multiple Locations
Funky, honest, and worth a cross-town drive, the Shaker is the bottle shop locals treat like an institution.
Finalists: Goodnight Cowboy, Spec’s, Travis Heights Wine & Spirits, Twin Liquors
Happy Clouds Smoke Shop Multiple Locations
Knowledgeable staff and a deep selection make Happy Clouds the go-to that regulars rave about without reservation.
Finalists: ATX Organics, Cozy Cannabis, The Glassmith, Restart
Tomlinson’s Multiple Locations
A pet shop that sends flowers when your dog passes is the kind of local you keep forever, and Austin agrees.
Finalists: Barkin’ Creek Dog Kitchen & Bath, Healthy Pet, Paws on Chicon, Zoo Keeper Exotic Pets
Still the beating heart of Austin's reading life, BookPeople remains the one true love of this city's bibliophiles.
Finalists: Alienated Majesty Books, Birdhouse Books and Gifts, First Light Books, Reverie Books
Reliable bargains and a shop that stands behind what it sells make Discount Electronics a decade-deep favorite.
Finalists: Compuplus, Elite Computing, Frankenstein Computers, Rossmann Repair Group, Telstar Services
Whole Earth Provision Co. Multiple Locations
Part outfitter, part toy store for grown-ups, Whole Earth is where Austin gears up for the outdoors and the curious.
Finalists: Medusa Skates, New Tech Tennis
Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy
Welcoming, friendly, and gatekeeping-free, Dragon's Lair is the Austin comic shop that puts service over snobbery.
Finalists: Austin Books & Comics, Bat City Games & Comics, Mothership Books & Games, Tribe Comics and Games
Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy
A genuine game space with friendly faces and deep shelves, Dragon's Lair doubles down and takes this one too.
Finalists: Emerald Tavern Games & Cafe, Game Kastle, Pat’s Games, Tribe Comics and Games
Creative reuse that's pure fun to dig through, this is where Austin's makers stretch a dollar and find inspiration.
Finalists: Beehive Craft Studio, Jerry’s Artarama, Roma Lux Fabrics, Sea of Beads
A wild range of local makers under one roof makes Blue Genie the souvenir stop that actually feels like Austin.
Finalists: Atown, Austin Gift Company, Clover + Maven, The Little Gay Shop, Paper Work
Crystal Works Austin (crystals boutique)
Calm vibe, kind staff, and genuine care for every customer earn Crystal Works its wild-card crown.
Finalists: Santa Fe Optical (Eyewear), The School-tastic Book Fair for Grownups (Vendor Market)
Very Cherry made the leap from pop-up tables and a shared booth to its own dollhouse of a storefront on South First, and the glow-up suits it. The owner's eye for pink, red, and purple kitsch turns a sitting room of Betty Boop finds and oddball ceramics into something you want to live inside. If you actually care about getting cute instead of just scrolling about it, this is the move.
TAWA Threads’ National Park Tapestries
TAWA Threads channels a real love of nature into textiles that read like abstract postcards from the wild. The National Park series captures the essence of 15 parks through color and geometry rather than literal landscapes, which is exactly what makes them work as art. Hang one or run it down a table and you've turned a national treasure into a centerpiece.
TOMO Mags landed on West Fifth in early 2026 already carrying a following, built one market and meetup at a time off a mobile newsstand. The shop's whole pitch is slowing down with print, and the shelves back it up with curated titles on style, design, sport, and culture. In an age of infinite scroll, a stylish room full of independent magazines feels almost rebellious.
Akiba expands the Toy Joy family under City Hall and instantly stakes a claim as Austin's otaku headquarters. Named for Tokyo's famous electronics-and-anime district, it stocks the good stuff: anime figures, blind boxes, collectible minis, and gachapon machines worth feeding your quarters. Look for the possum among the cherry blossoms and lose an afternoon happily.
Loveweld was welding permanent bracelets and rings onto Austin wrists before the trend caught fire, and that head start shows. The pieces come in 14-karat gold and sterling silver with a charm bar for customizing, so it's genuinely choose-your-own-adventure jewelry. With rings starting around forty bucks and necklaces climbing well past that, there's an entry point for everyone, and it's all built to stay put.
In under two years First Light has become Hyde Park's living room, tucked into a reimagined old post office space on Speedway. The book selection is sharp, the staff recommendations sharper, and the regular author readings keep it humming. With a kid-friendly corner and tables out front for a cortado and a new novel, it's less a store than a neighborhood gathering spot.
Carnivero is what happens when a lifelong obsession with carnivorous plants becomes a conservation mission wearing a nursery's clothes. The custom greenhouses exist partly to take pressure off wild populations, and the shop welcomes beginners with affordable starters while feeding serious collectors rare finds. Stop in for a ferocious little houseplant and leave thinking differently about the plant world.
Heartening runs on a beautifully simple idea: every item costs three dollars, full stop. The founder started it after watching quality clothes get dumped, and now the shop plus its free clothing stand put garments back into the community as cheaply as possible. Fill your arms for twenty bucks and walk out feeling rich in every way that counts.
BookPeople for Bookstore
Across a list packed with worthy independents, BookPeople is the one that's been Austin's cultural anchor for generations and still earns the devotion. It's the rare institution that wins on heart and on substance.
Services is the unglamorous backbone of any Best of Austin list, and 2026's winners prove this town still rewards the people who actually show up when your Prius dies on the upper deck or your roof springs a leak in a hailstorm. The barbershops, vets, and tattoo studios that took the crown didn't win on slick branding alone — they won because Austinites keep coming back. We read every category so you can skip straight to whoever's going to fix your life this year.
Birds Barbershop Multiple Locations
Birds keeps winning because they cracked the formula early — sharp cuts, a cold drink in hand, and zero attitude across every neighborhood location.
Finalists: Barbershop 808, Common Space Barbershop, Noble Nest Barbershop, Olde Soul Barbershop
A name this gloriously weird could only come from Austin, and the chairs back up the vibe with color work that actually slaps.
Finalists: Apotheca, Hair House ATX, Knotty ATX, Layne & Co. Salon
Viva Day Spa + Med Spa Multiple Locations
Viva ran the table on the relaxation categories this year, and the Spa win is the cornerstone — accessible pampering without the precious attitude.
Finalists: Ceremony Spa, Milk + Honey, Muse Medspa, Spa Sway
Viva Day Spa + Med Spa Multiple Locations
Goldilocks pressure and multiple locations make Viva the easy default when your shoulders have finally had enough of your desk.
Finalists: Ace of Cups Massage & Wellness, Ceremony Spa, Mantis Massage, Spa Sway
Needles, good energy, and a practitioner people speak about like she changed their lives — Moon Medicine earned the cult following.
Finalists: Fawne Acupuncture & Aesthetics, Goodbody Wellness, Rosedale Acupuncture & Wellness, Sage Acupuncture
Cute Nail Studio Multiple Locations
Cute by name, cute by nails — the techs here turn a routine fill into the most fun appointment on your calendar.
Finalists: Ashley Rubio (Ashley’s Little Nail Bar) at Salon Lofts, Clarissa Saucedo at Vibe Collective, Viva Day Spa + Med Spa, Queen Spa
Viva Day Spa + Med Spa Multiple Locations
Viva's third trophy of the night, this time for making even skincare-clueless first-timers feel handled instead of judged.
Finalists: Beaux Medspa, Muse Medspa, Potion, Spa Sway
The Lash Lounge Multiple Locations
When an appointment becomes something you genuinely look forward to, the lashes are doing more than just looking good.
Finalists: Austin City Lashes, Austin Lash House, Blink Beauty, Luna Lash
Woman-owned, queer-friendly, and unapologetically itself — proof a wax appointment can also be the best vibe of your week.
Finalists: Cat Sanchez at Swoon, Rewaxation, Sara Zamora Brows, Yours Truly Waxing
A beautiful room full of seriously talented artists — No Good is exactly the kind of bad decision your future self will thank you for.
Finalists: Dark Horse Tattoo ATX, Flying Tiger Tattoo, Patchwork Tattoo, Queer Audacity ATX
A Barton Springs dip followed by a card reading is peak Austin birthday energy, and Sister Temperance is the name people trust for it.
Finalists: Austin Tarot Therapy, Heart Seed Healing, Mak Jagger Tarot, Snowy Rodeo Tarot
A community co-op that fixes bikes by and for actual humans — Yellow Bike is the most Austin answer this category could give.
Finalists: Bike Farm, Clown Dog Bikes, Eastside Pedal Pushers, The Peddler Bike Shop
Dave’s Ultimate Automotive Multiple Locations
When your car gives up on I-35, Dave's is the place locals limp to first — multiple shops, one reliable reputation.
Finalists: Buddha’s Garage, Flamingo Automotive, Juke Auto, Lugnuts Automotive
ABC Home & Commercial Services Multiple Locations
ABC is the Swiss Army knife of Austin home fixes, and an owner who gives back keeps it from feeling like just another franchise.
Finalists: a Team Home Services, The Handyband Collective, Irep Junk Removal, Showroom Windows & Doors
ABC Home & Commercial Services Multiple Locations
ABC pulls double duty, taming Central Texas yards with the same no-drama professionalism people praise indoors.
Finalists: Earthling Lawn Care, Gratefully Outdoors, Native Cottage Gardens, Wilder Tree Company
Spotless and smelling amazing is the whole job, and The Purple Fig nails the part everybody actually notices.
Finalists: the Cleaning Authority of Austin, Maid Mama’s Cleaning, Morehands Maid Service, Texas Green Clean
Radiant Plumbing, Air Conditioning, & Electrical
In an Austin summer, your AC tech is basically a first responder, and Radiant swept the home-systems categories on that kind of trust.
Finalists: Abc Home & Commercial Services; Air Runs Services; Altruistic Ac, Heating & Plumbing; Salt Service Co.
Radiant Plumbing, Air Conditioning, & Electrical
Radiant's second win of the night says people trust them with the wiring as much as the pipes — outstanding work, no surprises.
Finalists: a Team Home Services; Salt Service Co.; Stan’s Heating, Air, Plumbing & Electrical; Trutec Electric; Wilkins Electric Inc.
Radiant Plumbing, Air Conditioning, & Electrical
Three trophies and a marketing department voters actually shout out — Radiant turned plumbing into a brand Austin remembers.
Finalists: Koala Cooling & Plumbing, Reliant Plumbing, Salt Service Co., Wilson Plumbing
Wilson reportedly went to bat against a denied insurance claim and got the customer their roof — that's the loyalty that wins these things.
Finalists: Birdcreek Roofing, Ja-mar Roofing & Sheet Metal, Kangaroof, Straight Solutions
SpinZone Laundry Multiple Locations
A laundromat people thank by name for being there in a tight spot — SpinZone is the rare spin cycle with a heart.
Finalists: Laundrolab, The Laundry Spot, Michael a Laundromat, Spincycle Coin Laundry (Guadalupe)
Rick’s Cleaners Multiple Locations
Fast turnaround, fair prices, locations all over town — Rick's is the boring kind of dependable that actually wins votes.
Finalists: Ecoclean, Estrada’s Cleaners, Jack Brown Cleaners, Reid’s Cleaners & Laundry
Quick, sharp work that makes off-the-rack look custom — Ace makes you wonder why you ever lived with bad hems.
Finalists: the Art Alterations, Gassane Tailors, Ina Tailors
The South Congress courtyard hideaway people fantasize about moving into — San José is Austin cool you can book by the night.
Finalists: Austin Motel, Carpenter Hotel, Commodore Perry Estate, Hotel Saint Cecilia
Einstein Moving Company Multiple Locations
Hauling boxes in a Texas summer without a single 'gee lady' is the bar, and Einstein clears it with a smile.
Finalists: Fast Fietz Moving & Storage, Mash Movers, Square Cow Movers, Unicorn Moving and Storage
Hardworking, sharp, and the name Austinites name when the stakes get real — Cofer & Connelly earned the readers' trust.
Finalists: Ard Ardalan (Ardalan Law Firm), Batrice Law Firm, Michael & Associates, Michael C. Morin
Emancipet Multiple Locations
Accessible, low-cost vet care that shows up when families need it most — Emancipet wins on mission as much as medicine.
Finalists: Asap Vet, Bluebonnet Animal Hospital, Paz Veterinary, South Austin Cat Hospital
LOBO treats your dog like family and you like a regular, which is why pups apparently never want to leave.
Finalists: Austin Dogtown, Bhv Austin, Big Little Paws, Work & Woof
LOBO's second win is for grooming so good owners joke about wanting the same cut — that's a tail-wagging endorsement.
Finalists: Austin Dogtown, Barkin’ Creek Dog Kitchen & Bath, Midtown Groom & Board, Mod Mutt Salon
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Get married surrounded by Texas wildflowers and your guests will still be talking about it years later — hard to top that backdrop.
Finalists: the Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria, Camp Lucy, Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum
Found Sound ATX (rehearsal studio & creative space)
A rehearsal and creative space built to keep Austin artists making things — exactly the kind of weird the Wild Card exists for.
Finalists: Embrogo (Live Embroidery Activations), Scooter 911 (Scooter Parts & Repair)
Streaming wants your money every month; Turbo Photo wants your film, and for less than half a streaming bill. Run out of a South Austin home by two self-described Nineties kids, this lab built a subscription club that hands out priority turnaround, a free roll every ten, and print discounts. It's the rare loyalty program that feels less like a hook and more like joining a scene. Watch for their film-themed events.
Every Dog Behavior and Training
Every dog is a good dog, but some of them clearly need a guidance counselor. This Austin nonprofit fills that gap with experienced trainers, specialized classes, and pro bono work rehabbing tough cases pulled from the Humane Society. Free webinars and a financial-assistance program mean help isn't gated behind a luxury price tag. It's a resource for the dogs and the humans trying their best to understand them.
College throws enough curveballs without an empty fridge being one of them. Austin Community College teamed with the Central Texas Food Bank to put free pantries on every campus, stocking shelf-stable goods, fresh produce, and hygiene basics for enrolled students. In a state that leads the nation in food insecurity, that's not a perk — it's a lifeline. ACC chose to keep students fed and focused, and that's worth a trophy.
Plenty of services will get a senior from point A to point B; Drive a Senior makes the trip mean something. Volunteers ferry qualifying riders to appointments, grocery runs, and social outings completely free, and a recent merger expanded the coverage across North, Central, and West Austin. What sets it apart is the human part — riders get to know their drivers and each other. The ride is the service, but the company is the point.
"We need a headshot" usually summons dread: stiff collars, frozen smiles, color correction cranked to clown. Lens of Athena throws all of that out. The photographer behind it catches people loose and genuinely happy, so the results read like a good day rather than a corporate mandate. Scrolling the portfolio is a low-key mood boost. If your idea of a headshot is a blurry selfie or a soulless studio shot, this is the upgrade.
There's no loss quite like losing a pet, and no harder decision than ending their suffering. Compassionate Pet Vet handles the part most people can't face alone, with a small team coordinating those final moments at home — in the spot your animal felt safest. The whole approach is built around kindness when kindness is in shortest supply. It turns an impossible goodbye into one you can actually carry with you.
Tucked into what may be the second-oldest building in Austin, the American Botanical Council is the kind of resource you only find if you know to look. It publishes peer-reviewed work, runs a deep member database, and hosts a free HerbDay each spring, all in service of responsible, science-grounded herbal medicine. The East Austin homestead dates to 1853, back when this was open country outside a brand-new capital. Now its grounds hold some two dozen gardens — history and herbs, still growing.
No Good Tattoo for Tattoo
In a category stacked with great studios, No Good pairs a genuinely beautiful space with artists people travel for, and that combination of room and talent is what makes ink feel like an experience instead of an errand.
Austin's idea of recreation still starts in the water and ends with everybody soaked, sunburned, and grinning. The 2026 results read like a love letter to limestone springs, river tubes, and a soccer team that turned a stadium into the loudest room in town. We'll take cold water over a gym membership any day, and this year's winners mostly agree.
Don’s Fish Camp (San Marcos River)
The San Marcos is the floatiest river in striking distance, and a shuttle that runs like clockwork is exactly why Don's keeps the crown wet.
Finalists: Frontera Tours (San Marcos River), Lions Club Tube Rental (San Marcos River), River Forest Haven (Colorado River), Texas State Tubes (San Marcos River)
Inks Lake is the rare campground where you can paddle out to Devil's Waterhole at dawn and be back at the tent before the coffee's cold — deserved.
Finalists: Krause Springs, Mckinney Falls State Park, Pace Bend Park, Sherwood Forest Faire
An off-leash run with a full bar attached is peak Austin logic, and Yard Bar nailed the formula long before everyone else copied it.
Finalists: Bark House Social, Dog House Drinkery & Dog Park, Neighbors Dog Park, The Watering Bowl
Sixty-eight degrees year-round, no chlorine, no apologies — Barton Springs isn't a pool, it's the soul of the whole city in liquid form.
Finalists: Big Stacy, Deep Eddy, Rancho Moonrise, Shipe
Cypress shade, a rope swing, and butterfly gardens out in Spicewood make Krause the swimming hole you drive an hour for and never regret.
Finalists: Blue Hole Regional Park, Jessica Hollis Park, Hamilton Pool Preserve, Hippie Hollow Park
Purpose-built, deafening, and impossible to leave unhappy — Q2 set a new bar for what a night out at a game should feel like here.
Finalists: Dkr–Texas Memorial Stadium, House Park, Moody Center, Ufcu Disch-falk Field
Old-school lanes that never went chic on us, Highland Lanes is comfort-food bowling and we wouldn't change a single sticky tabletop.
Finalists: Pins & Wheels at Playland, Spare Time Texas, Texas Union Underground, Westgate Lanes
Nine quick holes downtown where nobody cares about your handicap — Butler is the most welcoming patch of green in the city, full stop.
Finalists: Hancock, Lions Municipal, Morris Williams, Onion Creek Club
Austin Bouldering Project Multiple Locations
Tall walls, friendly belays, and a community that actually roots for you to send — ABP makes climbing feel like the best party in town.
Finalists: Archetype Boxing Club, Austin Women’s Boxing Club, Crux Climbing Center, Outwellness
Bri Ellsworth (Austin Bouldering Project)
A trainer who builds you up instead of grinding you down is rarer than it should be, and the votes say Bri is exactly that kind.
Finalists: Patty Brewton, Sage Broussard (Camp Gladiator), John Cioffredi (Community Strength Austin), Marlow Mcshan (Marlow’s Fitness)
Black Swan Multiple Locations
Multiple studios and still nobody walks out feeling judged — Black Swan figured out that welcome is the whole practice.
Finalists: My Vinyasa Practice, Open Form, Shuniya Yoga Collective, Wild Heart Yoga
Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake
Downtown skyline, water on one side, and the occasional grazing goat — the Butler Trail is the most quintessentially Austin loop you can pedal.
Finalists: Southern Walnut Creek Trail, The Veloway at Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park, Violet Crown Trail, Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake
Shaded, busy enough to feel safe, and looping in tidy 3-, 5-, and 10-mile sizes, the Butler Trail is the city's default stroll for good reason.
Finalists: Barton Creek Greenbelt, Pease Park, Shoal Creek Trail, Stephenson Preserve
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
That pink granite dome is worth the drive and the reservation hassle — standing on top of Enchanted Rock never once gets old.
Finalists: Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, Lost Maples State Natural Area, Mckinney Falls State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park
A Thanksgiving morning tradition that feels more like a reunion than a race — the Turkey Trot earns its decades of loyalty.
Finalists: Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Hill Country Ride for Aids, Statesman Cap10K, Texas Water Safari
Twenty-five years of banked-track mayhem on eight wheels — TXRD is Keep Austin Weird made athletic, and it still rules.
Finalists: Austin Rowing Club, Austin Sandlot Baseball, Austin Women’s Boxing Club Competition Team, Nelson Ranch Pétanque Club
Verde till we die — Austin FC didn't just give the city a team, it gave us a chant, a scarf, and a reason to lose our voices on Sundays.
Finalists: Austin Outlaws, Lovb Austin, Round Rock Express, Texas Stars
Recovery Outside (sober outdoors group)
Trail time as a lifeline — a group that proves the outdoors heals, and a Wild Card pick we're genuinely glad won.
Finalists: Nocturna (Movement Sanctuary), Skate Vida (Figure Skating Academy)
Downtown has never had enough green, so finishing this stretch of the Waller Creek project feels like the city exhaling. Thirteen acres of boardwalk, bridges, and trail running from Fourth Street to the lake is a serious chunk of concrete reclaimed. We'll happily take more of this and less parking garage.
Calling a single player the city's best in our pickleball-obsessed moment takes nerve, but the resume backs it up. A homegrown talent topping the pro doubles ranks while finishing a business degree is the kind of overachiever Austin breeds. The fact that he started a college club on top of it all is almost rude.
A run club built to put more Black Austinites in the city's parks has grown into something much bigger, and crowds north of a hundred prove the hunger for it. Running, kickball, and yes, line-dancing make it feel like a block party that happens to burn calories. In a moment when representation feels under siege, showing up together is its own quiet power.
For years the east end of the lake loop meant a white-knuckle squeeze past traffic, so a real bridge here is overdue justice. It closes the circle and hands evening walkers a front-row view of the sun dropping over the water. We've crossed it at golden hour and can confirm it earns the hype.
You've passed one without meaning to, and that's exactly the point. These bare white bicycles mark where riders died, and the city carries more than twenty of them now. Each one is a flower-laced reminder to drive like a life depends on it, because one did.
Few trails this close to downtown can make you genuinely forget which way you came, and the Violet Crown manages it with limestone cliffs and a dry-creek hush. Finishing the South Austin stretch with a Mile Zero trailhead right by Barton Springs was the missing piece. Pack water, lose the map on purpose, and enjoy it.
Socializing in Austin usually means a drink in hand, so a club built around the opposite idea is a relief. Springs outings, workout classes, and mocktail nights put the focus on the people instead of the pour. It's a simple, generous proof that connection doesn't need a buzz.
The premise is irresistible: a bookish type discovers the weight room and decides brains and biceps aren't a contradiction. The interviews swing from soulful to nerdily specific as writers, cartoonists, and musicians explain how moving their bodies fuels everything else. Come for the motivation, stay for the company.
Barton Springs for Swimming Pool
No other winner on this list is as load-bearing to Austin's identity as that cold, spring-fed pool. It's the one place locals and newcomers agree on, and it deserves to be the face of this whole category.
Raising kids in Austin in 2026 means juggling a city that's outgrown its own playgrounds while still finding room for kite festivals and tuition-free theatre camps. This year's Kids & Family winners lean into what we love most about the place: hands-on weirdness, fierce inclusivity, and a stubborn belief that fun should be free or close to it. From a pinball palace to a holographic dinosaur arcade, here's where Austin families actually spend their weekends. We've got opinions on every one.
Pinballz Multiple Locations
Pinballz turns a birthday into an arcade bender, and the grown-ups end up hogging the machines just as hard as the kids do.
Finalists: Blazer Tag, Figment Creative Labs, Pins & Wheels at Playland, Thinkery
Terra Toys is the rare toy store that trusts kids with real wonder instead of plastic franchise tie-ins, and you'll leave wanting something for yourself.
Finalists: Enlightened Baby, Monkey See Monkey Do, Toy Joy, Toybrary
Once Upon a Child solves the math problem every Austin parent faces: kids outgrow everything in a season, so buy and sell gently-used and skip the guilt.
Finalists: Alexa James Baby, Dearly, Kid to Kid, Sparklekids
Camp Half-Blood Austin tricks kids into devouring mythology and loving it, turning summer into a quest where reading is the superpower.
Finalists: Balance Dance Studios, Band Aid School of Music, Camp Paramount, Girlstart, Sky Candy Sky Camp
Soccer Shots gets the littlest players running, laughing, and building confidence before they even grasp the offside rule.
Finalists: Austin Youth Fitness, Austin Women’s Boxing Club Youth Program, Skate Vida, West Austin Youth Association
Creative Action treats kids as real artists with real ideas, and the inspired weirdness it sends home is worth every drop cloth.
Finalists: Band Aid School of Music, Excused Absence, Figment Creative Labs, Kidsacting
Girlstart makes science feel like play and proves once and for all that the lab coat was always going to fit girls just fine.
Finalists: Figment Creative Labs, Howdy Bots, Latinitas, Stem Girl Day at UT
Sugar Mama's Bakeshop nails the impossible birthday-cake double: it photographs beautifully and somehow tastes even better than it looks.
Finalists: Hayley Cakes & Cookies, Meringue Me, Upper Crust, Quack’s
Pease Park wins on the unglamorous essentials parents secretly rank first: real bathrooms, water, and wide-open fields to burn off a sugar high.
Finalists: Alliance Children’s Garden, Central Market, Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt, Play for All Abilities at Rabb Park
ABC Kite Fest is the platonic ideal of an Austin spring day: a hillside, a tangle of strings, and zero admission price.
Finalists: Austin Greek Festival, Eeyore’s Birthday, Honk! TX, Rock the Park
Austin Public Library Reading & Badge Challenge (summer activity)
The library's summer reading and badge challenge is the best free entertainment in town, run by children's librarians who deserve a parade.
Finalists: Family Day at Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum (Monthly Series), St. Elmo Springdale Kid Zone (Brewery Playscape)
There's a long-running case that drama kids do better in school, and Ground Floor Theatre took that idea and built something genuinely vital around it. Over two weeks, LGBTQ teens write and produce their own play with a crew of local creatives, learning stagecraft and using it to make sense of their own lives. It's tuition-free, which matters, and it's safe in the way these spaces have to be right now. For a queer kid who needs a curtain call and a community, there's nothing else like it.
The fatal flaw in Jurassic Park was always the part where the dinosaurs eat the guests, and Zoocade quietly fixes that. Billed as the country's first holographic zoo, it lets families wander among dinosaurs, ocean depths, and the African savanna without a single animal or relative being harmed. The holographic tech is genuinely impressive, and pairing it with a stack of classic arcade games means nobody ages out of the fun. It's the rare attraction that earns the gee-whiz reaction and still has staying power for a full afternoon.
Childhood is one long string of firsts, and this might be the book that teaches a kid the word hootenanny. Written and illustrated by a seventh-generation Texan based right here in Austin, it runs the alphabet, colors, and animals through a gloriously local lens, where a newt in a neckerchief can wind up snacking at NASA. It's silly and specific in exactly the way that makes a place feel like home. We'd hand it to any family that just rolled into town and needs a friendly translation of where they've landed.
The movies we fall for as teenagers quietly rewire how we see everything after, and Austin Flick Clique leans all the way into that. Teen film buffs gather at the Eastside's Sekrit Theater to work their way through the canon, from Hitchcock to Burton, with notes and conversation guiding the night. It treats young viewers as serious audiences rather than babysitting them with whatever's new, and it folds families into the conversation too. For a kid whose tastes are just catching fire, it's a perfect place to fan the flame.
We have a soft spot for a good resurrection, and HOPE Outdoor Gallery is one of the better ones in town. The original free graffiti walls were gritty and a little lawless, and the slicker new spot near the airport trades some of that edge for real room to grow. There's more wall, rows of trailers to tag, a cafe and shop stocked with everything from spray cans to lattes, plus weekly demos and classes that actually teach the craft. It's a place where a budding artist, even a small one, can learn to make a mark on purpose.
In a moment when plenty of people are trying to narrow what kids are allowed to read, a bookshop that throws the doors wide open feels like exactly the right answer. Queer-, woman-, and veteran-owned Birdhouse is unbothered and joyful about it, right down to the birds-of-a-feather mural and the resident shop Yorkie. The calendar runs from Banned Book Drag Queen Story Time to local author readings, crafts, and a student group bringing young voices into the fight. It's a Brentwood gem for families who want their kids in rooms where books get celebrated instead of pulled from shelves.
Telling a kid to use their words is easy; giving them the tools to actually do it is the hard part, and Bright Littles took a real swing at it. Founded by a local mom, the line of journals, courses, and conversation prompts helped families talk through big feelings, personal safety, online habits, and anxiety with a little more confidence. The shop closed this summer in a rough economy, which is a genuine loss for Austin parents who leaned on it. We're tipping our hat to the effort and rooting for wherever that talent lands next.
Austin Public Library Reading & Badge Challenge for Kids & Family
It's free, it's all summer, and it's run by children's librarians who turn reading into a citywide adventure. In a town where family fun keeps getting pricier, the library quietly out-delivers everyone.
Austin's media scene still runs on actual humans this year, and the Best of Austin ballots prove it. From a free alt-weekly that somehow keeps showing up in print to the public-radio voices people genuinely stop and listen for, the wins skew toward the folks who show their work. We're calling it down the middle here — the people who inform this city earned their flowers, whatever their beat.
A free alt-weekly still landing in racks in 2026 is its own small miracle, and Austin keeps voting to keep the ink wet.
Finalists: Austin American-statesman, Glaze Magazine, Nopal Magazine, Peach Fuzz Magazine
Same masthead, double the win — readers clearly trust the Chronicle's web side to read the room as well as its print one does.
Finalists: Austin Current, City Cast Austin, Hispanosatx, The Texas Tribune
KUTX wins by sounding like a person picked the next song, which around here is still the highest compliment you can pay a radio dial.
Finalists: Klbj-fm 93.7, Koop 91.7, KUT News, Sun Radio
A statewide daily that explains Texas to Texans without talking down to them — earnest, useful, and somehow not exhausting.
Finalists: Austin Signal (KUT News), Double Heads Variety Hour (Koop 91.7), El Reventón (Latino 97.1), Mornings with Matt & Bob Powered by Chuy (Klbj-fm 93.7)
Local lore and after-dark stories beat the national true-crime machine, because Austin would rather be spooked by its own ghosts.
Finalists: City Cast Austin, The Fur Real Podcast with Mark a Kyle, Gals & Goblins, This Is My Thing
Jerry Quijano (Austin Signal, All Things Considered)
The smooth public-radio voice with an actual fan club — Jerry makes the afternoon drive feel like a friend's living room.
Finalists: Stephen Belyeu (the Night Owl), Chris Cox (One of Us Productions), Anne Hudson (I Heart Media), Michael Lee (This Is My Thing)
KXAN takes the local-news crown with the steady, no-drama coverage that quietly becomes the channel you leave on.
Finalists: Cbs Austin, Fox 7 Austin, KVUE, Spectrum News 1
A familiar face who reads the news like she means it — longevity at the anchor desk is its own kind of trust.
Finalists: John-carlos Estrada (Cbs Austin), Hannah Rucker (KVUE), Jennifer Sanders (KXAN), Trevor Scott (Cbs Austin)
Roger Wallace covers Austin sports with the easy enthusiasm of a guy who'd talk Longhorns with you in the grocery line.
Finalists: Bob Ballou (Cbs Austin), Danny Davis (Austin American-statesman), Eric Goodman (the Austin Chronicle), Cory Mose (KVUE)
When the city plans its weekends around your forecast, you've graduated from weatherman to civic infrastructure.
Finalists: Nick Bannin (KXAN), Kristen Currie (KXAN), Hunter Williams (KVUE), Chikage Windler (Cbs Austin)
The reporter you turn the radio up for — Mose makes the environment beat feel urgent without ever raising his voice.
Finalists: Brianna Hollis (KXAN), Kailey Hunt (KUT News), John C. Moritz (Austin American-statesman), Tony Plohetski (Austin American-statesman, KVUE)
Michael Barnes (Austin American-Statesman)
Barnes mines Austin's history so the boomtown remembers where it came from — local memory, well kept.
Finalists: Bridget Grumet (Austin American-statesman), The Luv Doc (the Austin Chronicle), James Scott (the Austin Chronicle), Eric Webb (Turning Out Substack)
Matthew Odam (Austin American-Statesman)
Odam has eaten his way through Austin for years and still writes like every taco is a fresh discovery.
Finalists: Darcie Duttweiler (the Austin Chronicle), Nicolai Mccrary (the Infatuation ATX), Haris Qureshi (the Austin Chronicle), Hayden Walker (Austin Food Magazine)
Richard Whittaker (The Austin Chronicle)
Sharp, generous, and impossible to stump on a release date — Whittaker is the film nerd Austin actually deserves.
Finalists: Alix Mammina (Hyperreal Film Journal), Alejandra Martinez (the Austin Chronicle, Hyperreal Film Journal), Ziah Grace (Hyperreal Film Journal), Eric Webb (Turning Out Substack)
Iván shoots the corners of Austin nightlife the rest of the lens crowd misses, and the drag scene shows up brighter for it.
Finalists: David Brendan Hall, Ima Leupp, Patricia Lim, Erika Rich
The traffic account that became a folk hero — gallows humor about a highway is peak Austin coping, and we follow for the Venn diagrams.
Finalists: Caleb Complains, Ciara Cera, Democrasexy, Spill the ATX
Travis County Judge Andy Brown
Responsive, visible, and apparently fluent in vertical video — voters reward an official who actually answers back.
Finalists: Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Zo Qadri, Mayor Kirk Watson
Talarico breaks out of the Capitol bubble enough that Austinites feel heard — name recognition you earn by showing up.
Finalists: State Rep. John Bucy Iii, U.s. Rep. Greg Casar, U.s. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa
Austin loves an organizer with stage presence, and Brigitte turns showing up into something the whole city watches.
Finalists: Ash Hall (Aclu of Texas), Sophia Mirto (Hands Off Central Texas), Chas Moore (Austin Justice Coalition), Greg Stoker
A no-kill rescue that's basically civic religion here — saving animals while reminding the rest of us to be a little kinder.
Finalists: Austin Creative Reuse, Breakthrough Central Texas, Every Dog Behavior and Training, Haam (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians)
After a long legislative grind, voters handed the trophy to the folks who stayed on the front lines for trans Texans.
Finalists: Austin Dsa (Democratic Socialists of America), Austin Justice Coalition, Hands Off Central TX, University Democrats
The rare volunteer shift where you can literally see the difference you made before you clock out.
Finalists: Austin Creative Reuse, Austin Pets Alive!, Central Texas Pig Rescue, It’s My Park Day
Alamo Drafthouse switch to mobile ordering
Nothing unites Austin like a beloved institution changing something — the mobile-order pivot lit the message boards on fire.
Finalists: AISD School Closures, Cheer Up Charlies Drama, City of Austin New Logo, Prop Q
No Kings ATX (local chapter of nationwide protests)
A homegrown chapter of a national movement that got Austinites off the couch and into the street — turnout as the story.
Finalists: Mo Bamba (37Th Street Dog Mayor), Rantz by Neenz (Alternative Media Project)
Austin native Chantal Strasburger turns political fury into something you can actually wear, stitching meme-ready slogans and clapbacks onto hats and tees. It's protest gear with a sense of humor — needle-and-thread craft pointed straight at the moment. If you want your wardrobe to do the arguing for you, she's already threaded the comeback.
Internet radio scattered the world's stations across a thousand clunky tabs, and former KOOP host David Fruchter built the fix. His retrofitted site lets you twist a digital knob between streams from down the block or across the globe, restoring the lost pleasure of spinning the dial. It's nostalgia engineered to actually work — a small, lovely antidote to algorithm fatigue.
In a brutal year on the immigration beat, the Statesman's Latino Communities reporter keeps doing the unglamorous, essential work of showing up. Gómez tells real human stories by meeting people where they are instead of where it's easy. That's the kind of local journalism that keeps a city informed and honest, and it's worth celebrating loudly.
An interdisciplinary squad of UT architecture and business students took the Urban Land Institute's top student prize, beating finalists from Columbia, Harvard, and MIT. Their assignment: reimagine a familiar Austin strip mall just up the road from Chronicle HQ. The winners hail from India, Nepal, China, Taiwan, and Minneapolis — which makes the whole thing read less like home turf and more like a quiet argument for what mixed perspectives can build.
Across five decades representing Central Texas, the retiring Doggett has put his stamp on environmental protection, clean energy, affordable healthcare, and fair drug pricing, among a long list more. The Austin native is also a piece of local legend, from the quorum-busting Killer Bees to his early opposition to the Iraq war. Whatever your politics, the staying power is undeniable — this one reads as a sendoff to a genuine institution.
Austin Students for a Democratic Society and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas
With a front-row seat to UT's shifting politics, these two student groups have made a habit of holding leadership accountable. Their tactics run from mock campus funerals complete with a horse-drawn carriage to marches against department consolidation and defenses of student protesters. Loud, organized, and unafraid of the Capitol, they're a reminder that campus free speech still has its scrappy defenders.
Born in 1966 as a UT underground paper fighting censorship, The Rag has roared back to print after more than fifty years, revived by alumni Kira Small and Ava Hosseini. The new issues carry the same urgency, cartoons, and candor as the original — including a pointed essay arguing social media is no substitute for a real public square. Paper-to-peer never felt so timely, and Austin's underground-press lineage is in good hands.
On a midcentury church lawn at Morrow and Woodrow sits an oversized Adirondack chair that Pastor Jay Cooper built from scrap wood, now doubling as a rotating community billboard. The messages run funny, tender, and unifying, and the thing slows traffic better than any stop sign — Santa included. It's a perfectly Austin monument to the idea that everyone deserves a seat at the table.
KUTX 98.9 for Radio Station
In a year that rewarded human curation over autoplay, KUTX is the purest expression of it — a station that still sounds like a person who loves music is choosing what plays next. That's worth defending.
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