Guidebook for Austin
Parks & Nature
Barton Spring is one of the coolest places in Austin. It's a natural, spring fed, swimming hole that is 68 degrees year round. It's a great place to swim and hang out. It's like being in Austin before it grew up.
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Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrBarton Spring is one of the coolest places in Austin. It's a natural, spring fed, swimming hole that is 68 degrees year round. It's a great place to swim and hang out. It's like being in Austin before it grew up.
Healthy Activities
I can’t recommend a visit to ABP highly enough. If you are an experienced climber or complete noob, it’s a ton of fun. No gear, ropes or harnesses necessary, you can rent shoes for a few bucks and the first visit is free!
They also have great yoga and fitness classes, a first class gym for weight training and cardio and an upstairs balcony for co-working.
It’s very kid friendly, with separate areas for all ages and skills. My daughter and myself are both members and we go regularly.
When you are done, reward yourself with a beer or cider at Friends and Allies or East Ciders next door!
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Austin Bouldering Project
979 Springdale RdI can’t recommend a visit to ABP highly enough. If you are an experienced climber or complete noob, it’s a ton of fun. No gear, ropes or harnesses necessary, you can rent shoes for a few bucks and the first visit is free!
They also have great yoga and fitness classes, a first class gym for weight training and cardio and an upstairs balcony for co-working.
It’s very kid friendly, with separate areas for all ages and skills. My daughter and myself are both members and we go regularly.
When you are done, reward yourself with a beer or cider at Friends and Allies or East Ciders next door!
Insanely good Barbecue
Austin has really elevated the game for Texas BBQ. You should never settle for dry or tasteless brisket. There are more options than you can possibly try. Most good places sell out daily. Check online, as many of the places are taking call-in or online orders for curbside pickup.
World famous, celebrity bbq. The best brisket you've ever had or likely will ever have. Order online for curbside pickup.
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Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StWorld famous, celebrity bbq. The best brisket you've ever had or likely will ever have. Order online for curbside pickup.
I personally think it's as good or better than Franklin (brisket aside). Great selection of meats and awesome sides. Try the beef ribs (they are $20 and huge) and the jalapeno cheese grits. Order online for curbside pickup. Limited outdoor seating on picnic tables.
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Micklethwait Craft Meats
1309 Rosewood AveI personally think it's as good or better than Franklin (brisket aside). Great selection of meats and awesome sides. Try the beef ribs (they are $20 and huge) and the jalapeno cheese grits. Order online for curbside pickup. Limited outdoor seating on picnic tables.
Solid, but overhyped in my opinion. I just get tired of endless lines for barbecue. If you catch a short line or endure the wait you won't be disappointed. Order online for curbside pickup. Limited outdoor seating.
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La Barbecue
2401 E Cesar Chavez StSolid, but overhyped in my opinion. I just get tired of endless lines for barbecue. If you catch a short line or endure the wait you won't be disappointed. Order online for curbside pickup. Limited outdoor seating.
Mexican Food
Austin has some of the best Mexican and Tex-Mex food in the universe. Breakfast tacos and other breakfast dishes are a specialty. Here are a few of my favorite places.
Best breakfast tacos ever. All natural, scratch made from their family recipes. Get the migas taco on corn (homemade tortillas). They can be super slow, so avoid them if it looks busy (they get very busy). They make great smoothies also.I recommend ordering online. Limited outdoor seating on picnic tables.
They have multiple locations, check Google.
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Veracruz All Natural Food Truck
2505 Webberville RoadBest breakfast tacos ever. All natural, scratch made from their family recipes. Get the migas taco on corn (homemade tortillas). They can be super slow, so avoid them if it looks busy (they get very busy). They make great smoothies also.I recommend ordering online. Limited outdoor seating on picnic tables.
They have multiple locations, check Google.
An East Austin institution with legendary breakfast tacos. Get the Don Juan and add guacamole, order extra tortillas on the side. If you finish it, I will not believe you. Outdoor patio seating.
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Juan in a Million
2300 E Cesar Chavez StAn East Austin institution with legendary breakfast tacos. Get the Don Juan and add guacamole, order extra tortillas on the side. If you finish it, I will not believe you. Outdoor patio seating.
Good tex mex (they will tell you it's interior Mexican). Get the cerveza fajitas (enough for two people) and a pitcher of margaritas. Don't try and drive afterwards. Large patio, but it does get crowded.
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Polvo's Mexican Restaurant
2004 South 1st StreetGood tex mex (they will tell you it's interior Mexican). Get the cerveza fajitas (enough for two people) and a pitcher of margaritas. Don't try and drive afterwards. Large patio, but it does get crowded.
Massively underrated tacos with a really large menu. Keeping Austin tacos weird. Order online for pickup or delivery.
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Tyson's Tacos
4905 Airport BlvdMassively underrated tacos with a really large menu. Keeping Austin tacos weird. Order online for pickup or delivery.
De Nada Cantina
Laid back place for tacos and frozen margaritas.
Dining
This is a short, incomplete list of some of the restaurants nearby. These are some of my favorites. There are many more not listed. If you have a question or want a recommendation, just ask.
Masks are required at all of the places below. Most places will give you a mask if you don't have one.
Looks like a gas station from the street. Don't be scared. Retro all-day cafe, patio & grocery selling beer & wine, serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Very chill with lots of outdoor seating. If you want to get out and be somewhere to chill on a patio, this is the place. Lots of space, safe practices and a chill scene. Good food, drinks and people. Curbside and online ordering too.
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Kinda Tropical
3501 E 7th StLooks like a gas station from the street. Don't be scared. Retro all-day cafe, patio & grocery selling beer & wine, serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Very chill with lots of outdoor seating. If you want to get out and be somewhere to chill on a patio, this is the place. Lots of space, safe practices and a chill scene. Good food, drinks and people. Curbside and online ordering too.
Awesome French restaurant for a fancier outing (fancy in Austin means wearing pants). Great for dates. Super hip, it feels like you are in a weird french film set in TX. Everyone there is probably cooler than you but no one cares. Great for late night dining too. Get the mussels, french onion soup and steak frite. Have a real tin-type photo taken in the trailer photo booth by a guy using a 19th century camera, developed on site on a metal plate - http://lumieretintype.com/.
Lots of outdoor seating available, even with personal tents.
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Justine's
4710 E 5th StAwesome French restaurant for a fancier outing (fancy in Austin means wearing pants). Great for dates. Super hip, it feels like you are in a weird french film set in TX. Everyone there is probably cooler than you but no one cares. Great for late night dining too. Get the mussels, french onion soup and steak frite. Have a real tin-type photo taken in the trailer photo booth by a guy using a 19th century camera, developed on site on a metal plate - http://lumieretintype.com/.
Lots of outdoor seating available, even with personal tents.
Juniper
2400 E Cesar Chavez StGreat Italian food, but on the expensive side.
Contemporary Mexican specialties & snacks, beer, wine & craft cocktails. Nice, but maybe a bit overpriced? Usually crowded, so plan on calling in an order for takeout.
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Fried and True Food Truck
1308 E 6th StContemporary Mexican specialties & snacks, beer, wine & craft cocktails. Nice, but maybe a bit overpriced? Usually crowded, so plan on calling in an order for takeout.
Authentic Mexican food with quality ingredients and a wide selection of tequila. Lots of patio seating.
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Licha's Cantina
1306 E 6th StAuthentic Mexican food with quality ingredients and a wide selection of tequila. Lots of patio seating.
Awesome level ramen. Japanese soul food. Great for takeout. They also have an outdoor bar patio.
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Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S Lamar BlvdAwesome level ramen. Japanese soul food. Great for takeout. They also have an outdoor bar patio.
Farm-to-table fare from locally sourced ingredients served in a rustic space with a butcher shop. The food here is incredible. Limited patio space, so reservations are recommended or order online for takeout.
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Dai Due
2406 Manor RdFarm-to-table fare from locally sourced ingredients served in a rustic space with a butcher shop. The food here is incredible. Limited patio space, so reservations are recommended or order online for takeout.
Neighborhood pizza joint serving authentic NY-style pizza-by the pie or by the slice. Really good pizza. Open for take out only, order online for curbside pickup.
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Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveNeighborhood pizza joint serving authentic NY-style pizza-by the pie or by the slice. Really good pizza. Open for take out only, order online for curbside pickup.
Detroit style pizza (super thick crust). Very good, very heavy. No outdoor seating, but order online for takeout.
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Via 313 Pizza
10106 W 6th StDetroit style pizza (super thick crust). Very good, very heavy. No outdoor seating, but order online for takeout.
Always solid. Very "foody" farm to table dishes. They have great happy hour specials. Small indoor space. I'd recommend online ordering and takeout.
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Foreign & Domestic
306 E 53rd StAlways solid. Very "foody" farm to table dishes. They have great happy hour specials. Small indoor space. I'd recommend online ordering and takeout.
Casual restaurant serving American fare made from locally-sourced ingredients plus market & bar. Large outdoor patio space for seating. Good pastries, coffee and other farm to table food.
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Sour Duck Market
1814 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdCasual restaurant serving American fare made from locally-sourced ingredients plus market & bar. Large outdoor patio space for seating. Good pastries, coffee and other farm to table food.
I love Vic and Al's. It's probably my #1 go-to place when you just want to chill and have a great meal and some good drinks. Every night they cook up a dinner menu, and they also have a set of regular dishes. You can't go wrong with anything off their Southern Louisiana inspired menu.
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Vic and Al's
2406 Manor RdI love Vic and Al's. It's probably my #1 go-to place when you just want to chill and have a great meal and some good drinks. Every night they cook up a dinner menu, and they also have a set of regular dishes. You can't go wrong with anything off their Southern Louisiana inspired menu.
Food Trucks
There are hundreds of food trucks around town now. These are a few of my favorites.
Japanese street food. Maybe the best you will ever have. The Thai Chicken Karaage is a must to order!
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East Side King
2000 E 6th StJapanese street food. Maybe the best you will ever have. The Thai Chicken Karaage is a must to order!
Extraordinary tacos. Nice people. Picnic table seating outside. Very good for take out.
Multiple locations, check Google
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Pueblo Viejo
Extraordinary tacos. Nice people. Picnic table seating outside. Very good for take out.
Multiple locations, check Google
Converted shipping container offering Vietnamese banh mi & other street snacks near picnic tables. Great banh mi and vermicelli noodles.
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Saigon Le Vendeur
2601 E 7th StConverted shipping container offering Vietnamese banh mi & other street snacks near picnic tables. Great banh mi and vermicelli noodles.
Craft Breweries
If you like beer, don't miss these craft microbreweries nearby. They sell beer to go in cans, crowlers or growlers too.
Quality beers and taproom with a nice patio. Next door to the Austin Bouldering Project and Austin East Ciders.
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Friends & Allies Brewing
979 Springdale RdQuality beers and taproom with a nice patio. Next door to the Austin Bouldering Project and Austin East Ciders.
Craft cider. Nice patio seating and great cider. Check them out at the same time as Friends and Allies.
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Austin Eastciders
979 Springdale RdCraft cider. Nice patio seating and great cider. Check them out at the same time as Friends and Allies.
Funky little brewpub in the heart of East Austin, serving up Coffee. Beer. Tacos with lots of outdoor seating. All their beers are gluten free too!
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Lazarus Brewing Co.
1902 E 6th StFunky little brewpub in the heart of East Austin, serving up Coffee. Beer. Tacos with lots of outdoor seating. All their beers are gluten free too!
High quality urban brewery. Nice open space and patio seating.
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Zilker Brewing Company
1701 E 6th StHigh quality urban brewery. Nice open space and patio seating.
Sour mashed beer. If that's your thing, you'll probably really like them. For me, it can be hit and miss. Outdoor patio is open.
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Blue Owl Brewing
2400 E Cesar Chavez StSour mashed beer. If that's your thing, you'll probably really like them. For me, it can be hit and miss. Outdoor patio is open.
World-renowned maker of farmhouse ales and barrel-aged wild ales located on 165 acres of farmland on the outskirts of Austin, TX. These guys are the granddaddy of craft beers. You can make a reservation for outdoor seating in their farm.
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Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh RdWorld-renowned maker of farmhouse ales and barrel-aged wild ales located on 165 acres of farmland on the outskirts of Austin, TX. These guys are the granddaddy of craft beers. You can make a reservation for outdoor seating in their farm.