Barton Springs Guidebook
Neighborhoods
Bordering Lady Bird Lake, the Barton Hills area is a top destination for outdoor recreation. 350-acre Zilker Park features a spring-fed pool called Barton Springs, plus botanical gardens, a sculpture garden and athletic fields. It also plays host to the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. The Barton Creek Greenbelt offers miles of rugged hiking and biking trails as well as seasonal swimming holes.
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Barton Hills
Bordering Lady Bird Lake, the Barton Hills area is a top destination for outdoor recreation. 350-acre Zilker Park features a spring-fed pool called Barton Springs, plus botanical gardens, a sculpture garden and athletic fields. It also plays host to the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. The Barton Creek Greenbelt offers miles of rugged hiking and biking trails as well as seasonal swimming holes.
South Congress draws plenty of foot traffic to its vibrant stretch of hip boutiques, trendy lodging options and Austin-original eateries. Live music shows abound, including nightly sets at the legendary Continental Club. There’s also a picture-postcard vista of the Texas State Capitol. Taking flight every summer evening from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge is the world’s largest urban bat colony.
Take an Uber or ride a bike over to south Congress. Parking is somewhat available, with street side parking meters and a few pay to park garages.
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South Congress
South Congress draws plenty of foot traffic to its vibrant stretch of hip boutiques, trendy lodging options and Austin-original eateries. Live music shows abound, including nightly sets at the legendary Continental Club. There’s also a picture-postcard vista of the Texas State Capitol. Taking flight every summer evening from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge is the world’s largest urban bat colony.
Take an Uber or ride a bike over to south Congress. Parking is somewhat available, with street side parking meters and a few pay to park garages.
The heart of Austin beats in the Downtown area, home to live music venues, historic theaters, museums and trendy 2ND Street District boutiques.
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Downtown
The heart of Austin beats in the Downtown area, home to live music venues, historic theaters, museums and trendy 2ND Street District boutiques.
Rows of cute bungalows have been transformed into Rainey Street, a lively scene of restaurants, bars and food trucks. Have brunch at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden or dinner at Emmer & Rye, hailed by Bon Appétit as one of the best restaurants in the country. Afterwards, play bar games and have a drink with friends at Lustre Pearl, or try a Texas-brewed beer at Craft Pride.
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Rainey Street
Rainey StreetRows of cute bungalows have been transformed into Rainey Street, a lively scene of restaurants, bars and food trucks. Have brunch at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden or dinner at Emmer & Rye, hailed by Bon Appétit as one of the best restaurants in the country. Afterwards, play bar games and have a drink with friends at Lustre Pearl, or try a Texas-brewed beer at Craft Pride.
Live music venues of all stripes can be found on Red River Street, including Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, Mohawk rock club, hip-hop at Empire Control Room & Garage and local up-and-coming bands at the queer-owned Cheer Up Charlies. Stop in at Hoboken Pie after the bars have closed, when the people watching is outstanding and New Jersey-style foldable pizza slices hit the spot.
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Red River Cultural District
Live music venues of all stripes can be found on Red River Street, including Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, Mohawk rock club, hip-hop at Empire Control Room & Garage and local up-and-coming bands at the queer-owned Cheer Up Charlies. Stop in at Hoboken Pie after the bars have closed, when the people watching is outstanding and New Jersey-style foldable pizza slices hit the spot.
Sixth Street has always had a quirky allure, with its loud bars sharing space with world-class hotels. Maggie Mae’s rooftop is a great place for dancing and drinking. You won’t get in without a reservation, but Midnight Cowboy, a speakeasy that takes pride in its creative cocktails, is well worth the extra effort. Stop in at Casino El Camino for a late-night burger. Or enjoy Tex-Mex cuisine with a frosty margarita on the rooftop patio at Iron Cactus.
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Sixth Street Historic District
Sixth Street has always had a quirky allure, with its loud bars sharing space with world-class hotels. Maggie Mae’s rooftop is a great place for dancing and drinking. You won’t get in without a reservation, but Midnight Cowboy, a speakeasy that takes pride in its creative cocktails, is well worth the extra effort. Stop in at Casino El Camino for a late-night burger. Or enjoy Tex-Mex cuisine with a frosty margarita on the rooftop patio at Iron Cactus.
Fourth Street is home to some of the city’s best LGBTQ+ bars, where you can dance the night away at Highland Lounge, grab a drink and watch a drag show at Oilcan Harry’s, or lounge on the back patio at Rain. Catch concerts at ACL Live at The Moody Theater or Parker Jazz Club.
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Warehouse District
Fourth Street is home to some of the city’s best LGBTQ+ bars, where you can dance the night away at Highland Lounge, grab a drink and watch a drag show at Oilcan Harry’s, or lounge on the back patio at Rain. Catch concerts at ACL Live at The Moody Theater or Parker Jazz Club.
Food scene
Chuy's opened on April 16, 1982 in an old, abandoned Texas Barbeque joint on iconic Barton Springs Road in Austin, TX. Unforgettably decorated, there’s hand-carved wooden fish "swimming" from the ceiling, hubcaps hanging bright and shiny above your booth and the Elvis shrine, a garden of giant jewels embedded in the outside walls, and funky bright paintings covering every wall. While they refer to their food as “Tex-Mex”, their menu is made up of a combination of flavors, with recipes and ingredients from across New Mexico, Mexican border towns, the Rio Grande Valley, deep South Texas, Austin and beyond. The Green Chile sauce recipe was “borrowed” from a little hole-in-the-wall in Española, New Mexico, and the fajita marinade is an old South Texas family recipe (used at some “infamous” South Padre Island beach parties.)
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Chuy's
1728 Barton Springs RdChuy's opened on April 16, 1982 in an old, abandoned Texas Barbeque joint on iconic Barton Springs Road in Austin, TX. Unforgettably decorated, there’s hand-carved wooden fish "swimming" from the ceiling, hubcaps hanging bright and shiny above your booth and the Elvis shrine, a garden of giant jewels embedded in the outside walls, and funky bright paintings covering every wall. While they refer to their food as “Tex-Mex”, their menu is made up of a combination of flavors, with recipes and ingredients from across New Mexico, Mexican border towns, the Rio Grande Valley, deep South Texas, Austin and beyond. The Green Chile sauce recipe was “borrowed” from a little hole-in-the-wall in Española, New Mexico, and the fajita marinade is an old South Texas family recipe (used at some “infamous” South Padre Island beach parties.)
Tiki style!! You might be wondering what is kava? Well, it’s a plant that grows in the South Pacific Islands that’s used to create a drink known for inducing feelings of relaxation and mental clarity. When you check out the kava bar, you’ll join a welcoming community that’s here to enjoy good food, drinks, and camaraderie.
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SquareRut Kava Bar - Barton Springs
1601 Barton Springs RdTiki style!! You might be wondering what is kava? Well, it’s a plant that grows in the South Pacific Islands that’s used to create a drink known for inducing feelings of relaxation and mental clarity. When you check out the kava bar, you’ll join a welcoming community that’s here to enjoy good food, drinks, and camaraderie.
Organic, vegan, gluten free, refined oil & sugar free, wholesome food. They say, "When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need." There’s a playground for your kids, a beautiful courtyard and garden that feels like a spa, delicious desserts along with dinner, and a cacao/meditation spot right next door.
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Casa de Luz Village
1701 Toomey RdOrganic, vegan, gluten free, refined oil & sugar free, wholesome food. They say, "When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need." There’s a playground for your kids, a beautiful courtyard and garden that feels like a spa, delicious desserts along with dinner, and a cacao/meditation spot right next door.
Ski Shores Café has had a special place in the hearts of Austinites with its laid-back fun, made fresh to-order easy-going menu, full bar, game room, playground and live music since 1954. There’s nothing better than relaxing on the expansive patio along Barton Springs Road or at the original location along the shores of Lake Austin to make you feel like you’re permanently on vacation
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Ski Shores Cafe
2905 Pearce RdSki Shores Café has had a special place in the hearts of Austinites with its laid-back fun, made fresh to-order easy-going menu, full bar, game room, playground and live music since 1954. There’s nothing better than relaxing on the expansive patio along Barton Springs Road or at the original location along the shores of Lake Austin to make you feel like you’re permanently on vacation
Most breakfast spots start with the same script: eggs, batter, coffee, and a big ol’ griddle. At Snooze, we’ve found that scripts are a lot like pancakes — they’re best when flipped. That’s why we do breakfast, but different. From Benedicts to Bloodys to whatever you’re feeling at the moment, we’re always looking to turn our food upside down and on its side.
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Snooze an AM Eatery
1700 S Lamar BlvdMost breakfast spots start with the same script: eggs, batter, coffee, and a big ol’ griddle. At Snooze, we’ve found that scripts are a lot like pancakes — they’re best when flipped. That’s why we do breakfast, but different. From Benedicts to Bloodys to whatever you’re feeling at the moment, we’re always looking to turn our food upside down and on its side.