Austin, TX: The Ultimate Bucket List
This summer, I spent 3 months in Austin and compiled a list of activities, food stops and sights to enjoy in the city. Check out the list below (with photos attached) to see which spots you can try -- enjoy the list!
Tourist Stops (refer to photos below):
Photo @ Greetings from Austin Postcard Mural
Hamilton Pool Grotto (good for picnic and swimming; need reservation weeks in advance)
Barton Springs Pool
Barton Creek Greenbelt Hike
Mount Bonnell ("hiking" but more like stairs and you see a nice view)
Umlauf Sculpture Garden
The Liberty (eat at Eastside Kings)
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail (Lady Bird Johnson WIldflower Center)
Mayfield Park (Peacocks wandering around the park)
Longhorn Caverns
Cathedral of the Junk (art attraction located in one backyard of a neighborhood in South Austin)
Zilker Park (hiking, biking, kayaking, jogging, botanical garden)
Ego’s (karaoke) Castle Hill Graffiti
HOPE Outdoor Gallery (largest graffiti park in North America)
Baylor Street Art Wall
Pace Bend Park (swimming and cliff jumping)
Alamo Drafthouse ("unique" movie watching experience)
Rainey Street (old houses turned into bars; drinks and brunches)
First Thursday (“One the first Thursday of every month, the South Congress Hotel hosts a huge event with musicians and an all-night happy hour. It’s one of the biggest nights of the month for young professionals and a wonderful place to have fun, meet new people (Austinites are very friendly), and drink cheap.”)
South Congress (shopping)
Hippie Hollow (nude beach)
Broken Spoke (square dancing)
SoCo District (unique boutiques, restaurants, antiques, art galleries, music venues)
Congress Bridge (watch bats during sunset)
Krause Springs
Art/Museum:
Blanton Museum of Art (18,000 exhibits)
The Contemporary Austin
Food:
BBQ
Franklin BBQ (long line)
Salt Lick BBQ
La Barbecue
Micklethwait
Freedmen’s
Tex-Mex
Torchy’s Tacos
Zocalo Cafe
Guero’s Taco Bar
Juan in a Million
El Patio
Tacodeli
Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
Matt’s famous El Rancho (Bob Armstrong Dip)
Curra’s grill (avo margarita)Rosita’s (al pastor taco)
La condesa (great for brunches)
Breakfast Taco Spots
Texas Honey Ham
Joe’s Bakery (breaded bacon and scratch-made tortillas to the pan dulces and lardy refried beans)
Mi Madres
Mi Trailita
La Cocina
De Consuelo
Juan in a Million
Brunch
Banger’s on Rainey Street (signature mimosa)
Luke’s Inside Out
Jack Allen’s (buffet style)
Ramen
Ramen Tatsu-ya
Daruma
Kanji
Jinya
Michi
Kome
Coffee
Bouldin Creek Coffee House
Bennu Coffee
Mozart’s
Jo’s turbo
Cuvee
Medici
Brew&Stre
Fleet
Patika
Vintage Heart (“Butter Half” Mural)
Burgers
Hopdoddy Burger
BarCow Bells
Wholly Cow
East Side King
Texas Chili Parlor – “Frito Pie”
Uchiko (trendy dishes)
Home Slice Pizza
Bufalina (pizza – house-made mozz)
Hills Cafe (try chicken fried steak with yella gravy)
Fricano’s deli
Salty Sow (3x fried duck fat fries)
Jack Allen’s Kitchen (Chicken Fried Beef Ribs)
Clark’s Oyster Bar (lobster mac and cheese)
Max’s (jalapeño-buttermilk fried chicken)
Elizabeth Street Cafe (fusions Vietnamese)
Perla’s (seafood)
Titaya’s (Thai food)
Wu Chow Dim Sum
TRIO (steaks and seafood overlooking Colorado River)
Sholz Garten (beer, brats, bowling)
Gourdough’s (burgers made from donut buns)
Dessert:
Amy’s Ice Cream
Lick Ice Cream
Sweet Ritual
Cow Tipping Creamery
SPUNHey Cupcake (“Sweetberry”)
Gourdough’s (donuts)
Night Hawk Frisco Shop (pies)
Bars:
Thinkery21
Yard Bar (puppies and pub)
Oasis (drinks and watch the sunset)
Adelbert’s Brewery
La Perla (try Armodelo)
Garage (cocktail bar tucked in a parking garage)
Vinyl (beyond the hidden doors at Teller)
Peche
Isla
Ah Sing Den
Whisler’s
Midnight Cowboy (speakeasy)
Brewery tours (Independence, Live Oak, Hops & Grain, Austin Beer Works, St. Elmo Brewing, Jester King, East Side Showroom (speakeasy vibe/ drinks/ food), The White Horse
Rooftops:
Handlebar (“solid old fashion”)
Blackbeat
Shiner’s Saloon (live music daily; burger, pizza, wings until 2 am; whiskey Wednesday $1 whiskey)
Mohawk
Speakeasy (mentioned above)
The Market (Sundays are bottomless mimosas)
Summit Rooftop lounge (“One of newest in rooftop venues, Summit has a very posh feel with a huge dance floor; expect a very EDM-heavy nightclub experience.”)
The Best Happy Hours:
The Peach Tortilla (Mon-Sun 5-7pm) --- $7 burger, $3 tacos, $5 cocktails, $5 wine, and a menu of $5 snacks including crispy fries with an egg, kimchi arancini balls, and charred Brussels sprouts
Dive Bar (Mon-Fri, 2-7pm) --- $2.50 Lone Star and PBR tall boys, $3 wells, $4 drafts, and $5 wine
Clark’s Oyster Bar (Mon-Sun, 3-6pm) --- 50 cents off oysters, half-priced burgers, and $5 martinis
Fixe Austin (everyday 4-7pm)
Ego’s Bar
Elephant Room (jazz bar)
The Continental Club (live music)
The Townsend (high-end cocktail lounge; modern cocktails)
The Goodnight (multi-activity lounge concept: live music, billiards, ping pong, bowling lanes)
Speakeasy (lounge with antique couches, live music, chill vibe)
Broken Spoke (dance hall known for southern dancing)
Comedy Clubs:
Cap City Comedy Club
Esther’s Follies
The New Movement
The Hideout Theater
Coldtowne Theater
Latino Comedy Project