If you’re booking a trip to Austin, Texas then this guide is for you! Whether you’ve just starting the planning process or are deep in the trenches, this guide was built to help you make your experience as memorable as possible!
I’ve put together a list of my top city picks that range from cool and casual restaurants, to fun daytime activities, to road trip ideas near by. I will say that I geared it a little more toward groups {girls trips, bachelorette parties, etc.}, but everything I included can be enjoyed by groups or solo travelers alike.
It’s a jam packed guide that will give you insight to some of the best things this city has to offer–so kick back, relax and get ready to plan!
quick and cute breakfast or lunch spots
Flower Child: My all time favorite spot for a casual lunch. Order a freshly brewed tea and the Mediterranean Salad with a side of Gluten Free Mac and Cheese.
Juiceland: If you need a quick refresh and a healthy breakfast, try out one of the many Juiceland locations in town. Order the Wundershozen bowl–you won’t be disappointed.
Walton’s Fancy Staple: This restaurant is owned by Sandra Bullock {swoon} and is so dang cute! Swing by for a latte and their infamous avocado toast.
Hanks: A little outside of downtown, but worth the drive if you’re looking for a dreamy patio to sip your morning coffee.
Jo’s Coffee {South Congress}: A must during your weekend in Austin whether it be for an Iced Turbo {the best hangover cure} and a breakfast taco or for a photo by the I Love You So Much sign.
trendy & casual brunch spots
Tiny Boxwoods: The cutest spot for a girls brunch with an outdoor courtyard, live music, floor to ceiling windows and a delicious menu! They don’t take reservations, but head over early to get your name on the list.
Trace: This spot is located inside the W hotel, but in no way feels like a hotel restaurant. With a patio that overlooks 2nd Street and chic black and white decor, you can’t go wrong. The food is great and they have $5 mimosas or $25 carafes.
Wu Chow: Two words: Soup Dumplings. You need them in your life! Come for the dim sum Sunday brunch and stay for the cocktails and trendy atmosphere.
Taverna: Another great spot on 2nd Street that has a sweet little patio and serves up $3 mimosas and bellini’s.
Matties: Grab brunch in this gorgeous 19th-century home that features an antique-chic lounge, wrap around patio {gives me serious Notebook vibes} and a delicious menu!
Juilet: An amazing Italian restaurant with a picture perfect backyard and creative cocktails. They do $4 mimosas and $16 carafes.
Eberly: The prettiest spot! Think chic American dining & lounging areas, lush greenery, a rooftop bar and menu that spans from avocado toast to lemon ricotta pancakes.
totally “austin” dinner spots
Ranch 616: One of my favorite spots to recommend because it’s located right off of West 6th Street and just has a fun menu and a cool and authentic Austin vibe.
Perlas: Do you love seafood? And are you looking for a spot with an amazing patio? If so, Perla’s is your jam. This South Congress hot spot is perfect for a night sipping cocktails under the stars.
Emmer and Rye: Located on Rainey Street, this is the best spot in town for small plates/tapas style dining!
La Condesa: An upscale Mexican restaurant on 2nd Street that’s perfect for tacos and margs.
Lamberts: If you’re in the mood for BBQ, but you don’t want that down and dirty paper plate/plastic utensil vibe, then Lamberts is for you. This fancy BBQ spot is located in a refurbished general store with an upstairs bar and live music.
Bar Peached: This spot has such a great vibe and an incredible menu. If you still have room after dinner then order the Birthday Cake dessert. Just trust me.
Clark’s: THE CUTEST. Google Clark’s Austin and you’ll be booking a table based on the decor alone. This spot is a little pricey, but so worth it for a memorable night out.
Uchi/Uchiko: Some of the best sushi in ATX. Uchi is a little more upscale and sophisticated while Uchiko has more of a laid back vibe.
cool & unique dinner spots {outside of austin}
Tillie’s at Camp Lucy: This place is a little bit of a trek, but it’s so worth it if you can make it work with your schedule. The space is absolutely stunning and the food can be described as a modern interpretation of classic gourmet dishes.
The Salt Lick: A must on your Austin getaway weekend! You can drive, book a shuttle through a tour company or take an Uber {it’ll be a little pricey}. This spot is very casual, but very delicious. There’s also a winery onsite, ample indoor and outdoor seating and live music.
chic happy hours spots
P6: The DREAMIEST bar I’ve seen in Austin. Picture a rooftop lounge overlooking Lake Austin with gorgeous pastel decor, lush greenery, delicious drinks and small plates perfect for a little pre-dinner app.
Abels on the Lake: Right on the water and so perfect if you’re looking to grab a few casual drinks and watch the sunset.
Whisler’s: This bar is on East 6th Street and is home to some amazing craft cocktails and vintage decor. Also, random side note, I saw Justin Long here once andddd almost died.
House Wine: A great spot for happy hour! House Wine is a little hideout on South Lamar that has live music, an extensive wine menu and snacks.
Le Politique: This bright and beautiful brasserie, cafe and patisserie serves up French fare and is one of the most gorgeous bars downtown. It’s the perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink and a few photo opps.
June’s: Adorable spot on South Congress that works for dinner or drinks. This place is small, but cozy, and ideal for mixing and mingling before dinner!
delicious & affordable delivery spots
Chinatown: My top spot for Chinese food in town. The food is delicious and they have fast and reliable service.
Franklins: Ugh the golden standard of Texas BBQ. Everyone knows about Franklins, but only a handful can say they waited in line and actually got their hands on some. Pre order from their catering menu to skip the line and have someone from your group pick it up!
Matt’s El Rancho: One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Austin. Make sure you order the Bob Armstrong Dip. No questions–just order.
trendy districts to get your drink on
Rainey Street: Rainey Street is an activity in itself and it’s one of my favorite areas in the city. The street is lined with funky old homes that house small bars with big personalities. Walking around you’ll also find live music, food trucks and various drink specials. Have your Uber drop you off at Craft Pride and walk the street from there.
West 6th Street: A great spot if you want to be in an area with fun bars and a slew of young professionals. Buford’s, Star Bar and Dogwood are three of my favorite places! Have your Uber drop you off at Green Light Social {ask for a Capri Sun drink at the bar} and walk the street from there.
Dirty 6th Street: As the name states, it’s a little dirtier on this side of the road! Dirty is like the Bourbon Street of Austin and, while it can get crazy at times, it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Have your Uber drop you off at The Driskill Hotel and walk the street from there.
East 6th: A fun and funky area that’s a little more hipster and has some amazing bars, brewery’s and other hidden gems. Have your Uber drop you off at Hotel Vegas and walk the street from there.
Broken Spoke: Ok, not a bar district, but this place is so old school Austin and such a good time that I wanted to make sure I included it. Grab your cowboy boots, sign up for two stepping classes and spend the night dancing away.
daytime activities in austin
Peddle Crawler: There are a few different peddle crawler companies, but I’ve linked my favorite in this post. Throw on some 90’s jams and peddle around town stopping at some of Austin’s best bars.
Workout Class: For those of you in town for a bachelorette party and looking to do a group workout, there are a ton of options. You can do a serious class like Barr or Ride or a fun one like GoGa {Goat Yoga}, a Strip Tease class or City Surf. I linked GoGa for you all above!
Austin Tour: Austin Detours plans some amazing day trips that are perfect for small groups! Check the link for the full list, but a few of my favorites are the Magnolia Market Day Trip {hiii Chip and Joanna}, Austin Live Music Tour and the Street Food and Art crawl.
Wine/Beer Tour: Nothing beats a good wine or beer tour–especially one with a designated driver. Check out Texas Winos for full or half day trips.
South Congress: The street is iconic and it’s a great spot to just grab cocktails and pop in and out of shops. Get drinks at Hotel San Jose, stop by the Kendra Scott store, pick out a pair of boots at Allens, snack on a cupcake from Hey Cupcake and finish your afternoon off with a show at the Continental Club.
daytime water based activities in austin
Barton Springs: Barton Springs Pool is located in Zilker Park and it’s filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs. It’s $9 to get in and it’s a great spot to kick back and relax. Make sure to check the link for hours and prohibited items!
Austin Motel: The Austin Motel has such a cool pool and it’s located in the heart of South Congress. Grab a pool pass for $25 and some canned rose, heart shaped sunnies and pool floats from their gift shop.
Deep Eddy Pool + Pool Burger: Another great swimming area in town! Deep Eddy Pool is a historic, man-made swimming pool with free admission {whoop!} and it’s located right next to Pool Burger. Get your swim on and then swing by Pool Burger for a tiki drink and fries.
Float The River: Grab your friends, some beer {or canned wine anyone?} and your sunscreen and float the river! There are a few different rivers and ton of different tour companies that will drive you to and from to make the day easy breezy.
Rent a Boat on Lake Travis or Lake Austin: You’ll definitely want to book this in advance, but rent a boat on Lake Travis or Lake Austin! Most companies have various sizes for different groups and they can provide you a captain.
road tripping outside of austin
Glamping: There are a ton of glamping options around Austin, so turn to trusty Google and find one that’s perfect for your group! One spot I recently found is this little tree house, I mean…come on! If you’re looking for a higher end glamping experience, check out Collective Retreats.
Fredricksburg: Home to the cutest little town and some amazing wineries. You can find an Airbnb and stay for a night or drive/take a tour from Austin. If you stay for the night, check out the 290 Wine Shuttle and if you’re looking for a day trip from Austin, check out wine tours through Texas Winos.
Marfa: Marfa is 6 hours from Austin, but the second you see photos of their glamping site El Cosmico, you’ll be looking up car rentals and wondering if 6 hours is realllly that long of a drive. If your group loves to road trip, then book 2 nights at the camp ground and drive out to Marfa. Make sure you stop by the Prada art project on the way!
Phew, I think that’s it! There are so many amazing things to do in the city and you really can’t go wrong! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to DM me or comment below!
