SXSW live music | How To Do SXSW For FREE!

How Does SXSW Work + How To Do SXSW For Free 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 5, 2025

South By Southwest Festival (also known as SXSW, SX, or “South By”) is a massive festival that happens in Austin Texas every spring. Although it started in the 1980s as a small-ish festival of 700 people, it has expanded and it’s now one of the biggest international stages to showcase the best and brightest in…

Top Notch

20 Classic Austin Restaurants For Your Bucket List

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 15, 2025

Austin has a rich history of restaurants; some have even been around since way back in the mid-1800s!  If these classic Austin restaurants have managed to stick around that long (amidst all the trendy, modern-day restaurants that are opening nearly every week), we all want to know why. And so, after running around the city…

Mexta Restaurant Review: I Wouldn’t Recommend It

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 13, 2025

Well, I already shared my TL;DR in the title, so I’ll go ahead and cut right to the chase about the new Mexico City-inspired restaurant in downtown Austin: Mexta isn’t going to be on my Best Restaurants in Austin list, at least for now. Here’s my review of Mexta where I’ll share both the (very)…

Uchiba Austin patio

Uchiba Is My Favorite Of The Uchi Restaurant Empire

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 10, 2025

I recently went on a double date to Uchiba and felt compelled to say why this restaurant is my very favorite among the Uchi restaurant empire.

Black's BBQ Austin

9 Austin BBQ Spots You Need To Visit

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

Whether you’re local to the Austin area or you’re visiting for a long weekend, one thing is really clear about this town: we love our barbecue. I mean, we LOVE it. In fact, ever since Franklin Barbecue put Austin on the map for being one of the best places in the United States to eat…

East Austin Restaurants

Map Of The Best Breakfast Tacos In Austin (For 2025)

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

It’s not hard finding breakfast tacos in Austin, but what about the best ones? We’re talking about soft homemade tortillas that are softly dusted with flour, warm, fluffy eggs, and homemade, fiery salsas. Sure, you can get decent breakfast tacos on just about every street corner in Austin. If you’re a and you want to…

home slice pizza

55 Fun Things To Do In Austin With Kids (2025)

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

Whether you’re a local or you’re visiting with kids, here are 55 really fun things to do in Austin with your family.

Day Maker Is The New Diner Concept From Jack Allen’s Kitchen, And It’s Awesome

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025

I absolutely LOVE a diner (like Phoebe’s, Kerbey Lane, and 24 Diner), in no small part due to Gilmore Girls’ influence on my upbringing. Hello Luke’s diner! But also because a big plate of chilaquiles and a hot cup of coffee on a random Tuesday morning? Yes please. Day Maker Half Day Café just opened in…

Salad at Local Foods in Austin Texas

Discover the Best Healthy Restaurants in Austin For 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 8, 2025

We’re bringing some of our favorite healthy Austin restaurants – yay! Austin has a lot of places for fresh lunches, allergen-free treats, vegan meals, and hearty dinners here in town. If you’re thinking the healthy restaurants are boring, think again. Austin is known for being a foodie’s paradise, but you don’t need to gorge on…

24 Diner breakfast in Austin

22 Places To Indulge In Weekday Breakfast In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 6, 2025

Sure, weekend brunching is practically a professional sport here in this foodie city…but don’t forget about the often overlooked weekday breakfast spots in Austin! There are plenty of good reasons to indulge in something delicious on a random Wednesday morning. powered by Proxi About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of…

Homeslice Pizza

The 30 Best Austin Restaurants in 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 1, 2025

The 30 best restaurants in Austin right now, from $4 street tacos to $200 tasting menus.

Pool at The Thompson Hotel in Austin

Where To Stay In Austin For A Bachelorette Party: Here’s A Map

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 10, 2024

There’s no doubt that Austin is an incredible place for a bachelorette weekend. It’s perfect for people who want to just have FUN without a lot of pressure. We’re pretty casual here in ATX…this isn’t going to be your LA or Miami nightlife scene. Instead, Austin has great dancing, insane restaurants, all sorts of weird/local…

kid-friendly holiday events in Austin

Kid-Friendly Holiday Activities In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 6, 2024

The holidays in Austin are so much fun! There are plenty of kid-friendly holiday activities in Austin that the whole family can enjoy together. So if you’re looking to spend time in Austin with you little ones this holiday season and you want to soak up all the magical memories, you’re in luck. There are…

Miracle on 5th Street

A Map Of All The Holiday Pop-Up Bars In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 5, 2024

A map of all the holiday pop-up bars in Austin so you can slip into an ugly Christmas sweater and go get you an eggnog!!

Austin skyline in the winter

20 Things To Do In Austin In The Winter

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 4, 2024

20 fun things to do in Austin in the winter. Even in the winter, this city is SO much fun to visit and there’s a lot to do!

Hidden Gem Restaurants In Austin (Tourists Need To Visit These!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 11, 2025
Buenos Aires Cafe

In the age of Google My Business a “hidden gem restaurant” doesn’t really exist anymore…but sometimes I still like to bring attention to some lesser-known Austin gems. While most people visit Austin and get the same 8-10 recommendations (MICHELIN-rated, the 30 all-time best restaurants in Austin, and then tourist-y spots like Salt Lick and Torchy’s),…

Best New Restaurants in Austin (With Map) – March 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 10, 2025

It’s hard to keep up with all the new restaurants opening in Austin! Use this guide + map to find something new to try near you.

FREE in Austin: 9th Street BMX Trail

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 7, 2025

Tucked into the heart of downtown Austin is an unassuming park of dirt mounds and hills. You might drive by it a few times without noticing it (especially if it’s empty), but if you head to 9th Street and North Lamar on a weekend, dozens of BMX bikers of all ages and skill levels will…

Here Are The Best Sandwiches In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 6, 2025
Mum Foods pastrami

Sandwiches in Austin (unfairly) don’t have the same hype that they get in a lot of other cities. I mean, it’s not like we have the same claim to fame as NYC deli markets or the New Orleans po’boy scene. (Granted, we totally own the market on tacos and barbecue.) But I’m on a mission to showcase…

The Ultimate Patio Guide To Austin, TX

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 25, 2025
Central Machine Works

When the weather is absolutely freaking gorgeous, everyone in Austin is going to want to drink or dine on a beautiful outdoor patio. Honestly, it’s almost easier to list places without patios than with, because nearly every restaurant and bar in Austin has outdoor seating. But where are the best patios in Austin? Use the…

The Best Happy Hours In Austin For Cheap Eats + Drinks

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 25, 2025

Austin is known for its food scene, but those restaurant tabs can add up pretty quickly  The solution? Austin happy hours! You can often try the same amazing menu items at a fraction of the cost. Plus, happy hour is just…happy.  PS: weekend-specific happy hours in Austin are here. powered by Proxi About me: I’m Kelsey,…

Best Restaurants In West Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 24, 2025
Ling Wu Asian Restaurant | best west Austin restaurants

Sure, downtown Austin and east Austin are probably where you’ll find the biggest clusters of award-winning Austin restaurants. But the sprawling area of west Austin (from Westlake to Lakeway to Bee Caves, and even closer to the city like Tarrytown and Rollingwood) has lots of residents. So where are all the west Austin restaurants?? Actually,…

Where To Find Cozy Food In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 20, 2025
best cozy food in Austin

Cold front in Austin? Cue all the cozy foods! There aren’t many snow storms or cold, blustery days here in Austin, but when they hit us, they hit us HARD. Those freezing wind chills and ice-cold temps are brutal (no thanks to the fact that none of us own a proper winter wardrobe…), but you…

The Prettiest Bars In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 20, 2025
prettiest bars in Austin

I am not a world-renowned mixologist or sommelier, but I know my way around a cocktail menu. A decade of food writing and city blogging has given me a front seat at some of the hottest cocktail bars in Austin and beyond. But do you know what I keep discovering, over and over again? It’s…

Best Food at the Austin Airport: Quick Guide

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 19, 2025
Parkside at Austin Airport

The Austin Airport is unique in the fact that we have a huge amount of local Austin restaurants located at the airport.  You won’t find a McDonald’s or a Subway at this airport, but you will find local breakfast tacos and famous Austin barbecue at the main terminal at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Here’s the…

The Best Bars and Restaurants On Rainey Street (According To An Austin Local)

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 18, 2025
best bars on Rainey

You love, you hate it, but there’s no denying that you’re aware of Rainey Street in Austin. It’s one of our biggest nightlife districts! Here are the best bars and restaurants on Rainey.

Play For All Abilities Park Is One  Of The Best Parks In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 18, 2025

If you haven’t had the chance to visit yet, Play For All Park in Round Rock is truly one of the best parks in the greater Austin area. This MASSIVE, state-of-the-art park covers a vast area and was thoughtfully designed with inclusivity in mind to make sure that every child-regardless of their abilities-has the opportunity…

The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary For Your Weekend Trip To Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 16, 2025
Weekend Itinerary in Austin

Sure, there are plenty of “best of” lists floating around the Web. But what are the “perfect” things to do to fill your first weekend in Austin? Austin Texas: one of the top travel destinations in the United States. It’s perfect for bachelorette parties, family trips, girls’ weekend getaways, and romantic vacations with your significant…

Best Restaurant Bars In Austin For Solo Dining

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 13, 2025
EZOV

If you have the urge to go out and enjoy a fabulous meal at an Austin restaurant but you don’t have someone who’s available to join you…go anyway! Dining solo is amazing! And there are so many great Austin bars for dining solo.  For starters, it’s totally normal to dine solo and you shouldn’t be…

The Best Bars and Breweries Near Q2 Stadium

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 13, 2025
bars near Q2 stadium

Q2 Stadium is the gorgeous home of Austin’s major professional league soccer team, Austin FC. It’s pretty far north in Austin (located in the North Burnet section of North Austin), and it’s one of the newest sports facilities in the country, consisting of 20,500 seats. During those fun soccer game days, this stadium is crowded…

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