West Austin is a beautiful, resident-filled section of Austin that has rolling hills, views of downtown, and lots of gorgeous hiking and boating opportunities. Do you know what else it has? Good coffee shops! Yep. Just a few years ago, you could hardly find any locally-owned west Austin coffee shops. It was all big-name brands…
Let’s start by making something really clear: the beaches in Austin are lake beaches and river beaches. Obviously, sure, but it’s nice to just clear things up from the beginning. There are no oceans in Austin, TX. Shocker. However, there are some really great sandy beach areas, clean, cold water, and beautiful places to enjoy…
When the weekend rolls around, you’re more likely to want to go out for a happy hour in Austin! Weekday happy hours are fun, but you still have to wake up the next day and go to work. If you can find great weekend happy hours in Austin, you can enjoy heading out around 4…
Have you been to Lulu’s yet? It opened in October 2022 from a mother/daughter team. It’s the newest addition to the string of bars lining Menchaca Road in far South Austin. The owners call it “the perfect blend of Mexico City and South Austin.” It’s surprisingly unique in a row of bars that all feel…
Sometimes you want incredible food, and sometimes you want a kid-friendly restaurant, and sometimes you just want to try whatever is new and notable….but every now and then, the main criterion in your restaurant search is: make it pretty. What are the prettiest restaurants in Austin? We’re talking about unique architecture, vaulted ceilings, big windows,…
If you’re in Austin, you probably want to try a food truck or two. Here’s the good news: there are some *actually amazing* food trucks in ATX. And while there are all sorts of lists out there of famous Austin food trucks with instagrammable food (lookin’ at you, Gourdough’s), this is a list Austin food…
Think of this as a brainstorming session to find a good downtown Austin lunch restaurant. These aren’t necessarily narrowed down to the best lunch restaurants in Austin. Rather, we’re providing a big, broad list + map of places you can eat lunch in downtown Austin so you can find a location near you and the…
Here’s your guide to some of the best casual restaurants in Austin. When you’ve been working from home all day in sweatpants and a messy bun and you’re not in the mood to wear makeup or put on “real” clothes, use this list to find a casual Austin restaurant near you. Because we’ve all been…
First off, don’t be weird and call it “cheese dip.” Queso is a BIG thing in Austin, and there’s no quicker way to show you don’t belong than by saying “let’s go get some burritos and cheese dip!” This spectacular appetizer (and sometimes a full meal…come on, everyone’s done it at least once) is one…
It’s a running joke in Austin Texas that the weather can fluctuate on a dime. You’ll wake up in the morning and put on a pair of jeans, a long-sleeve shirt, and a coat, and by lunchtime, you’re wishing you were wearing a t-shirt and sandals and paddle boarding out on the lake…even in the…
We’ve talked about Q2 Stadium plenty over here at The Austin Things. It’s a GORGEOUS soccer stadium that was built in 2020 to provide a home base for Austin FC, Austin’s MLS team. There are plenty of reasons why Q2 Stadium is the ultimate destination for soccer fans, but, one of the big reasons why…
Austin FC’s third season is kicking off, and with that comes a lot of anticipation from the fan base about upcoming changes to Q2 Stadium in north Austin. After all, a big part of attending the games and cheering on Los Verdes is the match day experience. And it just so happens that Q2 stadium…
Austin, Texas public library system isn’t the biggest in the country, but that just means the pressure’s on to make it really great! The Austin Public Library system has a lot of branches scattered throughout the city, and one absolutely phenomenal central library that’s been nationally recognized. Many of these Austin public libraries offer kids…
Mueller Lake Park is a beautiful project in northeast Austin positioned strategically in the heart of Mueller. This gorgeous lake and park cement Mueller as one of the most family-friendly and walkable neighborhoods in Austin. The goal of the project was to transform the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport (the old Austin airport that used to…
Sometimes you want to dine at a kid-friendly Austin restaurant and ask the kids to sit still and eat with you…and sometimes you just want to eat out at literally any place that has a playground where the kids can run around while you have a moment to finish your dinner in peace. If you’re…
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),…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
