Indigo Play

Best Indoor Play Places In Austin For Toddlers + Big Kids

By Kelsey Kennedy | June 6, 2025

When it’s way too hot or way too rainy or you just want a new indoor play place to explore, here are some good ones.

JABS burger in Austin

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | June 5, 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.

Barton springs Pool

The Perfect Day In Austin, *SUMMER* Edition! 

By Kelsey Kennedy | June 5, 2025

When I get asked what it’s like to live in Austin, I always start with the truth: it’s HOT.  And not like, hot sauce and BBQ and spicy tacos hot…I mean sweaty, sunny, I-need-to-jump-in-a-pool hot.  So if you’re visiting Austin this summer and you need a full day of fun stuff to do, this guide…

Central Machine Works

The Ultimate Patio Guide To Austin, TX

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 16, 2025

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…

Elizabeth Street Cafe

10 Best South Austin Restaurants

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 16, 2025

South Austin restaurants have never been better. Just when you think you’ve hit up all of the great places to eat and drink in south Austin, another great restaurant opens.  And this restaurant scene is quite different from the new restaurants that are opening in downtown Austin, which are often multi-million dollar build outs at…

Cuantos Taco

20 Best Tacos In Austin That I Always Recommend To My Friends

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 15, 2025

There’s a wide variety in this city, so here are the 20 best tacos in Austin, including everything from cheap street tacos to James Beard Award-Winning fancy tacos.

Elementary brunch

The Best Brunch Spots In Austin Texas

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 15, 2025

Austin is a brunch city, and here’s a map of all the best brunch spots you need to check out.

Best South First Street Restaurants

Where To Eat On South First Street

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 14, 2025

South First Street is a powerhouse of amazing restaurants in Austin. It runs parallel to the popular South Congress Ave, but unlike the tourist destination that SOCO has become, South First is mostly full of locals who have found their favorite neighborhood restaurant or bar. After years of living walking distance to these restaurants, I’m…

Buenos Aires Cafe

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 11, 2025

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),…

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…

Mum Foods pastrami

Here Are The Best Sandwiches In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 6, 2025

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 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 THE AUTHOR Kelsey…

Ling Wu Asian Restaurant | best west Austin restaurants

Best Restaurants In West Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 24, 2025

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,…

best cozy food in Austin

Where To Find Cozy Food In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 20, 2025

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…

prettiest bars in Austin

The Prettiest Bars In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 20, 2025

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…

Better Half Bar Is Still The Best Lunch In Downtown Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 7, 2025
Better Half Bar beens and greens

It’s not new, and it’s not a trendy, but Better Half Bar in downtown Austin is still the best place to get lunch in downtown Austin.  Better Half Bar is an all-day coffee shop, restaurant, and bar. They have a robust coffee program that opens early in the morning, an all-day menu featuring breakfast, lunch,…

Evan LeRoy (James Beard Nominee) Launched A Special Menu, And It’s Insane

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025

There are only two Austin nominees in the James Beard Award – Best Chef Texas category, and Evan LeRoy is one of them. And if you haven’t been to the new LeRoy and Lewis brick-and-mortar restaurant in South Austin, seriously, what’s wrong with you? 🙂 I’ve been geeking out about LeRoy and Lewis being one…

Lace Up Your Hiking Boots: Here Are The 15 Best Hiking Trails in Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025
Violet Crown Trail

Austin is a very outdoorsy city with lots of great hiking trails. Ask anyone who lives here and they’ll tell you that the terrain of Austin, with the limestone cliffs and numerous creek beds, lends itself to lots of great, easy hiking. So if you’re looking for a fun weekend adventure, here are 15 of…

FREE In Austin: Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park (And It’s A Gem!)

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 6, 2025
hiking at Walnut Creek Park

I love scoping out free things to do in Austin, because sometimes it seems like the cost of simply walking out your door is $400 these days! (Does anyone else feel this way?) There are loads of free things to do in Austin, but one of my very favorites is finding incredible public parks and…

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 5, 2025
SXSW live music | How To Do SXSW For FREE!

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…

20 Classic Austin Restaurants For Your Bucket List

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 15, 2025
Top Notch

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 Is My Favorite Of The Uchi Restaurant Empire

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 10, 2025
Uchiba Austin patio

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.

9 Austin BBQ Spots You Need To Visit

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025
Black's BBQ Austin

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…

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025
East Austin Restaurants

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…

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 9, 2025
home slice pizza

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…

Discover the Best Healthy Restaurants in Austin For 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 8, 2025
Salad at Local Foods in Austin Texas

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…

22 Places To Indulge In Weekday Breakfast In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 6, 2025
24 Diner breakfast in Austin

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 THE AUTHOR Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin…

The 30 Best Austin Restaurants in 2025

By Kelsey Kennedy | January 1, 2025
Homeslice Pizza

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

The Austin Things

Where To Eat In Austin

Visitor Tips For Austin

Best Austin Activites