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),…

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…

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…

Parkside at Austin Airport

Best Food at the Austin Airport: Quick Guide

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 19, 2025

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…

best bars on Rainey

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

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 18, 2025

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.

How To See The Poppies In Georgetown Texas

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 10, 2024
poppies in Georgetown Texas

Did you know that Georgetown, Texas is known for its red poppies? They’re a beautiful flower that’s not seen very often in Texas, so it’s a very cool thing that GTX has so many of them every spring. The red flowers are so famous that Georgetown even launched their very own Red Poppy Festival every…

13 Solid Patio Happy Hours In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 5, 2024
Este

You just want a good drink, some delicious bites, and a fun Austin patio to hang out on. Oh, and you want it all at a discounted price because you’re showing up at 5 pm instead of normal dinner evening hours. Is that so much to ask? No, no it’s not. And so here are…

Best Local Kid-Friendly Restaurants In Buda

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 5, 2024
best kid friendly buda restaurants

Buda is a family town! It’s an absolutely flourishing city just a little bit south of Austin that has grown very popular for its proximity to Austin, its historic downtown Buda shopping and dining district, and the family-friendliness of all of it. So it’s no surprise that there are several wonderful kid-friendly restaurants in Buda.…

25 Air-Conditioned Things To Do In Austin When It’s HELLA HOT Outside

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 4, 2024
Barton Springs Pool

You’re looking at your weather app and it’s going to be a high of 106 degrees today…for the 10th day in a row. You’re starting to run out of ideas of things to do in Austin when it’s hot outside because let’s face it: those Austin patios stop being fun when the weather gets above…

The Best Local Coffee Shops in Buda

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 3, 2024
best coffee shops in Buda

Buda just keeps getting better and better! This little town that’s just south of Austin has a small geographic area on the map but a BIG impact on the south Austin community. In fact, lots of south Austinites will drive down to Buda just to visit some of the best restaurants in Buda. But what…

10 Must-Visit Breweries In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 31, 2024
St Elmo Carl

You’re in Austin for the weekend, you know that we’re kind of famous for our craft breweries here, and you’re wondering what the top must-visit breweries in Austin are. Great! I’ll help! If this massive guide to ALL the award-winning breweries in the Austin area is a bit too overwhelming for you and you want…

15 Best Keto Restaurants In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 29, 2024
Maie Day steak

Wondering where the hell you’re going to eat in Austin while you’re on the Keto diet!? I got you! Dining out can definitely still happen, even if you’re trying to stick to the keto lifestyle. I know it can be hard to follow your Keto meal plan when you want to socialize and enjoy some nice dinners…

New Austin Restaurants: The Archives

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 29, 2024
Pecan Square Cafe

You might have stumbled upon the guide to The Best New Restaurants in Austin. It’s updated monthly and contains a few of the must-visit new hot spots in ATX. But once those restaurants reach 2 years old, they’re moved over here: The Archives. This is where you can scroll through and dozens of great restaurants…

Where To Eat Near University of Texas (Splurge $$$ and Save $)

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 28, 2024
Crown and Anchor Pub

I remember being a student at UT back in the day, and there were about…5 good places to eat near the University of Texas. Ha. Fortunately, as Austin grows and more and more fantastic restaurants come into this city, the food options for students are also growing! If you’re looking for some of the best…

25 Best Restaurants At The Domain

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 27, 2024
Best Restaurants At The Domain

There’s no denying that the Domain and the Domain NORTHSIDE are awesome places to spend your day in Austin. This massive district in north Austin is home to some of the best shopping in our city (Louis Vuitton! Nordstrom! Anthropologie!) and also some of the best restaurants. And I’m not sure about you, but after…

A Map Of The Best Cocktail Bars In Austin

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 18, 2024
Sazan Cocktail Bar

The next time you’re in the mood for a fun night out of cocktails with your friends, or you’re looking for a swanky cocktail bar in Austin for pre-dinner drinks, check out one of these fun spots. Rather than an exhaustive list of all the places in town to get cocktails, this is a roundup…

Here Are The Best Restaurants On South Congress (According To Locals)

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 16, 2024
Jo's Coffee

South Congress…what a babe, right?! Popular for being the primary tourist district in Austin, Texas, South Congress (or SOCO) is full of shops, famous murals, coffee, hotels, rooftop pools, bars, and lots and lots of restaurants. Wondering where to eat on South Congress? From tacos to upscale dinner restaurants, here’s the best food on South…

Where To Take Bluebonnet Pictures In Austin: 10 Best Spots (With A Map)

By Kelsey Kennedy | March 7, 2024
Bluebonnets in Austin

Bluebonnet season is early March – late April in Texas, and Austin and the surrounding Hill Country makes the perfect backdrop to capture those precious bluebonnet pictures in Austin. Finding bluebonnets isn’t hard – you can actually see millions of these gorgeous purple/blue flowers just while driving around on the highway. I was looking out…

The Violet Crown Wine Bar and Coffee Shop Is Exceptional

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 12, 2023
Violet Crown Wine Bar and Coffee Shop in Austin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest…

Bureau de Poste French Restaurant in Austin Is Excellent

By Kelsey Kennedy | December 7, 2023
Bureau do Poste

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest…

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