Guidebook for Austin
Food Scene
Consistently delicious, fresh and healthy. This is a vegetarian cafe with die-hard omnivore fans, like myself. Try the mexican mocha, the wanna-BLT and a oatmeal cookie sandwich! Serves their amazing breakfast items until midnight every night!
565 personas locales recomiendan
Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S 1st StConsistently delicious, fresh and healthy. This is a vegetarian cafe with die-hard omnivore fans, like myself. Try the mexican mocha, the wanna-BLT and a oatmeal cookie sandwich! Serves their amazing breakfast items until midnight every night!
The address still pulls up as El Chile on here, but the name of this restaurant is Alcomar. Best frozen margarita in town! Beautiful interior and patio, specializing in coastal Mexican cuisine. Go for Happy Hour and try the mushroom gorditas, octopus tostadas and the best frozen you'll ever have.
61 personas locales recomiendan
Alcomar
1816 South 1st StreetThe address still pulls up as El Chile on here, but the name of this restaurant is Alcomar. Best frozen margarita in town! Beautiful interior and patio, specializing in coastal Mexican cuisine. Go for Happy Hour and try the mushroom gorditas, octopus tostadas and the best frozen you'll ever have.
Brand new stunning restaurant literally around the corner. Gorgeous huge outdoor dining area underneath a beautiful old live oak. This place specializes in using farm to table ingredients to create a menu full of flavorful fresh and healthy salads. Sandwiches, soups and other delicious snacks available. They use fresh squeezed juices for all their boozy drinks and even add their own healthy twists, such as their turmeric mimosa or "That Green Drink". Favorite items are the kale fritters, La Pepita and the Chop Chop salads!
66 personas locales recomiendan
Vinaigrette
2201 College AveBrand new stunning restaurant literally around the corner. Gorgeous huge outdoor dining area underneath a beautiful old live oak. This place specializes in using farm to table ingredients to create a menu full of flavorful fresh and healthy salads. Sandwiches, soups and other delicious snacks available. They use fresh squeezed juices for all their boozy drinks and even add their own healthy twists, such as their turmeric mimosa or "That Green Drink". Favorite items are the kale fritters, La Pepita and the Chop Chop salads!
This place is hard to nail down in terms of identity. It's a farm to table high-dollar Thai food restaurant, it's a coffee shop, and it's a bakery specializing in gluten-free, vegan, "healthy" desserts. I am neither gluten-free or vegan, but their sweet treats are so amazingly good no matter what your restrictions are (or aren't :). They make the best chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. I do not say that with exaggeration or without expertise. The banana whoopie pie, oatmeal cream cookies sandwiches, salted brownies are all amazing as well.
189 personas locales recomiendan
Thai Fresh
909 W Mary StThis place is hard to nail down in terms of identity. It's a farm to table high-dollar Thai food restaurant, it's a coffee shop, and it's a bakery specializing in gluten-free, vegan, "healthy" desserts. I am neither gluten-free or vegan, but their sweet treats are so amazingly good no matter what your restrictions are (or aren't :). They make the best chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. I do not say that with exaggeration or without expertise. The banana whoopie pie, oatmeal cream cookies sandwiches, salted brownies are all amazing as well.
Parks & Nature
If you walk 5 minutes down Leland you will happen upon a beautiful park area with a little running track and workout area under a gigantic tree. If you go right at the trail you will quickly find Big Stacy pool... a wonderful neighborhood pool, free to you, with swim lanes, life guards, and grass space to relax in the sun. If you go left, its a beautiful place to stroll or jog for about a mile roundtrip.
7 personas locales recomiendan
Blunn Creek Greenbelt Trail
If you walk 5 minutes down Leland you will happen upon a beautiful park area with a little running track and workout area under a gigantic tree. If you go right at the trail you will quickly find Big Stacy pool... a wonderful neighborhood pool, free to you, with swim lanes, life guards, and grass space to relax in the sun. If you go left, its a beautiful place to stroll or jog for about a mile roundtrip.
Free neighborhood pool just a few minutes walk away. Swim lanes, life guards, and grass to relax on.
158 personas locales recomiendan
Big Stacy Neighborhood Park
700 E Live Oak StFree neighborhood pool just a few minutes walk away. Swim lanes, life guards, and grass to relax on.
This is a 10 mile loop around Lady Bird Lake, that can be broken into much smaller loops, right in the heart of downtown Austin. You can access it almost anywhere, the quickest from my place being straight down South Congress and cutting down to the right before the bridge. It's excellent for walkers and joggers and for those with hybrid or mountain bikes. Beautiful green canopy most of the way along the water. Can get crowded on the weekends. http://www.thetrailfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Butler_Trail_Distance_Loop_Map_Austin-14.jpg
267 personas locales recomiendan
Lady Bird Lake Trail
Lady Bird Lake TrailThis is a 10 mile loop around Lady Bird Lake, that can be broken into much smaller loops, right in the heart of downtown Austin. You can access it almost anywhere, the quickest from my place being straight down South Congress and cutting down to the right before the bridge. It's excellent for walkers and joggers and for those with hybrid or mountain bikes. Beautiful green canopy most of the way along the water. Can get crowded on the weekends. http://www.thetrailfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Butler_Trail_Distance_Loop_Map_Austin-14.jpg
Easily one of the coolest things about Austin to many many people. It's such an iconic and special little oasis, right in the middle of the city. It can't really be described, you just have to go. It's a great place to take a blanket after your hungover brunch and laugh with friends in the sunshine. Being a naturally spring fed pool, it is the same temperature all year, so don't dare just put your feet in... jump in with wild abandon for a refreshing boost to your day. $3 cash, no outside food but you can eat and drink in Zilker Park, which encompasses the whole north side of the pool.
2454 personas locales recomiendan
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrEasily one of the coolest things about Austin to many many people. It's such an iconic and special little oasis, right in the middle of the city. It can't really be described, you just have to go. It's a great place to take a blanket after your hungover brunch and laugh with friends in the sunshine. Being a naturally spring fed pool, it is the same temperature all year, so don't dare just put your feet in... jump in with wild abandon for a refreshing boost to your day. $3 cash, no outside food but you can eat and drink in Zilker Park, which encompasses the whole north side of the pool.
Essentials
This is my go-to for a late night booze run, especially if you're looking for craft beer. Their selection is solid and their prices are the most reasonable of the four convenience stores in that 2 block radius.
T G & R Discount
2110 South Congress AvenueThis is my go-to for a late night booze run, especially if you're looking for craft beer. Their selection is solid and their prices are the most reasonable of the four convenience stores in that 2 block radius.
This place can be over-priced and the counter-service inconsistent, but it has the best selection of beer and wine that you will find within a block. They have a lot of those last minute ingredients or household items you don't feel like going to the grocery store for. There are also specialty foods, coffee drinks and really tasty sandwiches available.
45 personas locales recomiendan
RiverCity Market & Deli
2209 S Congress AveThis place can be over-priced and the counter-service inconsistent, but it has the best selection of beer and wine that you will find within a block. They have a lot of those last minute ingredients or household items you don't feel like going to the grocery store for. There are also specialty foods, coffee drinks and really tasty sandwiches available.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great place to catch local live music, usually of the blues and soul variety, but also a nice incredibly close spot to cozy up with friends in a sparkly red booth and throw some back. There is a back patio area as well with shuffleboard and a food truck on the weekends.
242 personas locales recomiendan
C-Boys Heart and Soul
2008 S Congress AveGreat place to catch local live music, usually of the blues and soul variety, but also a nice incredibly close spot to cozy up with friends in a sparkly red booth and throw some back. There is a back patio area as well with shuffleboard and a food truck on the weekends.
True blue dive bar. Weird as they come, with a grumpy owner/bartender, pool tables, air hockey, jukebox and a smokers pit in the back. This place isn't for everyone, but if you like a hilariously confusing place to have too many drinks, this is a very short cab ride from the apartment.
16 personas locales recomiendan
G & S Lounge
2420 S 1st StTrue blue dive bar. Weird as they come, with a grumpy owner/bartender, pool tables, air hockey, jukebox and a smokers pit in the back. This place isn't for everyone, but if you like a hilariously confusing place to have too many drinks, this is a very short cab ride from the apartment.
Shopping
You can get lost in this place for hours. It is an antique store and so much more. Although is has more things in it than your brain can fathom, it doesn't feel cluttered, dusty and musty like most antique stores. You will find items you will want to take home. They may be affordable, but more likely you'll have to choose between that gorgeous wooden hutch and your next fancy meal.
194 personas locales recomiendan
Uncommon Objects
1602 Fort View RdYou can get lost in this place for hours. It is an antique store and so much more. Although is has more things in it than your brain can fathom, it doesn't feel cluttered, dusty and musty like most antique stores. You will find items you will want to take home. They may be affordable, but more likely you'll have to choose between that gorgeous wooden hutch and your next fancy meal.