Kris' Guidebook for Austin
Drinks & Nightlife
Walk down the street (Payne) 5 minutes to get there. A "dive bar" serving cocktails, wine and draft beer. There's pool tables, skeeball and an outdoor patio where you can bring your dog.
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The Aristocrat Lounge
6507 Burnet RdWalk down the street (Payne) 5 minutes to get there. A "dive bar" serving cocktails, wine and draft beer. There's pool tables, skeeball and an outdoor patio where you can bring your dog.
Upscale cocktail bar, serving unique cocktails by era. You'll find a variety of classic favorites and creative cocktails, and your biggest challenge will be choosing one from the extensive menu. Reservations highly recommended.
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The Roosevelt Room
307 W 5th StUpscale cocktail bar, serving unique cocktails by era. You'll find a variety of classic favorites and creative cocktails, and your biggest challenge will be choosing one from the extensive menu. Reservations highly recommended.
Unassuming from the exterior, this "speakeasy" is the favorite among local Austinites. They have a cocktail for everyone, including classics, creative can't-get-elsewhere, tiki, and frozen. They also serve yummy Detroit style hotdogs, sliders, and wings.
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Nickel City
1133 E 11th StUnassuming from the exterior, this "speakeasy" is the favorite among local Austinites. They have a cocktail for everyone, including classics, creative can't-get-elsewhere, tiki, and frozen. They also serve yummy Detroit style hotdogs, sliders, and wings.
I always take my out-of-town friends here. It's a gorgeous 1886 hotel on 6th st and has a fantastic bar reflecting the Texas cattle baron glory days. During happy hour there is live music.
The Driskill Bar
I always take my out-of-town friends here. It's a gorgeous 1886 hotel on 6th st and has a fantastic bar reflecting the Texas cattle baron glory days. During happy hour there is live music.
Restaurants, Austin's "Best of the Best"
One of my favorite restaurants in town. Serves interior Mexican food. Amazing, but pricey, brunch.
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Fonda San Miguel Restaurant
2330 W N Loop BlvdOne of my favorite restaurants in town. Serves interior Mexican food. Amazing, but pricey, brunch.
This is unbelieveably great BBQ, some say the best in Texas. But even on a Monday you'll need to que up in line 9:30 - 10 am or risk facing the dreaded "sold out" sign. Bring folding chairs and beer
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Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StThis is unbelieveably great BBQ, some say the best in Texas. But even on a Monday you'll need to que up in line 9:30 - 10 am or risk facing the dreaded "sold out" sign. Bring folding chairs and beer
One of my "Top 5" and the best place in town for Italian food. Freshly made pasta. Enoteca serves food from the same kitchen and is right next door, and is cheaper if you're budget minded.
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Vespaio
1610 S Congress AveOne of my "Top 5" and the best place in town for Italian food. Freshly made pasta. Enoteca serves food from the same kitchen and is right next door, and is cheaper if you're budget minded.
My favorite place in town for delicious and creative upscale sushi. Check out their great (but early) happy hour. Reservations recommended.
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Uchiko
4200 N Lamar BlvdMy favorite place in town for delicious and creative upscale sushi. Check out their great (but early) happy hour. Reservations recommended.
My favorite brunch (or lunch) place in town. It's in a cute bungalow house or there's outdoor seating on their patio and front lawn. I highly recommend sharing the huevos rancheros and lemon ricotta pancakes, or getting their delicious big chopped salad, with roasted chicken, blackberries and feta.
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Josephine House
1601 Waterston AveMy favorite brunch (or lunch) place in town. It's in a cute bungalow house or there's outdoor seating on their patio and front lawn. I highly recommend sharing the huevos rancheros and lemon ricotta pancakes, or getting their delicious big chopped salad, with roasted chicken, blackberries and feta.
Be sure to go the the one on Barton Springs. Consistently great BBQ, but without the hours-long line (there's still a line, try to go during "off hours") and open until 9:30 pm. This is place I take my out-of-town guests for BBQ.
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Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs RdBe sure to go the the one on Barton Springs. Consistently great BBQ, but without the hours-long line (there's still a line, try to go during "off hours") and open until 9:30 pm. This is place I take my out-of-town guests for BBQ.
This is where I go for celebrations or a great brunch. It started as (nationally acclaimed chef) Bryce Gilmore's food truck and then became a brick-and-mortar. They serve create, shareable "small plates" and most things are amazing, and everything is beautifully plated (get your cell phones ready).
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Odd Duck
1201 S Lamar BlvdThis is where I go for celebrations or a great brunch. It started as (nationally acclaimed chef) Bryce Gilmore's food truck and then became a brick-and-mortar. They serve create, shareable "small plates" and most things are amazing, and everything is beautifully plated (get your cell phones ready).
Best steakhouse in town. Do not pass up the baked potato gnocchi as an appetizer! Reservations are necessary, or go early and try for bar seating.
J Carver’s Oyster Bar & Chophouse
Best steakhouse in town. Do not pass up the baked potato gnocchi as an appetizer! Reservations are necessary, or go early and try for bar seating.
What separates this place from other Tex-Mex places is their creativity with fabulous sauces and salsas. I don't often rave about chips & salsa, and almost never about queso. Both are on my "MUST" list whenever I come here. My favorite of their salsas is the spicy, creamy and dreamy Salsa X, and the citrusy fresh Avocado Salsa. The enchiladas are all great, and it goes without saying they have delicious breakfast plates and tacos! Don't miss out on their cocktails made with fresh juice, such as the Paloma! Reservations highly recommended, or try your luck at finding at spot at the bar.
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Eldorado Cafe
3300 W Anderson LnWhat separates this place from other Tex-Mex places is their creativity with fabulous sauces and salsas. I don't often rave about chips & salsa, and almost never about queso. Both are on my "MUST" list whenever I come here. My favorite of their salsas is the spicy, creamy and dreamy Salsa X, and the citrusy fresh Avocado Salsa. The enchiladas are all great, and it goes without saying they have delicious breakfast plates and tacos! Don't miss out on their cocktails made with fresh juice, such as the Paloma! Reservations highly recommended, or try your luck at finding at spot at the bar.
Entertainment & Activities
Offers the latest movie releases and best of all, you can eat and enjoy craft beers/wine/cocktails inside the theater! The have yummy burgers, pizza, salads and more. Try a boozy milkshake!
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Alamo Drafthouse Village
2700 W Anderson LnOffers the latest movie releases and best of all, you can eat and enjoy craft beers/wine/cocktails inside the theater! The have yummy burgers, pizza, salads and more. Try a boozy milkshake!
Essentials
Upscale grocery store, with a wide selection of organic and locally sourced products. Check out the salsa aisle for a taste of Texas! There's also a cafe and a gelato shop inside. On weekends there may be local concerts on the patio.
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Central Market
4477 S Lamar BlvdUpscale grocery store, with a wide selection of organic and locally sourced products. Check out the salsa aisle for a taste of Texas! There's also a cafe and a gelato shop inside. On weekends there may be local concerts on the patio.
Texas grocery store chain, with a heart! Good food prices, nice selection, HEB and Central Market brands. They do a lot of giving back for our community.
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H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdTexas grocery store chain, with a heart! Good food prices, nice selection, HEB and Central Market brands. They do a lot of giving back for our community.
Breweries
My favorite of the North Austin brewery district. Try beers from their seasonal or cask menus if available. There's a food trailer onsite.
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Austin Beerworks
3001 Industrial TerraceMy favorite of the North Austin brewery district. Try beers from their seasonal or cask menus if available. There's a food trailer onsite.
Great local place with good burgers, salads, and beer! Right next to the MetroRail line, hop on for a stress-free ride downtown.
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Black Star Co-op
7020 Easy Wind DrGreat local place with good burgers, salads, and beer! Right next to the MetroRail line, hop on for a stress-free ride downtown.
Located at the "edge" of southwest Austin, this place is magical for beer lovers and is family-friendly. They specialize in farmhouse ales but have a variety of beer styles. The grounds are expansive, with an onsite restaurant serving gourmet pizzas and other foods, a working farm with honey bees and adorable Nigerian dwarf goats, playscape and walking trails. Tip: you can do a tour to see and play with the goats, book it in advance!
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Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh RdLocated at the "edge" of southwest Austin, this place is magical for beer lovers and is family-friendly. They specialize in farmhouse ales but have a variety of beer styles. The grounds are expansive, with an onsite restaurant serving gourmet pizzas and other foods, a working farm with honey bees and adorable Nigerian dwarf goats, playscape and walking trails. Tip: you can do a tour to see and play with the goats, book it in advance!
Sightseeing
The #2 tourist attraction in Austin. There are free self-guided or guided tours. It is a gorgeous pink granite building full of history and Texas-related artwork. Be sure to look up into the interior of the rotunda to see the Texas star!
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Kapitolju ta 'Texas
1100 Congress AveThe #2 tourist attraction in Austin. There are free self-guided or guided tours. It is a gorgeous pink granite building full of history and Texas-related artwork. Be sure to look up into the interior of the rotunda to see the Texas star!
A hidden gem right in the middle of Austin. The gifted mansion and grounds have a stipulation that no part can ever be sold....and thus it remains a lovely park for all to enjoy. There are community gardens, nature trails, koi ponds, and best of all a heritage flock of peacocks roaming around freely.
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Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve
3505 W 35th StA hidden gem right in the middle of Austin. The gifted mansion and grounds have a stipulation that no part can ever be sold....and thus it remains a lovely park for all to enjoy. There are community gardens, nature trails, koi ponds, and best of all a heritage flock of peacocks roaming around freely.
Take a cruise from either Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises on Lady Bird Lake at sunset to see Austin's #1 tourist attraction, our Mexican free-tail bats! An amazing experience to see them fly out in a massive plume out from under the Congress bridge. This is a Do Not Miss experience unique to Austin.
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Lone Star Riverboat
208 Barton Springs RdTake a cruise from either Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises on Lady Bird Lake at sunset to see Austin's #1 tourist attraction, our Mexican free-tail bats! An amazing experience to see them fly out in a massive plume out from under the Congress bridge. This is a Do Not Miss experience unique to Austin.