The Complete Austin Bachelorette Party Guide
Austin may be known for its festivals—Austin City Limits and SXSW—but you don't have to time an Austin bachelorette party to the city's most populated times. Make your own festive weekend full of live music, good food, and plenty of outdoor fun with a bachelorette party built to make any bride happy. From barbeque and craft brews to boating and tubing Austin's lakes and rivers, Austin is an exciting bachelorette party destination that is perfect for the fun-loving bride and her crew.
Austin Bachelorette Party Planning in this Article:
- Austin Bachelorette Party Ideas and Themes
- Austin Bachelorette Party Itinerary and Activities
- Places to Stay in Austin for a Bachelorette Party
- Austin Bachelorette Party Nightlife
- Expert Austin Travel Tips
Austin Bachelorette Party Ideas and Themes
You can theme your Austin bachelorette party in many different ways (and outfit your bride squad to match on The Knot Shop), whether your group is looking for great food, a little R&R, some adventure—or all of the above. But whatever you're seeking, every bride and her crew should take advantage of the fact that Austin is the live music capital of Texas—if not the country. Whether you're here for a festival, concert, or just a random weekend, you'll find plenty of opportunities to dance the night away to a live band throughout the city.
For the Adventurous Bride
You'll have plenty of options to get outside and do, whether it's paddleboarding and biking or grabbing the mic for karaoke nights.
For the Bride Who Just Wants to Relax
For plenty of down time and a little pampering there are plenty of spa retreats to hole away in for the entire weekend including Miraval Austin and Lake Austin Spa Resort.
For the Foodie Crew
Of course, Austin is also a mecca for good food and brews, so if your bride is a foodie, you're planning a party in the right place. You'll find everything from top tacos, gourmet Asian-fusion, and delicious barbeque to sample throughout the city, as well as craft breweries and bar hopping on Rainey Street to wet her appetite.
Austin Bachelorette Party Itinerary and Activities
An Austin bachelorette party should be loaded with good eats, plenty of adventure, and lots of quality time. Take advantage of it all with a loaded three-day itinerary.
Day 1
Afternoon: After checking into your hotel or Vrbo, start your trip with a delicious lunch at the Laundrette. This converted, old-school laundromat serves up new American small bites like beet hummus, burrata, and Old Bay aioli fried shrimp for a lighter meal, or delicious plates like roasted chicken kale salad, a fried chicken sammie on challah bread, and grilled cheese and tomato soup. Next up: Walk the city to explore its landmarks and make your way to South Congress street, where you'll find loads of shopping and cute boutiques. This is a great way to introduce yourselves to the city without overloading day one. If you're not feeling to ragged from your trip in, it's also a great opportunity for a bridal crew photo shoot.(there are plenty of perfect photo opp spots you'll want snaps from to cherish). To do so, book a photographer through Flytographer, and plan a day of exploring with a camera following your every move.
Evening: Your first dinner should be at Emmer & Rye, a farm-to-table spot serving food from around the globe (crispy pork shoulder and dry aged wagyu NY steak, for example) with dim sum-style carts passing by throughout your meal offering options like red corn johnny cakes and butternut tartare. The restaurant is within walking distance to Rainey Street, the perfect spot to bar hop for your first night on the town.
Day 2
Morning: Begin your day with breakfast at the aptly named Better Half Coffee & Cocktails (don't miss the sweet corn pancakes and the bloody mary with house-pickled green beans) before heading out for a day on the water on LakeTravis.
Afternoon: Rent a party parge from VIP Lake Travis. Their offerings range from small pontoon boats for parties of 10-12 to large double-decker party parges featuring water slides. Or for calmer waters, head to Barton Springs, a spring-fed public pool where you can swim and cool off on hot summer days. Whichever you choose, pack a picnic lunch from the Whole Foods Flagship Store in Austin.
Evening: Head over to The Roosevelt Room for award-winning cocktails to pregame your night. Then it's off to Home Slice Pizza for a casual, yet absolutely delicious dinner that's easy for a large group. Before heading out to the rowdier bars on Sixth Street for live music and drinks, stop in at Midnight Cowboy, a reservations-only (book far in advance) cocktail lounge hidden on Sixth Street. You'll get instructions on how to enter with a secret password after you make your reservation.
Day 3
Afternoon: Take a food tour with Austin Secret Food Tour to experience authentic BBQ joints in Austin, among other eateries in this city of foodies. Along the way, you'll pass through the city's greatest landmarks and find out just how the locals keep Austin weird. If you'd rather keep things calm, consider taking in the city with rooftop yoga and mimosas, followed by a bit of pampering at milk + honey spa | 2nd Street District.
Evening: Round out the day of eating with dinner at Wu Chow, one of Austin's best spots for gourmet, farm-fresh, and modern Chinese cuisine, before heading out for a last night of good music. Check out The Continental Club, C-Boys Heart & Soul, or Cedar Street Courtyard for live performances without a need for tickets in advance.
Austin Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt
Make your Austin activities a little 'weirder' and turn your itinerary into a game with an Austin scavenger hunt. Distribute a list of activities with points awarded for each completed task and ask participants to provide proof with pictures. Download an editable template to customize the list and include local attractions and sights. Don't forget to give the winner a prize such as a souvenir or t-shirt.
Places to Stay in Austin for a Bachelorette Party
There are plenty of options for lodging in Austin, the key is to be close to downtown (Sixth Street or Rainey Street) to keep things convenient. Look through TripAdvisor to find the hotels with the best locations. If you'd rather stay together, consider booking a house rental for the weekend.
Best Hotels in Scottsdale for a BacheloretteParty
W Austin: Book this chic spot in downtown to be close to the action and only steps from Lady Bird Lake (plus the hotel's luxury pool doesn't hurt!).
Hotel San Jose: If you'd rather be closer to South Congress Street, this is a nice, budget-friendly option with an urban bungalow feel and just a few blocks from downtown.
Pro tip: The Knot has partnerd with Hotel Planner to help you secure the best group hotel rate and get free hotel advice from an expert travel planner.
Austin Bachelorette House Rentals
There are plenty of housing options for a Scottsdale bachelorette party, so check out Vrbo , Airbnb and Hopper Homes. Pro tip: If you're looking to supplement your vacation rental stay with some hotel amenities such as a swimming pool or a fitness facility, you can secure Scottsdale hotel day passes on ResortPass.
Austin Bachelorette Party Nightlife
When celebrating your bachelorette party in Austin, you deserve delicious food and drinks for your send off into married life. Here are some of our favorite spots to visit in Austin, Texas.
Best Austin Bachelorette Restaurants
Red Ash: For a fine Italian meal, make a reservation at Red Ash to indulge in some authentic dishes. They have plenty of homemade pasta, wood-fired entrées, scratch made desserts, and a great wine list.
Odd Duck: If you and your group are adventurous eaters, plan on dining at Odd Duck. The upscale establishment really knows how to play with flavors, coming up with creative dishes that work well. They also source a lot of their ingredients from local farms, so the freshness and quality of the ingredients is a big reason their dishes are so memorable. Try plates like their Ceviche with peach aquachile and cilantro, radish, and potato chips, their Chicken Heart Satay with chimichurri and morita chile yogurt, or the Thai Melon Salad with peanuts, crisp cucumber, basil, and tender pork belly.
Justine's: For traditional French dishes, have an elegant dinner at Justine's. Share some traditional dishes or fresh, tender salmon with chives, dill, lemon, horseradish, crème fraîche and a crostini.
Best Austin Bachelorette Party Bars
Cheer Up Charlie's: Cheer Up Charlie's is a great place to grab a drink. They even do 90s DJ nights, so you can sing along to Backstreet Boys while sipping your fresh margarita. In addition to the 90s DJ nights, they prioritize various forms of entertainment, so there always seems to be something going on there.
The Jackalope: The Jackalope is a dive bar in Austin that serves incredible food and has a great happy hour. If you're looking for juicy burgers and cheesy pizza, this is your spot. They do draft cocktails, in addition to beer and wine and have a dog friendly patio so you can spot a bunch of adorable puppies while drinking your drinks.
Tiki Tatsu-Ya: Tiki Tatsu-Ya has a menu full of craft cocktails to get the bachelorette night started. The ambience and the vibe is so much fun and the drinks are incredibly Instagramable, served with outrageous ceramic tiki cups.
Expert Austin Travel Tips
While visiting Austin there are multiple airlines that fly direct like United, Spirit, Delta, American, JetBlue, and more from the east and west coast. The late fall is a popular time to visit Austin, dodging the severe temperatures. They have a metro bus to help you get around, and a car rental is also a favorable option, in addition to ride sharing.