Reservations: Many full service restaurants require reservations, sometimes weeks in advance. If you're interested in any of the recommendations below, be sure to check if reservations are available.

Happy Hour: Nearly every bar and restaurant offers great happy hour specials during the week for both food and drinks. Specials often vary by the day, so it's worth checking out!

Eater Austin: A great online resource for food and drink recommendations.

Current Events: For the latest Austin happenings during your stay, check out the Instagram page WhenWhereWhatAustin

South Congress Ave.: *Highly recommended!* This vibrant street is full of shops, vendors, and places to grab food, coffee, and drinks. Some of our favorite spots to visit are listed below.

East 6th Street: *Highly reccomended!* This lively street is packed with restaurants and bars. Some of our favorites highlighted below.

State Capitol: A classic historical site. You can take free guided tours to explore the grand architecture and learn about Texas history. Additionally, you can stroll through the surrounding grounds, which feature impressive monuments and beautiful gardens.

Rainey Street: Known for its nightlife, though there's been a lot of construction recently. We recommend taking a Lyft or Uber to get there.

Ladybird Lake: A picturesque setting for outdoor activities such as walking along the scenic trails. The cooler weather and fall foliage create a beautiful backdrop against the iconic Austin city skyline.

Barton Springs Pool: Though it might be too chilly for a swim, the surrounding park area is ideal for picnicking and relaxing, as the autumn weather offers a pleasant atmosphere for enjoying the outdoors.

Zilker Botanical Garden: A serene outdoor space featuring themed gardens such as the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden, offering visitors a tranquil escape and a showcase of diverse plant species.

Zilker Park: Adjacent to the garden, Zilker Park is a large urban park known for its recreational amenities, including hiking trails, a picnic area and a hosting spot for events.

Austin Public Library: A great destination with its modern architecture and light-filled interiors. A great place to visit and relax in its inviting spaces, including the rooftop garden with stunning city views.

The Domain: A shopping center in North Austin that’s pleasant to walk around. Some of our go to spots include Houndstooth for coffee (also served choose cocktails),

and restaurants such as Culinary Dropout, North Italia, Blue Sushi, Sweet Paris Creperie, and Thai Kun.

Mueller: A charming residential neighborhood featuring a hub with restaurants, including food trucks, a scenic park, and popular dining spots. They also host a farmers market on Sundays. Some food & drink spots in Mueller we love include, Veracruz Fonda, Colleen’s, Chuy’s, BD Rileys (pub that plays Pats games), and Kerby Lane Cafe (for brunch).

Fredricksburg: A german town about an hour and a half from Austin. Known for its wineries, and one of our favorite spots for a day trip. Some of our favorites are listed below. Its worth noting that not all wineries allow pets or children and reservations for tastings are recommended.

- Augusta Vin Winery (No pets or children)

- Barons creek Winery (Pet friendly, not sure about children)

- Signor Winery (No pets or children)

- Altstadt Brewery (Pet and child friendly)

- Downtown for cute shops

- Caliche Downtown for coffee

- Alla Campagna Downtown (Italian food)

- Otto’s Downtown (German bistro)

San Antonio: Some of the top destinations include the historic Alamo, where visitors can explore the iconic site of the famous 1836 battle and delve into Texas history. Additionally, the vibrant River Walk offers scenic canal-side strolls, diverse dining options, and lively entertainment in a picturesque setting. San Antonio is also known for its elite taco scene.

Terry Blacks BBQ: *Top Recommended!* This is a classic Texas bbq spot that we love to bring visitors to. Casual dining vibes where the line moves quickly and the food is great. Our favorites are the brisket and jalapeño cheddar sausage and for sides the mac n cheese, coleslaw and beans. There are three sauces available but our hands down favorite is their tangy bbq sauce. Beef ribs are our least favorite (you pay for weight and it’s a huge bone, plus a little fatty sometimes).

Franklins BBQ: We have never been but it’s famous in Austin. We’ve been told there is a long wait though, around 2 hours or more.

Coopers BBQ: A great Texas bbq option located right downtown in Austin on Congress Street. They have a thinner and tangier bbq sauce thats great for dippimg, and prefer their brisket. We prefer terry black sides however they have a delicious peach cobbler.

Breakfast tacos:

Taco Deli. Breakfast tacos are not our favorite but they are very popular in Austin. We really like the steak and egg taco at Taco Deli, and recommend the green salsa.

Taco food trucks:

Veracruz All Natural: Popular food truck that is usually our go to, with multiple locations. We love them!

Las Trancas: A great staple that we’ve had multiple times.

Con todo: Located at Celis brewery with a James Beard nominated chef, some of our favorite tacos and breakfast tacos that give an authentic vibe. Sometimes they have special menus (Mexican hamburgers) or are closed for private event, we always like to check their instagram for updates.

Cuantos tacos: Popular food truck that we have yet to try but are an Austin staple

Mexican:

Veracruz Fonda and Bar: *Top Recommended* One of our go to spots in the Mueller neighborhood, and the full service partner of the Veracruz food truck ownership. We go here often and love their food & drink offerings. Our favorites are the Calabacitas Con Queso, and the Cochinita Pibil. We also love that there’s usually not much of a wait time if any.

Suerte: *Top Recommended* Acclaimed restaurant on East 6th employing traditional Mexican cooking techniques, local Texas ingredients & housemade masa. So good, and great lunch and brunch. Reservations highly reccomended.

Este: *Top Recommended* Sister store to Suerte that is Mexican seafood focused. One of our favorite places, usually easier to make reservations compared to Suerte. Good happy hour offerings available.

Fonda San Miguel: There’s a main dining room where you can make reservations, but we prefer to dine in their beautiful atrium space that is first come first serve. This will fill in quickly and and may have a wait time. We recommend getting there a little before they open. But the atrium is lovely and they have some great authentic Mexican offerings.

El Naranjo: We have not yet tried this South Lamar restaurant but it comes highly recommended by friends and is James Beard nominated. Higher end but authentic Mexican food.

Tex Mex:

Chuys: A classic casual tex mex chain that is popular in Texas with multiple locations. We love their Queso (with seasoned beef and pico de gallo) and their jalepeno ranch they serve with chips.

P Terrys: Fast food stand and drive through with classic simple burgers, and good frappes and fries.

Hopdoddy: A chain with multiple locations but one can be found on South Congress. Great burgers and fries.

Jewboy burger: Burger-focused food trailer with a clever menu of Mexican & Jewish mash-up fare, potato latkes & more.

Uchi happy hour or Uchiko happy hour: Two different locations but under same ownership. A little pricey which is why we like their happy hours. Would recommend making a reservation.

We also really like Blue Sushi at the Domain, they have some great sushi offerings at a good price. (We don’t recommend the fried ice cream though, it’s huge)

Aba: *Top Reccommended!* One of our go to’s. Mediterranean tapas located on south Congress (Reservations required and reccomend to make them as early as possible).

Ramen Tatsuya : *Top Reccomended* They have multiple locations but one popular one downtown on east 6th and are so good. They also have sister restaurants such as Tiki Tatsuya that are popular.

Soup leaf hot pot. Located in a strip mall on Airport Blvd next to Ranch 99. This all you can eat hot pot is so good we love it!

Loro: Asian fusion spot with great eats and drinks. Good happy hour as well.

Perla’s: Seafood spot on south Congress that has really nice outdoor space in the front. We like going here for brunch.

Il Brutto: Italian spot on east 6th that has good food and good happy hour.

Bird bird biscuit: We have yet to experience, but this is a very popular spot for fried chicken biscuitas, a very Texan sandwich. They are usually a lunch destination and have been known to sell out.

Homeslice: We have yet to try this famous Austin pizza spot on South Congress, but its always making rave reviews.

Oseyo: Finer dining Korean restaurant, but great food and ambiance.

Proud Mary: One of our more recent breakfast favorites. Really cute breakfast spot with great coffee varieties including a specialty in pour over coffee.

Snooze: Casual and popular brunch spot with a couple of locations. They have a great variety of breakfast options and a selection of different eggs Benedict's. It does get quite busy but you can join their waitlist online to plan ahead.

Whole Foods Cafe at the Domain: This might sound wacky but we literally love the Domain Whole Foods cafe, especially their cappuccino, or espresso offerings. This Whole foods also has a bar and we love to peruse around the store with a beer in hand.

Capital One Cafe at the Domain: This is also a sleeper, but we love the beans they use. If you use a capital one card you get 50% off your coffee order.

Houndstooth: One of our go to coffee shops with a few locations (one in the Domain). They also offer tasty cocktails.

Jo's: A classic and popular spot on South Congress. Some of their signature drinks are on the sweeter side.

Mozarts Coffee: To be honest, the coffee is not our favorite, but the views right off Lake Austin make up for it. Offers bites and bakery items as well.

Kerbey Lane Cafe: Popular brunch spot that also has a fan favorite queso.

Cosmic: *Top Recommended* A large outdoor space with two locations serving beer/cocktails and coffee. The east Austin location serves food in house and the South Austin location has multiple food trucks (we love Tommy want Wingy's, chili limon and honey bbq flavors). They also decorate super cute for the fall. The south Austin location has a parking lot that gets really full but slots open up frequently. The east Austin location is more street style parking.

Radio: Same vibe as Cosmic, but a little cozier. We do prefer their coffee over Cosmic. Radio also has one of our fave taco food trucks, Veracruz All Natural. Parking is similar situation where there is a parking lot in the back that fills up but people are often coming and going.

Lolo: Cute natural wine bar on East 6th with a curated selection of fine wines including wine specials and a food truck.

Flo’s Wine Bar and: Cute wine bar that also offers really good pizza by the slice and ice cream by AllDay.

Celis: A revival of a landmark Austin brewery for Belgian-style ales & original Hoegaarden witbier. A little bit on the northern side of Austin away from downtown but we enjoy their beers and beer garden. They also happen to serve one of our favorite taco food trucks, Con Todo

Lazarus: One of our favorite spots. One location downtown on east 6th, another on Airport blvd that we frequent which is close to Mueller. We are lager folks and love the Black Pearl. We also always order their their tacos or quesadillas (Our favorite flavors are al pastor, polo verde and chipotle chicken).

Whistlers: Cocktail bar on East 6th. A rustic witchy vibe with really good hand crafted cocktails. Theres also a food truck, Golden Tiger, thats got some great bites.

Kitty Cohens: Cute cocktail lounge that's walking distance from East 6th street. A retro bar offering specialty drinks & punches, plus a spacious yard with shaded poolside seating.