Austin like a local

Emily
Austin like a local

Best coffee in town

Austin has an excellent coffee roasting scene. I'm a bit of a coffee fanatic, and these are some of my favorites. I love to order an espresso over ice on all those hot days in Texas.
My favorite coffee in town, and (surprise!) also my favorite migas tacos! This place is far more than a coffee shop—locals sign up to spin their own vinyl records in the shop daily, the food is on point, and the service is so, so delightful. This one is becoming popular so there might be a line, but I promise it's worth it—and they're incredibly COVID cautious, too.
28 locals raden deze aan
Try Hard Coffee Roasters
1115 E 11th St
28 locals raden deze aan
My favorite coffee in town, and (surprise!) also my favorite migas tacos! This place is far more than a coffee shop—locals sign up to spin their own vinyl records in the shop daily, the food is on point, and the service is so, so delightful. This one is becoming popular so there might be a line, but I promise it's worth it—and they're incredibly COVID cautious, too.
Excellent coffee shop, shares a space with Cycleast Bike Shop. Definitely a local favorite
127 locals raden deze aan
Flat Track Coffee
1619 E Cesar Chavez St
127 locals raden deze aan
Excellent coffee shop, shares a space with Cycleast Bike Shop. Definitely a local favorite
Extremely tasty coffee & food (avocado toast, acai bowls, etc!). Their west location on Cuernavaca is home to Butters the Goat!
Civil Goat Coffee
3423 Guadalupe Street
Extremely tasty coffee & food (avocado toast, acai bowls, etc!). Their west location on Cuernavaca is home to Butters the Goat!
Great coffee from a little coffee trailer
83 locals raden deze aan
Flitch Coffee
641 Tillery St
83 locals raden deze aan
Great coffee from a little coffee trailer
Great neighborhood coffee shop with vegan & gluten free bites
19 locals raden deze aan
Dear Diary Coffeehouse
1212 Chicon St
19 locals raden deze aan
Great neighborhood coffee shop with vegan & gluten free bites
371 locals raden deze aan
Mozart's Coffee Roasters
3825 Lake Austin Blvd
371 locals raden deze aan

Casual (delicious) eats

Austin has an awesome casual, but insanely tasty, food scene. Most have spacious outdoor areas, great for groups or just dropping by for some delicious food. All spots on this list are friendly for vegan/vegetarian and gluten free eaters.
Best Japanese curry & crispy tofu around. I get the crispy tofu plate with curry, kale salad and rice—don't forget a side of grilled veggies! The okra is to-die-for. And the coffee's great too!
112 locals raden deze aan
Sa-Tén
916 Springdale Rd
112 locals raden deze aan
Best Japanese curry & crispy tofu around. I get the crispy tofu plate with curry, kale salad and rice—don't forget a side of grilled veggies! The okra is to-die-for. And the coffee's great too!
Definitely get the birdie sanders & the super fresco! & don't forget to ask for a beer—they're free!
34 locals raden deze aan
The Vegan Nom
2324 E Cesar Chavez St
34 locals raden deze aan
Definitely get the birdie sanders & the super fresco! & don't forget to ask for a beer—they're free!
Out-of-this-world delicious.
Nom Burgers
2324 East Cesar Chavez Street
Out-of-this-world delicious.
Un.Real.Good.
Milky Way Shakes
2324 East Cesar Chavez Street
Un.Real.Good.
My favorite sushi in town!
197 locals raden deze aan
Komé
5301 Airport Blvd
197 locals raden deze aan
My favorite sushi in town!
Not cheap, but the most delicious smoothies and juices
519 locals raden deze aan
JuiceLand
1625 Barton Springs Rd
519 locals raden deze aan
Not cheap, but the most delicious smoothies and juices
Tasty upscale Mexican food in a very casual setting—mostly outdoor seating!
78 locals raden deze aan
Nixta Taqueria
2512 E 12th St
78 locals raden deze aan
Tasty upscale Mexican food in a very casual setting—mostly outdoor seating!
Great for that Texmex fix you have to get in Austin
180 locals raden deze aan
Mi Madre's Restaurant
2201 Manor Rd
180 locals raden deze aan
Great for that Texmex fix you have to get in Austin
Order Chinese for an easy night in! I love the Drunken Noodles and the Veggie Stir Fry—and you HAVE to get an order (or three) of the sesame balls.
9 locals raden deze aan
Tso Chinese Delivery
3909 N Interstate Hwy 35
9 locals raden deze aan
Order Chinese for an easy night in! I love the Drunken Noodles and the Veggie Stir Fry—and you HAVE to get an order (or three) of the sesame balls.
Best brunch!
13 locals raden deze aan
Rebel Cheese
2200 Aldrich St
13 locals raden deze aan
Best brunch!
Great brunch with plenty of outdoor seating! They are both a coffee house & cocktail bar. Go before 10am on the weekends if you can! The line gets long but it does move quickly
85 locals raden deze aan
Better Half Coffee & Cocktails
406 Walsh St
85 locals raden deze aan
Great brunch with plenty of outdoor seating! They are both a coffee house & cocktail bar. Go before 10am on the weekends if you can! The line gets long but it does move quickly
This salad spot is unreal—my mom's favorite place in all of Austin! Get a glass of wine and a huge salad, and sit out on their massive patio under the live oaks & string lights for a great afternoon or evening.
66 locals raden deze aan
Vinaigrette
2201 College Ave
66 locals raden deze aan
This salad spot is unreal—my mom's favorite place in all of Austin! Get a glass of wine and a huge salad, and sit out on their massive patio under the live oaks & string lights for a great afternoon or evening.
Easily the best pho in Austin. I get B4—tofu, broccoli, carrots with vegetarian broth.
18 locals raden deze aan
Pho Dan
11220 N Lamar Blvd
18 locals raden deze aan
Easily the best pho in Austin. I get B4—tofu, broccoli, carrots with vegetarian broth.
Ramen Tatsu-Ya

Reservations recommended

The spots on this list are really delicious, but the tables often book up! Reservations are recommended. The atmospheres are on point—but it's Austin, so you can dress up or dress down, however you please.
Great little tapas spot right on Rainey
69 locals raden deze aan
Emmer & Rye
51 Rainey St
69 locals raden deze aan
Great little tapas spot right on Rainey
Tasty soups and noodle dishes in a cute little house on 1st street. Excellent cocktails too!
426 locals raden deze aan
Elizabeth Street Cafe
1501 S 1st St
426 locals raden deze aan
Tasty soups and noodle dishes in a cute little house on 1st street. Excellent cocktails too!
Delicious hotpot and an awesome experience! Fun for a small group or for a date night. I loved everything on the mushroom cart!
17 locals raden deze aan
dipdipdip Tatsu-Ya
7301 Burnet Rd
17 locals raden deze aan
Delicious hotpot and an awesome experience! Fun for a small group or for a date night. I loved everything on the mushroom cart!
276 locals raden deze aan
Loro
2115 S Lamar Blvd
276 locals raden deze aan
Elementary
30 locals raden deze aan
Bar Peached
1315 W 6th St
30 locals raden deze aan

Out for drinks

The perfect mix of high end whiskeys and cheap pitchers.
97 locals raden deze aan
Nickel City
1133 E 11th St
97 locals raden deze aan
The perfect mix of high end whiskeys and cheap pitchers.
Excellent happy hour with a spacious outdoor area! The paloma on-tap is so tasty, and you have to try the curly fries.
100 locals raden deze aan
Kinda Tropical
3501 E 7th St
100 locals raden deze aan
Excellent happy hour with a spacious outdoor area! The paloma on-tap is so tasty, and you have to try the curly fries.
115 locals raden deze aan
The Wheel
1902 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
115 locals raden deze aan
Cozy upstairs mezcal bar with a great little deck. Get a custom mezcal flight from any of the incredibly knowledgeable bartenders!
49 locals raden deze aan
Techo Mezcaleria and Agave Bar
2201 Manor Rd
49 locals raden deze aan
Cozy upstairs mezcal bar with a great little deck. Get a custom mezcal flight from any of the incredibly knowledgeable bartenders!
Favorite spot for an old fashioned or a gimlet
155 locals raden deze aan
drink.well.
207 E 53rd St
155 locals raden deze aan
Favorite spot for an old fashioned or a gimlet
The best cider I've ever had, and it's an Austin local! Stop by their cider co. for some good drinks—they'll roll up the garage doors to open up their big tables and neon signs. There are food trucks outside and plenty of breweries nearby for some fun brew-hopping!
9 locals raden deze aan
Fairweather Cider Co.
10609 Metric Blvd
9 locals raden deze aan
The best cider I've ever had, and it's an Austin local! Stop by their cider co. for some good drinks—they'll roll up the garage doors to open up their big tables and neon signs. There are food trucks outside and plenty of breweries nearby for some fun brew-hopping!
Tiki Tatsu-Ya
Sign Bar

Outside hangs

There's some really beautiful nature right in and around Austin! Grab some food and drinks and enjoy the water & the sunshine.
A great little spot by the water to hang a hammock, bring some drinks and enjoy the sunshine.
50 locals raden deze aan
Red Bud Isle Park
3401 Redbud Trail
50 locals raden deze aan
A great little spot by the water to hang a hammock, bring some drinks and enjoy the sunshine.
Head out of the city to see the surrounding hill country! Jester King is nationally known in the brewing community. The grounds are beautiful, and fun to run around with little ones, and they pizza shop on the property is so, so good.
298 locals raden deze aan
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh Rd
298 locals raden deze aan
Head out of the city to see the surrounding hill country! Jester King is nationally known in the brewing community. The grounds are beautiful, and fun to run around with little ones, and they pizza shop on the property is so, so good.
Get out on a paddleboard or kayak for some of the best views of the skyline!
33 locals raden deze aan
EpicSUP
2200 S Lakeshore Blvd
33 locals raden deze aan
Get out on a paddleboard or kayak for some of the best views of the skyline!
Fun spot along the water with great hike/bike trails
34 locals raden deze aan
Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park
614 N Commons Ford Rd
34 locals raden deze aan
Fun spot along the water with great hike/bike trails
102 locals raden deze aan
Hippie Hollow Park
7000 Comanche Trail
102 locals raden deze aan
36 locals raden deze aan
Reimers Ranch Swimming Hole
36 locals raden deze aan
9 locals raden deze aan
Sweet Eats Fruit Farm
14400 E State Hwy 29
9 locals raden deze aan
376 locals raden deze aan
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy
376 locals raden deze aan
109 locals raden deze aan
Inks Lake State Park
3630 Park Rd 4 W
109 locals raden deze aan

Inside activities

Fun spot to do some bouldering, also a fully equipped gym and lounge/remote work area. You can rent climbing shoes and chalk bags—no need to come with gear!
160 locals raden deze aan
Austin Bouldering Project
979 Springdale Rd
160 locals raden deze aan
Fun spot to do some bouldering, also a fully equipped gym and lounge/remote work area. You can rent climbing shoes and chalk bags—no need to come with gear!
This is a true neighborhood gem—pop in (bring a mask!), and make any craft you can imagine! They have all the tools and supplies you need, and the staff is incredibly helpful and kind. Just leave a donation on your way out!
7 locals raden deze aan
CRAFT
916 Springdale Road
7 locals raden deze aan
This is a true neighborhood gem—pop in (bring a mask!), and make any craft you can imagine! They have all the tools and supplies you need, and the staff is incredibly helpful and kind. Just leave a donation on your way out!
Must-do in Austin, especially to beat the summer (ok, year-round) heat. Definitely order the buffalo cauliflower!
220 locals raden deze aan
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Mueller
1911 Aldrich St
220 locals raden deze aan
Must-do in Austin, especially to beat the summer (ok, year-round) heat. Definitely order the buffalo cauliflower!

Vintage shopping

Great little selection of vintage clothes, purses and shoes. Right between Try Hard (for a great cup of coffee), and several other clothing and goods boutiques
39 locals raden deze aan
Charm School Vintage
1111 E 11th St
39 locals raden deze aan
Great little selection of vintage clothes, purses and shoes. Right between Try Hard (for a great cup of coffee), and several other clothing and goods boutiques
Some of the best vintage furniture finds! Check out their Instagram to see what's in stock—pieces move fast!
71 locals raden deze aan
Room Service Vintage
117 N Loop Blvd E
71 locals raden deze aan
Some of the best vintage furniture finds! Check out their Instagram to see what's in stock—pieces move fast!
Really nice, modern & midcentury pieces. My dining table came from here!
7 locals raden deze aan
Uptown Modern
5111 Burnet Rd
7 locals raden deze aan
Really nice, modern & midcentury pieces. My dining table came from here!
Massive selection of booths with some really great finds
The Austin Antique Mall
8822 McCann Dr
Massive selection of booths with some really great finds
This is another great spot for furniture—be sure to check out their Instagram for the latest pieces!
6 locals raden deze aan
Revival Vintage
5201 N Lamar Blvd
6 locals raden deze aan
This is another great spot for furniture—be sure to check out their Instagram for the latest pieces!
New vintage shop in town! This cutie shop has a good mix of vintage clothing, housewares and accessories. Check it out!
Okasan
6001 Burnet Road
New vintage shop in town! This cutie shop has a good mix of vintage clothing, housewares and accessories. Check it out!
Cutest boutique plant shop, with all the good smells—they carry candles and incense as well. Great place to grab a gift to bring home!
Flourish Shop
215 West North Loop Boulevard
Cutest boutique plant shop, with all the good smells—they carry candles and incense as well. Great place to grab a gift to bring home!
Fun antique shop with a handful of well-curated, unique booths
194 locals raden deze aan
Uncommon Objects
1602 Fort View Rd
194 locals raden deze aan
Fun antique shop with a handful of well-curated, unique booths
Does vinyl count as vintage? Squeezing this one into the Guide because it’s SO worth your time!
47 locals raden deze aan
End Of An Ear
4304 Clawson Rd
47 locals raden deze aan
Does vinyl count as vintage? Squeezing this one into the Guide because it’s SO worth your time!
Lady Collective