3 couples headed to Austin in mid June for a 3 day weekend. We’re doing the Urban Assault on Sunday morning, staying in a VRBO house close to Oltorf/S Lamar. Getting into town Fri afternoon. Help me plan a fun Fri nite/Sat… (No high end restaurants, no sushi - everything else fair game).
Thanks for any ideas/itineraries!
Tom
on soco, joe’s coffee and amy’s ice cream. the mexican vanilla shakes are freakin’ awesome. you’ll have to decide what type of food ya’ want cuz there is just much to choose from. if you have an iphone the app ‘eat st’ is good for finding street vendors. they have some of the best food avail. i don’t know anything about droids, etc, so i don’t know if the ‘eat st’ app will work on anything else. i’m a lemming. i’m jealous about your trip though, love austin.
I’m surprised no one else has responded. You in a pretty good location there. Some ideas 1. highly recommend lounging (or swimming if you want exercise) at Barton Springs, 2. the Greenbelt will be very close, you could hike/mountain bike/rock climb there, and with the rain the swimming holes may have enough water to cool down in 3. breakfast tacos (or lunch) at Taco Deli, absolutely the best 4. Tex-mex and mexican martinis (lots of choices) 5. BBQ (again many options) 6. Downtown Whole foods (it’s bigger and better than other WF, lots of restaurants inside) 7. more stuff but that’s that’s what comes to mind
3 couples headed to Austin in mid June for a 3 day weekend. We’re doing the Urban Assault on Sunday morning, staying in a VRBO house close to Oltorf/S Lamar. Getting into town Fri afternoon. Help me plan a fun Fri nite/Sat… (No high end restaurants, no sushi - everything else fair game).
Thanks for any ideas/itineraries!
Tom
Friday night, if you’re into live music, there are a number of great venues all along 4th Street and that vicinity. 6th Street is the younger (college), drunker, rowdier, douche-ier, puke-ier crowd, but if that’s your thing, go for it.
Best low cost Tex Mex options in that general area (in no particular order of preference): Curra’s, Guero’s, Chuy’s (on Barton Springs), Nuevo Leone, Maudie’s, Matt’s, Hula Hut (good atmosphere and a Hawaiian-ish vibe).
Breakfast places for Sat/Sun: Magnolia Cafe (on South Congress, or on Lake Austin Blvd), Kerbey Lane Cafe (one on South Lamar), Austin Java (on Barton Springs), and Jo’s Coffee (on South Congress - although they only have pastries, that I know of).
Barbecue: Pretty much any of them, but if you have the time, drive out to Driftwood and go to the Salt Lick. Otherwise, Uncle Billy’s, or pretty much any Rudy’s are my favorites.
Highly recommend you try out the trailer restaurants. They’re all over the place really, and a lot of them are very, very good.
Day time fun: Zilker Park, the Town Lake Hike & Bike Trail (I refuse to call it “Ladybird Lake”), the Greenbelt trail, canoe/kayak/stand-up paddleboat/regular paddleboat rentals on Town Lake, a few good shopping malls (just look around), almost always a festival of some kind going on somewhere in town.
Hope that helps.
I"ll select for you and take out the guesswork ;=) : 3 couples headed to Austin in mid June for a 3 day weekend. We’re doing the Urban Assault on Sunday morning, staying in a VRBO house close to Oltorf/S Lamar. Getting into town Fri afternoon. Help me plan a fun Fri nite/Sat… (No high end restaurants, no sushi - everything else fair game).
Thanks for any ideas/itineraries!
Tom
Friday night, if you’re into live music, there are a number of great venues all along 4th Street and that vicinity. 6th Street is the younger (college), drunker, rowdier, douche-ier, puke-ier crowd, but if that’s your thing, go for it.
Best low cost Tex Mex options in that general area (in no particular order of preference): Curra’s, Guerro’s, Chuy’s (on Barton Springs), Nuevo Leone, Maudie’s, Matt’s, Hula Hut (good atmosphere and a Hawaiian-ish vibe). I"ll add, while not high-end, slightly more expnesive (Manuel’s, either downtown or Arboretum area).
Purely for senic overlook and touristy, but their food sucks donkey balls, go for margaritas, I’d recomend The Oasis, overlooks lake travis)
Breakfast places for Sat/Sun: Magnolia Cafe (on South Congress, or on Lake Austin Blvd, good second choice), **Kerbey Lane Cafe (first choice) (one on South Lamar (actually on kerby lane, get there early or will be line, but they’re open 24hrs a day)), **Austin Java (on Barton Springs), and Jo’s Coffee (on South Congress - although they only have pastries, that I know of).
Barbecue: Pretty much any of them, but if you have the time, drive out to Driftwood and go to the Salt Lick (if you have some drive time, its BYOB!, but the best). Otherwise, **Uncle Billy’s (or this if shorter time, have their own craft brew), **or pretty much any Rudy’s are my favorites.
Highly recommend you try out the trailer restaurants. They’re all over the place really, and a lot of them are very, very good. Meh, trendy.
Day time fun: Zilker Park, the Town Lake Hike & Bike Trail (I refuse to call it “Ladybird Lake” 'cuz you’re not a tourist), the Greenbelt trail, canoe/kayak/stand-up paddleboat/regular paddleboat rentals on Town Lake, a few good shopping malls (just look around), almost always a festival of some kind going on somewhere in town.
Hope that helps.
Endo and Austin gang - thanks for the great ideas! Will be implimenting in a few weeks - I love Austin, but have never stopped to get the “local” advice. Eager to plug into a few of these. Thanks - Tom
I’m a big drinker, so a couple more recos, for somewhat area/mex drinks that are different:
If you go to Guerro’s, try the mexican martini or micheladas, otherwise just tackle the regular margaritas. Oh, and on food reco at Guerros (or Manuels) try the pork (or chicken if you must) encheladas with the Mole sauce. You can thank me later.
Curras has an avacado margarita that is unique, and good tamales (they have a sweet corn and raisin tamale that is real good and Curras tres leche cake is awsome). Kerby Lane Cafe has Bloody Marys that are killer and pancakes that will knock your sox off.
Other:
Walk 6th street to people watch and to make fun of assholes, otherwise like Danno said, stay the #$#$%^ away. too many drunk college duche bags.
4th/5th street has better options for places to drink and eat.
If any interest in music, pick up the local social/entertainment rag called The Chronicle. Free at most local shops/stores. Lists all music and any special entertainment in the area for the weekend.
Walking south congress about 2-3 blocks down from river has good shops to walk in and out of (around area w/ food trailers and Guerros). Same with Lamar and 6th street area…check out Bookpeople for local indy bookstore (neer wholefoods) and local indy music store Waterloo Records).
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Rio Rita on E. 6th has the best Bloody Mary’s I’ve ever had…
And to everyone on breakfast, seriously I just moved from ATX a few months ago, there are places like Kerby Lane and Magnolia everywhere in the whole U.S. but there is nothing like Taco Deli or Torchy’s (I’m in the Taco Deli camp). OP go to Kerby if you want pancakes go to Taco Deli if you want something unique to Austin. I’d give my left nut for access to a Taco Deli up here in Chicagoland…
edit: that’ rio rita not ruta maya
there are places like Kerby Lane and Magnolia everywhere in the whole U.S. but there is nothing like Taco Deli or Torchy’s (I’m in the Taco Deli camp).
You gotta point with this one.
And the hits just keep coming…
Taco Deli on Sat morning, 4th St Fri and/or Sat night, Guerro’s Sun after the Urban Assault. All with some Zilker Park/Barton Green Belt mixed in when energy/time allow