ATX Recs!
Our local favorites:
Restaurants & Bars
South Congress:
Jo’s Coffee
Home to the iconic “I love you so much” wall. Always busy. Next door is the San Jose Hotel (a great happy hour and people watching spot).
Guero’s
This is old Austin. Really good margaritas with fresh lime. They have a huge outdoor space, often with live music on stage.
June’s All Day
Top choice for any meal, we are usually there for brunch or dinner. Best fried chicken sandwich. The bagel and smoke salmon board is delish. Really cool wine list, everything is just spot on. It’s small so try for a reservation for a big group.
Perla’s
One of the most posh spots on SoCo, you definitely want a table outside on the patio to people watch and it’s also gorgeous. More pricey – we often end up having cocktails, oysters and French fries…
Joanne’s
Another brunch/lunch spot, great patio for HH drinks and people watching
Hop Doddy
Burgers of every kind, usually a line out the door.
Home Slice
No delivery but now you can order ahead. Really good, New York style pizza
Hotel San Jose:
Next to Jo’s. There is a small bar that serves their beautiful patio including the pool. The best frosé in town. Cool vibe. They have snacks.
SoCo Hotel
Very cool hotel, great bar and happy hour. At times they offer day passes for the pool. Often do a yoga class with a Wanderlust instructor on Sundays. Check their website.
South 1st
El Primo
Taco/torta truck on S. 1st & Mary. I think they have the best breakfast tacos in town. People rave about the tortas.
El Tacorrido
Drive through, tacos al pastor, queso and guacamole. You can order authentic tacos/meat by the pound if you wanted to have a semi-catered dinner at the house.
Sugar Mama’s
Cupcakes! Sooo good.
Elizabeth Street Cafe
Very stylish. Good noodles and Vietnamese staples, popular brunch spot.
Uchi’s
Japanese. It’s actually on South Lamar, not S. 1st. Uchi’s is well known, for good reason. Expensive and exquisite + beautiful wall paper. Their outdoor patio while you wait is sweet. Get a reservation.
Bouldin Creek Cafe
Another old school Austin place. 100% vegetarian, large menu
Fresa’s
Super family friendly spot with great food. There is a playground and tons of patio space. I like the Kale Ceasar Salad with their rotisserie chicken.
Lenoir
I love Lenoir. It is true farm to table, tiny with maybe 20 tables inside a beautifully decorated little house. This is for foodies and you need a reservation; expect to try different things. Their wine garden is lovely – we go there just for drinks and snacks. Under huge oak trees it’s a great place before going out or chillin with kids.
Downtown & East
La Condesa
Austin staple for Mexican food. The Flour Room is a very cool private space, seats up to 18 and can be reserved in advance.
ATX Cocina
Beautiful with large patio. I think Happy Hour is the best bet, it is pricier for regular dinner. Great margaritas and tacos with a lot of specialty items.
Easy Tiger
HUGE beer garden/yard. Very chill, fun vibe. Love their pretzels, great sausages and tasty things to share.
Wax Myrtles
Mediterranean, lots of shared plates. Really good. Nice bar and cocktails. Rooftop pool bar with cabanas available for a price.
Comedor
Interior Mexican, creative, beautiful space
The Proper Hotel
gorgeous lobby bar, place to be seen. The pool and restaurant La Piscina upstairs is beautiful, good ceviche and drinks
Licha’s Cantina
great tacos and margaritas in a little house on the east side
Franklin’s BBQ
Famous and amazing. I’ve gotten up early before to wait in line…and told I was too late. They serve until they run out. The brisket is what everyone is after. Lunch only. You can order ahead on website but need to really plan ahead at least 30 days.
Lambert’s BBQ
Upstairs is a bar with live music, have seen some great shows there. Best BBQ downtown, it’s casual but more upscale than normal BBQ joints, (do not go to Cooper’s…the best BBQ in town is on the east side, btw)
P6 @ the Line Hotel
Drinks & view: Super sylish bar overlooking Lady Bird Lake. Formerly the parking garage, this is a great place for sunset drinks before heading to Rainey, etc.
La Barbeque
The best, IMHO. They’ve finally moved to their own brick and mortar store. Go for lunch and expect to wait. Maybe not as long as Franklin’s but it’s very popular. It’s all good. The mac n cheese is so decadent. You can order by the pound and pick up – we’ve done this for parties and everyone was blown away.
Number 4
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