Trip to Austin - what to do?

[dancingirl21]

I just booked a trip to Austin for November 15-20 for H's 30th birthday. We are going to the Formula 1 race the 16-18 from 9am - 5pm each day. We will have all day Monday the 19th to explore and do other things and are flying out on Tuesday evening. We are staying in downtown Austin, so will need restaurants/nightlife each night.

Can anyone recommend good restaurants and things that we should do while in Austin?

[dr.girlfriend]

LOVE Austin. Eat at Shady Grove. Have the tortilla-fried queso catfish. Watch the bats fly out from Congress Street bridge at dusk. Hit up Gordough's for donuts. Go see something at the Alamo Drafthouse. Browse at Jaya, if it's still there. I've never done the Austin Segway tour but my DH has done the Chicago one a few times (his friend is a guide) and loved it.

[SJ]

I just spent last weekend in Austin with girlfriends.

Saturday we shopped in the South Congress area for jewelry and clothes, had tex mex and margaritas at Guero's, watched the pride parade and went dancing at Rain, had sushi (late night happy hour specials) at Imperia, late night drinks at Javelina.

Sunday we went river tubing at Don's Fish Camp- so fun! We had a tube with our cooler with tons of beer and drinks and snacks. Sunday evening we bought a Groupon Now for $5 bat watching boat ride on Lone Star Riverboats. We loved the bats! 1.5 million in three thick streams. Then we went to the flagship Whole Goods store and loaded up on food and booze to chill in our hotel.

Monday we went to the state capitol building and did a bit more shopping. Lunch at Hula Hut before heading home. Trip home was a huge cluster thanks to American Airlines problems, but we had a great time and I fell in love with Austin!

[johannaraye]

I could write a book! I visit Austin about once a month or so. Are you guys beer drinkers? There is a great restaurant/brewery about 10-15 minutes from downtown called North by Northwest nxnwbrew.com. Amazing food, awesome beer. For downtown, check out Frank (http://hotdogscoldbeer.com) on 4th and colorado. These are not ordinary hot dogs, and everything on their menu is good, great selection of beer and one of a kind cocktails. Easy Tiger is a fun bar downtown, Mohawk is fun for happy hour and live music. ALso, the food trucks are good for a quick, inexpensive bite. Try Chi'lantro, Korean Mexican fusion, the kimchee fries burritos are really good and filling, especially at 1 or 2 am. Also, there's an Alamo drafthouse on 6th street that's a lot of fun. You're gonna have a blast!

[h]

Try Juan in a Million, El Chile, or Kerbey Lane for breakfast. Moonshine does a great weekend brunch, but go early to avoid a super long wait. For casual lunches or dinners downtown or nearby, I like Moonshine, Z Tejas, Iron Cactus, Chuy's, Shady Grove, and Manuel's. Eating at Hula Hut on the lake is really fun. Go to the Salt Lick for barbecue. For nicer dinners, I like Parkside, Vespaio, Uchi, Fonda San Miguel, South Congress Cafe. Malaga is fun for drinks and tapas.

The balcony of the Stephen F. Austin is a fun place to have drinks (great view of downtown), as is the courtyard of the Hotel San Hose. Sitting outside and having drinks and dessert (awesome cakes) at the 1886 bakery in the Driskell is fun, too --great 6th Street people watching. If you want actual bars, try Six, J. Blacks, the Belmont, or Molotov if you want something relatively mellow. If you want to get crazy with the 21 year-old set, then just head to the main part of 6th Street and wander in and out of places. If you like live music, pick up an Austin Chronicle and find some places with bands playing.

For stuff to do, you can walk the hike and bike trail around the lake, rent kayaks if the weather is nice, hang out in Zilker Park, and hike up Mount Bonnell (taking a picnic there is fun). I second Alamo Draft House, too.

If you are looking for a specific type of restaurant or something, I am happy to try to provide a rec.

Have fun!

[Deleted]

The Broken Spoke if you want a real honky tonk w/ sweet live music. You MUST eat at The Salt Lick. And get some Tex Mex. I love Chuy's and make my aunt take me there every time I visit. Mmmmm Chuy's.....

[h]

Adding to my earlier list-- the gospel bruch at Stubbs is great.

If you want a true Austin experience, there is always chicken shit bingo at Ginny's Little Longhorn Salon.

[dancingirl21]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Deleted]

Chuy's. the next time I go, I'm just going to eat Tex Mex the whole time.

Salt Lick BBQ is reportedly amazing, but it is not. They use mustard sauce and have awful sides. Don't waste your time.

[gwynnetx]

Sept 29, 2012 17:37:11 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Chuy's. the next time I go, I'm just going to eat Tex Mex the whole time.

Salt Lick BBQ is reportedly amazing, but it is not. They use mustard sauce and have awful sides. Don't waste your time.

Chuy's jalapeno ranch dressing is amazing, but I'm going to have to WTF at you for saying that the Salt Lick is a waste of time.

I'm also WTF'ing the person who said there's not much to do here. I've lived here 14 years, and I'm still finding new things to do!

We sometimes take OOT visitors to Esther's Follies: www.esthersfollies.com

[Deleted]

The meat at Salt Lick is good but they ruined it with that awful sauce. I live in Kansas City, so I have high BBQ standards.

[h]

Sept 30, 2012 11:46:31 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

The meat at Salt Lick is good but they ruined it with that awful sauce. I live in Kansas City, so I have high BBQ standards.

Eh, barbecue is a matter of opinion. Salt Lick is actually not my favorite barbecue in Austin, but lots and lots of people go crazy for it. It is actually the only place I have ever seen mentioned by two different chefs in the same episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

I think Franklin barbecue is the best in the city (and it was named best barbecue in the country by Bon Appetit last year). It is pretty incredible, but the wait to get food is insane (like hours), and Salt Lick is more desirable from an experience and atmosphere standpoint, IMO.

[sarahbear]

I agree about Salt Lick. Skip it.

[isabel]

There's an awesome little BBQ spot out of a trailer (Smokey J's) at 620 and 2222 (next to the gas station). I highly recommend getting a chopped beef sandwich. If you're out that way, you can enjoy Lake Travis as well.

I would also second the majority of the food suggestions. Chuy's, Kerbey Lane, Magnolia Cafe, all definite classics. Take a walk around Town Lake (now Lady Bird Lake... *grumble-grumble*), or kayak if it's still warm enough. There's lots of great shops around down town as well. The Whole Foods is the flagship store and is always fun to walk around. Lots of great night life on 6th street. There's always great live music at the bars around there.

Enjoy your trip! Austin is an amazing city!

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2012 10:35:27 GMT -5 gwynnetx said:

Sept 29, 2012 17:37:11 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Chuy's. the next time I go, I'm just going to eat Tex Mex the whole time.

Salt Lick BBQ is reportedly amazing, but it is not. They use mustard sauce and have awful sides. Don't waste your time.

Chuy's jalapeno ranch dressing is amazing, but I'm going to have to WTF at you for saying that the Salt Lick is a waste of time.

I'm also WTF'ing the person who said there's not much to do here. I've lived here 14 years, and I'm still finding new things to do!

We sometimes take OOT visitors to Esther's Follies: www.esthersfollies.com

THIS. I stick by The Salt Lick and can't figure out who the hell thinks Austin is boring. That is so weird.

[heliocentric]

No advice, but I wanted to know what you found for a hotel. Did you find a better deal or suck it and pay the crazy prices? DH would still love to go if we could get cheaper lodging, that's why I'm asking.

[MadamePresident]

Sept 30, 2012 16:05:57 GMT -5 heliocentric said:

No advice, but I wanted to know what you found for a hotel. Did you find a better deal or suck it and pay the crazy prices? DH would still love to go if we could get cheaper lodging, that's why I'm asking.

I was just going to ask the same thing!

[dancingirl21]

Sept 30, 2012 16:05:57 GMT -5 heliocentric said:

No advice, but I wanted to know what you found for a hotel. Did you find a better deal or suck it and pay the crazy prices? DH would still love to go if we could get cheaper lodging, that's why I'm asking.

H's father is a member of Marriott rewards. He forked over 100,000 points for us to stay. He's a good FIL.

[Deleted]

I liked Magnolia Cafe too.

[weez]

Fred's patio.
Sangria a view music people and Chips and Guacamole.

[thiswillbe]

Guero's is a MUST-- even if just for the homemade corn tortillas dipped in queso.
And another vote for Kerby Lane, Magnolia Cafe, and ZTejas.
Have fun!!