Going to Austin - give me tips please!

[Deleted]

If it is graduation weekend everything is going to be packed....

Have fun.

[mcgee]

6th Street is where most of the bars are, so stay away from there on a Friday or Saturday night if you want to avoid drunken college students. Plenty of great little shops downtown and on South Congress street, just south of Town Lake. The Whole Foods flagship store is at 6th and Lamar. I love this place: www.speakeasyaustin.com/, and the rooftop terrace bar is wonderful.

If you're into outdoor stuff, you can take the hike and bike trail around Town Lake/through Zilker Park or rent a kayak and paddle around Town Lake.

[decemberwedding07]

If you like Sushi, you MUST try Uchico! MUST!

I have heard amazing things about Olivia, though I have not gotten a chance to go there myself.

[heightsyankee]

I second Uchico. So good (or Uchi but you can come to the Uchi in Houston). Z Tejas is well known for their brunch, but there is a place downtown we went a couple months ago and it was amazing. I'm emailing DH for the name.

Avoid 6th St at all costs if you want to avoid drunk college kids.

[moreace01]

Ok, I've only been there once for a long weekend.

As others have said - 6th street seemed like it was where the college bars were.

We really liked the South Congress area - so dittoing that rec. Cute shops and restaurants. We really liked the Continental Club for live music (Alejandro Escovedo was playing the night we were there - I think he plays there a lot). I can't think of the name of the restaurants we liked...but the strip isn't all that long and anywhere we stopped in was pretty good. Very laid back vibe with bands playing out on back patios all over the place. We liked it a lot.

[karinothing]

Eat Mexican food and lots of it.

[Deleted]

I always like Matt's El Rancho on S. Congress for brunch. Magnolias also has a good brunch.

There is a soft spot for El Patio on Guadalupe north of campus. It is old school 1950s style tex mex. They serve saltines, butter and salsa.

[heightsyankee]

May 17, 2012 10:00:50 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

May 17, 2012 9:54:51 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Eat Mexican food and lots of it.

Is it that different from Houston Mexican food?

Also, and please don't hate me, I'm a Californian and don't really believe that the vast majority of Mexican food in Texas is actually Mexican food. It's Tex-Mex. Which is delicious... it's just not Mexican. Adding queso (pronounced kay-so, shamefully) to things is done way too often and takes away from the Mexican aspect of food!

:: zips up flamesuit ::

You're totally right. It is Tex-Mex. There are some restaurants in Houston that serve great interior Mexican style food though. Hugo's is our favorite. Maria Y Selma is another good one.

No, Austin Tex-Mex is not different. It is actually going to be worse. Houston has way better food in this genre. What you need to eat in Austin is barbecue. Yum yum yum!

[heightsyankee]

May 17, 2012 10:00:40 GMT -5 @septimus said:

I always like Matt's El Rancho on S. Congress for brunch. Magnolias also has a good brunch.

Love Matt's. THey have some of the best salsa in the world ;D

Is Magnolia's downtown, hill country style building with a patio? That might be the place i am thinking of.

[Deleted]

magnolias has 2 location. I was thinking of the one on S. Congress.

I went to Hoovers on Manor last month and it was good.

I also like County Line for BBQ out on 2222 or the Salt Lick.

[heightsyankee]

OK, it was not Magnolia's

Moonshine. Great building, great food. Highly recommend for brunch.

[KateAggie]

I think Stubbs still does Gospel Brunch on Sundays--tons of fun.

4th street will be a bit of an older crowd, although maybe not on grad week. The Speakeasy has a nice rooftop deck.

[Deleted]

May 17, 2012 10:38:08 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Holy crap, guys! We'll have to do Austin, Part 2 and 3 to eat at all these places. Yay!! Thanks!

ETA: Please keep suggestions coming - I'm going to keep checking the thread until we get there.

Austin has so many great places to eat. I gain weight every time I go

[fernane]

If you like hiking, definitely go to the green belt. You can kayak in ladybird lake, see the bats under the congress bridge, go to Zilker Park..there's a cool botanical garden..