Dawn’s guidebook
Food scene
Stylish, great coffee. You can walk there from the house pretty easily (a little under a mile each way).
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Palamino Coffee
4136 E 12th StStylish, great coffee. You can walk there from the house pretty easily (a little under a mile each way).
Quick bike ride or drive to a hip, new, tucked-away neighborhood restaurant and wine bar. Has been nominated for a James Beard award and received accolades in the NYT!
30 Einheimische empfehlen
Birdie's
2944 East 12th StreetQuick bike ride or drive to a hip, new, tucked-away neighborhood restaurant and wine bar. Has been nominated for a James Beard award and received accolades in the NYT!
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya
2713 E 2nd StAustin has a lot of taco places in town. If you've been to a bunch, try Nixta's slightly interesting take on tacos. Adorable patio in the back. Super fun vibes.
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Nixta Taqueria
2512 E 12th StAustin has a lot of taco places in town. If you've been to a bunch, try Nixta's slightly interesting take on tacos. Adorable patio in the back. Super fun vibes.
Insta-worthy dessert shop that's a few minute bike ride. We sometimes walk down there. Has some gluten-free and bubble tea options, too. Don't forget to stop by the Peddler Bike shop that's attached.
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OMG Squee
4607 Bolm RdInsta-worthy dessert shop that's a few minute bike ride. We sometimes walk down there. Has some gluten-free and bubble tea options, too. Don't forget to stop by the Peddler Bike shop that's attached.
Upscale French spot (our waiters are almost always *real* french people). Great food, the bar area is super fun. Reservations recommended.
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Justine's
4710 E 5th StUpscale French spot (our waiters are almost always *real* french people). Great food, the bar area is super fun. Reservations recommended.
Wonderful bakery/cafe/bar/coffee shop. Lovely outdoor patio with lots of space for large groups. The food, drinks, and vibe here are always great.
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Sour Duck Market
1814 E Martin Luther King Jr BlvdWonderful bakery/cafe/bar/coffee shop. Lovely outdoor patio with lots of space for large groups. The food, drinks, and vibe here are always great.
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S Lamar BlvdGreat ramen spot on east 6th!
Kinda Tropical
3501 E 7th StGood food and good vibes in a mostly outdoor setting.
A quick walk to medici through the neighborhood (take the Sara Ln pedestrian bridge to avoid Springdale) will get you to this very awesome coffee shop. There's also a handheld sushi wrap and sandwich shop in the same place.
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Caffe Medici
1101 W Lynn StA quick walk to medici through the neighborhood (take the Sara Ln pedestrian bridge to avoid Springdale) will get you to this very awesome coffee shop. There's also a handheld sushi wrap and sandwich shop in the same place.
The most popular BBQ spot in Austin. Get there early and prepare to wait a significant amount of time in line. Consider LA Barbecue if you want tasty BBQ but don't want to wait quite as long (you'll probably still be waiting, let's be honest)!
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Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StThe most popular BBQ spot in Austin. Get there early and prepare to wait a significant amount of time in line. Consider LA Barbecue if you want tasty BBQ but don't want to wait quite as long (you'll probably still be waiting, let's be honest)!
Fun patio, great food, delicious cocktails in a neighborhood restaurant.
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Launderette
2115 Holly StFun patio, great food, delicious cocktails in a neighborhood restaurant.
You've probably heard of Uchi (if you haven't it's our beloved Sushi spot). Uchiba is by the same group and is laid back and fun! Get a spot outside for some people watching, or a spot inside for a moody sleek dinner! Reservations recommended.
Uchibā Austin
You've probably heard of Uchi (if you haven't it's our beloved Sushi spot). Uchiba is by the same group and is laid back and fun! Get a spot outside for some people watching, or a spot inside for a moody sleek dinner! Reservations recommended.
Fun ice cream stop in a neighborhood setting near the house. A must in the hotter months. We love it here.
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Zeds Real Fruit Ice Cream
1814 Harvey StFun ice cream stop in a neighborhood setting near the house. A must in the hotter months. We love it here.
Sightseeing
Great for outdoor bike riding, running and walking. There is a paved path that is totally removed from any cars so it's a dream to run or bike on.
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Govalle Neighborhood Park
5200 Bolm RdGreat for outdoor bike riding, running and walking. There is a paved path that is totally removed from any cars so it's a dream to run or bike on.
Red Bluff
5808 Harold CtKeep the trails clean if you go! This is our neighborhood spot. Beautiful at sunset!
Big open green space that's home to many festivals like Austin City Limits. On most days, though, this is where Austinites spend time walking their dogs, having picnics, exercising, or just lying in the grass.
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Zilker Park
Big open green space that's home to many festivals like Austin City Limits. On most days, though, this is where Austinites spend time walking their dogs, having picnics, exercising, or just lying in the grass.
Brand new beautiful park downtown. It's definitely worth checking out!
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Waterloo Park
500 E 12th StBrand new beautiful park downtown. It's definitely worth checking out!
One of Austin's most loved places and a must if you enjoy being active. It's one of the best ways to get a feel for the city. The Lady Bird Lake trail has miles of trails to run, walk, or ride a bike (please be courteous to other users of the trail and stay to the right unless you're passing!). Hop on near downtown and then go into downtown for lunch or dinner!
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Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail
One of Austin's most loved places and a must if you enjoy being active. It's one of the best ways to get a feel for the city. The Lady Bird Lake trail has miles of trails to run, walk, or ride a bike (please be courteous to other users of the trail and stay to the right unless you're passing!). Hop on near downtown and then go into downtown for lunch or dinner!
Austin's new library has it all: books, a great cafe and bar, and some beautiful views from the top. The areas surrounding the library make for great people-watching and there's lots of places to eat and drink nearby. There's an easy connection to the Austin hike and bike trail which is another can't-miss.
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Austin Central Library, Austin Public Library
710 W Cesar Chavez StAustin's new library has it all: books, a great cafe and bar, and some beautiful views from the top. The areas surrounding the library make for great people-watching and there's lots of places to eat and drink nearby. There's an easy connection to the Austin hike and bike trail which is another can't-miss.
If you're willing to go on a bit of a drive, the 360 overlook is a quintessential Austin view. It's an easy hike to the top of the overlook.
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360 Bridge
4801 Plaza on the LakeIf you're willing to go on a bit of a drive, the 360 overlook is a quintessential Austin view. It's an easy hike to the top of the overlook.
Arts
Fun hidden gem in Austin that probably isn't on your list but should be. There are a lot of art studios in this building. Some are by appointment only but there's lots of places where you can walk-in and purchase unique pieces of art, clothing, jewelry by local artisans. Will Bryant's studio is also nearby if you can catch him while he's there he might show you what he's working on.
There are many resources for creatives in this place along with a really cool production studio.
Don't forget to stop by Sa-ten, another wonderful coffee shop/japanese cafe or Austin Bouldering Project!
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Canopy Austin
916 Springdale RdFun hidden gem in Austin that probably isn't on your list but should be. There are a lot of art studios in this building. Some are by appointment only but there's lots of places where you can walk-in and purchase unique pieces of art, clothing, jewelry by local artisans. Will Bryant's studio is also nearby if you can catch him while he's there he might show you what he's working on.
There are many resources for creatives in this place along with a really cool production studio.
Don't forget to stop by Sa-ten, another wonderful coffee shop/japanese cafe or Austin Bouldering Project!
If you can get tickets to see a show here, you're in for a treat! There's really no bad seat in this place and the sound is great. This is where ACL Live is taped.
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ACL Live
310 W Willie Nelson BlvdIf you can get tickets to see a show here, you're in for a treat! There's really no bad seat in this place and the sound is great. This is where ACL Live is taped.
Neighborhoods
South Congress
Quintessential Austin spot to walk, shop, eat, and drink!
This is our neighborhood! Most of the restaurants and bars are along 6th street but wind up to 11th street all the way down to Holly.
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East Austin
This is our neighborhood! Most of the restaurants and bars are along 6th street but wind up to 11th street all the way down to Holly.
Activities
If you're into climbing, check out Austin's absolutely fabulous bouldering gym. There's a beer garden attached and a wonderful coffee shop not too far away.
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Austin Bouldering Project
979 Springdale RdIf you're into climbing, check out Austin's absolutely fabulous bouldering gym. There's a beer garden attached and a wonderful coffee shop not too far away.
One of Austin's most beloved gems, this natural spring-fed pool stays the same temperature year-round. There's a small cost for entry.
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Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrOne of Austin's most beloved gems, this natural spring-fed pool stays the same temperature year-round. There's a small cost for entry.
Tipps für Reisende
Verkehrsmittel
Uber/Bikes/Scooters are the fastest way to get around
I'm an avid cyclist so I tend to ride a bike everywhere. It's an easy, flat 2 mile bike ride from the house to the east side and about 15 minutes ride to downtown and 20 to South Congress. That might not be everyone's cup of tea, though, so you might feel more comfortable grabbing an uber to downtown/east austin/south congress and walking/riding/scootering around those places. There's lots of bike shares in those areas as well!
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The hike and bike trail
It's really the best way to see the sights and the city and get a feel for what it's like here. You can spend the whole day walking it and meandering into downtown for lunch/dinner.
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Hamilton Pool
Hamilton Pool requires advanced reservations. They can be hard to get, so plan early!