Austin
Live music, slow-smoked meat, and keeping it weird
What It's Like Here
South Austin is where "Keep Austin Weird" was born and still thrives. Your neighborhood is the laid-back, unpretentious side of town — food trucks parked outside live music venues, local taco shops, craft breweries with yard games, and neighborhood bars where dogs are welcome.
You're 10 minutes from Zilker Park and Barton Springs, 15 minutes from South Congress, and surrounded by some of the best BBQ on the planet. LeRoy and Lewis is five minutes from the front door. Terry Black's is twelve.
This is the Austin that locals love — not the downtown high-rises, but the neighborhood spots where the culture actually lives.
BBQ (The Main Event)
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
5 min drive
Right in your backyard. "New School BBQ" featuring slow-cooked meats from Central Texas ranches. The beef cheeks are impossibly tender, and the miso-glazed carrots are a revelation. Full bar on-site. One of South Austin's hottest spots.
Terry Black's Barbecue
12 min drive
The most accessible of Austin's elite BBQ spots. Peppery, melt-in-your-mouth brisket plus incredible sides — mac and cheese, cream corn, banana pudding. Huge patio with downtown skyline views. The Black family has been smoking meat since 1932. Arrive before 11:30 AM on weekends.
Loro
10 min drive
A collaboration between Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole — Texas barbecue meets Asian smokehouse. Corn fritters, pork belly with hoisin, smoked brisket with shishito salsa verde. Vibrant patio, no reservations, no line. Grab a frozen gin and tonic while you wait. Our top recommendation for a fun, no-hassle BBQ experience.
Franklin Barbecue
18 min drive
The most famous BBQ in America. James Beard Award winner. The brisket is perfection. You'll wait 2 to 4 hours, and people start lining up at 5 AM. If you can't commit to the wait, order ahead for pickup — or go to Loro instead, same pitmaster, no line.
La Barbecue
18 min drive
Michelin-starred. Brisket smoked 14 hours over post oak. No sugar in anything — spicy, peppery, and bold. The smoked shells and cheese and chipotle coleslaw are iconic. Lines are shorter than Franklin but still plan ahead on weekends.
Distant Relatives
8 min drive
African-American-inspired BBQ from a James Beard semifinalist, served from a food truck at Meanwhile Brewing. The pork ribs with spicy dry rub are otherworldly. Everything has a kick.
Where to Eat
Matt's El Rancho
10 min drive
Austin Tex-Mex royalty since 1952. The Bob Armstrong dip — a queso loaded with guacamole, ground beef, and sour cream — is legendary. The Asadero Tacos with marinated tenderloin and melty asadero cheese are the best in town. Arrive before 6 PM to skip the wait.
Odd Duck
12 min drive
Michelin-recognized farm-to-table restaurant. The menu changes frequently based on seasonal ingredients from their own farm. Inventive American dishes with a Texas accent. Perfect for a date night or group celebration. Reservations recommended.
Uchi
12 min drive
Upscale Japanese cuisine in a converted house. James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole created this Austin institution. The hama chili — yellowtail in ponzu — is the signature. Reservations open one month in advance and go fast. Try for an early happy hour walk-in at the bar.
Home Slice Pizza
12 min drive · SoCo
Authentic New York-style pizza on South Congress — crispy outside, fluffy inside. Grab a whole pie or swing by the walk-up window next door for slices on the go. The line is part of the experience.
Elizabeth Street Café
10 min drive
A French-Vietnamese café with incredible croissants, bánh mì, and pho. Beautiful sunny dining rooms and a shady garden patio. The pastry case alone is worth the trip.
Perla's Seafood & Oyster Bar
12 min drive · SoCo
One of Austin's most recognizable patios — string lights, oak trees, and fresh oysters. New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp, po'boys, and great rosé. The South Congress location is perfect for people-watching.
Breakfast & Tacos
Casa Garcia's
5 min drive
Family-owned Mexican restaurant just minutes from the property. House-made tortillas and killer Machacado tacos. They've been at it for 23 years. Cash only.
Magnolia Cafe
12 min drive · SoCo
A beloved Austin institution open late. Tex-Mex breakfast all day, the famous Mag Mud Queso, and pancakes that never end. Casual, quintessentially Austin.
Proud Mary
8 min drive
Melbourne-inspired breakfast café with exceptional specialty coffee. The scrambled egg roti and ricotta hotcakes are legendary. Try the espresso flight.
El Chilito
5 min drive
Warm, pillowy tortillas with perfectly cooked fillings. Affordable and delicious with excellent homemade salsa. Austin runs on breakfast tacos, and these are some of the best.
Live Music
The Continental Club
SoCo · 12 min drive
Legendary venue open since 1955. Rockabilly, blues, country, and roots music almost every night. No cover for most shows. This is THE Austin music experience — the real deal, not a tourist trap.
Saxon Pub
10 min drive
The musical soul of South Austin since 1990. Roots rock, country, and singer-songwriters. Shows rarely cost more than $20, and many are free. If you see one show in Austin, make it here.
C-Boy's Heart & Soul
SoCo · 10 min drive
Blues, soul, and funk in an intimate setting right on South Congress. Sister venue to the Continental Club. The kind of place where the band is three feet away and every note lands.
The Far Out Lounge & Stage
8 min drive
South Austin's coolest outdoor music venue. Eclectic lineup from punk to country. Food trucks, full bar, big open-air stage under the trees.
Outdoors & Nature
Barton Springs Pool
12 min drive · $5–9 admission
A three-acre, spring-fed swimming pool that stays 68 to 70 degrees year-round. One of the most unique swimming experiences in the country. Nestled inside Zilker Park, it feels like swimming in a natural spring — because you are.
Zilker Park
12 min drive
Austin's 351-acre crown jewel. Disc golf, volleyball, playgrounds, botanical garden, kayak and SUP rentals on Lady Bird Lake, and Barton Springs Pool all in one place. This is where Austin lives on weekends.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
12 min to trailhead
Over 12 miles of hiking trails through limestone cliffs, swimming holes, and creek beds. Campbell's Hole is the less-crowded swimming spot; Gus Fruh is a quick 5-minute hike to water and rock climbing walls.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
15 min drive · Sunset, Mar–Nov
From March through November, 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats take flight at sunset. It's one of Austin's most iconic experiences — and it's free. Watch from the bridge, the shore, or from a kayak on the water.
McKinney Falls State Park
10 min drive
Waterfalls, swimming holes, and 8 miles of trails — all within the city limits. A half-day adventure that feels like you've left town entirely.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
10 min drive
Texas's premier native plant botanical garden. Beautiful themed gardens, trails, and a nature-based playground for kids. The spring wildflower season is extraordinary.
Bars & Breweries
St. Elmo Brewing Company
3 min drive
Award-winning South Austin brewery with a relaxed beer hall, outdoor garden, food trucks, and live music. Dog-friendly. The Patty Palace food truck parked here serves the best smashburger in Austin — well-seasoned, perfectly seared, don't miss it.
Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden
8 min drive
A permaculture-inspired garden with specialty coffee, local craft beer, live music, and rotating food trucks. One of Austin's most beloved gathering spots. The vibe is pure Austin — no pretension, just good drinks in a beautiful space.
Still Austin Whiskey Co.
3 min drive
Craft whiskey distillery in the St. Elmo district. Tasting room and cocktail bar where you can try their straight bourbon and seasonal releases.
The ABGB
10 min drive
Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. — brewpub with excellent house-brewed beers and killer pizza. Big outdoor space perfect for groups. Live music regularly.
Your Austin trip starts here
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