Things To Do
Barton Springs Pool (Central Austin)
We met while working at Barton Springs Pool, and it’s our favorite place in the city! The water is a cool 68° year round. It’s got a huge lawn for lounging, & is a spring fed natural swimming hole that is a popular tourist destination. Take a suit & go for a swim, or bring a blanket to lounge in the shade. Pro Tips: • Pay ahead on the ATXSwims App, and use the resident rate: $2-3 kids, $5 Adults, $2 Seniors, Veterans are free. They also take cash at the gate or use the pay stations out front (they look like parking meters) to pay with a card, and pick the resident rate. • The mainside - 2201 William Barton D - usually has the longest lines, but is closest to the bathhouse. The southside - 1000 Azie Morton Rd - usually has no lines, but you have to walk around the pool to get to the bathhouse. • We suggest arriving in swim attire, & bringing a blanket/ towel to the southside for a quick entry. • They don't allow food inside the gates, but you can bring drinks in closed containers.
Casual Dining - South Central Austin
Terry Black's BBQ- 1003 Barton Springs Rd - Excellent Texas style bbq Chuy's - 1728 Barton Springs Rd - Tex Mex staple P Terry's - 404 S Lamar Blvd - Austin franchise equivalent of In and Out Burger. We love getting burgers to-go and eating them next door on the Barton Springs Saloon patio.
Torchy's Tacos (South Central Austin)
We love Torchy's Tacos! They are an Austin staple, and you can find them all over town - including across the street from the South Congress Hotel. Everything on the menu is delicious. Get the chips and green chile queso! We also suggest ordering extra poblano ranch on the side - trust us, it's that good! Of note, they serve their breakfast tacos all day. Chris's favorite taco is the Ranch Hand (eggs and brisket) with poblano ranch, and Nichole's favorite is the Fried Avocado with poblano ranch
Oyster Landing: Hula Hut, Quince, & Mozart's Coffee Roasters (Central Austin)
Oysters Landing has three great spots to check out! If you're looking to grab some food / drinks before Friday's boat ride, Hula Hut and Quince Lakehouse are great options. (Of note, we wil be serving fajitas, sides, and drinks on the boat as well) • Hula Hut is a tiki themed restaurant with lunch / dinner service, and includes interior and deck seating that looks directly at the water. The patio includes a large bar area. • Quince Lakehouse is a waterside restaurant with lunch / dinner service and has both interior and deck seating with excellent food, lots of seating and an interior bar space. • Mozarts is a fun coffee house with a giant patio on Lake Austin delicious pastries and views. They often host live music on the patio. Fun fact: We got engaged on the docks adjacent to this area in front of Quince Lakehouse.
Mount Bonnell (North Central Austin)
The highest point in Austin, is a “hike” up 106 stairs to the top with panoramic views of the city skyline, Lake Austin, the Pennybacker Bridge, and the surrounding Texas Hill Country. We suggest taking the winding path back down, which takes about 30-40 minutes, and enoying the look out spots along the trail. We suggest wearing sunscreen and comfy shoes!
Rainey Street (Central Austin)
If you've never been to Rainey Street, it's a place worth exploring. Known for the historic houses that started as small local resturants and bars, the area has since exploded with multiple options. You'll find a lively, but more laid-back alternative to other nightlife areas (it's also pretty lively during the day), with lots of food trucks and outdoor patios. Most venues host live music daily. A few favorites: Bangers - Everything on the menu is a sausage - excellent food and dessert, large stage, 200+ beers on tap. Little Lucy's - food truck for fresh mini donuts with creative toppings Half Step - bar for craft cocktails
Armadillo Den (South Austin)
On our top 3 list of all time favorite bars in Austin! This is about a 12 min car ride from the South Congress area. They've got live music every night, and atons of outdoors seating, inlcuding a number of fire pits. Excellent cocktails and a two-story bar with 5 tasty food trucks (including Via 313 Detroit style pizza). Parking onsite is somewhat limited, we suggst taking a rideshare!
Meanwhile Brewing Co. (South East Austin)
One of our favorite places to hang out. They've got a huge lawn, big screen for sporting events, and some of the best food trucks in town! They serve coffee, beer, wine, cocktails and additionally have lots of food truck options: Side Eye Pie - pizza, Pueblo Viejo - tacos, Songbird - Fried Chicken Sandwhiches, Distrant Relatives - BBQ, and Besame - the best artisan ice cream. Pro Tip: It's on the way to the airport for anyone who would like to swing by on their way out of town!