South Congress is a must see area of Austin! It's a great street to walk down during the day while visiting the unique shops and restaurants. We recommend getting a photo in front of the iconic "I love you so much" mural at Jo's Coffee. Nicole's favorite spot on South Congress is the San Jose Hotel. It's nice and secluded from the crowds. You can walk into the grounds and grab a refreshing drink by the pool! For food, Perla's is good for seafood, salad, and people watching. If you're craving Mexican, we recommend checking out Guero's Taco Bar. They have cool outdoor seating with a live music stage. If you’re looking for live music, The Continental Club has good sets at night. Also at night is when crowds gather on the Congress Avenue Bridge to watch the infamous Austin bats fly out from underneath.
This is where Nicole and Dan live! It is also close to the hotel block at The Fairmont. The cute house bars and food trucks are another must see of Austin. Nicole and Dan's favorite bars are Icenhauer's (sangria and Sunday live music), Bungalow, and Reina. Banger's is a super popular Austin spot for sausage, beer, and weekend brunch! If you’re looking for daytime live music, you can checkout Idle Hands. This street really comes alive on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you're looking for somewhere to go out at night besides Rainey Street, Nicole and Dan recommend seeing West 6th Street. Their favorite bars are Buford's, The Ranch, and Rustic Tap.
If you're looking for the more laid back and "hipster" vibe of Austin, you can find it on the east side. Nicole and Dan recommend the bars Whisler's, Lazarus Brewing Company, Easy Tiger, and Hotel Vegas. For food, they recommend Oseyo, Suerte, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, and Il Brutto, There's another area on the east side with good food and drink such as Central Machine Works, Tillery Kitchen and Bar, Jacoby's, and De Nada.
If you're wondering where the Texas BBQ recommendation is, Nicole and Dan highly recommend Terry Black's Barbeque. This is where they take all their out of town visitors. Be sure to visit during off-peak hours to avoid long lines. Near Terry Blacks are a few other food favorites: Juliet Italian Kitchen, Chuy's Tex Mex, and Baby Acapulco. This area is also where Zilker Park is. Nicole and Dan bring their dogs here often (and it's where Dan proposed!). It's a huge park that's worth seeing. Austin City Limits music festival and other concerts take place here. If you're driving by, be sure to see Barton Springs, the outdoor swimming pool that is filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs. It's an Austin staple!