This is a list of different restaurants, bars, things to do, places with incredible views, and many more items that I have visited and deemed as a “Must Visit” when you come to visit Austin, Texas.
If you already live here, perfect, go check out these places today! (And tag me [@ATXFYI] on your posts of your first-time explorations!)
Each place has a link to their website if you click on the name to find out more information.
I will constantly update this post whenever I find new places.
This post has been updated most recently on April 17 2025.
FOOD/DRINK
🍴
FOOD/DRINK 🍴
TACOS
7 Estrellas (north atx)
authentic late-night tacos
an atx FYI: get the al pastor & jalapenoDiscada 🚐 (east atx)
La Santa Barbacha 🚐 (east atx)
Ensenada 🚐 (east atx)
seafood tacosNixta (east atx)
Paprika (north atx)
Papalote (several locations)
Tejas Birria 🚐 (sochac district & buda)
Cuantos Tacos 🚐 (east atx)
Velvet Taco (dallas chain - domain & dt)
Veracruz 🚐 (several locations)
The Peached Tortilla (north atx)
Torchy’s Tacos
it’s touristy but you’ve got to go to say you’ve gone!
get the queso!
BREAKFAST
TACOS
Paco’s Tacos (mueller)
Joe’s Bakery (east austin)
Tacodeli (7 locations)
Juan in a Million (east atx)
Get the Don Juan- El Taco Grande, if you dare!
BRUNCH + BREAKFAST
La Santa Barbacha 🚐 (east atx)
get the chilaquiles!
michelin bib gourmand ‘24David Doughie’s (east atx)
best NYC-style bagels in townSawyer & Co (east atx)
Tillery Kitchen & Bar (east atx)
Geraldine’s (dt - rainey)
Paperboy (east atx)
Snooze A.M. Eatery (several locations)
Better Half (downtown)
Revelry Kitchen + Bar (east atx)
Barley Bean (south lamar)
Oasthouse (northwest atx)
Cenote (east & north atx)
Austin Java (south atx)
AMERICAN CUISINE
🍕
AMERICAN CUISINE 🍕
barbecue
Franklin Barbecue (east atx)
be prepared to get there around 6 or 7am and wait until they open at 10:59am. the line varies on the day of the week and the weather.
IT IS WORTH THE WAIT
LeRoy and Lewis (south atx)
beef cheeks, flat iron, tri tip (after 5pm), brisket burger, & akaushi brisket
michelin one star ‘24Interstellar BBQ (far north austin)
michelin one star ‘24Moreno BBQ (south atx)
Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew (north atx)
Loro (south atx)
Japanese SmokehouseSLAB BBQ (north, south, west atx)
best nachos in ATX / dope bbq sandwichesFreedman’s BBQ — R.I.P.
Other places I haven’t visited but have heard great things about: Coopers Old Town, and Lamberts.
Kerlaches - bbq kolaches!
See my post about Battle of the BBQ
burgers
LeRoy & Lewis (south atx)
two words: brisket burgerLao’d Bar (east atx)
pork smash burger!Bad Larry Burger Club
pop-up - keep eye on their IGSour Duck Market (east atx)
NADC (dt - rainey)
Perla’s (SoCo)
Two Hands (SoCo)
Phil’s Icehouse (north atx & south lamar)
Hopdoddy Burgers (several locations)
P. Terry’s (drive-thru local option)
Top Notch (north atx + hutto)
you might recognize this place from the film, Dazed and Confused ;)Whataburger (iconic texas drive-thru)
Because… Texas.
steak
Intero (east atx)
yes, an italian place has provided the BEST steak I’ve had in AustinLeRoy & Lewis (south atx)
steak night is insane! reservations on opentableJ. Carver (dt atx)
SEAFOOD
Canje (east atx)
my current favorite restaurant
upscale Caribbean foodEste (east atx)
great oysters + fish optionsGarbo’s (north atx)
wonderful lobster roll!Casa Bianca (east atx)
oysters are great & $1 during happy hour!Salt Trader’s (zilker + RR)
from the owner of Jack Allen’s!
LATIN AMERICAN
Habana SoCo (SoCo)
cuban cuisineTamale House East (east atx)
Plaza Colombian Cafe (south atx)
La Condesa (downtown)
Cruzteca 512 (south atx)
Four Brothers (barton springs mall)
venezuelan cuisineIska’s Secrets (sochac district)
cuban cuisine
pizza
Pedroso’s Pizza (north atx)
NY StyleFeral Pizza 🚐 (northloop)
NY StyleSammataro 🚐 (east atx)
NY StyleLittle Deli (north atx)
NJ Styleside eye pie (southeast atx)
Austin Beer Garden Brewery Company (ABGB) (south atx)
Toss Pizzeria & Pub (south atx)
NY styleHome Slice Pizza (north atx & SoCo)
NY StylePieous (southwest atx)
Make sure to get their charcuterie board too!
subs
sandwiches
hoagies
Home Slice Pizza (north atx & SoCo)
TRUST ME! - get a cold subPapi’s Hoagies (east atx)
get their original Italian hoagieR&B’s Steak & Fries (east atx)
my favorite cheesesteak in austinLittle Deli (north atx)
get one of their Italian subsAustin Daily Press (east & south lamar)
an atx FYI: get lucille torta + jalapeno hushpuppies!
Buenos Aires Cafe (east atx & bee cave)
an atx FYI: get the lomito beef sandwich!Easy Tiger (north, south, & east atx)
modern american
Casa Bianca (east atx)
it’s “italianish” but everything is amazingHestia (downtown)
higher pricepoint but INCREDIBLE dining experience - great special occasion spotHank’s (north east atx)
Salty Sow (north east atx)
Culinary Dropout (domain)
The Peached Tortilla (north atx)
Bar Peached (downtown)
Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar (steiner & south atx)
Eberly (south lamar)
WINGS
Wingzup (north atx)
an atx FYI: try their smoked or grilled wings!
Toss Pizzeria & Pub (south atx)
Kochu (north atx)
The League Kitchen & Tavern
(3 locations)Chi'lantro (several locations!)
Korean wings, yum!Wing Toss (at Love 312 Pizza) —- closed
healthy
True Food Kitchen (domain & dt)
RanchHand Organic Bowls
a food truck, currently located at Armadillo Den (sochac district)JuiceLand (several locations)
Honest Mary’s (north atx)
Modern Market (many locations)
ASIAN CUISINE
🍜
ASIAN CUISINE 🍜
sushi
Neighborhood Sushi (SoCo)
Dawa Sushi (north atx) - yes, out of a food truck… trust me.
Uchi + Uchiko (south + north atx)
uchi is the more expensive and lavish of the two establishments. both are amazing. check out their happy hour!Soto (south lamar)
Uroko (east atx) omakase!
Kome (north atx)
indian
Clay Pit (downtown)
Dosa Shack (north atx)
KOREAN
Charm Korean BBQ (north atx)
Chi'Lantro BBQ (several locations!)
thai
Titaya Thai (north atx)
Tuk Tuk Thai Cafe (south atx)
Sap’s Fine Thai Cuisine (south atx)
VIETNAMESE
Pho With Us (south atx)
Pho Thaison (north atx)
Simply Pho (west atx)
Pho Craft (east atx) - closed :(
DESSERTS
🧁
DESSERTS 🧁
COLD TREATS
Jim Jim’s Water Ice (downtown)
Besame | best ice cream (southeast atx & north atx)
Lick! (several locations)
Anti-Social Icecream Co. (north west atx)
Amy’s Ice Cream (many locations)
NadaMoo! Scoop Shop | Vegan (S.ATX)
scoop shop temp closed
BAKERY
Capital City Bakery | vegan (east atx)
usually just open for pick-up now, so check their websiteComadre Panaderia (east atx)
La Pâtisserie (south atx)
The Cake and Spoon
pick-up only or available at franklin bbq
DONUTS
Round Rock Donuts
touristy, BUT delicious donuts!Little Lucy’s Mini Donuts (domain & rainey)
Bougie’s Donuts (sunset valley)
Duck’s Donuts (pflugerville)
made to order donuts!Gourdough’s (south atx)
The Salty Donut (SoCo)
Voodoo Doughnut (downtown)
cash only chain but interesting donuts to try
NIGHTLIFE
🪩
NIGHTLIFE 🪩
cocktail bars
The Roosevelt Room (dt atx)
The Cavalier (east atx)
DuMont’s Down Low (dt atx)
Small Victory (dt atx)
Whisler’s (east atx)
an atx FYI: get an old fashionedSeven Grand (dt atx)
High Noon (east atx)
Kitty Cohen’s (east atx)
Cedar Tavern - in eberly (south lamar)
The Wheel (east atx)
Upstairs at Caroline (dt atx)
WINE BARS
WINERIES
Flo’s Wine Bar + Bottle Shop (east atx)
Wink Restaurant + Wine Bar (dt atx)
Wanderlust Wine Co. (dt + east)
The Infinite Monkey Theorem (closed)
Winebelly (closed)
concert &
show venues
Stubb’s BBQ (dt atx)
outside venue is awesome!Paramount Theater (dt atx)
best place to sit is anywhere on the lower levelMohawk Austin (dt atx)
Zilker Park (zilker)
ACL Live @ Moody Theater (dt atx)
Germania Insurance Amphitheater
@ COTA (southeast atx)
BREWERIES
Meanwhile Brewing (southeast atx)
Pinthouse Brewing (many locations)
Austin Beerworks (north atx)
Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. (south atx)
Celis Brewery (north atx)
Jester King Brewery (southwest atx)
CIDERies
Austin Eastciders Collaboratory (east atx)
Moontower Cider Company (east atx)
Texas Keeper Cider (south atx)
DISTILLERIES
Still Austin Whiskey (south atx)
Fierce Whiskers (southeast atx)
Treaty Oak Distillery (south atx)
gin and bourbonTexas Sake Company (dt atx)
Deep Eddy Vodka (dripping springs)
Desert Door Sotol (driftwood - SW)
speakeasy lounges
Here Nor There (hidden)
Trona (east atx)
Kinfolk (hidden)
Small Victory (hidden)
Firehouse Hostel & Lounge (behind a bookcase)
DuMont’s Down Low (dt atx)
Red Headed StepChild (dt atx)
hidden behind a business front of a repair of an outdated piece of technology. small bar, need to have a code to get in.
dance clubs
Mayfair Austin (dt atx)
Summit Austin (dt atx)
Speakeasy Austin (dt atx)
not a speakeasy, but a fun, rooftop clubMala Vida (east atx)
latin clubCheer Up Charlie’s (east atx)
queer djs & drag showsOuter Heaven Disco Club (east atx)
White Horse (east atx)
iconic honky tonkBroken Spoke (south atx)
“the best honky tonk in texas”
famous country bar w/iconic star performersHangar Lounge (dt) - closed
Hen House (dt) - closed
LATE NIGHT EATS
Kerbey Lane Cafe (several locations)
Velvet Taco (domain & dt)
24 Diner (dt atx)
Here’s a link to my article with a list of Late Night spots: HERE
COFFEE SHOPS
Mercado Sin Nombre (east atx)
Sorrento’s Coffee (n atx) drive-thru
Cuvée Coffee Bar (east atx)
Houndstooth Coffee Cafe (domain)
Merit Coffee (south lamar & triangle)
Bougie’s Donuts & Coffee (sw atx)
Barley Bean Coffee (south lamar)
Cenote (east + north atx)
Better Half Bar (dt atx)
GYMS
Big Tex Gym (north atx)
Castle Hill Fitness (west & south atx)
Black Swan Yoga (several locations)
Kollective (north atx)
Los Campeones (north & south atx)
Onnit Gym (south atx)
TOURISTY FUN THINGS
Go on an ATX FYI Sunset Boat Cruise!
(no current cruises right now)Take photos with all the MURALS around town
Use my page to find them and their details HERE (updated last in 2020)Duck Tour
look on Groupon to find discounted tickets!Hamilton Pool
30 miles west from downtown - you’ll need a reservationUncommon Objects
antiques and eclectic itemsWaterloo Records
incredible record store from 1982
SHOPPING
South Congress Avenue
Nellie St to W. Johanna St
MOVIE THEATERS
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS
Mount Bonnell
tallest point in AustinOasis Texas Brewing Company
has an incredible Lake Travis View
(avoid Oasis Restaurant, the food isn’t great, it’s more of a tourist trap)Gnarly Gar
Lake Travis ViewEmerald Point Bar and Grill (EPBG)
Lake Travis View
(Used to be Ernie’s On The Lake)Hula Hut
Lake Austin ViewAustin Public Library
(Skyline views)
Thanks for checking my list out! If you have any other categories that you think are important, send me a message under “Contact Us” HERE or message me on any of my socials.
Cheers!
