Every Spot Mentioned Linked Below:
Geraldine’s - American farm-to-table restaurant at the Kimpton Van Zandt
Zanzibar - Tiki-cocktail lounge at the Marriott
Matt’s El Rancho - Expansive down to earth Tex-Mex with a vibrant patio scene and strong cocktails
Bouldin Acres - Family-friendly indoor/outdoor picnic table dominated sports bar. Plenty of TVs. Pickleball optional. Terrible parking lot.
Deep Eddy Cabaret - A divey long-standing local haunt complete with wood paneling, neons, pool tables, and a jukebox. Pitchers are the move.
Pool Burger - Outdoor tiki bar adjacent to Deep Eddy serving up bugers, fries, and pina coladas
ATX Cocina - Vibey upscale interior Mexican joint
La Piscina - One of if not the most scene-ish Mexican spots in Austin at the Proper hotel. “Best fajitas on Earth” have been thrown around. Pricey and worth it.
Ranch 616 - Tex-mex spot with a lively patio and edgy drinks and dishes. Unparalleled people watching and great for big groups
El Alma - Tex-mex with a great outdoor scene
Chuy’s - Family-friendly Tex-mex
Polvos - Family-friendly interior Mexican cuisine
El Arroyo - The Tex-mex place with the signs. Decent food.
Lupe Tortilla - Family-friendly Tex-Mex with arguably the best food of any spot on this list
Fixe Southern House - Upscale southern cuisine downtown. Biscuits, apps, and entrees are insanely good across the board.
Anthem - Tex/Asian fusion on Rainey St. Home to the best bite of food in Austin and great tiki cocktails. Great for groups.
CARVE - American bar & grill southwest of downtown with exceptional meat selection and wine list
El Tacorrido - Drive-thru breakfast and lunch tacos. No frills. Incredible flavor.
Franklin BBQ - Consensus “best BBQ in Austin”. Frequent lines out the door and sells out early. Overrated in my opinion.
Terry Blacks - Another popular BBQ spot close to downtown. Top notch BBQ across the board and an authentic Texas experience to boot
Valentina’s - Tex-Mex BBQ in a smaller setting
Lamberts - Downtown BBQ joint with multiple floors and an upscale twist
Micklethwait - Food truck vibes but damn good BBQ
Wax Myrtle’s - Upscale indoor/outdoor roof spot with elevated cocktails and a view of Austin below
Perla’s - Seafood patio spot on South Congress with fantastic happy hour and people watching
Clark’s - Airy seafood location on West 6th with fantastic cocktails and oyster specials
LoLo - East Austin wine bar with picnic tables and live music
Summer House - Outdoor spot drenched in foliage and ambiance. Your girlfriend would love this spot
Sammie’s - Old school Italian in cozy digs
Enoteca - Expansive Italian menu and wine list on South Congress
Red Ash - Wood-fired Italian cuisine downtown
Il Brutto - East side Italian in a date night style setting
LORO - Asian/Texas fusion on South Lamar
Wu Chow - Incredible dim sum downtown
TenTen - Upscale sushi on West 6th
Suerte - East Austin Mexican cuisine. Pricey but constantly considered one of the best spots in the city
June’s - American bistro on South Congress
Emmer & Rye - Eclectic and modern farm-to-table
Aba - Greek restaurant with expansive patio and top-notch people watching
Devil May Care - Mediterranean menu, fine wines, and craft cocktails steps from West 6th district
Via 313 - best pizza in Austin. Detroit style.
Ski Shores - Lakeside bites on Lake Austin. Fried catfish, tacos, and other light fare.