Austin has undeniably made its mark as one of the US’s coolest smaller major cities. Celebrated for music, culture, and business as the home of SXSW, certified by Silicon Valley as a tech outpost, and regularly noted as a happening, young, growing city, Austin is Texas without the spurs.
I’d compare Austin to a Texan (but smaller, despite everything being bigger in Texas) DC. It’s flat, hot, perched on a river, has a Capitol on a hill, fitness-minded, integrated with central green spaces, home to great patios/rooftops, food and music scene, etc. – it just adds a Texas-sized helping of BBQ, donuts, Mexican food, and fried things to the experience.
I can honestly say I expected the city to be a bit more of a Western town, so I was absolutely delighted to find Austin was a little bit country, a little bit swanky, and a whole lotta cool.
Where to Stay
The Line’s ‘capsule’ collection of hotels in LA, DC, and Austin have generated a significant amount of buzz in each market for design, culinary experience, and being a destination for both locals and visitors. The Line Austin proved the point from my first step into the lobby, and across the happy comfort of the rooms, the trendy people tasting trendy things in the main restaurant and bars, the pool scene, the presentation of the dining menu/in-room dining/the mini-bar, and the walkability of the location (including to non-trendy locations like a conference center), etc. Book direct for perks like f&b discounts. approx. $250 per night
Where to Drink
As I already mentioned, Austin is saturated with open air patios, which are equally saturated with curated lists of microbrews, East Austin and other local ciders (I had a few iterations, and the rosé cider, despite the fact that I bought into a millennial product, was exceptionally good), and respectable wine selections.
For variation, head to the Firehouse Hostel, which hides a speakeasy within its walls. Enter the bar via a secret entrance by the front desk.
Where to Eat
Austin is overflowing with thoughtful food experiences with enticing patio, roof, and indoor-outdoor concept venues. Try Fareground, Austin’s first food hall, for Austin-fusion options like Mexican tortilla ramen at Ni-Kome or a boar meat-based taco menu at Dai Due in an unexpectedly cool venue in a bank building.
For your BBQ fix, head just south over the river to Terry Black’s BBQ. You’re never going to want to eat a hack of their smoked staples outside of Austin ever again.
Other highly recommended spots -by authentic Texans, mind you- include Stubb’s BBQ (for BBQ), Franklin’s (BBQ), Gourdough’s Public House (Texas-style donuts), and Voodoo Donuts (again, donuts). Clearly, the takeaway here is to have BBQ and donuts, with a sprinkling of tacos.
For an Austin-adjacent adventure, head to The Oasis on Lake Travis to enjoy outdoor decks with Mexican fare and margaritas overlooking the lake Texas-style.
What to Pack
Austin is hot and casual-trendy. I packed a little too light and work-like for my recent trip, and will admit that I considered popping in to Urban Outfitters (conveniently the first hit for “shopping” in downtown Austin) to get a floaty top or a unique sundress for one night of my nights of dinner and drinking. So, leave the cowboy flannel at home, and bring your stylish, trendy-in-hot-weather self. Oh, and don’t forget swimwear and sandals, in case you want to cool off in or on the water.
What to Do
Austin is known for entertainment – find live music, film screenings, and festivals to your taste in advance of your trip, potentially planning your trip around it. Definitely experiment across the Austin food specialties, and if you’d like to balance out the doses of meat, oil, and sugar, go for a sightseeing run to the Capitol, south through residential Austin, and down to the waterfront park’s welcoming paths. You can also borrow a bike from several hotels, like The Line, or you can easily grab a Jump bike. Kayaking and paddle boarding on the river is also a scene, with group outings available and several boats dropping anchor to enjoy a day on the water to wave you on. Prefer to stay cool without the sweat? Ubers and electric scooters can get you wherever you’re interested in going. If you want to take a break from going anywhere, cool off at a pool that’s included in your hotel stay or get day passes to one of your choosing.
Did you decide to head to any spots from my guide? Got some other recommendations? I’d love to hear about them and your time in Austin. Leave a comment below or DM me @anchoredadrift on Instagram.
anchored & adrift 