Visiting Austin? Check out some of these cool spots while you’re in town.
Art Scene
Mexic-Arte: A lovely art museum celebrating Mexican-American heritage, history and culture
Blanton Muesem of Art: A must-see for stained glass fans with seasonally rotating exhibits
The Contemporary Austin: Beautiful exhibits and rooftop; The museum itself is covered in murals and sculptures
The Cathedral: A gorgeous, bright church repurposed into a co-working space and art gallery
Old Bakery and Emporium: A historic bakery turned history museum and art exhibit showcasing artists 50 and older
Women and Their Work: Gallery displaying bold contemporary artwork created by women
Places Keeping Austin Weird
Museum of the Weird: Be greeted by Big Foot on your way to see a mermaid skeleton and several other awesome oddities
The Congress Bat Bridge: Between March through October, watch millions of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from underneath the Congress Ave Bridge and fly over Lady Bird Lake
Witch’s Market: Pop-ups around the city where you can find incense, tarot decks, ritual tools and much more from local artisans and herbalists
Texas Toy Museum: Unique toys, retro games, freeplay arcade and a dive into the history of all things toys
Night Life
6th Street: Austin’s most famous nightlife area; Streets are closed to traffic on weekend nights
Red River Cultural District:Live and local music galore any night of the week
Rainey Street: Old street of houses turned into bars featuring a food truck court
Native Hostel: Photogenic hostel with secret rooms, art studios, shops, coffee and bars
The Warehouse District: Downtown’s LGBTQ+ community headquarters complete with rainbows on the street
Food
Texas Chili Parlor: As seen in Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof”
Yummi Joy: Brightly colored candy shop and ice cream
Jim Jim’s Water Ice: Delicious Italian ice with so many flavor options it’s hard to choose
Downtown Farmer’s Market: Takes over Republic Square every Saturday from 9am-1pm; Free parking available in the surface lot adjacent to the market
Franklin’s BBQ: Austin’s most famous BBQ location
Casino El Camino: Burgers to die for with a creative daily special
Bangers Sausage House and Beer Garden: A must for mimosas with a group; Delicious menu with great entertainment
Swifts Attic: Try the flavor-infused slow melt ice ball in your cocktail and enjoy tasty small plates
Devil May Care: Cocktails, oysters and brunch; This place is an experience
Entertainment
Blue Starlite’s Rooftop Drive-In Movie: Watch your favorite flicks or discover something new on top of Austin with a beautiful view
Paramount Theater: Beautiful historic theater with a spectacular marquee and national shows
Ester’s Follies: Austin’s own version of Saturday Night Live
Ghost Tours: Learn about the haunted history of Austin
Antone’s: Live music almost every night with a focus on jazz and blues
Recreation
Lady Bird Lake: Part of the Colorado River; Be sure to rent a paddleboard or kayak on a nice day
Hike and Bike Trail: A 10-mile loop with beautiful views of downtown and several downtown access points
Shoal Creek Trail: A lovely, often shaded trail next to Shoal Creek
The Capitol: Explore the beautiful grounds and learn about Texas’ history
Toy Joy: Fun, unique toys for all ages with so much to look at
Enjoy your stay and be sure to share your downtown photos with us using #dtatx!