Austin, Texas was our first big city stop on our road trip adventure. I asked my Instagram friends for their Austin suggestions and they did not disappoint. I received a ton of messages with everyone’s favorite restaurants which Shane and I did our best to check off.
There’s a ton to do in Austin and things are pretty spread out; so instead of writing this post day-by-day, I’m going to organize it by neighborhood.
SOUTH CONGRESS
We strolled South Congress Avenue to start our week. Austin is very car-centric, but once you get out of the car and walk, you can see why people love Austin (and all its weirdness). South Congress is the center of weird. Costume shops, converted motels, and quirky restaurants line the street. We had one major order of business for coming to SoCo: kolaches.
We had first heard of kolaches in Waco but didn’t have the time to stop and try one so instead I made it a priority in Austin. Kolaches (pronounce ka-la-cheese) are Czech pastries filled with fruit on a bread similar to Hawaiian rolls. I was surprised to learn about the big Czech/Texas connection. Texans have made kolaches their own, adding twists like savory fillings (which are actually called Klobasniky, but I won’t correct a Texan). We headed to Little Brothers, which recently opened a walk-up window for coffee and kolaches. We ordered two: lemon-blueberry and apple streusal. They are the perfect treat for people who don’t have the biggest sweet tooth. The bread tempers the sweetness of the fillings. It wasn’t sweet enough for me but it was certainly good. I’ve heard that most people like savory fillings, which I could see would be perfectly paired with bread.
Other spots we suggest on South Congress: Jo’s Coffee (the Iced Turbo, specifically, and home to the “I Love You So Much” mural), Home Slice Pizza, and June’s All Day.
SOUTH AUSTIN
Radio Coffee and Beer was our first food stop in town. Shane and I were hoping for some outdoor space where our dog could chill and we could work, which this place delivered. Our lattes were delicious and set the tone for the workday. Then Shane walked over to the food truck that sits beside Radio: Veracruz All Natural. I looked at the menu and since it was still morning, chose the Migas taco, a delicious combo of tortilla chips, tomatoes, eggs, onion, and avocado. Did I mention I LOVE breakfast tacos?!
After being in Austin for a few days, I realized that I had accidentally stumbled upon ordering another Austin staple! The egg and tortilla chip taco is a pairing I want in my life every single day. I’m not exaggerating. I made us visit Veracruz again before heading out of town and have made Shane make me Migas for breakfast every day of the following week. (Pro tip: H.E.B. has a tortilleria in stores where tortillas are made and you can pick them up hot and fresh daily. They’re the best tortillas and even if you don’t need to grocery shop while in Texas, picking these up will make your at-home cooking taste that much more authentic). Check out a recipe for Migas Tacos here.
We decided it was time to try a local beer and drove off to Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden, (clearly a fond combo for South Austin) The place is similar to Radio but the outdoor area has a pleasant waterfall feature and there are more food truck options provided. Shane and I like this business model because on beautiful days in Charlotte, we find ourselves heading to grab a beer just to enjoy the fresh air. We don’t have many places to grab a coffee outdoors and it would be nice to have one of these nearby at home.
Later in the week, we checked out Armadillo Den. It was cold out so we sat outside at their fire pit tables. We also enjoyed the fenced dog park where we could leave our pup while enjoying a beer. Plus, they also had delicious mocktails.
EAST 6TH
We headed to the East 6th neighborhood to continue to explore some cool restaurants. Easy Tiger is a staple of Austin, known for its artisan bread and craft beer. We lucked out and wandered upon their location opening in East 6th. They have a great outdoor space with picnic tables our pup loved, the food was delicious, and the beer hit the spot on a hot day. (The weather fluctuated so much in the week we were there). They even gave us free loaves of sourdough as a perk to celebrate their opening day! It’s a great space to go have a drink or for the days you want to enjoy the sunshine but swap some alcohol for a yummy latte and bakery goods. I highly suggest getting their baked pretzel because I could eat their whipped butter by the spoonful.
We hardly had space in our tummies but couldn’t leave without trying Las Trancas Taco Stand. We’ve been loving all the TexMex we’ve gotten to try in town. We personally give Veracruz the #1 taco spot but Las Trancas was still absolutely delicious and very authentic.
AND MORE…
Places we didn’t get to but came highly recommended are:
- Franklin’s BBQ
- Container Bar
- Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches
- Central Machine Works
- Zanzibar Rooftop Terrace
- Odd Duck (and Sour Duck for more casual vibes)
If you’re looking to do a Texas road trip, check out my blog post on Waco, Texas, and how to spend a day at Magnolia Market at the Silos!
Somewhere Someway was named a top Austin, TX, local expert by Redfin. Check out the article we were featured in: 10 Most Affordable Austin Suburbs to Live In | Redfin