CASUAL EATS
Fresas 915 N. Lamar Grab yourself a taco, torta or salad with charcoal-grilled, locally grown chicken from this walk-up or drive-thru spot just north of Whole Foods. There might not be much seating on-location, but with Shoal Creek running just behind the brick-and-mortar taco truck of sorts, you’ll have plenty of natural seating and scenery to take in. Easy Tiger 709 E 6th St
A bakery and a beer garden -- what else could you possibly need? Easy Tiger offers a wide selection, including sandwiches, pretzels, pastries and libations. Happy hour specials are great, and both the venue’s indoor and outdoor spaces are cosy and trendy. The spot’s slogan says it all: Eat. Drink. Stay awhile.
Burro Cheese Kitchen *
1221 S. Congress St.
This is grilled cheese gone Texas (aka -- BIG). Burro Cheese Kitchen offers artisan grilled cheese with classic Lone Star State monikers, including the Waylon & Willie (sourdough, aged cheddar, fontina, caramelized onions, pepperoncinis and maple bacon sauce). Of course, you can always make your own combinations, as well.
Rio’s
408 N. Pleasant Valley Rd.
Deep in the heart of Austin’s East Side lies a true Brazilian gem. Try the cheese bread appetizers and risoli de camarão (shrimp, garlic and veggie-stuffed pastries) that you’d likely pay three times the price for if the place was downtown. For those with dietary restrictions, gluten-free options are available.
Mellizoz Tacos *
1503 S. 1st St.
Even dedicated Torchy Tacos fans (an Austin classic) have to admit that Mellizoz does a pretty good job frying that avocado and putting it in a flour or corn tortilla. Plus, Gourdough’s is right down the street, so if you and your friends can’t decide between a breakfast taco or a donut, this is your meet-in-the-middle solution.
FoodHeads
616 W. 34th St.
Pick your poison of meats or veggies stuffed between local bakery-fresh breads delivered daily -- all topped with homemade condiments. Just be sure to get there early. This place has a serious rush hour of its own, and parking runs out quickly.
Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew
6610 N. Lamar Blvd.
Why waste your time standing in line for Franklin’s when you could be chowing down on some of Austin’s best BBQ with a local 512 IPA in hand? Named one of Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ joints and located in the historic Violet Crown Shopping Center -- where Dazed and Confused was filmed -- you’ll get good food and have good fun at the same time. No three-hour wait required.
The Peached Tortilla Food Truck *
Check Twitter for up-to-date location information and location
This mobile food truck and catering business serves up comfort food with a creative twist. Take the bahn mi taco for example, or the Chinese BBQ burrito. That’s not to mention the bacon jam fries (a meal in itself with a fried egg and Sriracha mayo).
Tom’s Tabooley *
2928 Guadalupe St.
This vegetarian restaurant proximate to UT Austin has a variety of mouthwatering Mediterranean-inspired options -- hummus, falafel, baba ganoush, you name it.
SUMMER EVENTS
Blues on the Green Zilker Park Rock Island, 2100 Barton Springs Rd. Once a week every summer, Austin’s music crowd gathers at Zilker Park (just south of downtown) for a free Blues on the Green concert, beginning just as the sun sets and the weather cools down. You’ll find a mix of locals and tourists alike. Austin Ice Cream Festival Fiesta Gardens August 8
I scream, you scream. You know the drill. Come and feel like a kid again at this annual festival. There’s fun for the whole family with games, activities, contests and even live entertainment.
The Old Pecan Street Festival *
6th Street
The Old Pecan Street Festival is held twice a year and marks both the beginning and the end of summer. Lining 6th Street are small boutique booths with vendors from across the state, selling homemade jewelry, candles, clothes and more. It’s like Etsy, but offline.
Alamo Drafthouse *
1120 S. Lamar Blvd.
Alamo Drafthouse is no longer an “only in Austin” venue, but it’s an Austin original and most locals prefer seeing their movies with a glass of beer sitting in front of them. Plus, this summer, the South Lamar location is reopening, offering the perfect air conditioning retreat from all the nearby downtown activities.
SHOPPING
Maya Star 1508 S. Congress Ave. A South Congress staple for festival wear and concert gear, Maya Star provides dresses, skirts and crop tops for the south-of-the-river crowd. Francesca’s Collections* 4001 N. Lamar Blvd. (multiple locations) With multiple locations throughout Austin, Francesca’s has won over those living in West Lake as well as the Hyde Park hipsters, proving its mix of boho and home accessories fits every capital of Texas lifestyle. Strut 3500 Guadalupe St. (multiple locations) The first boutique in the city most Austinites are introduced to is Strut. And, with its secret email lists and insane sale and clearance prices, you could easily replace your entire wardrobe in one season without breaking the bank. Maga La Boheme * 249 W. 2nd St. Austin’s East Side may be going through a serious gentrification process, but that doesn’t mean everything is going high-end. Maga La Boheme maintains that old school Austin vibe, where vintage is king over designer. Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds 1506 S. Congress Ave.
Honoring the drag queen history of South Congress, Lucy in Disguise offers year-round costumes, wigs, makeup and plenty of fun for anyone looking to keep Austin weird.
SIGHTS
Barton Springs Pool 2201 Barton Springs Rd.
For a mere $3, you can spend your summer day on the hills surrounding the natural Barton Springs pool, where the water remains a brisk 68 degrees year-round. It’s a prime people-watching spot, with locals and tourists alike. If it’s your first time, don’t worry, with the 100-plus degree weather, the cold will be welcome.
ACL Live
310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd.
Visit the famous Austin City Limits Live Theater in downtown Austin. You can’t miss it -- a statue of Willie Nelson is stationed out front. The theater is home to the KLRU-TV produced PBS series, Austin City Limits, the longest running music series in American television history. Plus, with more than 100 concerts each year and a capacity of 2,750, there is always a new band -- or a famous legend -- to see live.
Texas Rowing Center *
1541 W. Cesar Chavez St.
The Colorado River runs right through the middle of Austin, just south of downtown, and it’s known to locals as Lady Bird Lake. The location and downtown views make it perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding without ever having to leave the city.
Mount Bonnell
Mt. Bonnell Road
The highest point in Austin, Mount Bonnell has sprawling views of West Lake Hills, Downtown Austin and even the UT campus. Head there at dusk on a warm night, and you might even witness a proposal or two as the sun sets.
Baylor Street Art Wall
11th Street and Baylor Street
Austin’s proud of its artistic community. Just west of downtown is the city’s street art hub. On three stories of concrete slab, graffiti artists have free reign to let their creativity run rampant. This never-ending art piece takes on new forms each day.
COOL OFF
Dolce Vita 4222 Duval St
Outdoor seating, full bar, iced coffee and “sorberitas” make Dolce Vita a must for the summer. A welcoming spot with a neighborhood atmosphere, the gelato and espresso bar keeps its food simple and delightful -- although they do dazzle with out-of-the-box flavors for homemade gelato like lemon-rosemary, tamarind and butternut squash.
Amy’s Ice Creams
1012 W. 6th St. (multiple locations)
Austin summers often hover around the 100-degree mark for days at a time, and Amy’s Ice Cream has been the locally-preferred purveyor of frozen treats for generations -- its Guadalupe location opened in 1984.
Once Over Coffee
2009 S. 1st St.
Reminiscent of what Starbucks was perhaps supposed to be before there was one on every corner, Once Over Coffee offers free Wi-Fi, wine and beer -- plus a large, shady, creek-side back deck for anyone who needs a break from the office.
Juiceland *
1625 Barton Springs Rd.
Juiceland takes juicing to the next level -- they even offer “cocktails” like the “Mimosa” (a mixture of kombucha, e3live, orange juice, lemon and lime). The original store is located right next to Barton Springs pool, making it the perfect, healthy spot to grab a cool juice or smoothie before you take a dip in the 68-degree water.
Jo’s Coffee
1300 S. Congress Ave.
Jo’s is the place to grab your morning cup of joe (and a breakfast taco) before you snap an Instagram shot in front of the famous “I love you” graffiti on the side of the green building it’s housed in. Food, caffeine and Internet fame -- what more could you want?
Dolce Neve *
1713 S. 1st St.
Italian gelato in rotating flavors is done right at Dolce Neve. The best part? This place is a bit of a hole in the wall find, and only a few lucky locals end up stumbling across it. Consider yourself one of the few.
* = Vendor accepts PayPal. If a festival or market has an asterisk, it denotes that select vendors accept PayPal.