AUSTIN, TX

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Overview

Austin is the capital of Texas, and the fastest-growing large city in the United States. With nearly a million people in the city proper, well over two million in the greater metropolitan area, and and an influx of people registering at over 100 new inhabitants per day, it’s a city caught balancing its old, quirky small-town vibe with the development realities of a major urban hub. It’s still artsy. It’s still got a relaxed vibe. It’s still the “Live Music Capital of the World”. It’s just also now home to the tallest residential tower west of the Mississippi River, a burgeoning tech scene, and everything else that comes with a city in the midst of such a stark transformation.

It’s a fun city (see: all the bachelor and bachelorette parties out on pedal pubs and bar-hopping each weekend). The tacos and barbecue are second to none. And politically, it’s a ‘blue island in a sea of red’: in many ways it doesn’t comport with the Texas stereotype. It’s perfect for a weekend excursion, easily accessible by rideshare and/or scooters. Come prepared to feast, catch some live music, and be outdoors.

Day-Ish Long Itineraries

+ The Barbecue Circuit - Sample Top-Notch Central Texas 'Cue

I'm not saying you should eat at all these spots in one day. I'm just saying you could.

If you're a dedicated barbecue connoissuer, the below spots balance top rankings against line waits, travel times, and overall quality. For everyone else, pick a spot (or two) based on convenience with the rest of your travel plans.

Morning:

  • LA BBQ - Offshoot of the revered Mueller barbecue restaurant family. The line is much more reasonable than at Franklin, and the 'cue is just as good. They open at 11AM. Get there at ~9:45AM, which should guarantee you're waiting indoors, where there's coffee to order, beers on tap, and air-conditioning (key for the summer months).
  • Kerlin BBQ - Under-the-radar food truck a block away from la BBQ. The line can be highly variable in length, but similar approach - aim for an hour in advance to be safe. If you're with a group, consider splitting up and sampling both la BBQ and Kerlin.

Afternoon:

  • Micklethwait Craft Meats - Recently established food truck winning all kinds of awards, for good reason. It's covered outdoor seating. Get there in the early afternoon because they will sell out. The line is generally quick, less than 20min.
  • Stiles Switch - This spot is a few miles north of downtown, requiring a car or rideshare to access. Worth a visit if you're staying nearby and/or love barbecue, otherwise not so much. Generally very few tourists so the line moves quick, often less than 5min.

Evening:

  • Terry Black's BBQ - Offshoot of the stories Black barbecue restaurant family. The line during peak dinner rush can get long, up to an hour, but plan around it - they're one of the few spots that serves late. The line moves fast and there's beer for sale while you wait.

Late-Night:

  • Rollin Smoke BBQ - This food truck in East Austin is surprisingly good and it stays open until 2:30AM(!) to serve drunk concert-goers and bar-hoppers in the area.

+ Breweries and Futbol - North Austin Beer Crawl and Q2 Stadium

Austin just got its first major league sports team (it's soccer but we'll take what we can get). Austin FC plays at the brand spankin' new stadium, Q2. The stadium is airy, spacious, and just an overall great time.

Pro-Tip: Take the Metrorail up from downtown. It beats the hassle of driving, parking, etc., and they run frequently on game days. It's a <10min data-preserve-html-node="true" walk from the Metrorail station to Q2 - just follow the crowd of green jerseys.

The stadium itself is great, but the beers are pricey (~$15) and the food is sourced from famous Austin eateries but is also pricey. And the lines are long. And the portions can be small. Do yourself a favor and pre-game drinks and food nearby. There's half a dozen breweries within a ten-minute walk of the stadium, and most of them have excellent food trucks. Here's the top spots:

  • Oskar Blues - Arguably the most 'national' of the bunch, this brewery has ample seating both indoors and outdoors, and a comprehensive lineup of beer genres, with something for everyone from pale ales to engine oil stouts. The food truck is a barbecue and grill-out situation.

  • Celis Brewery - Lighter beer lineup, a huge 12,000 sqft outdoor beer garden, multiple food trucks (pizza and seafood), and overall most 'grammable.

  • Adelbert's - Heavy ABV beers that are ideal for pre-gaming a Q2 outing. They care about their beer, it's an unpretentious space that typically doesn't get overrun, and the food truck offers straightforward pub-style appetizers.

  • Austin Beerworks - Huge interior space, smaller outside patio. Their beers have made their way into just about every watering hole in Austin. They're okay beers, IMHO. Good selection, but only the seasonals have noteworthy flavor. The patio is fun, and the food truck cranks out big-boy sharable portions of tex-mex that's great if you want to avoid eating at Q2.

  • AVOID - 4th Tap is a grunge / heavy metal brewery. The vibes are commensurate, beers are limited, seating is limited. The only saving grace is Spicy Boys chicken next door.

  • AVOID - Circle and Hopsquad. These adjacent breweries are converted truck loading docks. The vibes are meh, the beers are decent but nothing distinctive, and the food trucks don't do enough to justify the visit.