I love to take a quick weekend away. It’s my second favorite way to spend a weekend (second to a West Virginia football game). I’m often getting asked questions about where to stay, where to eat and what to do. This is going to be a fun little series of what to do in some of my favorite cities over a short weekend!
First up: Austin, Texas
My favorite first stop in Austin is typically Better Half Coffee & Cocktails. Once I’ve dropped my bags at my favorite hotel, South Congress Hotel, it’s off for a late morning brunch. Better Half is my favorite first stop because it’s healthy food, great coffees and fun cocktails. I love that it’s got outdoor seating and it’s usually my spot to check in with clients and get a little work done.
Another great spot to spend some post-flight time at is Cosmic Coffee & Beer Garden. This is so quintessentially Austin with its chickens, peacocks and food trucks. This is always a spot I find myself returning to, and just makes for a good, relaxed hangout spot.
If you’re up for exploring, walk South Congress Street and take in all of the shops, sites and bites. Allen Boots is a must-visit if you’ve never been and want to bring home a piece of Texas (think a cowboy hat or cowboy boots)
Maufrais is my favorite hat spot on South Congress. They have the coolest customization, personalization bar in the center of the store and it’s so fun to put on all of the hats and personalize them. This is hands down my favorite Austin souvenir.
Another anchor of South Congress Street is the Kendra Scott flagship store. The store has one of the Austin murals on it, as well as a personalization station and a super cute coffee shop/wine bar. I personally love to sip a froze while shopping and I tend to come home with a piece from their fine jewelry line when leaving Austin.
The Austin Public Library, specifically Central Library at 710 W Cesar Chavez, is a hidden gem in the city. Right on the water, another spot for coffee and snacks, this outdoor porch is an amazing place to plant with a good book for a few hours. I brought a coffee and croissant on my last solo trip and loved sitting outside finishing a book. The ultimate vacation relax (outside of the spa).
Walk or run Lady Bird Lake for your weekend movement, and you can even think about renting kayaks if you want that activity! Speaking of the lake, the bats under the South Congress bridge is another fun activity: at dusk, you can see this insane swarm of bats that is visually stunning. Most people like to watch from under the bridge, but that can be a tad messy. I’m more in favor of a rooftop in the near vicinity to get the view!
Rainey Street: This is one of those streets that is what you want it to be; coffee shops and easy bars during the day and a little more raucous at night. It’s an Austin experience, but can be exceptionally crowded with bachelorette parties on the weekends!
Breakfast: If I’m honest, there’s one breakfast I want in Austin and it’s breakfast tacos. I’m either getting Veracruz, Tamale House or Jo’s Coffee. Jo’s on South Congress is one of my favorite spots, especially when I’m at South Congress Hotel since I can walk there. (I love walkability on my trips)
Lunch: La BBQ (you MUST eat barbecue in Austin and this one is worth the wait), Franklin BBQ (this is a COMMITMENT but it’s worth it), Hillside Farmacy, epicerie, Launderette (also great for dinner, dessert either time is a must), Matt’s El Rancho (also great for dinner!), Vinaigrette (holy moly holy moly), Sour Duck Market, Foreign & Domestic
Dinner: Bufalina, Salt & Thyme, Uchi, Loro (one of my FAVORITES), Bufalina Due, Emmer & Rye, L’Oca d’Oro, Kome, Birdie’s, Clarke’s, Suerte, Justine’s (this is an experience and great for late night), Home Slice
Many of the lunch and dinner recs are interchangeable, and often times it’s so fun to bop around and try all of the food trucks that are around the city!
Miscellaneous Recs: Whisler’s, White Horse Tavern, Austin East Ciders Barton Springs, Barton Springs (in general), the OG Whole Foods is 100% worth experiencing, Zilker Brewing, the Yeti flagship store, Broken Spoke for line dancing, The Capital building, and honestly just walk the city. It’s safe and friendly and wonderful
I could make this three times longer, but no one needs to read all of that! What city should we spend 72 hours in next?! xx
