By the end of writing this guide for a weekend in Austin I might be crying tears of nostalgia, but I am going to write it all the same. You see, Austin used to be my home for two glorious years until I had to move all the way to Sri Lanka and then to Germany during Oktoberfest no less. But for two years I was proud to call the capital of Texas my home.
My to-do and, especially, to-eat in Austin lists still have a lot of unchecked items, but I did eat my fair share of breakfast tacos and visited a bunch of places that “keep Austin weird”. I think this important knowledge shouldn’t go to waste, so here’s a guide to a perfect weekend in Austin from a former, short-term, somewhat Austin local. These are my favorite things to do, places to eat and hidden gems of the city that I’d revisit again in a heartbeat. I hope this guide helps you enjoy your weekend in Austin, TX!
Disclosure: this post contains some affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
The slogan of Torchy’s Tacos is “Damn good tacos!” and they are not lying. Torchy’s to Austin is what Shake Shack is to NYC and In and Out — to Los Angeles. If you’ve never been to Austin before, you might be wondering why I am sending you to a taco joint at 9 in the morning. That’s because you have to try breakfast tacos or else your trip to the capital of Texas doesn’t count.
Torchy’s is considered one of the best restaurants in Austin. It started out as a food truck and grew into a small taco empire with multiple locations in Texas. Their tacos are incredible and any local will recommend it for your first weekend in Austin. By the way, Torchy’s has a secret menu. So if you are not scared to come up to a cashier and ask for a Mad Cow or Naughty Santa, you are in for a treat!
Torchy’s Tacos — they have multiple locations around Austin, but for the purposes of this guide, head to the one at 1822 South Congress Avenue.
Steps away from Torchy’s Tacos
SoCo, as locals call it, is a stretch of South Congress Avenue that features dozens of boutique shops, restaurants and bars. On weekends it gets especially crowded with lines outside Hopdoddy Burger and Home Slice Pizza. A few shops to stop by on South Congress:
Allens Boots is where you buy your pair of cowboy boots! Mind you, it can poke a huge hole in your wallet.
Big Top Candy Shop is an old-school candy store built to look like a combination between a pharmacy and a circus. And if that wasn’t cool enough, the shop features a soda fountain!
All the murals are within 5-10 minutes walk from South Congress Avenue
While you are in SoCo, take pictures in front of the famous murals!
The most popular one is called “Greetings From Austin” and looks like a postcard. On most days, and especially on weekends, you’ll see a small crowd here taking pictures and blocking traffic.
“Greetings from Austin” mural — 1720 S 1st St (here it is on Google Maps)
Another popular photo spot is the wall of Jo’s Coffee that features a graffiti “I love you so much!” There’s a beautiful story behind this sign. When the co-owner of Jo’s Coffee, Liz Lambert, had a fight with her girlfriend Amy Cook, the latter sprayed the words on the wall of the coffee shop. The sign eventually became one of the most recognizable symbols of the city and a popular proposal spot.
Jo’s Coffee — 1300 S Congress Ave
Stop by the “Before I Die…” wall and contribute to the many promises people write here. There’s usually chalk in a box by the wall to write your resolutions.
“Before I Die…” wall — 206 E Elizabeth St
A 10-minute drive from South Congress
Cathedral of Junk is a multistoried structure made of discarded items and located in the backyard of a South Austin house. The construction of the cathedral started in 1988 by Vince Hannemann who used some 60 tons of junk, including bicycles, toys, and pieces of furniture for his project.
This is, hands down, one of the coolest and weirdest things to do on a weekend in Austin. It requires a little planing in advance since you are visiting someone’s home. You need to call Vince ahead (512-299-7413) and make an appointment. Once there, you pay a donation to explore multiple levels of the cathedral with passages and rooms full of tires, mirrors, bottles and other everyday objects built into cement.
Cathedral of Junk — 4422 Lareina Drive (call Vince at 512-299-7413 to make a reservation).
A 5-minute drive from the Cathedral of Junk
LeRoy and Lewis is not your traditional BBQ joint, but it’s one of the abslute best in the city! Evan LeRoy, the pitmaster at LeRoy and Lewis (and formerly at Freedmen’s) chose an innovative approach to smoking meats. Instead of the familiar trio of brisket, ribs, and sausage, what you’ll find here is beef cheeks, quail stuffed with macaroni and cheese, and pork shoulder.
The sides don’t fall far behind on the scale of creativity. Think: bbq fried rice, kimchi deviled eggs, and smoked ratatouille crostini. All the meats are sourced locally and LeRoy does some of the butchery himself to ensure the best quality.
LeRoy and Lewis — 5621 Emerald Forest Dr
Other option:
Terry Black’s BBQ — a BBQ joint that made it into the Texas Monthly list of 50 Best BBQ restaurants in the state. This one is located closer to the next stop on our guide — Umlauf Sculpture Garden.
A 10-minute drive from LeRoy and Lewis
I promised this guide will feature my favorite lesser-known gems in the city and Umlauf Sculpture Garden is one of them. The garden is located near Zilker park and features the works of American sculptor Charles Umlauf. It’s one of my favorite spaces in the city: green, peaceful, and perfect for a little break during your busy weekend in Austin.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum— 605 Azie Morton Rd
A 7-minute walk from Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Steps away from Umlauf Sculpture Garden is Austin’s favorite swimming spot — Barton Springs Pool. The pool is filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs. The water is fresh and cool all year round. During warm months Barton Springs Pool is one of the most popular hangout spots in the city.
Barton Springs Pool — 2131 William Barton Dr
Other options:
Another great way to spend an afternoon outdoors is to rent a boat or kayak on Lady Bird Lake. It’s a popular activity among Austinites, and on weekends you’ll see hundreds of kayaks and paddle boards on the lake. There are a few companies renting equipment on the lake, for example, Rowing Dock.
If you prefer a quiet afternoon to kayaking and swimming, explore one of Austin’s museums like Blanton Museum of Art or Bullock Texas State History Museum. You might have to skip Umlauf Sculpture Garden, though, since both museums close at 5 pm.
One last idea if you are a cat person is to visit Purr-Fecto, one of the coolest cat cafes in Texas. It’s located not too far from the Barton Springs Pool.
All restaurants below are within 10 minutes drive from Barton Springs Pool
Unfortunately, the two restaurants I loved and recommended when I first wrote this guide for a weekend in Austin closed down after the pandemic. So I am going to point you to this well-researched list of the best restaurants in Austin written by a friend and fellow travel blogger Dave Lee. He lives in Austin and writes about its incredible food scene.
A few restaurants from his list that make sense logistically for this itinerary are Emmer & Rye, a place with a farm-to-table concept; Comedor, a modern Mexican restaurant; and Hestia, a Michelin-starred live fire restaurant.
A 15-minute walk from the restaurants I mentioned above
Still have energy after a day of shopping in SoCo, exploring weird architecture, and swimming in Barton Springs Pool? Then it’s time to hit the Dirty Sixth. Even if you are not in the mood for drinking and partying, walk this stretch of the 6th street just for the fun of it. It’s crowded at night, what with all the blinking lights, cheap shots, and live music at every bar.
Make sure to stop by the Driskill Hotel, the oldest operating hotel in Austin built in 1886. Walk inside and admire the beautiful interior design inspired by Texas traditions.
One of my favorite bars on the 6th St. is Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar. Other awesome places to stop by include Iron Cactus (Mexican food, margaritas and rooftop patio), Midnight Cowboy (a modern day speakeasy, make sure to make reservations), and Parish (one of the best music venues in town). After you are done drinking check out Voodoo Doughnut on the 6th St. which is open into the wee hours of the morning.
OK, maybe watching sunrise after hitting the Dirty Sixth the night before is too much to ask of you, but at least get here early enough to see the beautiful view of the city and Lake Austin without crowds. The walk up Mount Bonnell is short and easy and will take you less than 10 minutes.
A 10-minute drive from Mount Bonnell
Trust me on this one: you need more breakfast tacos in your life! You have only a weekend in Austin, so take advantage of the variety of awesome taco joints this city has to offer! Tyson’s Tacos was located within walking distance from my house in Austin’s Hyde Park and immediately became my favorite breakfast/lunch/late-night-snack spot.
Tyson’s, with its wooden structure, lack of windows, and glittery decorations, is one of those restaurants that make Austin the strange and awesome city it is. The menu was largely created by its customers. At the time when I lived in Austin, you could collect points and eventually create your own taco that would be featured on the menu. I am not sure if that’s still the case.
Tyson’s Tacos — 4905 Airport Blvd
A 7-minute drive from Tyson’s Tacos
Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin is a museum and archive dedicated to life and work of the 36th president of the United States. Lyndon Johnson was born and raised in Texas. In fact, even during his time in the office he spent a lot of time at his ranch in Stonewall which is why it was often called the Texas White House.
The collection at the library includes thousands of artifacts donated by the President, his family and friends, including the clothing worn by LBJ and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, at the inauguration; furniture from the Oval Office; and the desk used for the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. A walk around the museum can easily take two to three hours.
LBJ Presidential Library — 2313 Red River St
An 8-minute drive from LBJ Library
Just like LeRoy and Lewis, which I suggested for lunch on day one of this itinerary for a weekend in Austin, isn’t a traditional BBQ joint, 24 Diner isn’t your typical American diner. The restaurant’s essence is best described by its creators:
“We took all the elements of the concept we liked — classic American cuisine, good service, fun atmosphere — and turned it up about 10 notches”.
This diner features a chef-inspired menu, local and organic ingredients, and a vast beer and wine list. Plus! It’s open 24 hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (on other days from 7.00 to 23.00.)
24 Diner — 600 N Lamar Blvd
Just across the road from 24 Diner
Located across the road from 24 Diner is Whole Foods flagship store. Austin is where Whole Foods has its roots, so no wonder their flagship store on North Lamar Blvd is nothing short of amazing. First of all, Whole Foods being Whole Foods, it has all kinds of locally produced natural and organic products. But that’s just the top of the iceberg.
Inside the supermarket, you’ll find a coffee shop, a juice station, a taco stand and a BBQ joint. They even have a bar in case you need a glass of wine to recover after doing groceries. And, if you are traveling with kids, the store offers a playground on its rooftop.
Whole Foods — 525 N Lamar Blvd
A 5-minute drive from the Whole Foods Flagship Store
Everything is bigger in Texas, even the State Capitol. At 92 meters, it is one of the tallest in the country, even taller than the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
You can explore on your own or take a free guided tour. The last tour departs at 16.15 so you might have to skip the Wholefoods Flagship Store and head here right after lunch at 24 Diner. Guided tours leave from inside the South Foyer every 30 to 45 minutes and last about half an hour.
Texas State Capitol — 1100 Congress Ave
A 4-minute drive (20 minutes on foot) from the Texas State Capitol
If your weekend in Austin happens to take place between March and October, watching bats fly from under the Congress Avenue Bridge is a must. By the end of summer there’s about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats living in the crevices of the bridge. Every night they emerge at sunset and fly out eastward.
19.00 in the title is an approximation. You should aim to be at the bridge about an hour before sunset. People usually gather on the walkway on the east side of the bridge. The hillside below the bridge (on its south end) is also a good viewing spot. But in my experience, the most convenient and sure-fire way to see the bats is by taking a riverboat cruise. Since the bats are living under the bridge, the best vantage point is from the water.
Sometimes watching the bats is a real spectacle and sometimes it’s just ok. Depends on the month and, even more so, on your luck. On some nights, you see the colony fly out at once and it seems like a large black scarf is stretching through the sky. On other nights, they emerge in smaller groups and fly low, hidden behind the trees. If the latter happens, you’ll be able to see some action from the boat and pretty much nothing at all if you are standing on the bridge.
Tip: an alternative to a boat is a guided sunset kayak tour to watch the bats.
Ramen so perfect you’ll come back to Austin just for a slurp of this rich pork bone broth. Ramen Tatsu-Ya is one of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in the city with a never-ending line of hungry ramen-lovers waiting to get a table. The line moves pretty fast though.
The restaurant was opened by Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto. In a surprising twist of events, both of the chefs are also DJs. Tatsu Aikawa, who formerly worked at a two-Michelin-star restaurant Urasawa in Los Angeles, missed good ramen in his home town of Austin which was the reason behind teaming up with Matsumoto and creating Ramen Tatsu-Ya.
Ramen Tatsu-Ya — 1234 S Lamar Blvd
Other options:
Uchi is another superstar on the dining scene of Austin. In comparison to Ramen Tatsu-Ya which is more informal and casual, Uchi provides a fine-dining experience. Award-wining Chef Tyson Cole offers his signature, non-traditional take on Japanese cuisine with a focus on high-quality ingredients. Seafood is flown every day from Fukuoka and Tsukiji markets in Japan.
If you still have the energy, hit one more live music venue before heading home after a weekend in Austin. It is the live music capital of the world, after all (even if self-proclaimed). Some of the best venues include The Continental Club, Antone’s and Elephant Room.
* * *
And here your weekend in Austin comes to an end. I believe with this guide you can scratch a lot of must-do items off your list. We had breakfast tacos and Texas BBQ, watched the bats, listened to live music, and saw a thing or two that keep Austin weird!
At Driskill, luxury meets Texan traditions. On the one hand, you see grand lobby with marble floors, columns, and stained-glass dome. On the other, there are couches made of cow skin and statues of cowboys at the Driskill Bar. Whether you book a room here or not, stop by for a cup of coffee with French pastries at the 1886 bakery on the ground floor.
Austin Motel street sign is one of the most recognizable icons of the city and the South Congress Avenue, where it’s located. If you want to stay at one of the most popular and bustling neighborhoods of Austin, this is your place. Austin Motel is right in the middle of Austin’s nightlife, shopping and dinning. The South Congress bridge where you can watch the bats at night and the iconic “Greetings from Austin” mural are within a walking distance from the motel.
If you have more than a weekend in Austin, consider a day-trip to Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs, Jacob’s Well or Lyndon Johnson ranch in Stonewall.
If you travel for food, then you cannot miss trying Franklin BBQ! You’ll have to wake up at 6 am and stay in line for 4 hours, but this spot beloved by Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain is totally worth it. Check out how I stayed in line for Franklin’s famous BBQ here.
To learn how to dance traditional Texan two-step, hit Broken Spoke! If this Russian girl learned how to dance two-step, so can you!
If you are a fan of good coffee, check out my guide to the best coffee shops in Austin.
If you want to explore more of Texas, check this post with 30 of my favorite Texas photos that will inspire your travels!
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
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This…is a fantastic guide. Thank you for putting it together! Will use on my first trip to Austin, which I’m determined to make this year.
Yay! I hope you enjoy Austin and have a taco for me (or five). I miss it very much!
We need more articles like this! Good job and thank you. I’ll visit the places you mentioned.
So-so happy to hear this! Thank you, Irene! Enjoy Austin and eat a taco for me :)
such a great detailed guide. thank you so much for this
Thank you, Monica! Hope you enjoy Austin!
Hello!
Your article is so lovely and warm) I want to Austin now) Thank you for your inspiration!
It’s sweet of you to say that! Thank you!
Thank you for your article. As a traveler, I choose to stay off the beaten path and find the heart of a place. Having lived there, and my first trip, are there any other “non touristy” places where the locals go for tacos, music and entertainment? First time going to Austin and want to make it a trip for my husband and I. Hope all is well in Germany if that is where you still are located.
Hi Christine,
Thank you for leaving a comment and I am sorry it took me so long to reply! December with its holidays is a bit crazy. We also had my son’s birthday and a trip to another continent on top of that. It might as well be that you’d already visited Austin in the meantime. But I still wanted to reply. I think my guide is a good mix of different places: some are touristy and others are frequented by locals. I do indeed live in Germany now, so for all the insider tips it’s best to check a blog by someone who still resides there, like A Taste of Koko. She has a lot of great recommendations on her blog and IG.
Best regards,
Yulia