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🤘 Austin's South Congress, Downtown & East Side: Brisket, Breakfast Tacos & Live Music Classics

33 items

Mikey Stark

My first-timer's game plan for Austin — brisket and breakfast tacos on the East Side, live music from Red River to South Lamar, and a cold dip in Barton Springs to cool off. These are the spots I actually send friends to when they ask where to eat, s...

Map

I get in line early with a cooler of drinks and a camp chair — the brisket here is worth every minute of the wait.

Franklin Barbecue

I come for the Michelin-starred brisket and the El Sancho Loco sandwich — it's Wednesday through Sunday only, so plan around it.

la Barbecue

I make the short drive to the old church building for brisket, Czech sausage, and those jalapeño cheese grits under the pecan trees.

Micklethwait Barbecue

I bring visitors here when we want great brisket and beef ribs without a dawn wake-up call — it's open every day.

Terry Black's Barbecue

I order the Don Juan, a breakfast taco piled so high you need extra tortillas, at this East Side institution open since 1980.

Juan in a Million

I grab migas tacos and a concha at this family-run Tex-Mex bakery — come early, and remember it's closed Mondays.

Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop

I book Suerte for the suadero tacos on house-made masa tortillas and a mezcal cocktail.

Suerte

I grab a craft cocktail in this moody stone bar and head up to the mezcal room when it's open.

Whisler’s

I settle into this old feed-store building on South Congress for tacos al pastor and a frozen marg on the patio.

Güero's Taco Bar

I grab a New York-style slice here after a show at the Continental Club — it's open late on weekends.

Home Slice Pizza

I always get a scoop of Mexican vanilla with a crush-in while wandering South Congress at night.

Amy's Ice Creams

I grab an iced turbo and snap the famous 'i love you so much' mural on the side of the building.

Jo's Coffee – South Congress

I lose an hour trying on cowboy boots in this huge South Congress shop that smells like leather the moment you walk in.

Allens Boots

I catch a set at this tiny 1950s club that's been a South Congress live-music anchor for decades.

The Continental Club

I order a bowl of Bob Armstrong dip and a margarita at this Tex-Mex classic that's been around since 1952.

Matt's El Rancho

I splurge on the omakase at Uchi when I want the creative Japanese meal Austin is famous for.

Uchi Austin

I slurp the Ol' Skool tonkotsu at this beloved South Lamar ramen shop and add a seasoned egg every time.

Ramen Tatsu-Ya

I take two-step lessons and dance to real country bands at this old-school honky-tonk on South Lamar.

Broken Spoke

I post up in the shady garden with a coffee or a beer and grab dinner from the food trucks parked out back.

Cosmic Pickle

I come to the original Kerbey Lane for gingerbread pancakes and queso — it's the classic Austin diner order.

Kerbey Lane Cafe

I cool off in this spring-fed swimming hole that stays around 68 degrees all year — my favorite thing to do in Austin.

Barton Springs Pool

I spread out a blanket on the big lawn here for skyline views and a lazy afternoon by the springs.

Zilker Metropolitan Park

I walk or run a loop of the trail around Lady Bird Lake for the best skyline views in the city.

Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trl

I head to the bridge at sunset from spring through fall to watch over a million bats fly out from underneath.

Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bat Bridge

I take the free tour of the Capitol, which is taller than the one in D.C., and stand under that huge dome.

Texas Capitol

I spend a couple of hours here for the best crash course on Texas history, from the La Belle shipwreck to the IMAX.

Bullock Texas State History Museum

I always step inside Ellsworth Kelly's Austin, the light-filled chapel-like building on the Blanton's grounds.

Blanton Museum of Art

I head down to this basement jazz bar for live music every night — there's no cover before 8 p.m.

Elephant Room

I catch an indie show on Mohawk's outdoor tiered deck, the anchor of the Red River music district.

Mohawk Austin

I see a concert at Stubb's big outdoor amphitheater and go to the Sunday gospel brunch when I can.

Stubb's Bar-B-Q

I climb the short stairs at Mount Bonnell for sunset over Lake Austin and the hill country.

Mount Bonnell

I browse two floors of books at Texas's biggest independent bookstore and pick up a 'Keep Austin Weird' souvenir.

BookPeople

I dig through the local-artist bins at this record store across the street from BookPeople and check for free in-store shows.

Waterloo Records & Video