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I grew up here Austin, Texas List {unicorn}
14
items I grew up in this small-ish town with a university in the center and a river running through it; now it's an international destination, tech hub, full of energy (and transplants)(and traffic).
Map
Sections
4
Central Austin (the best part)
South of the River Austin
East Austin is for hipsters
Fine, I'll do downtown Austin
Central Austin (the best part)
I grew up in Central Austin, which is just north of downtown. Fight me on it. Also, these are not bougie recs and don't include downtown.
Classic. it has received some hate, but I think the food is incredible BUT you have to do this: order one million flour tortillas and jalapeno ranch. Only order fried mahi, with whatever you get—salad, tacos, burrito, whatever. It'll be fresh and cri...
Hula Hut
Have never once, not ever, had a bad time here. Best dive bar.
Deep Eddy Cabaret
Rumor (true) has it, the guys who bought Deep Eddy built Pool Burger for their wives so they'd have fancy tiki cocktails to eat and good food to eat. Boy, did they deliver. The burger is one of the best in town.
Pool Burger
Don't Houston my Austin … oh wait, do because wow is the food good even if it's expensive. Tiny's Milk & Cookies, in the parking lot, has awesome ice cream and pastries but mediocre coffee (imo).
Tiny Boxwoods
The best bagels in Austin? I'm not a bagel expert, but I do know that these are the bagels I go back to most often.
Nervous Charlie's Bagels
South of the River Austin
South of the river is south, kids.
Consistently great food, always creative and seasonal.
LENOIR
It's crazy that such a scene pops off here given it's on a main drag, but they did an amazing job of transporting you to the Mediterranean. Food is great too; recommend bar seats rather than fighting for a table.
Aba
Such a fun urban winery, the guys who run it really, really care about wine and people. They also throw great events! The location is great, you can also bop to a distillery and brewery, coffee shop and food trucks!
The Austin Winery
East Austin is for hipsters
I am not the arbiter of cool on the east side, because it's super hipster and I have aged out …
GREAT farm to table food, amazing brunch, fun atmosphere, a go-to spot for visitors
Dai Due
Delicious, conscientious seafood in Austin. We have a bad habit of going to restaurants as soon as they open and having mediocre service, which happened here, but I think the food is worth another shot!
Este
Best sushi in Austin. Low-key, under-the-radar, also has great noodles and other dishes that aren't just raw fish.
Komé: Sushi Kitchen
Fine, I'll do downtown Austin
Downtown Austin recs from someone who has to uber there
This place is a VIBE and yet still somehow-y pretty chill, like you could work here, do a date here, roll solo, make friends, observe and be silent … all while eating a stellar pastry with an expensive but creative coffee!
Sugarwolf Bakery
A locals' secret I'm letting you in on. There is not a better cocktail in the city and the exclusivity is on the mark. You might be able to walk in, though, just press the buzzer by the parking garage door.
Small Victory
It's cliche to like Red Ash at this point, but it is really that good so we have to include it on the downtown list. Good Italian is shockingly hard to find in Austin.
Red Ash