Downtown scene depends on what you are looking for. East = Hipster. Grungy. Best? Rainey = Chill but increasingly upscale "neighborhood" bars. Still some definite hipster vibes but largely passing. West= Significant more douche but sixth street experience for the 25-35 demographic. Dirty = Tourits and fake IDs but cheap and a good time if you are looking to go wild. Word on the street is the Domain is adding a new line of bars too with a bunch of the owners from West.#NorthAustinSwag
the starbucks in the arboretum is exquisite. and the chilis on burnett is if i may say to die for. enjoy
That Starbucks is right by my house and I go there all the time. It's great to sit under that oak tree when it's nice outside.
I don't get the hate on Hopdoddy, it's pretty good. The wait sucks Lamberts has a great burger and so does Sulivan's steakhouse
I think the hate on Hopdoddy is only related to the wait. My advice is go if you want, just go during non-peak hours.
I always ended up going to Maggie Mae's, Cheers Shot Bar, and The Library when I went to 6th street....then again I drank WAY too much back when I lived in Austin so I'm not sure those places are actually any good. I recently went back to Austin and discovered that Baby A's was really disgusting if you are sober enough to notice it, yet due to the alcohol content of the purple margaritas and Mexican Martinis it was one of my favorite places in Austin when I lived there......and that had me re-thinking a lot of what I thought was awesome back then.
Don't go to the Oasis. Tinman is right - the lake is too dry. Plus, the food is overpriced and horrible. One of the most overrated things in Austin. Spend a day walking down South Congress and eat at Hopdoddy during an off-hour, like 3 pm. The line may not be awful then. For bars, it depends on what you're into. 6th Street is for the younger, blackout college set. Rainey St. is for the young professional blackout set. East 6th is for the hipster crowd and there are other bars for the serious drinkers scattered around town. If you like beer, go to the Draught House on Medical Pkwy - tons of beer in a great, wooden pub atmosphere. If you want great Mexican tacos (we're talking masa cakes, chicharron, etc.) go to Papalote on S. Lamar. One of the best places in the city. And do the touristy stuff like the Capitol. It's free and cool the see. UT's campus is worth it for the Blanton and LBJ museum.
Just out of curiosity... What does the lake being relatively dry have to do with being up at the top of a cliff at sunset? There -is- water there, just not as much, so you can see the Sometimes Islands. The sun still sets on the far side, and it's still picturesque. Now, if you wanna say the food ain't that great then that's always been the general consensus, but folks don't hear about it because the food is great, and the patio doesn't sit at water level no matter what the lake is at... that's why there is a great view. Just my two cents... you wanna go and see the lake at sunset, both are still there. You wanna get some great food at a decent price and would be upset seeing islands in the lake around Mansfield Dam, well maybe it isn't for you.
I suggest checking out the Salt Lick BBQ. Its kind of out of the way but it is so freaking good For breakfast: Magnolia Cafe, Cafe Java, Juan in a Million, and Kerbey Lane are all tasty choices. Kerbey Lane has seasonal pancakes that are pretty good so check it out bruh
do512.com austin360.com 365thingsaustin.com austin.culturemap.com If you want just some outdoor hiking, if the weather is nice, you can try: Wild Basin McKinney Falls Turkey Creek Trail (Emma Long Park) Barton Creek hike/bike path along the lake Enchanted Rock You can make it out to the hill country a bit. There are some breweries that offer a good combo of beer, food and outdoorness - eg. Jester King. There's also wineries, and I think even a whiskey distillery out there now.
Places to go with short lines. Hopdoddy on Congress around noon. Juan in a Million around 10am Saturday and Sundays. Kerbey Lane around 2-3am.
